Company announcement – No. 33 / 2024
Zealand Pharma launches equity offering of new shares raising gross proceeds of approximately USD 900 million / DKK 6.257 billion
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR SOUTH AFRICA, EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS; THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED; ANY PUBLIC OFFERING OF SUCH SECURITIES TO BE MADE IN THE UNITED STATES WILL BE MADE BY MEANS OF A PROSPECTUS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ISSUER, WHICH WOULD CONTAIN DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND ITS MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
- A directed share offering to certain institutional and professional investors through an accelerated bookbuilding process will begin immediately.
- The net proceeds from the issue are expected to be used to advance Zealand’s proprietary obesity programs in Phase 2b clinical trials and beyond, including investment in associated CMC activities, and pursue clinical development in related indications with the potential to provide additional therapeutic benefits to patients. The net proceeds are also expected to support continued early-stage research and fund general corporate purposes.
Copenhagen, Denmark, 25 June 2024 – Zealand Pharma A/S ("Zealand" or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ZEAL), (CVR-no. 20 04 50 78), a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, design and development of innovative peptide-based medicines for obesity, other metabolic, and certain rare diseases, announces the launch of an offering of new shares at market price (the "Offering"). The Offering will be completed through an accelerated bookbuilding process and is expected to raise gross proceeds of approx. USD 900 million / DKK 6.257 billion through the issuance of new shares (the "New Shares") in a private placement directed at institutional and professional investors in Denmark and certain other jurisdictions.
Background for the Offering
The net proceeds from the Offering are intended to:
- Advance Zealand’s proprietary obesity programs in Phase 2b clinical trials and beyond, including investment in associated CMC activities, and pursue clinical development in related indications with the potential to provide additional therapeutic benefits to patients
- Support continued early-stage research and fund general corporate purposes
Zealand expects the new proceeds to provide funding to advance the clinical pipeline and reach several potential key milestones. The Company is prioritizing resources on R&D and expects to engage in strategic partnerships for commercialization and co-development.
Terms of the Offering
The Offering has not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), and will be made pursuant to applicable exemptions from the obligation to publish a Danish offering prospectus in Denmark as well as exemptions from the U.S. Securities Act and the securities laws of other applicable jurisdictions. The Offering will be made at market price and without pre-emption rights for Zealand's existing shareholders. The Offering is not underwritten.
The subscription price and the final number of New Shares in the Offering will be determined through an accelerated bookbuilding process (the "Bookbuilding") as part of the Offering. The Bookbuilding for the Offering will open with immediate effect and can close at any time. The offer price and allocation will be determined after the close of the Bookbuilding process at Zealand's discretion. The result of the Offering, the offer price and the total number of New Shares are expected to be announced as soon as practicable thereafter in a Company announcement. If the Offering is oversubscribed, an individual allocation of the New Shares will be made.
The New Shares, if issued, will be issued in the systems of VP Securities A/S ("Euronext Securities") and delivered to the investors in the temporary ISIN code DK0063068457. No application for admission to trading and official listing has been, or will be, filed for the New Shares issued under the temporary ISIN code, and the temporary ISIN code will only be registered with Euronext Securities for subscription for the New Shares. The temporary ISIN code in Euronext Securities will be merged with the permanent ISIN code for the existing shares, DK0060257814, as soon as possible following registration of the share capital increase with the Danish Business Authority. New Shares are, if issued, expected to be admitted to trading and official listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen A/S, in the ISIN code for the existing shares, DK0060257814, following issuance, expectedly on 28 June 2024.
In connection with the Offering, Zealand has agreed to undertake a lock-up commitment for 180 calendar days following the date hereof, subject to certain customary exceptions and exemptions in relation to the issuance of warrants to financing providers. In addition, the members of Zealand's executive management and board of directors have agreed to undertake a lock-up commitment for 90 calendar days following the date hereof, subject to certain customary exemptions and a carveout for the sale of shares to cover tax.
Goldman Sachs International, Jefferies GmbH, Morgan Stanley and Nordea Danmark, Filial af Nordea Bank Abp, Finland, are acting as joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners in the Offering, and Van Lanschot Kempen N.V. is acting as lead manager in the Offering (the joint global coordinators and the lead manager are jointly referred to as the "Managers").
Plesner and DLA Piper LLP (US) are acting as Danish and U.S. legal advisors respectively to Zealand for the Offering. Kromann Reumert is acting as legal advisor to the Managers.
Share capital increase
The board of directors of Zealand is, if the Offering is completed, expected to exercise its authorization in article 7.1 of Zealand's articles of association granted by Zealand's general meeting at the annual general meeting 20 March 2024, to issue the New Shares and increase Zealand's share capital accordingly.
Expected timetable for the Offering
Bookbuilding will commence immediately and can close at any time.
Completion of the Offering, including the admission to trading and official listing of the New Shares, is subject to the Offering not being withdrawn prior to the settlement hereof and Zealand making an announcement to that effect.
| Expected 25 June 2024 | Pricing and announcement of subscription price |
| Excepted 26 June 2024 | Subscribers are notified of their allocation |
| Expected 28 June 2024 | Registration of the New Shares with the Danish Business Authority |
| Expected 28 June 2024 | Settlement and payment against delivery of the New Shares. The New Shares will be delivered in the temporary ISIN code |
| Expected 1 July 2024 | Admittance to trading and official listing of the New Shares, in the ISIN code for the existing shares, DK0060257814, on Nasdaq Copenhagen A/S |
| Expected 2 July 2024 | Merger of the temporary ISIN code with the permanent ISIN code |
Contacts:
Adam Lange, Investor Relations Officer
ALange@zealandpharma.com
Anna Krassowska, Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
AKrassowska@zealandpharma.com
Henriette Wennicke, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
HWennicke@zealandpharma.com
Adam Steensberg, President and Chief Executive Officer
ASteensberg@zealandpharma.com
About Zealand Pharma A/S
Zealand Pharma A/S is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of peptide-based medicines. More than 10 drug candidates invented by Zealand have advanced into clinical development, of which two have reached the market and three candidates are in late-stage development. The Company has development partnerships with several pharma companies as well as commercial partnerships for its marketed products.
Zealand was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a presence in the U.S. For more information about Zealand’s business and activities, please visit www.zealandpharma.com.
Important information
This announcement is not a prospectus and investors should not purchase any securities referred to in this announcement on the basis of this announcement. The information contained in this announcement is for information and background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may or should be placed by any person for any purposes whatsoever on the information contained in this announcement or on its completeness, accuracy or fairness. The information in this announcement is subject to change. No obligation is undertaken to update this announcement or correct any inaccuracies, and the distribution of this announcement shall not be deemed to be any form of commitment on the part of Zealand to proceed with any transaction or arrangement referred to herein. This announcement has not been approved by any competent regulatory authority.
This announcement does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for any shares or any other securities nor shall it (or any part of it) or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, or act as an inducement to enter into, any contract or commitment whatsoever. The transactions described in this announcement and the distribution of this announcement and other information in connection with the transactions in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and persons into whose possession this announcement, any document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions. In particular, no announcement or information regarding such transactions may be disseminated to the public in any jurisdiction where a prior registration or approval is required for such purpose. Any failure to comply with these or other applicable restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
In particular, this announcement does not contain or constitute an offer of, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for, securities to any person in the United States (including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia), Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa, or in any other jurisdiction to whom or in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful ("Excluded Territories"). Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The securities referred to in this announcement have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or under the securities laws of any state of the United States or any other Excluded Territory. Accordingly, such securities may not be offered, sold, resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States absent registration except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and state securities laws, and such securities may not be offered, sold, resold, taken up, exercised, renounced, transferred, delivered or distributed, directly or indirectly, in or into any other Excluded Territory or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws of, or require registration of such securities in, the relevant jurisdiction. There will be no public offer of securities in the United States or elsewhere. Any public offer of such securities to be made in the United States would be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from Zealand, which would contain detailed information about the Company and management, as well as financial statements. None of Zealand, the Managers or any of their respective subsidiary undertakings, affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers, agents or any other person accepts any responsibility whatsoever if the foregoing restrictions are not complied with by any other person.
This announcement is not for release, publication or distribution in whole or in part in or into the Excluded Territories, except as permitted by applicable law.
This announcement has been prepared on the basis that any offers of securities referred to herein will be made pursuant to an exemption from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of such securities (i) in any Member State of the EEA under the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 on prospectuses (the "EU Prospectus Regulation"), and (ii) in the United Kingdom, under the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”).
The information set forth in this announcement is only being distributed to, and directed at, persons in Member States of the EEA who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the EU Prospectus Regulation.
This announcement is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, who are also persons that (i) are “investment professionals” falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the "Order"), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.") of the Order, or (iii) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available in the United Kingdom only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. This announcement must not be acted on or relied on by persons in the United Kingdom who are not relevant persons.
This announcement is not made and will not make an offer to the public in Switzerland, except for any offering under the following exemptions under the Swiss Financial Services Act as of 15 June 2018, as amended (“FINSA”): (i) to a professional client as defined in FINSA; or (ii) in any other circumstances relying on an exemption to publish an offering prospectus under FINSA, provided that no such offer shall require Zealand, the Managers or any other person involved in the Offering to publish a prospectus pursuant to FINSA.
None of Zealand, the Managers or any of their respective subsidiary undertakings, affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers, agents or any other person accepts any responsibility whatsoever for, or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information or opinions in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to Zealand 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 announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.
This announcement does not constitute an investment recommendation. The price and value of securities and any income from them can go down as well as up and you could lose your entire investment. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. Information in this announcement cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance.
The Managers are acting for Zealand and for no one else in relation to the Offering and will not be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to their clients nor for providing advice in connection with the matters contained in this announcement. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by the Managers or by any of their affiliates or agents, as to or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.
In connection with the Offering, each of the Managers and any of their respective affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf, may take up a portion of the shares of Zealand in the Offering in a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase or sell for its own account such shares and other securities of Zealand or related investments and may offer or sell such shares, securities or other investments otherwise than in connection with the Offering. Accordingly, references in this announcement to New Shares being issued, offered or placed should be read as including any issue, offering or placement of such shares in Zealand to the Managers or any of their respective affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf acting in such capacity. In addition, any Manager or any of their respective affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf may enter into financing arrangements (including swaps, warrants or contracts for difference) with investors in connection with which such Manager(s) or any of their respective affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of such securities of Zealand, including the New Shares. Furthermore, in the event that the Managers acquire New Shares in the Offering, they may coordinate disposals of such shares in accordance with applicable law and regulation. None of the Managers or any of their respective affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation to do so.
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 shares in Zealand Pharma A/S have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such shares 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 shares in Zealand Pharma A/S may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the shares in Zealand Pharma A/S offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the shares in Zealand Pharma A/S 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 contemplated share issue. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment Goldman Sachs International, Jefferies GmbH, Morgan Stanley & Co. International Plc, Nordea Danmark, filial af Nordea Bank Abp, Finland and Van Lanschot Kempen N.V will only procure 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 shares in Zealand Pharma A/S. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the shares in Zealand Pharma A/S and determining appropriate distribution channels.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements that provide Zealand Pharma’s expectations or forecasts of future events, including the pricing and closing of the Offering, the intended use of proceeds therefrom and the Company’s anticipated cash runway. These forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. You should not place undue reliance on these statements, or the scientific data presented. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and inaccurate assumptions, which may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations set forth herein and may cause any or all of such forward-looking statements to be incorrect, and which include, but are not limited to, the occurrence of clinical, corporate, regulatory or financial developments or changes in market conditions. If any or all of such forward-looking statements prove to be incorrect, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied by such statements. The foregoing sets forth many, but not all, of the factors that could cause actual results to differ from our expectations in any forward-looking statement. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement and are based on information available to Zealand Pharma as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. Information concerning pharmaceuticals (including compounds under development) contained within this material is not intended as advertising or medical advice.
