4SC AG / Key word(s): Disposal/Contract 29.04.2016 13:27 Dissemination of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4SC sells operations of its Discovery division Planegg-Martinsried, Germany, 29 April 2016 - 4SC AG (4SC, FSE Prime Standard: VSC) today announced the sale of the operations of its subsidiary 4SC Discovery GmbH (4SC Discovery) to newly incorporated BioNTech Small Molecules GmbH (BioNTech Small Molecules). The sale comprises all key operating assets. BioNTech Small Molecules is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mainz, Germany-based BioNTech AG (BioNTech). The purchase price for the assets to be transferred with immediate effect amounts to EUR 650 thousand. In addition and without financial compensation, 4SC will be granted the right to temporarily utilize research services provided by BioNTech Small Molecules worth a person year. As of 1 May 2016, all 22 employees of 4SC Discovery in the framework of a transfer of operations will be taken over and will continue to work at the existing facility in Planegg-Martinsried. The assets to be transferred include the 4SCan(R) software developed in-house for compound discovery and optimization, 4SC Discovery's tangible fixed assets and its substance libraries. Other intangible assets are not affected by this transaction. 4SC Discovery will retain its preclinical research projects. 4SC will continue using the epigenetic schemes and the underlying intellectual property for itself, and in addition plans to out-license other projects. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information and Explanation of the Issuer to this News: Enno Spillner, CEO of 4SC, said: 'It is our goal to establish a leading company in the clinical development of epigenetic anti-cancer drugs. This is why we are not able to sustainably provide our Discovery division with the necessary resources required for rapid growth. With the transaction in effect, it will be possible for us to enhance 4SC cost-efficiently and focused on its key value drivers. We are very pleased that our long-term business partner BioNTech can ideally supplement its existing immunotherapy business and will keep the existing 4SC Discovery facility in Martinsried.' Dr Sierk Poetting, CFO of BioNTech, added: 'And we are very glad to expand our team with the experienced and competent scientists of 4SC Discovery. The successful research activities will now continue under the newly founded BioNTech Small Molecules, constituting a real asset for the entire BioNTech Group. The innovative technology now enables us to develop next-generation immunotherapies against cancer also on the basis of medicinal chemistry. Further, we will use our new research and development unit to expand and optimize our existing platforms.' About 4SC 4SC (www.4cs.com) is a biotechnology company dedicated to the research and development of small-molecule drugs focused on epigenetic mechanisms of action for the treatment of cancers with high unmet medical needs. These drugs are intended to provide innovative treatment options that are more tolerable and efficacious than existing therapies, provide a better quality of life and offer increased life expectancy. The Company's pipeline comprises promising products that are in various stages of clinical development. 4SC's aim is to generate future growth and enhance its enterprise value by entering into partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Founded in 1997, 4SC had 67 employees at 31 December 2015. 4SC has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since December 2005. About BioNTech BioNTech (www.biontech.de) is an immunotherapy leader with bench-to-market capabilities, developing truly personalized, well-tolerated and potent treatments for cancer and other diseases. Established by clinicians and scientists, the Group is pioneering disruptive technologies ranging from individualized mRNA based medicines through innovative chimeric antigen receptors / T-cell receptor-based products and novel antibody checkpoint immunomodulators. BioNTech's clinical programs are supported by an in-house molecular diagnostics unit. Founded in 2008, BioNTech is privately held, with the Strüngmann Family Office acting as the majority shareholder. Forward-looking information This ad hoc release contains certain forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement applies only on the date of this ad hoc release. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may or may not occur in the future and as a result of which the actual results and performance may differ substantially from the expected future results or performance expressed or implied in the forward looking statements. No warranties or representations are made as to the accuracy, achievement or reasonableness of such statements, estimates or projections, and 4SC AG has no obligation to update any such information or to correct any inaccuracies herein or omission herefrom which may become apparent. More information about 4SC 4SC AG Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Wolfgang Güssgen, wolfgang.guessgen@4sc.com, +49 89 700763-73 Dr. Anna Niedl, anna.niedl@4sc.com, +49 89 700763-66 MC Services Katja Arnold, katja.arnold@mc-services.eu, +49 89 210228-40 The Trout Group Chad Rubin, crubin@troutgroup.com, +1 646 378 2947 More information about BioNTech BioNTech AG Communications & Media Relations Regina Jehle, regina.jehle@biontech.de, +49 6131 9084-1273 Hume Brophy Mary Clark, Eva Haas, Hollie Vile, biontech@humebrophy.com, +44 20 3440 5813 29.04.2016 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: 4SC AG Am Klopferspitz 19a 82152 Planegg-Martinsried Germany Phone: +49 (0)89 7007 63-0 Fax: +49 (0)89 7007 63-29 E-mail: public@4sc.com Internet: www.4sc.com ISIN: DE000A14KL72 WKN: A14KL7 Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange End of Announcement DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DGAP-Adhoc: 4SC AG: 4SC sells operations of its Discovery division
| Source: EQS Group AG