Cellectis Announces Completion of the Additional Equity Investment by AstraZeneca
Published on May 06, 2024
- Completion of the additional equity investment of $140M by AstraZeneca, as previously announced on November 1 and 15, 2023
New York, NY – May 6, 2024 - Cellectis (Euronext Growth: ALCLS – NASDAQ: CLLS) a clinical-stage biotechnology company using its pioneering gene-editing platform to develop life-saving cell and gene therapies, today announced that, following clearance from the French Ministry of Economy and satisfaction of all other closing conditions, AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) completed the additional equity investment of $140M in Cellectis, as previously announced by Cellectis on November 1 and 15, 2023 (the “Additional Investment”).
As part of the Additional Investment, AstraZeneca subscribed today for 10,000,000 “class A” convertible preferred shares and 18,000,000 “class B” convertible preferred shares, in each case at a price of $5.00 per convertible preferred share, issued by the board of directors of Cellectis pursuant to the authorizations granted by the extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of Cellectis held on December 22, 2023.
Prior to their conversion into ordinary shares, the “class A" convertible preferred shares have single voting rights and will not be eligible for double voting rights under any circumstances, and the “class B” convertible preferred shares have no voting rights except with respect to any distribution of dividends or reserves. Both classes of preferred shares enjoy a liquidation preference (if any liquidation surplus remains after repayment of Cellectis’ creditors and of par value to all shareholders) and are convertible, at AstraZeneca’s direction, into the same number of ordinary shares with the same rights as the outstanding ordinary shares.
Immediately after the Additional Investment, AstraZeneca owns approximately 44% of the share capital and 30% of the voting rights of the Company (based on the number of voting rights currently outstanding).
In addition, the appointment of Mr. Marc Dunoyer and Dr. Tyrell Rivers as members of the board of directors of Cellectis, decided by the extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of Cellectis held on December 22, 2023 and conditioned upon the completion of the Additional Investment, is now effective.
In the absence of a public offering, no prospectus will be established in France or outside of France in connection with the Additional Investment.