MONTREAL, CANADA–(Marketwired – July 3, 2014) – Knight Therapeutics Inc. (TSX:GUD) (“Knight”), a leading Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company, announced today that it has entered into a secured debt agreement to support the acquisition of two newly formed holding companies of which Apicore LLC and Apicore US LLC (collectively, “Apicore”) will be wholly owned operating subsidiaries. The purchase arrangement included a secured loan provided by Knight and Sanders Morris Harris Inc., and an equity investment by Signet Healthcare Partners (“Signet”) for an aggregate amount of US$22.5 million. Medicure Inc. (“Medicure”) acquired a minority interest in Apicore and the founding shareholders of Apicore continue to own a significant minority interest in Apicore.
The USD $6.5 million secured loan issued by Knight will bear interest at a rate of 12% per annum and matures on June 30, 2018. The loan is secured by a charge over the U.S. assets of Apicore. In addition, Knight has been issued warrants to acquire a beneficial interest of 8.125% of Apicore. Medicure has the right to acquire all of Knight's interests in Apicore within the next 3 years for a pre-determined cash amount.
“We are excited to support Medicure and Signet in their acquisition of Apicore as the secured lender and to participate in the long-term growth of two promising life science companies, Medicure and Apicore”,” said Jonathan Ross Goodman, President and CEO of Knight.
About Knight Therapeutics Inc.
Knight Therapeutics Inc., headquartered in Montreal, Canada, is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring or in-licensing innovative pharmaceutical products for the Canadian and world markets. Knight Therapeutics' shares began trading on the TSX-V on March 3, 2014 and graduated to the TSX on April 29, 2014 under the symbol GUD. For more information about Knight Therapeutics Inc., please visit the company's web site at www.gud-knight.com or at www.sedar.com.
About Medicure
Medicure is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel small molecule therapeutics. The primary focus of the Company and its subsidiaries is the marketing and distribution of AGGRASTAT (tirofiban HCl) for non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome in the United States, where it is sold through the Company's U.S. subsidiary, Medicure Pharma, Inc. For more information on Medicure please visit www.medicure.com or www.sedar.com.
About Apicore
Apicore is a leading process R&D and API manufacturing service provider for the worldwide pharmaceutical industry. Apicore offers a wide portfolio of services ranging from manufacture of API's for the generic industry to custom synthesis for early phase pharmaceutical research, and branded products. Apicore has 2 USFDA-approved facilities. In the U.S., the Somerset, NJ facility can produce a few grams up to 200 kg volumes and in India, the Vadodara, Gujarat facility can produce a few kilograms up to 60 metric tons yearly. Both facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art analytical and research capabilities. For more information, please visit Apicore online at www.apicore.com.
About Signet
Founded in 1998, Signet Healthcare Partners provides growth capital to commercial-stage healthcare companies around the world. Over the past 16 years Signet has organized three funds and completed investments in 38 companies with 23 exits. The team, comprised of five professionals with principal offices in New York City, brings over 100 years experience of collective healthcare experience in the specialty pharmaceutical, medical device, private equity and investment banking businesses. For more information, please visit Signet online at www.signethealthcarepartners.com.
Knight Therapeutics Forward-Looking Statement
This press release may contain forward-looking statements and predictions. These forward-looking statements, by their nature, necessarily involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. The company considers the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based to be reasonable at the time they were prepared, but cautions that these assumptions regarding the future events, many of which are beyond the control of the company and its subsidiaries, may ultimately prove to be incorrect. Factors and risks, which could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations, are discussed in the company's final application for listing on the TSX Venture Exchange and in two short form prospectuses which can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, which investors should consult for additional information. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or future events and except as required by law.