HOOKIPA Pharma Terminates Acquisition Talks with Poolbeg Pharma

HOOKIPA Pharma has announced its decision not to proceed with the previously discussed all-share acquisition of Poolbeg Pharma13.

The termination follows non-binding discussions announced on January 2, 2025, and a subsequent PUSU (Put Up or Shut Up) extension on January 30, 202536.

Under the initial proposal, Poolbeg shareholders would have held a 55% stake in the merged company, while HOOKIPA shareholders would have controlled 45%2.

The deal would have included a $30 million private placement organized by HOOKIPA to fund the combined entity12.

As part of the proposed merger, Poolbeg would have delisted from the London AIM market and become a subsidiary of the Nasdaq-listed HOOKIPA12.

HOOKIPA reserves the right to revisit this decision under specific circumstances, including agreement from Poolbeg's board or announcement of a third-party offer for Poolbeg36.

The news of the termination caused Poolbeg's shares to slide, with a reported 19.27% drop to 3.88p on February 21, 20252.

This development follows a challenging 2024 for HOOKIPA, which included layoffs after Roche ended a collaboration on its HB-700 program for KRAS-mutated cancers1.

Sources:

1. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/us-biotech-hookipa-retracts-merger-plans-uk-company

2. https://www.investments.halifax.co.uk/research-centre/news-centre/article/?id=18974880&type=bsm

3. https://www.stocktitan.net/news/HOOK/hookipa-pharma-inc-hookipa-statement-regarding-potential-combination-sgu3xnrpvz0d.html

6. https://www.stocktitan.net/news/HOOK/hookipa-pharma-inc-hookipa-statement-regarding-potential-combination-05act4t4wfo4.html