Rule 2.5 Announcement: Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to Acquire Strongbridge Biopharma Plc in Stock and CVR Transaction, Creating an Innovative Leader in Endocrinology and Rare Diseases
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO RULE 2.5 OF THE IRISH TAKEOVER RULES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Diversifies Revenue Base with Two Rapidly Growing Brands in Xeris’ Gvoke® and Strongbridge’s KEVEYIS®
Strongbridge’s NDA for RECORLEV® Recently Accepted for Review by FDA; PDUFA Target Action Date Set for
Enhanced Commercial and Operational Platform with Synergies of Approximately
Upon Closing of Transaction, Xeris Shareholders to Own ~60% and Strongbridge Shareholders to Own ~40% of Combined Company; Potential for Strongbridge Shareholders to Receive up to
Xeris and Strongbridge to Host Conference Call Today at
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Under the terms of the agreement, at closing, Strongbridge Shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 0.7840 Xeris Biopharma Holdings Shares for each Strongbridge Share they own. Based on the closing price of Xeris Shares on
Upon close of the transaction, current Xeris Shareholders are expected to own approximately 60% of the combined company, while current Strongbridge Shareholders are expected to own approximately 40%.
“This is a very compelling transaction that will create a scalable and diversified biopharmaceutical company increasingly oriented toward more specialty and rare disease products, positioning us for long-term product development and commercial success,” said
“We are excited to combine with Xeris to drive the next phase of our growth,” said
Strategic Rationale and Financial Benefits of the Transaction
The combination of Xeris and Strongbridge is expected to deliver compelling strategic and financial benefits including:
- Diversified and Increased Revenue Growth. The combined company is expected to have a stronger revenue base with two rapidly growing commercial assets in Gvoke® and KEVEYIS®, and a near-term product launch in RECORLEV®. Gvoke® sells in a multi-billion dollar addressable market, as will RECORLEV®, if approved. With approval of RECORLEV® by the FDA, Xeris’ experienced, endocrinology-focused commercial infrastructure is expected to enable a rapid product launch for RECORLEV® into the endocrinology community. With Gvoke®, KEVEYIS® and RECORLEV®, the combined company will boast multiple, highly differentiated, growing, commercial assets that could have significant combined revenue potential, supported by a larger and more efficient commercial organization.
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Significant Potential Synergies.1 The combined company is expected to generate approximately
$50 million in pre-tax synergies by the end of 2022 resulting from immediate savings, including redundant general, administrative and other public company costs, and from the avoidance of future costs, most notably within the commercial and medical affairs functions. Shareholders of the combined company are expected to benefit from significant cost avoidance and the potential for more rapid and achievable near-term growth by utilizing Xeris’ existing commercial infrastructure to launch RECORLEV® soon after product approval. Xeris’ management and the Independent Xeris Directors are committed to retaining and incentivizing the most talented individuals in their respective functions between the two companies to ensure continuity and ongoing success.
- Specialized Commercial Platform. The combined company will have a robust rare disease and endocrinology-focused commercial infrastructure, primed to bring the benefits of the company’s products to a wider range of patients with unmet needs. At closing, the organization will have approximately 110 field sales representatives, as well as 50 inside sales and support employees, and a fully operational patient and provider support team, enabling a rapid potential product launch for RECORLEV® in the first quarter of 2022, as well as enhanced sales across the entire portfolio.
- Expanded Development Pipeline. In addition to RECORLEV®, the combined company will have a robust pipeline of development programs to extend the current marketed products into important new indications and uses, and bring new products forward using its formulation technology platforms, supporting long-term product development and commercial success.
- Strengthened Strategic Profile. This transaction will enable the combined company to have a scalable infrastructure for continued development of specialist oriented and rare disease products from its proprietary XeriSol™ and XeriJect™ formulation technologies, as well as consolidation of commercial and late development-stage products and companies focused on endocrinology and rare diseases.
- Improved Access to Capital Markets. With enhanced scale, multiple revenue generating commercial assets and a high potential value near-term development pipeline, the combined company is expected to have a more attractive profile to investors and to benefit from greater access to the debt and equity markets at a lower cost of capital.
Additional Information
Upon close of the transaction, the businesses of Xeris and Strongbridge will be combined under
Xeris Chairman and CEO,
Xeris Biopharma Holdings Shares are expected to trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) under the ticker XERS.
The transaction is expected to close early in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to the Conditions set out in Appendix III of this announcement, including approval by Xeris Shareholders and Strongbridge Shareholders.
In addition, certain Strongbridge Directors, executive officers,
Conference Call Details
Xeris and Strongbridge will host a conference call today at
A live webcast of the conference call and associated presentation materials will be available on the investor relations sections of Xeris’ and Strongbridge’s websites at https://xerispharma.com/investors and https://investors.strongbridgebio.com, and a joint transaction website at www.XerisStrongbridge.com.
About
Xeris (Nasdaq: XERS) is a pharmaceutical company delivering innovative solutions to simplify the experience of administering important therapies that people rely on every day around the world.
With a novel technology platform that enables ready-to-use, room-temperature stable formulations of injectable and infusible therapies, the company is advancing a portfolio of solutions in various therapeutic categories, including its first commercial product, Gvoke® in the
Xeris is headquartered in
About
At completion, under the Transaction Agreement,
Immediately after and conditioned on the consummation of the Acquisition, Wells MergerSub will merge with and into Xeris, as a result of which the separate corporate existence of Wells MergerSub will cease and Xeris will continue as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of
At and as of the Effective Date, it is expected that
About
Strongbridge (Nasdaq: SBBP) is a global commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapies for rare diseases with significant unmet needs. Strongbridge’s rare endocrine franchise includes RECORLEV® (levoketoconazole), an adrenal steroidogenesis inhibitor with a New Drug Application that is currently under review by the FDA for the treatment of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome, and veldoreotide extended release, a pre-clinical next-generation somatostatin analog being investigated for the treatment of acromegaly and potential additional applications in other conditions amenable to somatostatin receptor activation. Both RECORLEV and veldoreotide have received orphan drug designation from the FDA and the
No Offer or Solicitation
This announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. In particular, this announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into
Important Additional Information will be Filed with the
Xeris,
The Joint Proxy Statement, if and when filed, as well as Xeris’ and Strongbridge’s other public filings with the
INVESTORS, XERIS SHAREHOLDERS AND STRONGBRIDGE SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE
Any vote in respect of resolutions to be proposed at the Strongbridge Meetings to approve the Acquisition, the Scheme or related matters, or other responses in relation to the Acquisition, should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Joint Proxy Statement (including the Scheme Document). Similarly, any vote in respect of resolutions to be proposed at the Xeris Shareholder Meeting should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Joint Proxy Statement.
Participants in the Solicitation
Xeris,
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to a proposed transaction involving Xeris and Strongbridge and Xeris’, Strongbridge’s and/or the combined group’s estimated or anticipated future business, performance and results of operations and financial condition, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for Xeris and Strongbridge and, following the acquisition, if completed, the combined group. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project” and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the possibility that a possible acquisition will not be pursued, failure to obtain necessary shareholder or regulatory approvals or required financing or to satisfy any of the other conditions to the possible acquisition, the reaction of Xeris’ and Strongbridge’s shareholders to the proposed transaction, adverse effects on the market price of Xeris Shares or Strongbridge Shares and on Xeris’ or Strongbridge’s operating results because of a failure to complete the possible acquisition, failure to realize the expected benefits of the possible acquisition, failure to promptly and effectively integrate Strongbridge’s businesses, negative effects relating to the announcement of the possible acquisition or any further announcements relating to the possible acquisition or the consummation of the possible acquisition on the market price of Xeris Shares or Strongbridge Shares, significant transaction costs and/or unknown or inestimable liabilities, the risk that any potential payment of proceeds pursuant to the CVR Agreement may not be distributed at all or result in any value to Strongbridge Shareholders, potential litigation associated with the possible acquisition, general economic and business conditions that affect the combined companies following the consummation of the possible acquisition, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Xeris’ or Strongbridge’s businesses or the combined businesses following the consummation of the transaction, changes in global, political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces, future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax laws, regulations, rates and policies, future business acquisitions or disposals and competitive developments. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and assessments made in light of Xeris’ or, as the case may be, Strongbridge’s experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, business strategies, operating environment, future developments and other factors it believes appropriate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. The factors described in the context of such forward-looking statements in this announcement could cause Xeris’ plans with respect to Xeris or Strongbridge, Strongbridge’s or Xeris’ actual results, performance or achievements, industry results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although it is believed that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct and persons reading this announcement are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as at the date of this announcement. Additional information about economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect Xeris is set forth in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in Xeris’ 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which has been filed with the
Any forward-looking statements in this announcement are based upon information available to Xeris, Strongbridge and/or their respective boards of directors, as the case may be, as of the date of this announcement and, while believed to be true when made, may ultimately prove to be incorrect. Subject to any obligations under applicable law, none of Xeris, Strongbridge or any member of their respective boards of directors undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, or to conform any forward-looking statement to actual results, future events, or to changes in expectations. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Xeris, Strongbridge or their respective boards of directors or any person acting on behalf of any of them are expressly qualified in their entirety by this paragraph.
Statement Required by the Irish Takeover Rules
The Xeris Directors and the
The Strongbridge Directors accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement relating to Strongbridge, the
Dealing Disclosure Requirements
Under the provisions of Rule 8.3 of the Irish Takeover Rules, if any person is, or becomes, ‘interested’ (directly or indirectly) in 1% or more of any class of ‘relevant securities’ of Strongbridge or Xeris, all ‘dealings’ in any ‘relevant securities’ of Strongbridge or Xeris (including by means of an option in respect of, or a derivative referenced to, any such ‘relevant securities’) must be publicly disclosed by not later than
Under the provisions of Rule 8.1 of the Irish Takeover Rules, all ‘dealings’ in ‘relevant securities’ of Strongbridge by Xeris or ‘relevant securities’ of Xeris by Strongbridge, or by any party acting in concert with either of them, must also be disclosed by no later than 12 noon (
A disclosure table, giving details of the companies in whose ‘relevant securities’ ‘dealings’ should be disclosed, can be found on the Panel’s website at www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie.
‘Interests in securities’ arise, in summary, when a person has long economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an ‘interest’ by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities.
Terms in single quotation marks are defined in the Irish Takeover Rules, which can also be found on the Panel’s website. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a dealing under Rule 8, please consult the Panel’s website at www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie or contact the Panel on telephone number +353 1 678 9020.
No Profit Forecast / Asset Valuations
No statement in this announcement is intended to constitute a profit forecast for any period, nor should any statements be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share will necessarily be greater or lesser than those for the relevant preceding financial periods for Xeris,
Publication on Website
Pursuant to Rule 2.6(c) of the Irish Takeover Rules, this announcement will be available to Xeris employees on Xeris’ website www.Xerispharma.com and Strongbridge employees on Strongbridge’s website www.Strongbridgebio.com. Neither the content of any such website nor the content of any other website accessible from hyperlinks on such website is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
Right to Switch to a Takeover Offer
Xeris reserves the right, subject to the terms of the Transaction Agreement, to elect to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer as an alternative to the Scheme, subject to the provisions of the Transaction Agreement and with the Panel’s consent. In such event, the Acquisition will be implemented on terms at least as favorable, so far as applicable, as those which would apply to the Scheme, subject to appropriate amendments (including an acceptance condition set at 80% of the shares to which such offer relates).
If Xeris exercises its right to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer as an alternative to the Scheme, subject to the provisions of the Transaction Agreement and with the Panel’s consent, such Takeover Offer would be made in compliance with applicable
Rounding
Certain figures included in this announcement have been subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, any figures shown for the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.
General
This summary should be read in conjunction with, and is subject to, the full text of this announcement (including its Appendices).
The Acquisition is subject to, inter alia, the satisfaction or waiver (as applicable) of the Conditions set out in Appendix III to this announcement and to the full terms and conditions which will be set out in the Joint Proxy Statement (which will contain the Scheme Document).
Appendix I to this announcement contains further details of the sources of information and bases of calculations set out in this announcement; Appendix II to this announcement contains definitions of certain expressions used in this announcement; Appendix III to this announcement contains the Conditions of the Acquisition and the Scheme; Appendix IV to this announcement sets out the report from
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into certain jurisdictions may be restricted by the laws of those jurisdictions, including any Restricted Jurisdictions. Accordingly, copies of this announcement and all other documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, released, published, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any such Restricted Jurisdictions. Persons receiving such documents (including, without limitation, nominees, trustees and custodians) should observe these restrictions. Failure to do so may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the companies involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violations of any such restrictions by any person.
Any response in relation to the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Joint Proxy Statement (including the Scheme Document) or any document by which the Acquisition and the Scheme are made. Strongbridge Shareholders are advised to read carefully the formal documentation in relation to the proposed acquisition once the Joint Proxy Statement (including the Scheme Document) has been despatched.
This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with the laws of
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus equivalent document.
If you are in any doubt about the contents of this announcement or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent financial advice immediately from your appropriately authorized independent financial adviser.
1 There are various material assumptions underlying the synergy (including cost reduction and cost avoidance) estimates which may result in the synergies being materially greater or less than estimated. The estimate of synergies should therefore be read in conjunction with the key assumptions underlying the estimates set out in Appendix I of this announcement. The estimate of synergies set out in this announcement has been reported on for the purposes of Rule 19.3(b)(ii) of the Irish Takeover Rules by (i)
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Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
awey@xerispharma.com
+1 312-736-1237
Elixir Health Public Relations
+1 862-596-1304
lrocco@elixirhealthpr.com
+1 212-355-4449
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