OREANDA-NEWS. Shield Therapeutics plc ("Shield" or the "Company), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of secondary care-focused pharmaceuticals, is pleased to announce that it has raised gross proceeds of ?32.5 million by way of a placing and subscription of ordinary shares in the capital of the Company ("Ordinary Shares") and the issue of warrants to subscribe for Ordinary Shares ("Warrants") to a high quality group of institutional, existing and other investors (the "Placing") in connection with the admission of its Ordinary Shares and Warrants to trading on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange.

The Ordinary Shares and Warrants in Shield are expected to commence trading on AIM by no later than 8:00am GMT on 26 February 2016, under the symbol "STX" and "STXW", respectively. The Company will have a market capitalisation upon Admission of approximately ?162 million at the placing price of 150p.  Full exercise of the Warrants would generate further gross proceeds to the Company of ?17.5m.

Liberum is the Nominated Adviser and Sole Bookrunner to the Company. 

Highlights

·     Specialty pharmaceutical company with major market opportunities addressing unmet medical needs:  Focused on the development and commercialisation of secondary care-focused pharmaceuticals.

·     Late-stage company with near-term revenue potential: On 17 December 2015, the Company received a  unanimous and positive CHMP recommendation for its marketing authorisation application ("MAA") of  Feraccru, a novel and effective oral pharmaceutical product for the treatment of iron deficiency  anaemia ("IDA").  Marketing authorisation is expected to be received in the first quarter of 2016 and  commercialisation of Feraccru in Europe will commence shortly thereafter.

·     Late-stage products that have either been approved or have delivered proof of concept:  In addition to  the positive opinion received from the EU CHMP for Feraccru's MAA; PT20, a novel phosphate binder  that is being developed for the treatment for hyperphosphatemia related to chronic kidney disease ("CKD") has successfully completed a Phase 2b pivotal study.

·     Potential for strong cash generation: The Directors anticipate near-term revenues with high gross   margins following the planned launch of Feraccru in Europe in 2016 with a relatively modest level of   future spend on development of existing products to facilitate broader commercial opportunities.

·    Opportunity to create operational leverage and value via own sales infrastructure: Feraccru and PT20 are intended to be sold directly by the Company using its own commercial team with its own central   and field-based commercial infrastructure in major markets in Europe. The Company will target  specialist prescribers based in hospitals and private clinics.

·    Strong intellectual property protection: A suite of strong intellectual property, including key patents in major markets, supports each product. With marketing approval in the EU and US, Feraccru will also benefit from data and marketing exclusivity in the EU and data exclusivity in the US.

·    Experienced board and management team: Extensive expertise in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry with successful track records of commercialisation and value creation.

Details of the Placing

The Company has raised ?32.5 million through the placing and subscription of 21,666,662 new Ordinary Shares ("New Shares") at a price of 150p per Ordinary Share (the "Placing Price") to a high quality group of institutional, existing and other investors. In addition, the Company will grant to each participant in the Placing 7 Warrants for every 13 New Shares subscribed for in the Placing,  exercisable at the Placing Place until 30 June 2017.

On Admission, Shield will have a market capitalisation of approximately ?162 million. Ordinary Shares will trade under the symbol "STX" and will be registered with ISIN GB00BYV81293.  The Warrants will trade under the symbol "STXW" and will be registered with ISIN GB00BD97Z526. It is expected that dealings in the Company's Ordinary Shares and Warrants will commence trading on AIM by no later than 8:00am GMT on 26 February 2016.