Orthocell Ltd (ASX: OCC) shares are on course to end the week in the red.
In morning trade, the ASX stock is down 7% to $1.33.
However, longer term shareholders won't be too downbeat. That's because the regenerative medicine company's shares were up 115% on a 12-month basis prior to today.
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Why is this ASX stock sinking?
The catalyst for today's decline has been news that Orthocell has received firm commitments for a $30 million capital raising via an institutional placement. These funds are being raised at a 9.1% discount of $1.30 per new share.
According to the release, the ASX stock received significant international and domestic demand for the capital raising from institutional and sophisticated investors. This will see a number of US institutions join the register.
The company notes that following the completion of the placement it will emerge with well over $50 million in cash and no debt. As a result, it expects to be fully funded for its global commercialisation strategy.
Proceeds from the raising will be used to accelerate the US roll out of the ASX stock's flagship nerve repair product Remplir. It will also undertake clinical studies to commercialise the use of Remplir in the significant prostate cancer surgery market.
In addition, Orthocell plans to advance the commercialisation of pipeline products in tendon and ligament repair, expand capacity at its existing manufacturing facility, and invest in new applications and technologies in the regenerative medicine sector.
Growth continues
The release also notes that Remplir continues to rapidly grow revenue in existing markets, having achieved six consecutive quarters of record revenue. This reached $3 million in the September quarter, but without a material contribution from the US market.
Its rollout in the US$1.6 Billion US market, post FDA clearance in April, is currently well ahead of schedule and to be accelerated with the use of the placement funds.
Commenting on the placement, the ASX stock's CEO, Paul Anderson, said:
We have built significant momentum in the commercialisation of Remplir and the funds from the capital raising will be focused on accelerating that process. We greatly appreciate the support we have received from new and existing institutional and high net worth investors and particularly welcome our new investors from the US. We see that as a significant endorsement of our strategy and progress to date as well as the near-term revenue that can be generated from the US market.
We have recently announced our sixth consecutive quarter of record revenue primarily from our existing markets of Australia and Singapore, and we continue to track ahead of schedule in our US rollout of Remplir. That means we're in a position of strength and our capital raising is all about driving our growth plans.
