Press release

PHAXIAM Therapeutics announces the success of its rights issue of €7.8m

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PHAXIAM Therapeutics announces the success of its rights issue of €7.8m

 

Lyon (France), June 27, 2024 – 5:45pm CEST – PHAXIAM Therapeutics (the “Company“), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments for severe and resistant bacterial infections, announces the success of its capital increase with preferential subscription rights (the “Rights“) announced on June 12, 2024 (the “Capital Increase“). Following the subscription period, which closed on June 25, 2024, total demand amounted to approximately 3.9 million shares, representing approximately €7.8 million, i.e. a subscription rate of around 77.1%:

 

  • 1,235,670 new shares were subscribed on an irreducible basis (à titre irréductible), representing approximately 32% of the new shares to be issued;
  • orders submitted on a reducible basis (à titre réductible) concerned 2,645,062 new shares, representing approximately 68% of the new shares to be issued;
  • subscriptions submitted on a free basis (à titre libre) amounted to 49,662 euros, representing 24,831 new shares i.e. approximately 0.6% of the new shares to be issued.

 

The gross amount of the Capital Increase is €7,811,126, including issue premium, corresponding to the issue of 3,905,563 new shares (the “New Shares“) at a subscription price of €2.00 per New Share.

 

Thibaut du Fayet, Chief Executive Officer of PHAXIAM Therapeutics, states:  “We would like to thank our historic shareholders, as well as the new ones, notably EPIC Bpifrance, for their participation in this fund-raising. We have also benefited from the support of a number of individual investors, and we would like to thank them warmly; their commitment to us is a strong vote of confidence, commensurate with the mission we are pursuing to combat antimicrobial resistance. The entire team is highly motivated and eager to pursue the development of our portfolio, in particular with the launch of the first worldwide Phase 2 Gloria study in Prosthetic Joint Infections, scheduled for the first quarter of 2025. On the strength of this fund-raising, we are determined to pursue PHAXIAM’s mission of consolidating its position as world leader in phage therapy, in order to respond to the health emergency of antimicrobial resistance, and to consolidate this sovereign technology in France and Europe.”

 

Use of proceeds from the Capital Increase

 

As announced in the press release of June 12, 2024, the gross proceeds of the issue will supplement the Company’s current financial resources and will be used to finance (1) the Company’s working capital (excluding debt repayment) until January 2025 and (2) the advancement of its clinical trial portfolio, in particular the launch of the first global (EU/US) phase II clinical study “Gloria” in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections of Prosthetic Joint Infections.

 

Breakdown of share capital following the Capital Increase

Following the settlement-delivery of the Capital Increase, PHAXIAM Therapeutics’ share capital will amount to €9,980,668, composed of 9,980,668 shares with a par nominal value of €1.00 each.

The shareholding structure of PHAXIAM Therapeutics would be as follows after settlement.

 

Before

the capital increase

After

the capital increase

Numbers of Shares % of capital Numbers of Shares % of capital
Management and employees 7,248 0.12% 7,248 0.07%
Thibaut du Fayet 5,486 0.09%  5,486 0.05%
Eric Soyer 626 0.01%  626 0.01%
Jérôme Bailly 379 0.01%  379 0.00%
Autres salariés 757 0.01%  757 0.01%
Board Members 447,420 7.36%  447,420 4.48%
Ouest Ventures III (Go Capital)(1) 445,906 7.34%  445,906 4.47%
Gil Beyen 484 0.01%  484 0.00%
Philippe Archinard 1,030 0.02%  1,030 0.01%
Didier Hoch 0.00% 0.00%
Robert Sebbag 0.00% 0.00%
Hilde Windels BV 0.00% 0.00%
AURIGA BIOSEEDS(1) 651,883 10.73%  1,051,883 10.54%
AURIGA PARTNERS(1) 101,821 1.68%  101,821 1.02%
POOL GUY RIGAUD(1) 217,365 3.58%  272,365 2.73%
Other shareholders 257,508 4.24%  330,833 3.31%
Treasury shares 249 0.00%  249 0.00%
SUB-TOTAL REGISTERED FORM 1,683,494 27.71%  2,211,819 22.16%
EPIC Bpifrance 0.00%  2,500,000 25.05%
Tikehau Investment Management(2) 471,777 7.77%  471,777 4.73%
Akkadian Partners(2) 205,695 3.39%  205,695 2.06%
Free float 3,714,139 61.14%  4,591,377 46.00%
SUB-TOTAL BEARER FORM 4,391,611 72.29%  7,768,849 77.84%
TOTAL 6,075,105 100.00%  9,980,668 100.00%

(1) Based on the latest declarations of threshold crossing and available information: (i) Go Capital (FPCI Ouest Ventures III) holds an additional 29,700 bearer shares, bringing its total shareholding to 4.77% and 4.69% of voting rights (ii) Auriga Bioseeds (FPCI Auriga IV Bioseeds) holds an additional 41,250 bearer shares, bringing its total shareholding to 10.95% and 10.79% of voting rights (iii) Auriga Partners (FPCI Auriga Venture III) holds an additional 12,931 bearer shares, bringing its total shareholding to 1.15% and 2.14% of voting rights and (iv) the Guy Rigaud Pool holds an additional 7,576 bearer shares, bringing its total shareholding to 2.80% and 2.76% of voting rights.

(2) Based on the latest declarations of major shareholdings and available information.

 

Subscription of the main shareholders and partners

 

Auriga IV Bioseeds, holding 10.73% of the Company’s share capital prior to the Capital Increase, participated on an irreducible basis for an amount of €800,000 corresponding to the issue of 400,000 New Shares.

 

EPIC Bpifrance, acting on behalf of the French State under the French Tech Souveraineté agreement dated December 11, 2020, participated on an irreducible basis (following the acquisition of Rights) and on a reducible basis, for a total amount of €5,000,000 corresponding to the issuance of 2,500,000 New Shares. As part of this commitment, Mr. Olivier Martinez has been appointed as observer of the Board of Directors, and it has been agreed that the Company will propose the appointment of Bpifrance Investissement, represented by Mr. Olivier Martinez, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, following the completion of the Capital Increase. His appointment will be put to a vote at the shareholders’ meeting to be held in 2025 in particular to approve the 2024 financial statements. In return for its commitment, EPIC Bpifrance will receive a commission equal to 5% of the amount of its commitment of €5 million.

 

FA DIESE 3 participated on an irreducible basis and on a reducible basis for a total amount of €150,000 corresponding to 75,000 New Shares.

 

Nine members of the Guy Rigaud Pool participated on an irreducible basis for a total amount of €110,000 corresponding to 55,000 New Shares.

 

It should be noted that the guarantee commitments signed by Hermitage Gestion Privée, Friedland Gestion, Market Wizards and TreeCap (the “Guarantors“) were not exercised (and did not result in the subscription of New Shares by the Guarantors), as total subscription amount exceeded the threshold of 75% of the initial gross amount of the Capital Increase.

 

Indicative timetable for the Capital Increase

 

Settlement and delivery of the New Shares and the start of trading on Euronext Paris are expected to take place on July 1st, 2024. The New Shares will carry dividend rights and will be entitled, as from their issue to all distributions made by the Company. The New Shares will be, as from their issue, immediately assimilated to the existing shares of the Company and will be traded on the same quotation line under the same ISIN code FR001400K4B1. The voting rights attached to the New Shares will not be exercisable at the shareholders’ general meeting of the Company to be held on June 28, 2024.

 

Lock-up commitments

 

Phaxiam Therapeutics has contracted a lock-up agreement for a period of 180 calendar days following the settlement and delivery date of the New Shares, subject to customary exceptions.

 

The directors, officers and shareholders represented at the Board of Directors (i.e. Eric Soyer, Thibaut du Fayet, Go Capital, Gil Beyen, Philippe Archinard, Jérôme Bailly, Didier Hoch), Auriga IV Bioseeds represented by Auriga Partners and nine shareholder members of the Guy Rigaud shareholder pool having entered into a subscription commitment, have undertaken to retain the Company shares they hold for a period of 180 calendar days following the settlement-delivery date of the New Shares, subject to certain customary exceptions.

 

The Capital Increase was led by ODDO BHF SCA as global coordinator and sole bookrunner for the Capital Increase (the “Global Coordinator and Sole Bookrunner“).

 

Risks Factors

Investors are advised to carefully consider the risk factors related to PHAXIAM Therapeutics mentioned in chapter 2 “Risk factors” of the 2023 Universal Registration Document, in chapter 2 “Risk factors” of the Amendment to the 2023 Universal Registration Document and in chapter 2 “Risk factors” of the Securities Note. If any or all of these risk factors materialize, the Company’s business, finances, results or ability to achieve its objectives could be adversely affected, and the value of the Company’s securities could also be adversely affected.

 

Availability of the Prospectus

 

The prospectus (the “Prospectus“) has been approved by the Autorité des marchés financiers (the “AMF“) under number D. 24-0243 the June 11, 2024 and consists of (i) the Company’s 2023 Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on April 5, 2024 under number D. 24-0243 (the “2023 Universal Registration Document“), (ii) the amendment to the 2023 Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on June 11, 2024 under number D. 24-0243-A01, (iii) the securities note dated June 11, 2024 (the “Securities Note“), and (iv) the summary of the Prospectus (included in the Securities Note).

 

The Prospectus is available on the AMF website (www.amf-france.org) and of the Company (https://phaxiam.com/). Copies of the Prospectus are available free of charge from the Company’s head office at 60, avenue Rockefeller – 69008 Lyon.

 

Potential investors are advised to read the Prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and benefits associated with the decision to invest in the securities. Approval of the Prospectus by the AMF should not be construed as a favorable opinion on the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market.

 

***

About PHAXIAM Therapeutics

PHAXIAM is a biopharmaceutical company developing innovating treatments for resistant bacterial infections, which are responsible for many serious infections. The company relies on an innovative approach based on the use of phages, natural bacteria-killing viruses. PHAXIAM is developing a portfolio of phages targeting 3 of the most resistant and dangerous bacteria, which together account for more than two-thirds of resistant hospital-acquired infections: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

PHAXIAM is listed on the Euronext regulated market in Paris (ISIN code: FR0011471135, ticker: PHXM). PHAXIAM is included in the CAC Healthcare, CAC Pharma & Bio, CAC Mid & Small, CAC All Tradable, EnterNext PEA-PME 150 and Next Biotech indices.

For further details, please check the website : www.phaxiam.com

 

 Contacts                                                                                           

PHAXIAM

Eric Soyer

COO & CFO

+33 4 78 74 44 38

investors@phaxiam.com

 

NewCap
Mathilde Bohin / Dušan Orešanský
Investor Relations
Arthur Rouillé
Media Relations

+33 1 44 71 94 94

phaxiam@newcap.eu

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

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

 

The distribution of this document may, in certain jurisdictions, be restricted by local legislations. Persons into whose possession this document comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such potential local restrictions.

 

This press release is an advertisement and not a prospectus within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 (as amended, the “Prospectus Regulation”). Potential investors are advised to read the prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with the decision to invest in the securities. The approval of the prospectus by the AMF should not be understood as an endorsement of the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market

 

With respect to the Member States of the European Economic Area (other than France) and the United Kingdom (each a “Relevant State”), no action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of the securities referred to herein requiring a publication of a prospectus in any Relevant State. As a result, the securities may and will be offered in any Relevant State only (i) to qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation, for any investor in a Member State of the European Economic Area, or Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as part of national law under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”), for any investor in the United Kingdom, (ii) to fewer than 150 individuals or legal entities (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Regulation or the UK Prospectus Regulation, as the case may be), or (iii) in accordance with the exemptions set forth in Article 1 (4) of the Prospectus Regulation or under any other circumstances which do not require the publication by PHAXIAM Therapeutics of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation and/or to applicable regulations of that Relevant State.

 

The distribution of this press release has not been made, and has not been approved, by an “authorised person” within the meaning of Article 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. As a consequence, this press release is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that (i) are “investment professionals” falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the “Order”), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.”) of the Order, or (iii) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Article 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “Relevant Persons”). Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. Any person who is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

 

This press release may not be published, distributed or transmitted in the United States of America (including its territories and dependencies). This press release does not constitute or form part of any – 9 – offer of securities for sale or any solicitation to purchase or to subscribe for securities or any solicitation of sale of securities in the United States of America. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or the law of any State or other jurisdiction of the United States of America, and may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. PHAXIAM Therapeutics does not intend to register all or any portion of the securities in the United States of America under the Securities Act or to conduct a public offering of the securities in the United States of America.

 

This press release cannot be distributed directly or indirectly in the United States of America, Canada, Australia, South Africa or Japan.