Formycon AG has announced its decision to issue a €50 million corporate bond to accelerate the development of its biosimilar product portfolio, marking the German biotechnology company's first foray into debt capital financing. The four-year unsecured bond represents a strategic shift as Formycon transitions from a development-focused company to a commercially operating enterprise with growing revenues from global licensing partnerships.
Bond Structure and Terms
The corporate bond (ISIN NO0013586024 / WKN A4DFJH) will carry a floating interest rate based on the three-month EURIBOR plus a margin ranging from 7.0% to 7.5% per annum. The minimum investment amount is set at €1,000, with quarterly interest payments beginning October 9, 2025. The bond will mature on July 9, 2029, and includes covenants restricting distributions, requiring liquidity maintenance, and mandating quarterly financial reporting.
IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG and Pareto Securities AS serve as Joint Lead Managers for the transaction. The offering will be conducted as a public offering in Luxembourg, Germany, and Austria, based on a securities prospectus expected to receive approval from the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).
Subscription Process and Timeline
Interested investors can submit binding subscription offers through two channels during the offering period. The Formycon website will accept subscriptions from June 18 to June 27, 2025, while Deutsche Börse's DirectPlace platform will be available from June 20 to June 30, 2025. The final margin and total nominal amount are expected to be determined and announced around June 30, 2025, based on subscription offers received.
The bond is intended for inclusion in the Open Market (Freiverkehr) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, with plans to apply for admission to trading on Euronext ABM within six months following issuance.
Strategic Rationale and Market Position
"In recent years, Formycon has evolved from a biosimilar development company into a commercially focused company with a growing and maturing product portfolio while increasing revenues from global licensing and commercialization partnerships," said Enno Spillner, CFO of Formycon AG. "This commercial foundation enables us to tap into another attractive source of financing with the planned bond issuance."
The company's current portfolio includes FYB201/ranibizumab, already marketed in Europe and the USA, and two additional biosimilars, FYB202/ustekinumab and FYB203/aflibercept, which have received approval from the FDA, EMA, and MHRA. FYB202 has also gained approval in Canada. Four additional biosimilar candidates remain in development.
Market Opportunity and Growth Prospects
The biosimilar market presents significant growth opportunities, with analysts projecting global sales could rise from the current $21 billion to over $74 billion by 2030. By 2032, many biopharmaceutical drugs will lose patent protection, including 45 blockbusters with an estimated total annual global turnover exceeding $200 billion.
Formycon focuses on therapies in ophthalmology, immunology, immuno-oncology, and other key disease areas, covering the value chain from technical development through clinical trials to regulatory approval. The company relies on partnerships for commercialization of its biosimilars worldwide.
Financial Strategy Optimization
The bond issuance represents Formycon's strategy to optimize its capital structure and transition toward more long-term corporate financing. "It is our goal to transition our corporate financing towards a more long-term setup. In doing so, we are optimizing our capital structure and tapping into debt capital for the first time," Spillner explained.
The proceeds will support continued execution of the company's growth strategy, optimization of its biosimilar platform, and further strengthening of its position as a commercially operating company. Formycon is headquartered in Munich and listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as part of the SDAX and TecDAX selection indices.
