Wave Life Sciences Prices Upsized $200 Million Public Offering of Ordinary Shares and Pre-Funded Warrants

Rhea-AI Summary

Wave Life Sciences (Nasdaq: WVE) has announced the pricing of its upsized public offering of ordinary shares and pre-funded warrants, aiming to raise approximately $200 million in gross proceeds. The offering includes 23,125,001 ordinary shares at $8.00 per share and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 1,875,023 ordinary shares at $7.9999 per warrant. The company has also granted underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 3,750,000 ordinary shares. The offering is expected to close around September 27, 2024. J.P. Morgan and Leerink Partners are acting as joint book-running managers, with Truist Securities and Mizuho as book-runners. The offering is being made through a prospectus and related supplement, with details available on the SEC's website.

Positive

• Successful pricing of an upsized public offering, potentially raising $200 million in gross proceeds
• Additional 30-day option for underwriters to purchase up to 3,750,000 more ordinary shares
• Strong support from reputable financial institutions as book-running managers and book-runners

Negative

• Potential dilution of existing shareholders' ownership due to the issuance of new shares
• Increase in outstanding shares may put downward pressure on the stock price

Insights

Financial Analyst

Wave Life Sciences' upsized $200 million public offering is a significant capital raise that strengthens the company's financial position. The pricing at $8.00 per ordinary share represents a 13.5% discount to the previous closing price, which is within typical ranges for biotech offerings. The inclusion of pre-funded warrants provides flexibility for certain investors. This substantial cash infusion will likely extend Wave's runway, supporting ongoing clinical trials and research in RNA medicines. However, the dilution impact on existing shareholders is considerable, with the offering potentially increasing the share count by over 50%. Investors should weigh the improved cash position against this dilution. The involvement of major underwriters like J.P. Morgan and Leerink Partners lends credibility to the offering. Overall, this financing bolsters Wave's ability to advance its pipeline but comes at the cost of significant shareholder dilution.

Biotechnology Expert

This capital raise is important for Wave Life Sciences' clinical-stage RNA medicine pipeline. The $200 million influx will likely accelerate development of their key programs, potentially including their stereopure oligonucleotides for neurological diseases. RNA therapeutics is a highly competitive and capital-intensive field and this funding could help Wave maintain its position. The company's focus on "unlocking the broad potential of RNA medicines" aligns with growing interest in this modality. However, as with many biotech companies, the path from clinical trials to approved therapies remains long and uncertain. Investors should monitor upcoming trial results and pipeline progress to gauge the potential return on this significant investment. The offering's success also indicates continued investor interest in the RNA therapeutics space, which bodes well for the sector as a whole.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wave Life Sciences Ltd. (Nasdaq: WVE), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on unlocking the broad potential of RNA medicines to transform human health, announced today the pricing of its previously announced underwritten public offering of 23,125,001 of its ordinary shares at a price to the public of $8.00 per ordinary share, and, in lieu of ordinary shares to certain investors, pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 1,875,023 ordinary shares at an offering price of $7.9999 per pre-funded warrant, which represents the per share offering price for the ordinary shares less the $0.0001 per share exercise price for each pre-funded warrant.

Gross proceeds to Wave Life Sciences from the offering are expected to be approximately $200 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. All of the securities in the offering are being sold by Wave Life Sciences. In addition, Wave Life Sciences has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 3,750,000 of its ordinary shares on the same terms and conditions. The offering is expected to close on or about September 27, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.

J.P. Morgan and Leerink Partners are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Truist Securities and Mizuho are acting as book-runners for the offering. 

The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus and related prospectus supplement forming part of a shelf registration statement that was previously filed with and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus relating to the offering were filed with the SEC on September 24, 2024. The final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website located at http://www.sec.gov, copies of which may be obtained, when available, from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com and postsalemanualrequests@broadridge.com; or from Leerink Partners LLC, Syndicate Department, 53 State Street, 40th Floor, Boston, MA 02109, or by telephone at (800) 808-7525, ext. 6105, or by email at syndicate@leerink.com.

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

About Wave Life Sciences

Wave Life Sciences (Nasdaq: WVE) is a biotechnology company focused on unlocking the broad potential of RNA medicines to transform human health. Wave’s RNA medicines platform, PRISM^®, combines multiple modalities, chemistry innovation and deep insights in human genetics to deliver scientific breakthroughs that treat both rare and prevalent disorders. Its toolkit of RNA-targeting modalities includes editing, splicing, RNA interference and antisense silencing, providing Wave with unmatched capabilities for designing and sustainably delivering candidates that optimally address disease biology. Wave’s diversified pipeline includes clinical programs in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and Huntington’s disease, as well as a preclinical program in obesity. Driven by the calling to “Reimagine Possible”, Wave is leading the charge toward a world in which human potential is no longer hindered by the burden of disease. Wave is headquartered in Cambridge, MA. 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. The words “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “target” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the closing of the public offering of ordinary shares and pre-funded warrants to purchase ordinary shares. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, actual results could differ materially from those projected and Wave cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this press release. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the public offering. There can be no assurance that Wave will be able to complete the public offering on the anticipated terms, or at all. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Wave’s preliminary prospectus supplement related to the proposed offering filed with the SEC on September 24, 2024 and Wave’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, as amended, and in other filings Wave makes with the SEC from time to time. Wave undertakes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances.

Investor Contact:
Kate Rausch
+1 617-949-4827
krausch@wavelifesci.com

Media Contact:
Alicia Suter
+1 617-949-4817
asuter@wavelifesci.com

FAQ

What is the size of Wave Life Sciences' (WVE) public offering?

Wave Life Sciences (WVE) has priced an upsized public offering aiming to raise approximately $200 million in gross proceeds.

How many ordinary shares is Wave Life Sciences (WVE) offering in its public offering?

Wave Life Sciences (WVE) is offering 23,125,001 ordinary shares in its public offering.

What is the price per ordinary share in Wave Life Sciences' (WVE) public offering?

The price per ordinary share in Wave Life Sciences' (WVE) public offering is $8.00.

When is the expected closing date for Wave Life Sciences' (WVE) public offering?

The public offering for Wave Life Sciences (WVE) is expected to close on or about September 27, 2024.

Who are the joint book-running managers for Wave Life Sciences' (WVE) public offering?

J.P. Morgan and Leerink Partners are acting as joint book-running managers for Wave Life Sciences' (WVE) public offering.