HepaHope, Inc. / IPO 19.03.2009 Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- - First public offering in nine months - US biopharmaceutical company with an innovative approach to liver research - Offer addressing institutional investors from the company's operating environment and sophisticated investors in Life Sciences - Inclusion in the Entry Standard of Frankfurt Stock Exchange Irvine (California, USA), March 19, 2009 - HepaHope, Inc., based in Irvine California (USA), is the first company conducting an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in Germany this year. The biopharmaceutical company is focused on research, development and commercialization of biologic products for patients with chronic and acute liver disease. The US company intends to carry out a capital increase in a public offering in Germany and Luxembourg. Equities are also going to be offered to institutional investors outside the USA, Canada and Japan in an international private placement. The company has decided for an IPO on the internationally respected German stock market driven by liquidity and transparency considerations. The offer is based on a prospectus, which was approved by BaFin on March 18, 2009 and is available for download on the company website www.hepahope.com. Funds totalling at least USD 8 million are to be received in connection with the IPO. All proceeds, net of the IPO costs, will be retained by the company. The shares are offered at a fixed price of USD 2.00 per share. Trading on the Open Market, Entry Standard of Frankfurt Stock Exchange is expected to start in mid-April. Further IPO details, especially on the exact time-frame of the offer, are to be published soon. The issue mainly addresses institutional investors from the environment in which the company operates and sophisticated investors in Life Sciences. BankM, a representative of biw Bank für Investments and Wertpapiere AG, is acting act as the settlement agent for the transaction. Innovative Approach in Liver Research Founded in California in 1999, HepaHope, Inc. is an active player in liver research. The members of the management and scientific advisory board of the company represent leading scientists in Hepatology. HepaPheresisTM, a crucial product of this biopharmaceutical company, is based on HepaHope's own patented core technology for organ slice cultivation and represents an innovative approach in liver treatment. After extensive successful preclinical studies the HepaPheresisTM system is being prepared for clinical phase I trials. According to the 'American Liver Foundation', more than 30 million people suffer from some hepatic disorders in the US alone. For many people suffering from liver disease, the only chance of survival is an expensive liver transplant which in many cases is impossible given the lack of donor organs. Intensive research has been conducted for years to develop methods to alleviate poorly functioning livers until transplant or recovery. HepaHope's technology that uses organ slice cultivation is showing promising results for an extracorporeal bioartificial liver. Shareholder structure and use of issue proceeds The majority shareholder of HepaHope is the company founder Dr. Sung-Soo Park, who is also the President, CEO and CTO, holding a 33.38 percent stake. Additional stakes are held by a number of institutional and private investors, mainly from South Korea, the home country of Dr. Park. All existing shareholders with a stake in the company exceeding three percent have agreed to a six-month lock-up after trading commences. Dr. Park as majority shareholder, has committed to an additional qualified lock-up of six-months. Proceeds from the issue are mainly going to be used to fund clinical trials. About HepaHope HepaHope, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on research, development and commercialization of biologic products designed to address the needs of patients with liver failure. The Company's leading proprietary technology, the HepaPheresis(TM) System, is based on an Organ Slice Cultivation Technology which aims to maintain the functionality of various organs out of the body (ex vivo) in order to better support liver failure patients. The HepaPheresis(TM) System is currently being prepared for Phase I clinical trials. HepaHope's patented core technology for organ slice cultivation is also the foundation of other product candidates in the pipeline of this company in the oncology testing market and the drug development market. The members of the management and science advisory board of the company represent leading scientists in liver research. HepaHope was founded in February 1999. The offices and research facilities of the US Company are both located in California. For further information please visit: www.hepahope.com For media inquiries HepaHope, Inc Bavesh Singh Chief Financial Officer P + 1 949 421 3617 M + 1 201 920 1819 Investor Relations IR.on AG Achim Josten Dariusch Manssuri T +49 221. 9140.970 F +49 221. 9140.978 E-mail: info@ir-on.com DGAP 19.03.2009 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DGAP-News: HepaHope, Inc. conducts IPO in Germany
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