FRANKFURT (Reuters) - CureVac, one of Germany's leading contenders to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, said it aims to raise up to $245 million in an initial public stock offering (IPO) on the U.S. Nasdaq.
The biotech firm said on Monday it plans to offer a total of up to 15.33 million new shares, adding the shares will likely be priced at between $14.00 and $16.00 apiece.
Bank of America (NYSE:BAC), Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) and Credit Suisse (SIX:CSGN) are acting as joint book-runners, with Berenberg and Kempen & Co acting as passive book-running managers, it added.
The proceeds will fund the development of an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, the ramp-up of manufacturing capabilities, its oncology drug development and the development of a rabies vaccine, among other ventures, according to the statement.
The group, which is controlled by Software firm SAP co-founder Dietmar Hopp and also backed by the foundation of Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) co-founder Bill Gates, initially flagged plans to go public on July 24.
It previously won the German state, British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) and the Qatar Investment Authority as investors funding its growth.
Hopp has agreed to purchase shares worth 100 million euros ($117 million) at the IPO.