Epigenomics AG Successfully Places Shares at Premium in Capital Increase
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12. February 2009 - Epigenomics AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: ECX; ISIN: DE000A0BVT96) successfully placed all 2,671,088 new shares that were issued in an increase of the share capital against contribution in cash and without subscription rights that was decided upon yesterday by its Executive and Supervisory Boards. A 100% subsidiary of BB MEDTECH AG (Schaffhausen, Switzerland) and funds managed by Abingworth LLP (London, UK) subscribed for all the new shares.
The issue price was set at EUR 1.94 per share. This constituted a 5% premium over and above the volume-weighted average XETRA trading prices over the five trading days preceding the announcement of the capital increase. The capital raise at this premium leads to gross proceeds of approximately EUR 5.18 million. After registration of the capital increase the signed capital of Epigenomics AG will increase from its current EUR 26,723,636 to a total of EUR 29,394,724 thereafter.
ICF Kursmakler AG (Frankfurt, Germany) will coordinate the registration of the new shares with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Trout Capital LLC (New York, NY, USA) acted as sole financial advisor to Epigenomics in this transaction.
Epigenomics intends to apply the proceeds from this transaction towards the final stages of product development and commercialization of its most advanced product, a blood-based molecular diagnostic test for the early detection of colorectal cancer. Proceeds will also be used for clinical research and product development in Epigenomics' lung cancer and prostate cancer programs.
"We are very pleased that in BB MEDTECH and Abingworth LLP we have major shareholders that share our vision and strategic direction to develop Epigenomics into a leading cancer molecular diagnostics company over the next several years" commented Geert Nygaard, Chief Executive Officer of Epigenomics on the transaction. "These investors have unique expertise in the diagnostics and medical device industry and a team of very experienced specialists in this sector. This will help medium and long-term to provide Epigenomics with the financial stability that we need for the successful commercialisation of our products."
"We believe in a continued dynamic development of the molecular diagnostics market segment in the years to come. After the development of technological platforms in the past several years, content based on these technologies like cancer tests will be in the focus in the future. Epigenomics may be one of those specialized companies who get to market early", said Laura Rossi, head of the BB MEDTECH management team.
"We are particularly pleased to have raised the capital at a share price significantly above the most recent rights issue price of February 2008 despite the extremely challenging capital markets environment and global financial crisis. This is testament to the solid fundamentals and excellent progress we have made in executing our business plan", Geert Nygaard added.
After settlement, the BB MEDTECH group will have doubled its stake in Epigenomics to about 14.9% from about 7.4% before the transaction and will be Epigenomics' second largest shareholder after Federated Investors Inc. (Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A.). Funds managed by Abingworth LLP will own about 11.1%.
About Epigenomics
Epigenomics is a molecular diagnostics company with a focus on the development of novel products for cancer. Using DNA methylation biomarkers, Epigenomics' tests in development aim at diagnosing cancer at an early stage before symptoms occur and thereby may reduce mortality from this dreaded disease.
Epigenomics' product pipeline contains a validated biomarker for the early detection of colorectal cancer in blood plasma, and further proprietary DNA methylation biomarkers at various stages of development for prostate and lung cancer detection in urine, blood and bronchial lavage specimens. Epigenomics' biomarker mSEPT9 for the early detection of colorectal cancer in a simple blood sample demonstrated continuously highest performance in multiple clinical studies with in total about 3,500 individuals tested.
For development and global commercialization of in vitro diagnostic test products, Epigenomics pursues a non-exclusive partnering strategy. Strategic diagnostics industry partners include Abbott Molecular, Philips, Sysmex Corporation and Quest Diagnostics for diagnostics test products, and QIAGEN N.V. for sample preparation solutions and research products.
Partners in the health care industry and the biomedical research community can access Epigenomics' portfolio of proprietary DNA methylation technologies and biomarkers protected by more than 150 patent families through research products, Biomarker Services, IVD Development Collaborations, and Licensing. The company is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and has a wholly owned subsidiary in Seattle, WA, U.S.A. For more information, please visit Epigenomics' website at www.epigenomics.com.
Epigenomics' legal disclaimer. This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Epigenomics AG and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Epigenomics AG to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Epigenomics AG is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward- looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Disclaimer relating to US Securities Laws. The sale of the common stock will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or applicable state securities laws. The shares will be sold pursuant to applicable exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Unless registered, the shares may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities.
end of announcement euro adhoc
Further inquiry note:
Dr. Achim Plum
Sen. VP Corporate Development
Epigenomics AG
Tel: +49 30 24345 368
achim.plum@epigenomics.com
Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: DE000A0BVT96
WKN: A0BVT9
Index: Prime All Share, Technologie All Share
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