GW Pharmaceuticals PLC Exercise of Underwriters' Option to Purchase ADSs (3668K)

TIDMGWP

RNS Number : 3668K

GW Pharmaceuticals PLC

24 June 2014

GW Pharmaceuticals plc Announces Full Exercise of Underwriters' Option to Purchase Additional ADSs

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISSEMINATION IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN OR SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

London, UK, 24 June 2014: GW Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: GWPH, AIM: GWP, "GW" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel therapeutics from its proprietary cannabinoid product platform, announced today the full exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase from the Company 255,000 additional ADSs representing 3,060,000 ordinary shares of GW at a price of $86.83 per ADS. The exercise of the underwriters' option is further to the underwritten public offering by the Company and certain of its shareholders of 1,700,000 American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") representing 20,400,000 ordinary shares of GW, announced on 19 June 2014. The exercise of the option brings the total ADSs to be sold by GW to 1,455,000 and brings to $126.3 million the gross proceeds to the Company raised in the public offering (before deducting underwriting discount, commissions and offering expenses). Closing of the offering is expected to occur on 25 June 2014.

Morgan Stanley, BofA Merrill Lynch and Cowen and Company, are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Piper Jaffray is acting as lead manager.

The ADSs described above are being offered by GW and the selling shareholders pursuant to a shelf registration statement filed by GW with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") that became automatically effective on 7 May 2014. The offering of the ADSs is being made only by means of a prospectus and prospectus supplement. You may obtain these documents on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the prospectus and prospectus supplement may be obtained from Morgan Stanley, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014; BofA Merrill Lynch, 222 Broadway, New York, NY 10038, attention: Prospectus Department, email: [e-mail]; Cowen and Company, c/o Broadridge Financial Services, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY, 11717, Attn: Prospectus Department; or from Piper Jaffray., Attention: Prospectus Department, 800 Nicollet Mall, J12S03, Minneapolis, MN 55402.

As announced on 19 June 2014, certain of the directors of the Company have, pursuant to an underwriting agreement dated 18 June 2014, agreed to sell some of their ordinary shares in GW at the offering price of $86.83 per ADS, less underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses. The number of shares to be sold by Dr Geoffrey Guy was previously disclosed on 19 June 2014 as 3,087,428 ordinary shares. The correct number to be sold is 3,087,430 ordinary shares.

Following the completion of this offering the number of GW ordinary shares in which each Director will be beneficially interested and the percentage of the Company's enlarged issued share capital represented by that resulting beneficial interest will be as set out in the table below:

 
 Director        Resulting     Percentage 
                  beneficial    of enlarged 
                  interest      share capital 
                                represented 
                                by resulting 
                                beneficial 
                                interest 
--------------  ------------  --------------- 
 Geoffrey 
  Guy            14,100,226         6.0% 
--------------  ------------  --------------- 
 Justin Gover     2,143,305         0.9% 
--------------  ------------  --------------- 
 Stephen            5,000          <0.1% 
  Wright 
--------------  ------------  --------------- 
 Thomas Lynch      56,344          <0.1% 
--------------  ------------  --------------- 
 Adam George       21,696          <0.1% 
--------------  ------------  --------------- 
 James Noble       47,500          <0.1% 
--------------  ------------  --------------- 
 

The 17,460,000 new ordinary shares being issued by the Company pursuant to the offering by the Company and the 1,885,911 new ordinary shares being issued by the Company on completion of the previously announced exercise of options by the relevant directors (together the "New Shares") will, when issued, be credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing ordinary shares of the Company, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid in respect of such shares after the date of issue of the New Shares.

Application has been made to the London Stock Exchange for the New Shares to be admitted to the AIM market operated by the London Stock Exchange. It is expected that admission will become effective at 8.00 a.m. on 26 June 2014.

This press release does not constitute a prospectus and does not constitute or form, and will not form, part of any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or acquire, any of the ordinary shares or ADSs or any other securities in the United States of America or in any other jurisdiction. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Any public offering of securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus. Such prospectus will contain detailed information about the issuer and its management and financial statements. This press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135e under the Securities Act.

No money, securities or other consideration is being solicited, and, if sent in response to the information contained in this press release, will not be accepted.

Members of the public outside the United States will not be eligible to take part in the offering described above.

This press release is not directed to, or intended for distribution or use by, any person or entity that is a citizen or resident or located in any locality, state, country or other jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, availability or use would be contrary to law or regulation or which would require any registration or licensing within such jurisdiction.

The distribution of this press release into jurisdictions other than the UK may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions.

For readers in the European Economic Area

In any EEA Member State that has implemented the Prospectus Directive, this communication is only addressed to and directed at qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive. The term "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including Directive 2010/73/EU, to the extent implemented in each relevant Member State), together with any relevant implementing measure in the relevant Member State.

For readers in the United Kingdom

This communication, in so far as it constitutes an invitation or inducement to enter into investment activity (within the meaning of s21 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 as amended) in connection with the securities which are the subject of the offering described in this press release or otherwise, is being directed only at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within Article 19(5) ("Investment professionals") of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (iii) certain high value persons and entities who fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("High net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc") of the Order; or (iv) any other person to whom it may lawfully be communicated (all such persons in (i) to (iv) together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The ADSs are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such ADSs will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

About GW Pharmaceuticals plc

Founded in 1998, GW is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel therapeutics from its proprietary cannabinoid product platform in a broad range of disease areas. GW commercialized the world's first plant-derived cannabinoid prescription drug, Sativex(R), which is approved for the treatment of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis in 25 countries outside the United States. Sativex is also in Phase 3 clinical development as a potential treatment of pain in people with advanced cancer. This Phase 3 program is intended to support the submission of a New Drug Application for Sativex in cancer pain with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and in other markets around the world. GW has a deep pipeline of additional cannabinoid product candidates, including Epidiolex which has received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for the treatment of Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes, severe, drug-resistant epilepsy syndromes. GW's product pipeline also includes compounds in Phase 1 and 2 clinical development for glioma, ulcerative colitis, type--2 diabetes, and schizophrenia. For further information, please visit www.gwpharm.com.

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements that reflect GW's current expectations regarding future events, including statements regarding the timing of and potential listing of American Depository Shares on the NASDAQ Global Market, the proposed closing date of such offering and development and regulatory clearance of the GW's products. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events could differ materially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors, including (inter alia), the success of the GW's research strategies, the applicability of the discoveries made therein, the successful and timely completion of uncertainties related to the regulatory process, and the acceptance of Sativex(R), Epidiolex(R) and other products and product candidates by consumer and medical professionals. A further list and description of other risks and uncertainties associated with an investment in GW can be found in GW's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its shelf registration statement, the prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference therein. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. GW undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

Enquiries:

 
 GW Pharmaceuticals plc                     (Today) [phone] 
 Justin Gover, Chief Executive Officer      (Thereafter) + 44 1980 
                                             557000 
 Stephen Schultz, VP Investor Relations     917 280 2424 / 401 500 
  (US)                                       6570 
 
 Peel Hunt LLP (Nominated Adviser)          [phone] 
 James Steel/Oliver Jackson 
 
 FTI Consulting (Media Enquiries) 
 Ben Atwell / Simon Conway / John Dineen 
  (UK)                                      + 44 20 3727 1000 
 

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

MSCMMGZVRDVGDZG