Helix BioPharma Corp. to divest remaining ownership of Polish subsidiary
June 26 2020 - 7:30AM
Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX: HBP) (“
Helix” or the
“
Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical
company developing unique therapies in the field of immuno-oncology
based on its proprietary technological platform DOS47, today
announced that it has entered into a non-binding term sheet to
divest the remaining shares it holds in its Polish subsidiary (the
“
Divestment”), Helix Immuno-Oncology S.A.
(“
HIO”), representing approximately 51% of the
issued and outstanding shares of HIO prior to the HIO Private
Placement described below.
Under the term sheet, the Company has accepted a
non-binding offer from CAIAC Fund Management AG, in its capacity as
designated trustee of an Alternative Investment Fund (the
“Fund”), that is currently in the process of being
established and authorized by the Financial Market Authority in
Liechtenstein (“FMA”). The terms of the offer
provide for Helix to sell its remaining holdings in HIO for gross
proceeds of up to PLN6,700,000 (~CAD2,300,000). The
transaction is scheduled to close on August 31, 2020, and is
subject to a number of conditions, including the approval of the
Fund by the FMA; the raising of a minimum PLN7,300,000 by the Fund
as well as regulatory approval of the transaction, if required. As
a result, there can be no assurance that the closing of the
Divestment will occur on the terms set out herein or at all.
The Company has also approved an increase in
share capital of HIO and the issuance of up to 2,200,000 Series B
ordinary shares in the capital of HIO to enable it to issue up to
2,200,000 series B ordinary shares by way of a private placement
financing for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately PLN
2,970,000 (the “HIO Private Placement”). Assuming
the successful completion of the HIO Private Placement, the
Company’s shareholding in HIO is expected to decrease to
approximately 42.5 % of the outstanding shares of HIO.
In addition, the Company has entered into
agreements with HIO (the “Debt Cancellation
Agreements”), pursuant to which it has cancelled an
aggregate amount of ~CAD$2,700,000 of intercompany debt owed to the
Company by HIO. Since HIO is a subsidiary of the Company, the
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position of the Company have
not presented intercompany transactions as advances by the Company
to HIO since liabilities of the subsidiary were offset and
eliminated against each other on the Consolidated Statements of
Financial Position. As part of the Debt Cancellation Agreements,
the Company and HIO have agreed to terminate both the BiphasixTM
asset transfer agreement and the V-DOS47 license agreement. As a
result, all transferred assets related to BiphasixTM and V-DOS47
have been automatically re-assigned and transferred from HIO back
to Helix without any formality. The Company has also ceased funding
HIO with immediate effect.
The debt forgiveness and the transfer of assets
pursuant to the Debt Cancellation Agreement are considered related
party transactions within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument
61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special
Transactions (“MI 61-101”). The Company relied on
exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval
requirements in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in
respect of the transactions based on a determination that the fair
market value of the transactions does not exceed 25% of the
Company’s market capitalization, as determined in accordance with
MI 61-101.
About Helix BioPharma Corp.
Helix BioPharma Corp. is an immuno-oncology
company specializing in the field of cancer therapy. Helix is a
biopharmaceutical company developing unique therapies in the field
of immuno-oncology, for the prevention and treatment of cancer,
based on its proprietary technology platform DOS47. Helix is
currently listed on the TSX under the symbol “HBP”. For more
information: https://www.helixbiopharma.com
Forward-Looking Statements and Risks and
Uncertainties
This news release may contain forward-looking
statements with respect to Helix, its operations, strategy,
financial performance and condition, including its activities
relating to its drug development program, any anticipated timelines
for the commencement or completion of certain activities such as
the closing of the transactions described herein, raising
sufficient capital, merger and acquisition activity, listing on a
U.S. exchange and other information in future periods. These
statements generally can be identified by use of forward-looking
words such as “aims”, “transform”, “should”, “may”, “will”,
“expect”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “intends”, “believe” or
“continue” or the negative thereof or similar variations. The
actual results and performance of discussed herein could differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such
statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks
and uncertainties surrounding future expectations, including: (i)
Helix’s ability to operate as a going concern being dependent
mainly on securing sufficient additional financing in order to fund
its ongoing research and development and other operating
activities; (ii) the generally inherent uncertainty involved in
scientific research and drug development and those specific to
Helix’s pre-clinical and clinical development programs (DOS47,
L-DOS47 and V-DOS47); (iii) that any transactions contemplated
herein are completed; and (iv) those risks and uncertainties
affecting Helix as more fully described in Helix’s most recent
Annual Information Form, which is available at www.sedar.com
(together, the “Helix Risk Factors”). Certain material factors and
assumptions are applied in making the forward-looking statements,
including, without limitation, that the conditions to closing of
the transactions described herein will be satisfied or waived, that
sufficient financing will be obtained in a timely manner to allow
Helix to continue operations and implement its clinical trials in
the manner and on the timelines anticipated and that the Helix Risk
Factors will not cause Helix’s actual results or events to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements. These cautionary
statements qualify all such forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements and information are
based on the beliefs, assumptions, opinions, plans and expectations
of Helix’s management on the date of this news release, and the
Company does not assume any obligation to update any
forward-looking statement or information should those beliefs,
assumptions, opinions, plans or expectations, or other
circumstances change, except as required by law.
Investor Relations
Helix BioPharma Corp.9120 Leslie Street, Suite 205Richmond Hill,
Ontario, L4B 3J9Tel: 905-841-2300ir@helixbiopharma.com
Alpha Bronze, LLCMr. Pascal NigenPhone: + 1 (917)
385-2160helix@alphabronze.net
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