RTW Biotech Opp. - Update on Arix Transaction
12/02/2024 16:00
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RNS Number : 8689C RTW Biotech Opportunities Ltd 12 February 2024
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT ARE NOT FOR RELEASE,
PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN,
INTO OR FROM, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND
POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA),
AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS
OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12 February 2024
RTW Biotech Opportunities Ltd
("RTW Bio" or the "Company")
Update on Arix Transaction
Further to the announcement on the 30 January 2024, the Company is pleased to
note the announcement by Arix Bioscience Plc ("Arix") regarding the results of
the second general meeting of the shareholders of Arix (the "Second General
Meeting") held today in connection with the recommended all-share acquisition
of Arix's assets by RTW Bio, via a subsidiary (the "RTW Subsidiary"), to be
effected through a scheme of reconstruction and the voluntary winding-up of
Arix under section 110 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (the "Scheme").
The special resolution proposed at the Second General Meeting to, among other
things, place Arix into members' voluntary liquidation, appoint the
liquidators ("Liquidators") and authorise the Liquidators to exercise certain
powers for which the express sanction of the Arix shareholders is required,
was passed by the requisite majority with 97.84% of votes cast in favour. As
such, Arix has been placed into members' voluntary liquidation and the Scheme
has become effective in accordance with its terms.
Following the Second General Meeting, Arix, the Liquidators and the RTW
Subsidiary entered into a transfer agreement, pursuant to which the
Liquidators have procured the transfer of cash, undertakings and other assets
of Arix to the RTW Subsidiary (the "Asset Transfer") in exchange for the issue
of new ordinary shares in RTW Bio to eligible Arix shareholders. Further
information on, and the full terms and conditions of, the Scheme can be found
in the shareholder circular relating to the Scheme published by Arix on 5
January 2024.
The Company confirms that 181,901,165 new ordinary shares of no par value in
the capital of RTW Bio (the "New RTW Bio Shares") will be allotted to the
Liquidators, who will subsequently renounce them in favour of eligible Arix
shareholders, to satisfy the consideration due under the terms of the Scheme.
Admission of the New RTW Bio Shares to the premium segment of the Official
List and to trading on London Stock Exchange's Main Market is expected to take
place at 8:00am on 13 February 2024 ("Admission").
Subject to Admission, RTW Bio confirms that its enlarged share capital will
consist of 394,290,303 ordinary shares (including 3,003,791 treasury shares),
which carry one vote each. The issued share capital includes 48,322,863 New
RTW Bio Shares issued to RTW Biotech Opportunities Operating Ltd ("RTW Op Co")
in respect of its shareholding in Arix. It is expected that the New RTW Bio
Shares held by RTW Op Co will be cancelled at the next RTW Bio annual general
meeting for nil consideration (the "Share Cancellation"). In the meantime, RTW
Op Co has (i) undertaken not to sell or otherwise transfer its interest in its
New RTW Bio Shares nor to exercise the voting rights attached to such New RTW
Bio Shares, and (ii) renounced all rights attached to the New RTW Bio Shares
to receive any dividend or distribution or any other distribution of assets on
a winding up of RTW Bio. The dividends received per share, earnings per share
and NAV per share in RTW Bio for shareholders of RTW (other than RTW Op Co)
will not be affected by the shares in RTW Bio held by RTW Op Co.
The figure of 342,963,649 will be used as the denominator of RTW Bio for
calculating NAV per share (which represents the issued share capital of RTW
Bio less RTW Op Co's holding).
About RTW Biotech Opportunities Ltd
RTW Biotech Opportunities Ltd (LSE: RTW & RTWG) is an investment fund
focused on identifying transformative assets with high growth potential across
the biopharmaceutical and medical technology sectors. Driven by a long-term
approach to support innovative businesses, RTW Bio invests in companies
developing next-generation therapies and technologies that can significantly
improve patients' lives. RTW Bio is managed by RTW Investments, LP, a leading
healthcare-focused entrepreneurial investment firm with deep scientific
expertise and a strong track record of supporting companies developing
life-changing therapies.
About RTW Investments, LP
RTW Investments, LP is a New York-based, global, full life-cycle investment
firm that focuses on identifying transformational and disruptive innovations
across the biopharmaceutical and medical technologies sectors. As a leading
partner of industry and academia, RTW combines deep scientific expertise with
a solution-oriented investment approach to advance emerging medical therapies
by building and supporting the companies and/or academics developing them. For
further information about RTW, please visit www.RTWfunds.com.
Enquiries:
RTW Biotech Opportunities Ltd +44 20 7959 6361
Woody Stileman ir@rtwfunds.com
BofA Securities (Sole Financial Adviser, Sponsor & Joint Corporate Broker +44 20 7628 1000
to RTW Bio)
Ed Peel
James Machin
Alex Penney
Deutsche Numis (Joint Corporate Broker to RTW Bio) +44 20 7260 1000
Freddie Barnfield
Nathan Brown
Euan Brown
Buchanan (PR & Communications adviser to RTW Bio) +44 20 7466 5107
Charles Ryland
Henry Wilson
George Beale
Cadarn Capital +44 7368 88321
David Harris
Important information
Merrill Lynch International ("BofA Securities"), which is authorised by
the Prudential Regulation Authority ("PRA") and regulated by the Financial
Conduct Authority ("FCA") and the PRA in the United Kingdom, is acting
exclusively for RTW Bio and for no one else in connection with the matters
referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other
than RTW Bio for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for
providing advice in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement.
Neither BofA Securities, nor any of its affiliates, owes or accepts any duty,
liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in
contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a
client of BofA Securities in connection with this announcement, any
statement contained herein or otherwise, or any transaction or arrangement
referred to herein.
Numis Securities Limited (which is trading for these purposes as Deutsche
Numis) ("Deutsche Numis"), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial
Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting as corporate broker
exclusively for RTW Bio and for no one else and will not be responsible to
anyone other than RTW Bio for providing the protections afforded to its
clients or for providing advice in relation to the matters referred to in this
announcement. Neither Deutsche Numis, nor any of its affiliates, owes or
accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or
indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any
person who is not a client of Deutsche Numis in connection with this
announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise, or any transaction
or arrangement referred to herein.
Notice to US Shareholders in Arix
This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or
indirectly, in or into the United States of America. This announcement is not
an offer of securities for sale into the United States. The securities
referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S.
Securities of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), any state securities
laws or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered
or sold in the United States or to any "U.S. persons" (as defined in Rule 902
under the Securities Act), except pursuant to an applicable exemption from
registration. No public offering of securities is being made in the United
States.
The New RTW Bio Shares have been offered and sold for investment purposes only
in the United States or to U.S. Persons (as such terms are defined in Rule 902
of Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act) under the exemption from
registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or
Regulation D promulgated thereunder and in compliance with the applicable
securities laws of each state or other jurisdiction in which the offering were
made. Each investor that is within the United States or that is a U.S. Person
(as such term is defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S promulgated under the
Securities Act) must be both (i) an "accredited investor" as defined in Rule
501(a) of Regulation D of the Securities Act and (ii) a (A) "qualified
purchaser" as the term is defined under Section 2(a)(51) of the U.S.
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder or (B) a "knowledgeable employee" as such
term is defined in Rule 3c-5(a)(4) promulgated under the 1940 Act. New RTW Bio
Shares have been offered and sold outside of the United States to investors
that are not U.S. Persons in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities
Act.
RTW Bio is not registered, and does not intend to be subject to registration,
as an investment company under the 1940 Act in reliance upon one or more
exclusions or exemptions from registration thereunder. U.S. Shareholders of
Arix were requested to execute an investor letter ("AI/QP Investor Letter")
appended to the Prospectus. The AI/QP Investor Letter contains
representations and restrictions on transfer designed to assure that the
conditions of such exclusions or exemptions will be met. Investors in RTW Bio
will therefore not receive the protections afforded by the 1940 Act to
investors in a registered investment company. RTW Bio has not and will not
make a public offering of the New RTW Bio Shares to satisfy the exclusion from
registration as an investment company under the 1940 Act. If RTW Bio is deemed
to be an investment company and therefore is required to register under the
1940 Act, such requirement could prohibit RTW Bio from operating in its
intended manner and could have a material adverse effect on RTW Bio.
The New RTW Bio Shares are subject to restrictions on transferability and
resale and may not be transferred or resold except as permitted under the
Securities Act, the 1940 Act and any applicable state and other securities
laws, pursuant to registration or an exclusion or exemption therefrom. The
transferability of the New RTW Bio Shares are further restricted by the terms
of the AI/QP Investor Letter, and any re-offer or resale of any New RTW Bio
Shares in the United States or to U.S. Persons may constitute a violation of
U.S. law. U.S. Shareholders of Arix should be aware that they may be required
to bear the financial risks of any investment in RTW Bio for an indefinite
period of time. RTW Bio reserves the right to refuse to accept any
subscriptions, resales or other transfers of New RTW Bio Shares to U.S.
Persons or to any person, including on the basis that doing so would risk RTW
Bio's loss of an exclusion or exemption under U.S. securities laws (e.g., the
Securities Act and the 1940 Act). RTW Bio further reserves the right to
require the transfer or redemption of New RTW Bio Shares held by any person
for any reason, including circumstances that may prejudice the tax status of
RTW Bio, may cause RTW Bio to be in violation of the Securities Act, the 1940
Act or any applicable state securities act or may cause RTW Bio to suffer any
pecuniary, fiscal or administrative disadvantage which may be unlawful or
detrimental to the interests or well-being of RTW Bio.
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