Company Receives $3.0 Million, Converts Bridge Loan and Signs Additional
Agreement With Merial
PORTLAND, Ore., June 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bioject Medical
Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: BJCT), a leading developer of needle-free drug
delivery systems, today announced the completion of its $5.75 million
financing with certain affiliates of Sanders Morris Harris ("SMH") and
shareholder approval of the equity conversion feature of its March 2006
term loan with Partners For Growth ("PFG"). The Company also entered into a
development and supply agreement with Merial, Ltd. ("Merial") for the
Vitajet 3 needle-free device.
At the annual shareholder meeting, held May 24, 2006, the shareholders
approved the issuance of approximately $4.5 million of Series E Preferred
Stock to affiliates of SMH. Under the terms of the agreement with the SMH
affiliates, upon shareholder approval and satisfaction of other closing
conditions, the Company received proceeds of $3.0 million from the issuance
of shares of Series E Preferred Stock at a price of $1.37 per share. In
addition, $1.5 million of convertible notes issued to certain SMH
affiliates in March 2006, plus accrued interest, converted into shares of
Series E Preferred Stock, also at a price of $1.37 per share. The Series E
Preferred Stock includes an 8% annual payment-in-kind dividend for 24
months following the closing of the Series E Preferred Stock sale.
The shareholders also approved the conversion feature included in the
debt financing of $1.25 million entered into with Partners for Growth L.P.
in March 2006. The debt is convertible by PFG at any time into Bioject's
common stock at a price of $1.37 per share.
In addition, the Company signed a development and supply agreement
Merial, a world leading animal health company, for the delivery of one of
their proprietary vaccines with a modified Vitajet 3 for use in the
companion animal market.
"We are pleased with the overwhelming shareholder approval of these
transactions. We are also pleased that we have entered into another
agreement with Merial," said Jim O'Shea, Chairman, President and CEO of
Bioject. "We believe with the additional funds, the signing of the
additional agreement with Merial and future anticipated agreements, we are
positioned to continue to execute our strategy and achieve operating
profitability within the next 15 to 18 months."
About Bioject
Bioject Medical Technologies Inc., based in Portland, Oregon, is an
innovative developer and manufacturer of needle-free drug delivery systems.
Needle-free injection works by forcing medication at high speed through a
tiny orifice held against the skin. This creates a fine stream of
high-pressure fluid penetrating the skin and depositing medication in the
tissue beneath. The Company is focused on developing mutually beneficial
agreements with leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and veterinary
companies.
About Merial
Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company,
providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health,
well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs
approximately 5,000 people and operates in more than 150 countries
worldwide. Its 2004 sales were in excess of $1.8 billion. Merial Limited is
a joint venture between Merck & Co., Inc. and sanofi-aventis. For more
information, visit http://www.merial.com.
This press release contains a forward-looking statement within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including
statements regarding future commercial agreements and achieving operating
profitability. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be
materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks,
uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation, the risk that
the products will not be accepted by the market; uncertainties related to
the time required for the Company to complete research and development and
obtain necessary clinical data and government clearances; the risk that the
Company may be unable to produce its products at a unit cost necessary for
the products to be competitive in the market; the risk that the Company may
be unable to comply with the extensive government regulations applicable to
its business; the risk that the Company may not be able to enter into new
development and licensing agreements with strategic partners; the risk that
cost savings from the recent restructuring will not be as great as
anticipated; and the risk that any additional capital that may be needed in
the future will not be available in terms acceptable to the Company, if at
all. Readers of this press release are referred to the Company's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's
reports on Form 10-K and Forms 10-Q for further discussions of factors that
could affect the Company's business and its future results. Forward-looking
statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the
date the statements are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update
forward-looking statements if conditions or management's estimates or
opinions should change.
For more information about Bioject, visit http://www.bioject.com.
SOURCE Bioject Medical Technologies Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.bioject.com
http://www.merial.com/
CONTACT:
Jim O'Shea, Chief Executive Officer, ext.
4161, or Chris Farrell, Vice President of Finance, ext. 4132,
both of Bioject Medical Technologies Inc., +1-503-692-8001
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