Microbix Biosystems Inc. (
TSX: MBX, OTCQX: MBXBF,
Microbix®), a life sciences innovator, manufacturer, and
exporter, announces the initiation of a Normal Course Issuer Bid
(“
NCIB”) program for the repurchase and
cancellation of outstanding common shares.
Specifically, the NCIB enables Microbix to
repurchase up to 6,827,518 Common Shares
("Shares"), that number being approximately five
percent (5%) of the 136,550,374 Shares outstanding as at December
1, 2023. Repurchases will be made through the facilities of the
Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) over a 12-month
period starting on December 8, 2023. The actual number of Shares
which may be repurchased pursuant to the NCIB will be determined by
management under applicable rules and policies.
The NCIB has been approved by Microbix’s Board
of Directors and will be conducted in accordance with the
applicable rules and policies of the TSX and Canadian securities
laws, including TSX approval of Microbix’s notice of intention to
conduct a NCIB. Under the NCIB, Shares may be repurchased in open
market transactions on the TSX, or by such other means as may be
permitted by the TSX and applicable Canadian securities laws.
Microbix will pay the prevailing market price at the time of its
Share repurchases.
Pursuant to TSX rules and policies, the maximum
number of Shares that may be repurchased in one day via the NCIB
will be 12,286, that being 25% of the average daily trading volume
(“ADTV”) of the Shares on the TSX for the most
recently completed six calendar months, subject to certain
prescribed exceptions such as periodic block trades. The ADTV on
the TSX for six calendar months ended November 30, 2023 is 49,145.
Microbix conducted a prior NCIB for the 12-months from October 3,
2022 under which it sought and obtained approval to purchase up to
6,948,568 shares and under which it repurchased a total of
2,892,000 shares with a volume weighted average price of
$0.385.
Microbix has entered into a pre-defined
automatic securities purchase plan with its NCIB broker, PI
Financial Corp., to allow for the repurchase of Shares at times
when it ordinarily would not be active in the market due to
Microbix’s internal trading blackout periods, insider trading
rules, or otherwise. Such plans will be conducted in accordance
with applicable Canadian securities laws. Outside of such
restricted periods, the timing of repurchases will be determined by
Microbix management. Decisions regarding repurchases will be based
on market conditions, Share price, best uses of available cash, and
other factors. The funding for any repurchases pursuant to the NCIB
will be financed from working capital and all Shares will be
repurchased for cancellation. Microbix may also use its NCIB to
acquire Shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options to offset
the dilutive effect of options that have been exercised.
The Board of Directors believes Microbix’s
underlying value is not reflected in the current market price of
its Shares. As a result, depending upon future price movements and
other factors, the Board believes that the repurchase of Shares is
an appropriate use of corporate funds and in the best interests of
Microbix and its shareholders. Furthermore, the NCIB is expected to
benefit persons who continue holding Shares by increasing their
proportionate equity interest in Microbix as the repurchased Shares
are cancelled.
A copy of Microbix’s notice of the NCIB to the
TSX may be obtained by any shareholder without charge, by
contacting Jim Currie, the Company's Chief Financial Officer.
About Microbix Biosystems
Inc.Microbix Biosystems Inc. creates proprietary
biological products for human health, with over 100 skilled
employees and annualized sales targeting C$ 2.0 million per month.
It makes a wide range of critical ingredients and devices for the
global diagnostics industry, notably antigens for immunoassays and
its laboratory quality assessment products (QAPs™) that support
clinical lab proficiency testing, enable assay development and
validation, or help ensure the quality of clinical diagnostic
workflows. Its antigens drive the antibody tests of approximately
100 diagnostics makers, while QAPs are sold to clinical lab
accreditation organizations, diagnostics companies, and clinical
labs. Microbix QAPs are now available in over 30 countries,
supported by a network of 10 international distributors. Microbix
is ISO 9001 & 13485 accredited, U.S. FDA registered, Australian
TGA registered, Health Canada establishment licensed, and provides
CE marked products.
Microbix also applies its biological expertise
and infrastructure to develop other proprietary products and
technologies, most notably Kinlytic® urokinase, a biologic
thrombolytic drug used to treat blood clots, and viral transport
medium (DxTM™), to stabilize patient samples for lab-based
molecular diagnostic testing. Microbix is traded on the TSX and
OTCQX, and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Forward-Looking InformationThis
news release includes “forward-looking information,” as such term
is defined in applicable securities laws. Forward-looking
information includes, without limitation, discussion of the NCIB
and its goals and processes, the TSX and related rules,
regulations, or laws, Microbix’s business and business results,
goals or outlook, risks associated with financial results and
stability, development projects such as those referenced in its
corporate presentation, regulatory compliance and approvals, sales
to foreign jurisdictions, engineering and construction, production
(including control over costs, quality, quantity and timeliness of
delivery), foreign currency and exchange rates, maintaining
adequate working capital and raising further capital on acceptable
terms or at all, and other similar statements concerning
anticipated future events, conditions or results that are not
historical facts. These statements reflect management’s current
estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not
guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all
forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and that actual
performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many
of which are beyond the Company’s control. Accordingly, actual
future events, conditions and results may differ materially from
the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or
implied in the forward-looking information. All statements are made
as of the date of this news release and represent the Company’s
judgement as of the date of this new release, and the Company is
under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking
information.
Please visit www.microbix.com or
https://www.sedarplus.ca for recent Microbix news and filings.
For further information, please contact Microbix
at:
Cameron Groome,CEO(905) 361-8910 |
Jim Currie, CFO(905) 361-8910 |
Deborah Honig, Investor RelationsAdelaide Capital Markets(647)
203-8793 ir@microbix.com |
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Copyright © 2023 Microbix Biosystems Inc.
Microbix®, DxTM™, Kinlytic®, and QAPs™ are trademarks of Microbix
Biosystems Inc.
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