Verona Pharma plc Announces Proposed Underwritten Public Offering

Rhea-AI Summary

Verona Pharma (Nasdaq: VRNA) announced a proposed underwritten public offering of 10 million American Depositary Shares (ADSs), with each ADS representing eight ordinary shares at a nominal value of £0.05 per share. The offering, managed by Jefferies, Piper Sandler & Co., and Truist Securities, is subject to market conditions. Additionally, the underwriters may purchase up to 1.5 million additional ADSs. This offering is linked to a shelf registration statement previously filed with the SEC.

Positive

• Proposed offering aims to raise capital for business operations and development.
• Potential for underwriters to purchase additional ADSs may indicate market confidence.

Negative

• Offering may lead to shareholder dilution due to the increase in outstanding shares.
• Market uncertainty regarding the completion and terms of the offering may affect stock performance.

LONDON and RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verona Pharma plc (Nasdaq: VRNA) (“Verona Pharma” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on respiratory diseases, today announced a proposed underwritten public offering of 10 million American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each representing eight ordinary shares of Verona Pharma, nominal value £0.05 per share (the “Offering”). All ADSs in the Offering will be offered by Verona Pharma. 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, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering. In addition, Verona Pharma intends to grant the underwriters of the Offering a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1.5 million ADSs at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount and commission.

Jefferies, Piper Sandler & Co. and Truist Securities are acting as the book-running managers for the Offering.

The Offering is being made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3, including a base prospectus, that was filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 19, 2021 and declared effective on March 25, 2021 (the “Registration Statement”). A preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus relating to the Offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus relating to the Offering, when available, may be obtained from: Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022, or by telephone at (877) 821-7388, or by e-mail at Prospectus_Department@Jefferies.com; Piper Sandler & Co., 800 Nicollet Mall, J12S03, Minneapolis, MN 55402, Attention: Prospectus Department, by telephone at (800) 747-3924, or by email at prospectus@psc.com; or Truist Securities, Inc., Attention: Prospectus Department, 3333 Peachtree Road NE, 9th floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30326 or by e-mail at TruistSecurities.prospectus@Truist.com.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, 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 the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the completion, timing and size of the Offering and statements regarding the expectation that the underwriters will be granted an option to purchase additional ADSs.

These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from our expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The factors under the caption “Risk Factors” in Verona Pharma’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 3, 2022, and Verona Pharma’s other reports filed with the SEC, could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's estimates as of the date of this press release. While the Company may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company disclaims any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause the Company’s views to change. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Verona Pharma’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

No prospectus will be made available in connection with the matters contained in this announcement and no such prospectus is required in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the “EU Prospectus Regulation”) or the EU Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended from time to time (the “EUWA”) (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”) to be published.

This announcement is for information purposes only and is directed only at persons whose ordinary activities involve acquiring, holding, managing and disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their business and who have professional experience in matters relating to investments and are: (a) if in a member state of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”) (each a “Relevant State”), qualified investors within the meaning of article 2(e) of the EU Prospectus Regulation ("Qualified Investors"); or (b) if in the United Kingdom, qualified investors within the meaning of article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation who are also (i) persons who fall within the definition of “investment professional” in article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”), or (ii) persons who fall within article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or (c) persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated (all such persons referred to in (i), (ii) and (iii) above together being referred to as “Relevant Persons”).

Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to Qualified Investors in the Relevant States, and to Relevant Persons in the United Kingdom, and will be engaged in only with Qualified Investors in Relevant States and Relevant Persons in the United Kingdom. This announcement must not be acted on or relied on by persons in a Relevant State who are not Qualified Investors, or persons in the United Kingdom who are not Relevant Persons.

For further information please contact:

Verona Pharma plc			US Tel: +1-833-417-0262 UK Tel: +44 (0)203 283 4200
Victoria Stewart, Director of Investor Relations and Communications			info@veronapharma.com
Argot Partners (US Investor Enquiries)			Tel: +1-212-600-1902 verona@argotpartners.co
Kimberly Minarovich / Michael Barron
Optimum Strategic Communications (International Media and European Investor Enquiries)			Tel: +44 (0)203 882 9621 verona@optimumcomms.co
Mary Clark / Stella Lempidaki / Zoe Bolt

 

FAQ

What is the size of the public offering by Verona Pharma (VRNA)?

Verona Pharma announced a proposed offering of 10 million American Depositary Shares (ADSs).

What is the purpose of Verona Pharma's stock offering?

The offering aims to raise capital for business operations and development.

Who are the underwriters for Verona Pharma's offering?

The underwriters are Jefferies, Piper Sandler & Co., and Truist Securities.

Is there an option for underwriters in Verona Pharma's offering?

Yes, underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase an additional 1.5 million ADSs.

How might the public offering affect shareholders of Verona Pharma?

The offering may lead to shareholder dilution as it increases the total outstanding shares.