HALIFAX, Nova Scotia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Appili Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: APLI) (the “Company” or “Appili”) announced the closing of its previously announced public offering (the “Offering”) of units (the “Units”). The Offering was made pursuant to an agency agreement entered into with a syndicate of agents led by Bloom Burton Securities Inc. (the “Lead Agent”) and including iA Private Wealth Inc., Leede Jones Gable Inc., Research Capital Corporation, and Richardson Wealth Limited (collectively with the Lead Agent, the “Agents”) and the Company.
Pursuant to the Offering, the Company issued a total of 8,434,000 Units at a price of $0.83 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $7,000,220. Each Unit is comprised of one Class A common share of the Company (a “Common Share”) and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole Common Share purchase warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share (a “Warrant Share”) at an exercise price of $1.10 per Warrant Share until October 14, 2024.
“This funding will play a critical role in continuing our momentum as we work to improve patient lives, expand our global reach, and build out a fully integrated, infectious disease specialized company,” said Dr. Armand Balboni, Chief Executive Officer, Appili Therapeutics. “With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to evolve, the need for at-home oral antivirals remains urgent. As Appili rapidly approaches the top-line readout from our Phase 3 PRESECO trial, which is evaluating the oral antiviral Avigan®/Reeqonus™ (favipiravir) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19, this funding will support us as we move aggressively to deliver this critically needed medicine and hopefully change the trajectory of this pandemic.”
The Units were qualified for sale by way of a prospectus supplement dated October 8, 2021 to the short base shelf prospectus of the Company dated September 19, 2019 (collectively, the “Prospectus”). A copy of the Prospectus is available under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com.
In connection with the Offering, the Company has paid the Agents an aggregate cash consideration of $490,015.40. As additional consideration, the Agents have received 590,380 broker warrants (“Broker Warrants”). Each Broker Warrant is exercisable for one Common Share (a “Broker Warrant Share”) at a price of $0.83 per Broker Warrant Share until October 14, 2023.
The net proceeds of the Offering will be used primarily towards funding research and development activities for oral COVID-19 antiviral candidate Avigan®/ReeqonusTM (favipiravir), including costs associated Appili’s global Phase 3 trial evaluating Avigan/Reeqonus for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 (PREventing SEvere COVID-19; PRESECO). Net proceeds of the Offering will also be used to support business development initiatives to expand the Company’s portfolio of programs, as well as fund development costs for the Company’s other product candidates, including the ATI-2307 antifungal program, and for working capital and general corporate purposes. Details as to the specific allocation of the proceeds were disclosed in the Prospectus Supplement.
The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. persons (as each such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act), except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Corporation’s securities to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. Persons.
As partial consideration for its services in connection with the Offering, the Lead Agent received 128,674 Broker Warrants. Prior to the closing of the Offering, the Lead Agent together with Bloom Burton & Co. Inc. and Bloom Burton Development Corporation (collectively, “Bloom Burton”), each an affiliate of the Lead Agent, beneficially owned, directly and indirectly, an aggregate of 14,358,611 Common Shares, 256,545 share purchase warrants (the “First Previously Held Broker Warrants”) exercisable into 256,545 Common Shares at a price of $0.80 per Common Share until February 20, 2022, and 280,777 share purchase warrants (the ”Second Previously Held Broker Warrants”) exercisable into 280,777 Common Shares at a price of $1.20 per Common Share until June 10, 2022, representing approximately 22.85% of the then issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis, and 23.51% of the then issued and outstanding Common Shares on a partially-diluted basis, assuming the exercise of the First and Second Previously Held Broker Warrants held by Bloom Burton and its affiliates only.
Immediately following closing of the Offering, Bloom Burton beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 14,358,611 Common Shares, 256,545 First Previously Held Broker Warrants, 280,777 Second Previously Held Broker Warrants and 128,674 Broker Warrants, representing 20.15% of the Common Shares issued and outstanding on a non-diluted basis and 20.89% of the Common Shares issued and outstanding on a partially-diluted basis, assuming the exercise of the First Previously Held Broker Warrants, Second Previously Held Broker Warrants and the Broker Warrants held by Bloom Burton only.
The Lead Agent received the Broker Warrants in the normal course of its business as a registered investment dealer. The Broker Warrants and the other securities of the Company beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by Bloom Burton, are held for investment purposes. Bloom Burton has a long-term view of the investment and may acquire additional securities including either in the open market or through private acquisitions or sell the securities including either on the open market or through private dispositions in the future depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans and/or other relevant factors.
An early warning report relating to this transaction will be filed on SEDAR under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com. To obtain a copy of such report, please contact Sonia Yung at (416) 640-7575 or at compliance@bloomburton.com. Bloom Burton is a company existing under the laws of Ontario specializing in the healthcare investment industry with its head office at 65 Front Street East, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1B5.
About Appili Therapeutics
Appili Therapeutics is an infectious disease biopharmaceutical company that is purposefully built, portfolio-driven, and people-focused to fulfill its mission of solving life-threatening infections. By systematically identifying urgent infections with unmet needs, Appili’s goal is to strategically develop a pipeline of novel therapies to prevent deaths and improve lives. As part of a global consortium, Appili is sponsoring late-stage clinical trials evaluating the antiviral Avigan/Reeqonus for the worldwide treatment and prevention of COVID-19. The Company is also advancing a diverse range of anti-infectives, including a broad-spectrum antifungal, a vaccine candidate to eliminate a serious biological weapon threat, and two novel antibiotic programs. Led by a proven management team, Appili is at the epicenter of the global fight against infection. For more information, visit www.AppiliTherapeutics.com.
Forward looking statements
This news release contains “forward-looking statements”, including with respect to the proposed use of proceeds. Wherever possible, words such as “may,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “potential for” and similar expressions have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations of the Company’s management for future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation, those listed in the Prospectus and the other filings made by the Company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities (which may be viewed at www.sedar.com). Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors should be considered carefully, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.
