Pre-Annual General Meeting Information • Jan 29, 2019
Pre-Annual General Meeting Information
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Limited Liability Company (Naamloze Vennootschap) Generaal De Wittelaan 11/B 2800 Mechelen Belgium Company Number VAT BE 0505.640.808 (RLP Antwerp, division Mechelen) (the "Company")
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This special report has been prepared by the board of directors of the Company in accordance with Article 596 of the Belgian Companies Code and relates to the proposal of the board of directors to dis-apply, in the interest of the Company, the statutory preferential subscription right of the Company's existing shareholders and, in so far as required, of the Company's existing warrantholders, in connection with a proposed increase of the share capital of the Company in the framework of the authorised capital with a maximum amount of EUR 76,037.90 (excluding issue premium) through the issuance of a maximum of 7,603,790 new shares, to be offered via a private placement, through an accelerated bookbuilding procedure, to a broad group of currently unidentified Belgian and foreign institutional, qualified and/or professional investors (including, subject to applicable securities law rules and regulations, natural persons), in and outside of Belgium (the "Transaction").
In particular, the board of directors notes that the statutory preferential subscription right is not dis-applied in favour of one or more specified persons, within the meaning of Article 598 of the Belgian Companies Code.
In this report, the board of directors explains and clarifies the proposed dis-application of the preferential subscription right in connection with the proposed increase of the share capital in the framework of the Transaction and, more particularly, the issue price of the new shares and the financial consequences of the Transaction for the shareholders (including with respect to their participation in the results and the share capital of the Company).
This special report must be read together with the report prepared in accordance with Article 596 of the Belgian Companies Code by the Company's statutory auditor, Deloitte Bedrijfsrevisoren BV ovve CVBA, a civil company having the form of a cooperative company with limited liability organised and existing under the laws of Belgium, with registered office at Luchthaven Nationaal 1J, 1930 Zaventem, Belgium, represented by Mr. Gert Vanhees, auditor.
By virtue of the resolution of the extraordinary general shareholders' meeting of the Company held on 13 April 2015, as published by excerpt in the Annexes to the Belgian Official Gazette of 13 May 2015 under number 15069280, the board of directors of the Company has been granted certain powers to increase the Company's share capital in the framework of the authorised capital. The powers under the authorised capital have been set out in Article 10 of the Company's Articles of Association.
Pursuant to the authorisation granted by the extraordinary general shareholders' meeting, the board of directors was authorised to increase the share capital of the Company in one or more transactions with a maximum amount of EUR 391,440.13 (excluding issue premium). The authorisation is valid for a period of five years as from 13 May 2015.
The capital increases that can be effected in accordance with the aforementioned authorisation can take place by means of contributions in cash or in kind, by capitalisation of reserves, whether available or unavailable for distribution, and capitalisation of issue premium, with or without the issuance of new shares with or without voting rights. The board of directors may also use the authorisation for the issuance of convertible bonds or warrants, bonds with warrants or other securities.
When exercising its powers under the authorised capital, the board of directors is authorised to limit or dis-apply the statutory preferential subscription right of the shareholders (within the meaning of Article 592 and following of the Belgian Companies Code) in the interest of the Company. This limitation or dis-application of the preferential subscription right can also be done in favour of members of the personnel of the Company or its subsidiaries or in favour of one or more specific persons, other than members of the personnel of the Company or its subsidiaries.
The board of directors has used its powers under the authorised capital (a) in November 2016, for an amount of EUR 40,589.17 (excluding issue premium), through the issuance of 4,058,917 new shares, (b) in December 2017, for an amount of EUR 64,000.00 (excluding issue premium), through the issuance of 6,400,000 new shares and (c) in September 2018 for an amount of EUR 13,354.26 (excluding issue premium), in relation to the issuance of 1,335,426 warrants each exercisable to subscribe for one (1) new share in the Company under the 2018 Warrant Plan. The board of directors therefore still has the authority under the authorised capital to increase the Company's share capital with an aggregate amount of EUR 273,496.70 (excluding issue premium).
In accordance with Article 10 of the Company's Articles of Association, the board of directors envisages to increase the share capital of the Company in the framework of the authorised capital through a contribution in cash of a maximum amount of EUR 76,037.90 (excluding issue premium) by issuing a maximum number of 7,603,790 new shares.
If not all of the offered new shares are subscribed for, the proposed capital increase can nevertheless be completed for up to all or part of the subscriptions that the Company will have received and accepted at the applicable issue price, which will be determined as set forth below, and provided that the board of directors, or the placement committee that shall be established by the board of directors (the "Placement Committee"), so decides.
Even if all offered new shares are subscribed for, the capital increase can be completed by issuing less shares than the number of subscriptions received by the Company at the applicable issue price, which will be determined as set forth below and provided that the board of directors or the Placement Committee so decides. The board of directors or the Placement Committee may, for the avoidance of doubt, also decide not to complete the contemplated capital increase, even if all or part of the offered new shares are subscribed for.
The subscription period shall start at the earliest on the day of the board meeting approving the contemplated capital increase and shall end at the latest thirty (30) days after the opening of the subscription period. The board of directors or the Placement Committee is, however, authorised to already increase the share capital of the Company at any time during the subscription period up to the number of subscriptions that the Company will already have received and accepted at that time. The board of directors or the Placement Committee is also authorised to lengthen or shorten the subscription period and/or to prematurely end the subscription period, at its sole discretion, even if the offered new shares have not or have only partially been subscribed for.
In the framework of the contemplated capital increase, the board of directors proposes to dis-apply the preferential subscription right of the Company's existing shareholders and, in so far as required, of the Company's existing warrantholders, in accordance with Article 596 of the Belgian Companies Code, in order to allow Kempen & Co. N.V. ("Kempen"), KBC Securities SA/NV ("KBC Securities") and Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG ("Berenberg", and together with Kempen and KBC Securities, the "Joint Bookrunners") to offer the new shares to a broad group of currently unidentified Belgian and foreign institutional, qualified and/or professional investors (including, subject to applicable securities law rules and regulations, natural persons), in and outside of Belgium, in the framework of a private placement through an accelerated bookbuilding procedure.
The Joint Bookrunners shall be instructed by the Company to proceed with a so-called accelerated bookbuilding procedure with a broad group of currently unidentified Belgian and foreign institutional, qualified and/or professional investors (including, subject to applicable securities law rules and regulations, natural persons), in and outside of Belgium, that are to be contacted by the Joint Bookrunners during the subscription period in order to solicit their interest to subscribe for the shares that are to be issued by the Company in the framework of the Transaction.
The issue price of all of the new shares to be issued shall at least be equal to the fractional value (fractiewaarde) of the existing shares, i.e., EUR 0.01 per share. The board of directors or the Placement Committee shall determine the amount of the issue premium in consultation with the Joint Bookrunners and shall consequently determine the final issue price (consisting of the fractional value plus issue premium), inter alia taking into account the results of the above mentioned accelerated bookbuilding procedure.
The amount by which the issue price of the new shares shall exceed the fractional value of the existing shares of the Company (i.e., EUR 0.01) shall be booked as issue premium. This issue premium shall be accounted for on the liabilities side of the Company's balance sheet under its net equity. The account on which the issue premium shall be booked shall, like the share capital, serve as the guarantee for third parties and can, except for its incorporation into the share capital, only be reduced on the basis of a lawful resolution of the general shareholders' meeting passed in the manner required for an amendment to the Company's Articles of Association.
The Company shall make the necessary filings and applications, all as required by applicable regulations, in order to permit an admission to trading on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels immediately following the issuance of the new shares.
The new shares to be issued will have the same rights and benefits as, and rank pari passu in all respects, including as to entitlement to dividends, with, the existing and outstanding shares of the Company at the moment of their issuance and will be entitled to distributions in respect of which the relevant record date or due date falls on or after the date of issuance of the new shares.
The board of directors believes that the Transaction is in the interest of the Company because the Transaction will improve the net equity position of the Company. Biocartis currently envisages using the net proceeds of the placement of the new shares to fund the expansion of the Idylla™ test menu and applications, its sales and marketing activities, further investments in cartridge manufacturing capacity, and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
The proposed Transaction may furthermore allow the Company to further strengthen its image with investors, both on a national and an international level, which may be in the interest of the further development of the Company's activities and any future capital markets transactions.
The Transaction may also allow the Company to broaden its shareholders' structure, both on a national and an international level, which may improve both the stability of the shareholders' structure of the Company and the liquidity of the Company's shares as traded on Euronext Brussels.
The issue price of the new shares shall at least be equal to the fractional value of the existing shares of the Company, i.e., EUR 0.01 per share.
The amount of the issue premium and, hence, the total issue price of the new shares (fractional value plus issue premium) shall be determined by the board of directors or by the Placement Committee, in consultation with the Joint Bookrunners, on the basis of the results of the aforementioned accelerated bookbuilding procedure that is organised by the Joint Bookrunners. During this process, interested investors can indicate to the Joint Bookrunners their interest to subscribe for the new shares, as well as the number of shares and the issue price at which they are willing to subscribe for the new shares. Such bookbuilding procedure constitutes, in the opinion of the board of directors, a fair and objective method on the basis of which a justified issue price can be determined.
The board of directors proposes to proceed with the contemplated increase of the share capital of the Company in the framework of the authorised capital and with the issuance of the new shares without preferential subscription right of the existing shareholders and, in so far as required, of the existing warrantholders. The board of directors hence proposes to dis-apply the preferential subscription right of the existing shareholders and, in so far as required, of the existing warrantholders, in connection with the contemplated Transaction.
The dis-application of the preferential subscription right of the existing shareholders and, in so far as required, of the existing warrantholders, allows the Joint Bookrunners to offer the new shares directly to a broad group of currently unidentified Belgian and foreign institutional, qualified and/or professional investors (including, subject to applicable securities law rules and regulations, natural persons), in and outside of Belgium, that are to be contacted by the Joint Bookrunners during the subscription period in order to solicit their interest to subscribe for the new shares.
Firstly, this allows the Company to raise a significant amount of funds through an accelerated process to further finance its activities, as set out above. These activities require further investments and funding, and, if successful, the Company would be able to use the net proceeds of the contemplated Transaction for these activities.
Secondly, the structure may allow the Company to broaden its shareholders' structure, both on a national and an international level, which may improve both the stability of the shareholders' structure of the Company and the liquidity of the Company's shares as traded on Euronext Brussels. This is in the interest of both the Company and the existing shareholders of the Company.
Thirdly, this may allow the Company to further strengthen its image with investors, both on a national and an international level. This is in the interest of the further development of the Company's activities.
Fourth, and taking into account the Company's experience at the occasion of the initial public offering completed in April 2015 and the private placements with accelerated bookbuilding procedures as completed in November 2016 and December 2017, the board of directors is not in favour of proceeding with a capital increase by means of a public offering at this stage, but rather through a private placement. A public offering is not only very costly for the Company, it also requires a considerably longer preparation, as a result of which the Company could miss a potential window of opportunity which according to the Company's financial advisors currently exists to attract additional funds on the capital markets. It is indeed uncertain that such a window of opportunity would still exist in the near future. The private placement, hence, allows the Company to raise new funds in a fast and cost efficient manner.
For all of the above reasons, the board of directors is of the opinion that the contemplated capital increase, even with dis-application of the preferential subscription right, is in the interest of both the Company and the existing shareholders as this may allow the Company to swiftly and cost-efficiently attract the new funds that are necessary to implement its strategy.
The following paragraphs provide an overview of certain financial consequences of the proposed Transaction. For further information with regard to the financial consequences of the proposed Transaction, reference is also made to the report prepared in accordance with Article 596 of the Belgian Companies Code by the statutory auditor of the Company, Deloitte Bedrijfsrevisoren BV ovve CVBA.
The actual effects of the proposed Transaction cannot yet be determined with certainty, as the key financial parameters of the offering such as the actual number and the issue price of the new shares to be issued are unknown as at the date of this report, and will not be known until after the closing of the offering of the new shares and bookbuilding procedure. Furthermore, once started and depending on the circumstances, the offering could still be postponed or cancelled.
Accordingly, the discussion herein of the financial consequences of the Transaction for existing shareholders is purely illustrative and hypothetical, and is based on purely indicative financial parameters (where relevant). The actual issue price and the number of the new shares to be issued in connection with the Transaction may vary significantly from the hypothetical values used in this report.
At the date of this special report, the share capital of the Company amounts to EUR 513,610.88, represented by 51,361,088 shares without nominal value, each representing the same fraction of the share capital, i.e., EUR 0.01. The share capital is entirely and unconditionally subscribed for and is fully paid-up.
Furthermore, at the date of this report, 3,435,603 shares can still be issued by the Company, of which:
The 2013 Stock Options, the 2015 Stock Options, the 2017 Stock Options and the 2018 Stock Options are hereinafter jointly referred to as the "Warrants".
Notes:
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(1) Outstanding stock options means all stock options (each such stock option having the form of a warrant) created under the '2013 Plan', the '2015 Plan', the '2017 Plan' or the '2018 Plan', which have not yet been exercised and which have not yet become null and void for any reason.
For the purpose of the full-dilution scenario calculations further below, it is assumed that the remaining number of shares that can still be issued pursuant to the Warrants has indeed been issued.
Each share in the Company currently represents an equal part of the share capital of the Company and provides for one vote in function of the part of the capital it represents. The issuance of the new shares in the framework of the Transaction will lead to a dilution of the existing shareholders of the Company and of the relative voting power of each share in the Company.
The dilution relating to the voting right also applies, mutatis mutandis, to the participation of each share in the profit and liquidation proceeds and other rights attached to the shares of the Company, such as the preferential subscription right in case of a capital increase in cash through the issuance of shares.
Specifically, prior to the Transaction (and the issuance of 3,435,603 new shares pursuant to the Warrants), each share participates equally in the profit and liquidation proceeds of the Company and the preferential subscription right in case of a capital increase in cash. Upon the issuance of the new shares in the framework of the Transaction (and upon exercise of the Warrants), the new shares to be issued will have the same rights and benefits as, and rank pari passu in all respects with, the existing and outstanding shares of the Company at the moment of their issuance and will be entitled to distributions in respect of which the relevant record date or due date falls on or after the date of issuance of the shares. As a result (and to the extent the new shares will be issued and subscribed for), the participation by the existing shares in the profit and liquidation proceeds of the Company and the preferential subscription right in case of a capital increase in cash, shall be diluted accordingly.
The evolution of the share capital and the number of shares, with voting rights attached, of the Company as a result of the proposed Transaction is simulated below. Subject to the methodological reservations noted in paragraph 7.1, the table below reflects the evolution of the number of outstanding shares, assuming a maximum number of 7,603,790 new shares to be issued in the framework of the Transaction. The table below assumes for the sake of the theoretical computation of the dilutive effect that existing shareholders would subscribe for none of the new shares (maximal dilution).
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The above simulation demonstrates that, assuming an issuance of 7,603,790 new shares, the shares existing immediately prior to the Transaction would no longer represent 1/51,361,088 of the share capital, but 1/58,964,878 of the resulting share capital. For the shares outstanding immediately prior to the Transaction, this would represent a dilution of the participation in the share capital and the results of the Company of 12.90%.
Assuming that all Warrants would already have been exercised and 3,435,603 new shares would be issued as a result thereof, each share existing immediately prior to such exercise would no longer represent 1/51,361,088 of the share capital, but 1/54,796,691 of the resulting share capital (representing a dilution of 6.27% for the shares outstanding immediately prior to the exercise of all Warrants). Assuming that all 7,603,790 new shares issued at the occasion of the Transaction are fully subscribed for, the existing shares after the exercise of all Warrants would no longer represent 1/54,796,691 of the share capital but 1/62,400,481. For the 51,361,088 shares that are outstanding prior to the exercise of all Warrants and prior to the Transaction, the exercise of all Warrants followed by the Transaction would represent a dilution of the participation in the share capital and the results of the Company of 17.69%.
Subject to the methodological reserves noted in paragraph 7.1, the table below reflects the evolution of the share capital, assuming a maximum number of 7,603,790 new shares and a maximum amount of share capital increase of EUR 76,037.90 (excluding issue premium). The maximum amount of share capital increase is computed by multiplying the number of the new shares to be issued with the fractional value of the Company, i.e., EUR 0.01 per share.
| Before the Transaction | |
|---|---|
| Share capital (in EUR) | 513,610.88 |
| Outstanding shares | 51,361,088 |
| Fractional value (in EUR) | 0.01 |
| Transaction(2) | |
| Increase of share capital (in EUR)(3) |
76,037.90 |
| Number of new shares issued | 7,603,790 |
| After the Transaction | |
| Share capital (in EUR) | 589,648.78 |
| Outstanding shares | 58,964,878 |
| Fractional value (in EUR) | 0.01 |
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The evolution of the consolidated accounting net equity of the Company as a result of the Transaction is simulated below. The simulation is based on the following:
(a) The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the six months ended on June 30, 2018 (which have been prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards or IFRS, as adopted by the European Union). The consolidated accounting net equity of the Company as at June 30, 2018 amounted to EUR 112,660 (000) or EUR 2.20 (rounded) per share (based on 51,325,088 outstanding shares as on June 30, 2018).
For further information on the Company's net equity position on the aforementioned dates, reference is made to the financial statements of the Company, which are available on the Company's website.
Based on the assumptions set out above, as a result of the Transaction, the Company's accounting net equity on a consolidated basis, would be increased as indicated below:
| Transaction | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Issue price of EUR 10.00 |
Issue price of EUR 11.00 |
Issue price of EUR 12.00 |
|
| Consolidated net equity for H1 2018 |
|||
| On June 30, 2018 | |||
| Net equity (in EUR '000) | 112,660 | 112,660 | 112,660 |
| Outstanding shares(1) |
51,325,088 | 51,325,088 | 51,325,088 |
| Net equity per share (in EUR) (rounded) |
2.20 | 2.20 | 2.20 |
| Transaction | |||
| Increase of net equity (in EUR)(2) | 76,037,900.00 | 83,641,690.00 | 91,245,480.00 |
| Number of new shares issued | 7,603,790 | 7,603,790 | 7,603,790 |
| After Transaction | |||
| Net equity (in EUR '000) (rounded)(3) |
188,697.90 | 196,301.69 | 203,905.48 |
| Outstanding shares(1) |
58,928,878 | 58,928,878 | 58,928,878 |
| Net equity per share (in EUR) (rounded)(3) |
3.20 | 3.33 | 3.46 |
| Transaction | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Issue price of EUR 10.00 |
Issue price of EUR 11.00 |
Issue price of EUR 12.00 |
|
| Consolidated net equity for FY 2017 |
|||
| On December 31, 2017 Net equity (in EUR '000) Outstanding shares(4) |
132,239 51,102,272 |
132,239 51,102,272 |
132,239 51,102,272 |
| Net equity per share (in EUR) (rounded) |
2.59 | 2.59 | 2.59 |
| Transaction Increase of net equity (in EUR)(2) |
76,037,900.00 | 83,641,690.00 | 91,245,480.00 |
| Number of new shares issued | 7,603,790 | 7,603,790 | 7,603,790 |
| After Transaction Net equity (in EUR '000) |
|||
| (rounded)(5) |
208,276.90 | 215,880.69 | 223, 484.48 |
| Outstanding shares(4) |
58,706,062 | 58,706,062 | 58,706,062 |
| Net equity per share (in EUR) (rounded)(5) |
3.55 | 3.68 | 3.81 |
Notes:
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The table above demonstrates that the Transaction will, from a pure accounting point of view, lead to an increase of the amount represented by each share in the consolidated accounting net equity of the Company. Notably, following the Transaction, the consolidated accounting net equity as per June 30, 2018, would amount to, respectively, (rounded) EUR 3.20, EUR 3.33 and EUR 3.46 per share (instead of EUR 2.20 (rounded) per share), depending on the applicable issue price, and the consolidated accounting net equity of the Company as per December 31, 2017 would amount to, respectively, (rounded) EUR 3.55, EUR 3.68 and EUR 3.81 per share (instead of EUR 2.59 (rounded) per share), depending on the applicable issue price.
The evolution of the market capitalisation as a result of the proposed Transaction is simulated below.
Subject to the methodological reservations noted in paragraph 7.1, the table below reflects the impact of the Transaction on the market capitalisation and the resulting financial dilution at various price levels, assuming a maximum number of 7,603,790 new shares and a maximum aggregate amount of gross proceeds of the capital increase of EUR 76,037.90 (excluding issue premium).
After close of trading on the date of this report, i.e. 21 January 2019, the Company's market capitalisation was EUR 626,605,273.60, on the basis of a closing price of EUR 12.20 per share. Assuming that, following the Transaction, the market capitalisation increases exclusively with the funds raised (i.e., respectively, EUR 76,037,900.00, EUR 83,641,690.00 or EUR 91,245,480.00) on the basis of an issue price of, respectively, EUR 10.00, EUR 11.00 or EUR 12.00 per share, then the new market capitalisation would, respectively, be (rounded) EUR 11.92, EUR 12.05, and EUR 12.17 per share. This would represent a (theoretical) financial dilution of respectively 2.35%, 1.24% and 0.25% per share in the event of an issue price of respectively EUR 10.00, EUR 11.00 and EUR 12.00 per share.
| Transaction | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Issue price of EUR 10.00 |
Issue price of EUR 11.00 |
Issue price of EUR 12.00 |
|
| Before the Transaction(1) | |||
| Market capitalisation (in EUR). Outstanding shares |
626,605,273.60 51,361,088 |
626,605,273.60 51,361,088 |
626,605,273.60 51,361,088 |
| Market capitalisation per share (in EUR) |
12.20 | 12.20 | 12.20 |
| Transaction(2) | |||
| Funds raised (in EUR) | 76,037,900.00 | 83,641,690.00 | 91,245,480.00 |
| Number of new shares issued. | 7,603,790 | 7,603,790 | 7,603,790 |
| After the Transaction(1) | |||
| Market capitalisation (in EUR). | 702,643,173.60 | 710,246,963.60 | 717,850,753.60 |
| Outstanding shares | 58,964,878 | 58,964,878 | 58,964,878 |
| Market capitalisation per share (in EUR) (rounded) |
11.92 | 12.05 | 12.17 |
| Dilution ______ |
-2.35% | -1.24% | -0.25% |
Notes:
For a further discussion of the financial consequences of the proposed Transaction, the board of directors refers to the special report prepared in connection therewith by the statutory auditor of the Company.
* * *
Done on 21 January 2019.
On behalf of the board of directors,
Herman Verrelst Director
By: [signed] By: [signed] Luc Gijsens BVBA Permanently represented by Luc Gijsens Director
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