LAVAL, Quebec, Nov. 26, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acasti Pharma Inc. ("Acasti" or the "Corporation") (Nasdaq:ACST) (TSX-V:APO), an emerging biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of new krill oil-based forms of omega-3 phospholipid therapies for the treatment and prevention of certain cardiometabolic disorders, announces that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of units of Acasti ("Units"), each Unit consisting of one (1) Class A share ("Common Share") and one (1) Common Share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant") of Acasti. The number of Units to be issued and the price of each Unit will be determined at the time of pricing of the offering, if any. Each Warrant would entitle its holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price to be determined at the time of pricing of the offering, if any, for a period of 60 months from the date of the closing of the offering.
The offering is being conducted in the United States pursuant to the Corporation's effective shelf registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and in Canada pursuant to a final short form base shelf prospectus filed with the securities regulatory authorities in the Provinces of Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia. Acasti is a subsidiary of Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc.
Euro Pacific Canada Inc. will act as book-running manager for the offering. The Corporation expects to grant the underwriters participating in the offering a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15 percent of the number of Units sold in the offering to cover over-allotments, if any. The offering is subject to market conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these 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. Any offer, if at all, will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying base shelf prospectus, copies of which will be available at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. Investors should read the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying short form base shelf prospectus for more complete information about Acasti and the offering. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus may be obtained in Canada from Euro Pacific Canada Inc., Attention: Lily Yu, 130 King St West Suite 2820, Toronto, M5X 1A9 (fax: 647-436-7688); or in the United States from National Securities Corporation, Attention: Kim Addarich, 410 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10022 (fax: 212-380-2828).
Acasti is an emerging biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of new krill oil-based forms of omega-3 phospholipid therapies for the treatment and prevention of certain cardiometabolic disorders, in particular abnormalities in blood lipids, also known as dyslipidemia. Because krill feeds on phytoplankton (diatoms and dinoflagellates), it is a major source of phospholipids and polyunsaturated fatty acids ("PUFAs"), mainly eicosapentaenoic acid ("EPA") and docosahexaenoic acid ("DHA"), which are two types of omega-3 fatty acids well known to be beneficial for human health. CaPre®, currently Acasti's only prescription drug candidate, is a highly purified omega-3 phospholipid concentrate derived from krill oil and is being developed to help prevent and treat hypertriglyceridemia, which is a condition characterized by abnormally high levels of triglycerides in the bloodstream. ONEMIA®, a medical food and currently Acasti's only commercialized product, is a purified omega-3 phospholipid concentrate derived from krill oil with lower levels of phospholipids, EPA and DHA content than CaPre®.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this press release may be considered forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, both of which we refer to as forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other unknown factors that could cause the actual results of Acasti to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements labeled with the terms "believes," "belief," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "will," or "plans" to be uncertain and forward-looking. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in Acasti's public securities filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities commissions. Except as required by law, Acasti disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
The offering is subject to market conditions and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by Acasti in the prospectus related to this offering and in its public securities filings available at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. Except as required by law, Acasti disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Neither NASDAQ, the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.