QUÉBEC CITY, Oct. 12,
2012 /PRNewswire/ - Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ: AEZS)
(TSX: AEZ) (the "Company") today announced the pricing of
its previously announced public offering of 6.6 million units (the
"Offering"), with each unit consisting of one common share and 0.45
of a warrant to purchase one common share, at a purchase price of
US$2.50 per unit. Each warrant will
be exercisable for a period of five years following the issuance
thereof at an exercise price of US$3.45 per share. Net proceeds from the Offering
are expected to be approximately US$15.2
million, after deducting underwriting commissions and other
expenses related to the Offering.
Roth Capital Partners, LLC is acting as the sole
manager for the Offering.
The Offering is expected to close on or about
October 17, 2012, subject to
customary closing conditions including, but not limited to, the
receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the
approvals of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Global
Market.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from
the Offering to continue to fund its ongoing drug development
activities, particularly for the continued development of
perifosine in multiple myeloma and the advancement of its AEZS-108
and AEZS-130 programs, as well as for general corporate purposes
and working capital.
The Offering is being conducted pursuant to the
Company's effective shelf registration statement on Form F-10 filed
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), its
corresponding Canadian base shelf prospectus and an exemption from
the Autorité des marchés financiers permitting the Company
to offer common shares and warrants in the United States. A final prospectus
supplement relating to the Offering, along with the accompanying
base shelf prospectus, will be filed with the SEC and with the
securities regulatory authority in each of the provinces of
Canada. A copy of the final
prospectus supplement and the accompanying base shelf prospectus
can be obtained on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or on the SEDAR
website maintained by the Canadian Securities Administrators at
www.sedar.com. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and the
accompanying base shelf prospectus relating to the Offering may be
obtained, when available, upon request by contacting Roth Capital
Partners, LLC, 888 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660, (800) 678-9147,
e-mail: rothecm@roth.com
This press release does not and shall not
constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy
any of the Company's securities, nor shall there be any sale of the
Company's securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such
offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration
or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or
jurisdiction.
About Aeterna Zentaris
Aeterna Zentaris is an oncology and
endocrinology drug development company currently investigating
treatments for various unmet medical needs. The Company's pipeline
encompasses compounds at all stages of development, from drug
discovery through to marketed products. For more information please
visit www.aezsinc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements made pursuant to the safe harbour provisions of the U.S.
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that
could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from
those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and
uncertainties include, among others, the availability of funds and
resources to pursue R&D projects, the successful and timely
completion of clinical studies, the risk that safety and efficacy
data from any of our Phase 3 trials may not coincide with the data
analyses from previously reported Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 clinical
trials, the ability of the Company to take advantage of business
opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, uncertainties related
to the regulatory process and general changes in economic
conditions. Investors should consult the Company's quarterly and
annual filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions
for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to
forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to rely on
these forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to
update these forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligation
to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of
any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained
herein to reflect future results, events or developments, unless
required to do so by a governmental authority or by applicable
law.
SOURCE AETERNA ZENTARIS INC.