VectivBio Announces Launch of Public Offering of Ordinary Shares

Rhea-AI Summary

VectivBio Holding AG (Nasdaq: VECT) announced a follow-on public offering of its ordinary shares, along with a private placement of 3,478,260 shares to Forbion at $5.75 each, expected to raise around $20 million. The proceeds will fund clinical development of its lead candidate, apraglutide, targeting severe rare conditions, and general corporate purposes. The offering hinges on market conditions and will not be registered under the Securities Act. SVB Securities and Piper Sandler are managing the public offering.

Positive

• The private placement is expected to generate approximately $20 million, enhancing liquidity.
• Funds will support clinical development and pre-commercialization activities for apraglutide.

Negative

• The public offering may cause dilution of existing shareholders' stakes.
• The offering's completion is uncertain and subject to market conditions.

BASEL, Switzerland, June 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VectivBio Holding AG (“VectivBio”) (Nasdaq: VECT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering novel transformational treatments for severe rare conditions, today announced the launch of a follow-on public offering of its ordinary shares. In addition, VectivBio expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the ordinary shares to be sold in the offering on the same terms and conditions. The offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed. All of the ordinary shares in the offering are to be sold by VectivBio.

Also today, VectivBio entered into an agreement with Forbion Growth Opportunities Fund II Coöperatief U.A., represented by Forbion Growth II Management B.V. ("Forbion") pursuant to which VectivBio has agreed to sell 3,478,260 ordinary shares to Forbion at the price of $5.75 per ordinary share, for gross proceeds of approximately $20 million, in a private placement transaction that is expected to close concurrently with the public offering. The sale of these ordinary shares will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The closing of the private placement transaction is not contingent on any public offering.

VectivBio intends to use the net proceeds from the public offering and concurrent private placement, together with its existing cash and cash equivalents, available for sale and short-term deposits: to fund (i) clinical development and pre-commercialization activities for its lead product candidate and (ii) general corporate purposes, including general and administrative expenses and working capital.

SVB Securities and Piper Sandler are acting as joint book-running managers for the public offering. LifeSci Capital is acting as a co-manager for the public offering.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Form F-3 (File No. 333-264653) and declared effective on May 12, 2022. The public offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus related to the public offering may be obtained, when available, from: SVB Securities LLC, Attention: Syndicate Department, 53 State Street, 40^th Floor, Boston, MA 02109, or by telephone at (800) 8-8-7525, ext. 6105, or by email at syndicate@svbsecurities.com; Piper Sandler & Co., Attention: Prospectus Department, 800 Nicollet Mall, J12S03, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, or by telephone at (800) 747-3924, or by email at prospectus@psc.com; or by accessing the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

The ordinary shares offered in the concurrent private placement have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements.

About VectivBio AG

VectivBio is a global clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on transforming and improving the lives of patients with severe rare conditions. Lead product candidate apraglutide is a next-generation, long-acting synthetic GLP-2 analog being developed for a range of rare gastrointestinal diseases where GLP-2 can play a central role in addressing disease pathophysiology, including short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure (SBS-IF) and Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease (aGVHD).

VectivBio is also advancing its modular, small molecule CoMET platform to address a broad range of previously undruggable Inherited Metabolic Diseases (IMDs). CoMET leverages innovative chemistry, based on a proprietary stabilized pantetheine backbone, to restore fundamental cellular metabolism in pediatric populations with IMDs characterized by a deficit of energy metabolism caused by the depletion of functional Coenzyme A (“CoA”). Candidates from the CoMET platform are initially being evaluated in methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), propionic acidemia (PA), and other organic acidimias.

Forward Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Words and phrases such as “anticipated,” “forward,” “will,” “would,” “may,” “remain,” “potential,” “prepare,” “expected,” “believe,” “plan,” “near future,” “belief,” “guidance,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, whether VectivBio will offer the ordinary shares or consummate the offering and the concurrent private placement, the timing, size and use of proceeds of the public offering and concurrent private placement described herein, and its expectations with respect to granting the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional ordinary shares. All of such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and assumptions, including those that are described in the Risk Factor sections of the preliminary prospectus supplement for such offering to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and the documents incorporated by reference therein, including without limitation those risks and uncertainties identified in the “Risk Factors” section of VectivBio’s Registration Statement on Form F-3 declared effective by the SEC on May 12, 2022, the accompanying prospectus, VectivBio’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 7, 2022, and other filings that VectivBio makes with the SEC from time to time. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Except to the extent required by law, VectivBio undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

VectivBio Contacts:
Patrick Malloy
VectivBio SVP, Investor Relations and Strategic Communications
Patrick.malloy@vectivbio.com

FAQ

What is VectivBio's stock symbol?

VectivBio's stock symbol is VECT.

What is the purpose of VectivBio's public offering?

The public offering aims to fund clinical development and general corporate purposes.

How much will VectivBio raise through the private placement?

VectivBio expects to raise approximately $20 million through the private placement.

Who is managing VectivBio's public offering?

SVB Securities and Piper Sandler are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.

Is the public offering registered?

No, the shares in the public offering will not be registered under the Securities Act.