REINACH, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Evolva (SIX: EVE), announces entering into a Standby Equity Distribution Agreement (“SEDA”) with a fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LLC (“Yorkville”). Under the terms of the agreement, Yorkville has committed to provide up to CHF 30 million in equity financing over a 36 month period in individual tranches of up to CHF 1,000,000 each. In exchange for the funds to be provided, Yorkville will receive Evolva shares at a price which will be determined anew each time a SEDA tranche is called. The shares will be placed at a 5% discount to the market price – which is in line with Swiss market practice for private placements. Evolva and Yorkville successfully worked together on a similar basis in the 2011-2013 period.
The SEDA has been established as part of the medium-term funding of Evolva’s operations. If Evolva were to utilise the SEDA in full, the cash runway would be extended by roughly one year. It remains at the sole discretion of Evolva to determine if and when to draw from the facility. In return for the 3-year investment commitment provided by Yorkville, Evolva will pay an initial upfront fee of CHF 250,000 in cash. Two additional instalments of CHF 200,000 each (settled in cash or Evolva shares) will be due when the amount drawn from the facility crosses CHF 10 million and CHF 20 million.
Evolva will create an initial block of 25m treasury shares out of authorised capital which may be used for future share issues under the SEDA agreement or other financing purposes. At the current share price (CHF 0.59) the total commitment represents a maximum of approximately 51 million shares. At the date of this release, the number of Evolva shares in issue is 399.2 million.
Oliver Walker, CFO of Evolva, commented, “The SEDA provides us with financial flexibility, which is key at our current stage. Moreover, it has a reasonable pricing, limiting dilution for our current shareholders. It is a great addition to our financing toolkit. We have worked with Yorkville before and I am confident the facility will work as smoothly as it did back then.”
Financial update 2016
On 10 January 2017, Evolva published a preliminary, unaudited revenue estimate for 2016 of CHF 9 -10 million. After further analysis, the number is expected to be CHF 9.6 million. Based on the unaudited 2016 numbers, Evolva’s net loss will be around CHF 36 million, versus CHF 31.8 million in 2015. The 2016 number is in line with current market consensus. Cash and cash-equivalents at year-end 2016 amounted to CHF 47.5 million, as published in January. The complete, audited financials will be published on 30 March 2017. The Annual General Meeting of shareholders will take place on 16 May 2017.
About the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement with Yorkville
At any time during the 36 month commitment period, Evolva Holding SA (“Evolva”) may request Yorkville to purchase newly issued Evolva shares or shares Evolva has in its own possession by delivering an advance notice to Yorkville designating the requested portion of the commitment amount to be taken up. The maximum portion of the commitment amount to be used at a time is CHF 1,000,000. In exchange for the funds to be provided, Yorkville will receive Evolva shares.
The pricing of the shares will be determined as 95% of the lowest daily volume-weighted average share price of the five trading days following the date on which Evolva shall have sent to Yorkville the relevant advance notice ("Pricing Period"). Further, should the market price on certain of the five trading days following the date of advance notice fall below a certain Minimum Price, the pro rata subscription for such days will not be executed unless Yorkville decides to execute such subscription at the Minimum Price.
Yorkville can at no point in time hold more than 9.9% of the number of outstanding shares. Yorkville is committed not to short sell or enter into any hedging transactions related to Evolva stock.
In return for the 3-year investment commitment provided by Yorkville, Evolva will pay an initial upfront fee of CHF 250,000 in cash. Two additional instalments of CHF 200,000 each (settled in cash or Evolva shares) will be due when the amount drawn from the facility crosses CHF 10 million and CHF 20 million.
Other than the afore-said, Yorkville is not restricted in its right to sell Evolva shares without any limit of time, including during the Pricing Period, in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations.
At the current share price (CHF 0.59), the total commitment represents a maximum of approximately 51 million shares. At the date of this release, the number of Evolva shares in issue is 399.2 million.
About Evolva
Evolva solves the supply chain issues of nature through a 21st century mix of biotechnology and brewing. We develop, make and sell natural ingredients that provide significant benefits to people in daily life, but whose supply chain issues have limited their use until now. Our flagship ingredients are stevia, nootkatone and resveratrol, but we work on many more, both on our own behalf and with others. To make our world sustainable requires nature and technology to work together as one, and our aim is to play a (small) part in achieving this transformation. We operate internationally. For more information see www.evolva.com. Questions about our approach? Have a look at our video.
This press release contains specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like believe, assume, expect or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of these uncertainties readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments.
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