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Abliva AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: ABLI) (”Abliva”) or the ”Company”) today announces that the new share issue with preferential rights for existing shareholders, announced by the Company on 1 June 2022 (the “Rights Issue”), has been completed. In the Rights Issue, 44,145,792 shares, corresponding to approximately 30.1 percent of the Rights Issue, were subscribed for with the use of subscription rights. In addition, 2,313,536 shares, corresponding to approximately 1.6 percent of the Rights Issue, were subscribed for without the use of subscription rights and 100,088,596 shares, corresponding to approximately 68.3 percent of the Rights Issue, were subscribed for by share issue guarantors. In total, the Rights Issue was subscribed to 100 percent, which implies that Abliva raises approximately SEK 51.3 million before deduction for transactions costs. The rights issue was part of a SEK 200 million financing that also included a SEK 150 million directed share issue primarily to new, long-term specialty life science and institutional investors.
Through the Rights Issue, Abliva raises approximately SEK 51.3 million before transactions costs, which are estimated to amount to approximately SEK 8 million. The final outcome shows that 44,145,792 shares, corresponding to approximately 30.1 percent of the Rights Issue, were subscribed for with the use of subscription rights. In addition, 2,313,536 shares, corresponding to approximately 1.6 percent of the Rights Issue, were subscribed for without the use of subscription rights and 100,088,596 shares, corresponding to approximately 68.3 percent of the Rights Issue, were subscribed for by share issue guarantors.
Through the Rights Issue, the Company’s share capital increases by SEK 7,327,396.20 from SEK 45,487,562.05 to SEK 52,814,958.25 and the number of shares increases by 146,547,924 shares from 909,751,241 shares to 1,056,299,165 shares. The dilution effect for shareholders who did not participate in the Rights Issue thus amounts to approximately 15 percent.
Trading in paid subscribed shares (BTA) on Nasdaq Stockholm will continue under the short name ABLI BTA until the Rights Issue has been registered with the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Sv. Bolagsverket), which is expected to take place during the week of July 4, 2022. After that, BTA will be converted into shares after approximately one week.
Allotment of shares subscribed for without the use of subscription rights has been made in accordance with the principles set out in the prospectus that has been prepared for the Rights Issue and published by the Company on 8 June 2022. Notice of allotment is provided through the distribution of a settlement note by mail to the respective subscriber. Allotted shares shall be paid for in accordance with the instructions on the settlement note.
“This rights issue is an important part of the total financing package of SEK 200 million that was first announced on June 1”, said Ellen Donnelly, CEO of Abliva AB. “We welcome and thank both our new, long-term specialty life science and institutional investors and our current shareholders for their participation in this large financing round. Unlike many financing rounds being done today to ensure continuation of company operations, this round will finance our lead asset, KL1333, to a key interim analysis in its potentially registrational study and progress our second program, NV354 towards the clinic. The size of this raise in the current environment shows recognition by new and old shareholders of our team, our strategy and our portfolio. Now our focus shifts back to our purpose – developing therapies for patients with primary mitochondrial diseases”, said Donnelly.
Advisors
Erik Penser Bank AB and Van Lanschot Kempen are financial advisors to Abliva and Cirio Advokatbyrå AB is legal advisor to Abliva in connection with the Rights Issue. Erik Penser Bank is the acting issuing agent in connection to the Rights Issue. Baker & McKenzie Advokatbyrå KB is legal advisor to Erik Penser Bank AB and Van Lanschot Kempen.