uniQure Announces Refinancing of Existing $50 Million Debt and Securing Up to an Additional $125 Million in Non-Dilutive Funding

Rhea-AI Summary

uniQure (NASDAQ: QURE) has secured a $175 million non-dilutive senior secured term loan facility with Hercules Capital. The deal includes refinancing of existing $50 million debt with extended maturity from 2027 to 2030, plus access to $125 million in additional funding. The financing features three tranches: $50 million for current debt refinancing, $100 million tied to regulatory and financial milestones, and $25 million subject to Hercules' approval.

The new arrangement offers a more favorable floating interest rate of 9.70% (previously 11.95%) and aims to support the potential commercial launch of AMT-130, uniQure's gene therapy for Huntington's disease, anticipated in 2026.

Positive

• Extended debt maturity from 2027 to 2030, improving financial flexibility
• Reduced interest rate from 11.95% to 9.70%, lowering cost of capital
• Access to additional $125M in non-dilutive funding
• Financing secured without shareholder dilution

Negative

• Additional $100M funding contingent on achieving specific milestones
• Final $25M tranche subject to Hercules' discretion
• Floating interest rate structure creates potential future rate risk

Insights

Biotech Investment Specialist

uniQure secures flexible $175M debt facility with better terms, strengthening financial position ahead of potential AMT-130 launch.

uniQure's refinancing deal with Hercules Capital represents a significant enhancement to the company's financial structure. The transaction extends their existing $50 million debt maturity from January 2027 to October 2030 while securing access to up to $125 million in additional non-dilutive funding. The improved terms include a notable reduction in the floating interest rate from what would have been 11.95% to 9.70% currently, representing substantial interest expense savings over time.

The financing structure is strategically designed with milestone-based tranches: the immediate $50 million refinancing, followed by $100 million tied to both regulatory progress for AMT-130 and financial performance, plus a discretionary $25 million subject to lender approval. This $175 million package is specifically aligned with uniQure's anticipated 2026 commercial launch of AMT-130, their gene therapy for Huntington's disease.

What makes this deal particularly valuable is its non-dilutive nature, allowing uniQure to access significant capital without issuing new shares that would dilute existing shareholders. The extended maturity timeline provides crucial breathing room, while the tiered structure aligns financing with development milestones. This transaction significantly strengthens uniQure's financial flexibility during the critical transition from clinical development to potential commercialization of their lead program, improving both their cost of capital and financial runway.

~ Term of current $50 million debt outstanding extended from January 2027 to October 2030 ~

~ Additional $100 million available subject to regulatory and financial milestones ~

~ Additional $25 million available subject to Hercules’ approval ~

~ Transaction provides financial flexibility and improves cost of capital ~

LEXINGTON, Mass. and AMSTERDAM, Sept. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- uniQure N.V. (Nasdaq: QURE), a leading gene therapy company advancing transformative therapies for patients with severe medical needs, today announced it entered into a $175 million non-dilutive senior secured term loan facility with Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE: HTGC). The transaction is designed to enhance the company’s financial flexibility to fund the potential commercial launch of AMT-130, its investigational gene therapy for the treatment of Huntington’s disease.

“This non-dilutive financing keeps funds from the outstanding $50 million debt available until 2030 and provides access to an additional $125 million. We believe this transaction enhances our financial flexibility to fund the potential commercial launch of AMT-130 in the United States, anticipated in 2026,” said Christian Klemt, chief financial officer of uniQure.

The loan facility consists of three tranches, including a first tranche of $50 million refinancing the current debt outstanding at closing and an additional term loan tranche of $100 million, which can be drawn at the company’s option subject to the achievement of both a regulatory milestone related to AMT-130 and a financial milestone. A third tranche of up to $25 million is available, subject to Hercules’ approval. All tranches have a floating interest rate of the greater of 9.45% and the prime rate plus 2.45%, reflecting a current floating rate of 9.70%, compared to the current floating interest rate prior to the refinancing, which would have been 11.95%. The tranches mature in October 2030.

Leerink Partners served as exclusive financial advisor to uniQure on the term loan financing.

About uniQure

uniQure is delivering on the promise of gene therapy – single treatments with potentially curative results. The approvals of uniQure’s gene therapy for hemophilia B – a historic achievement based on more than a decade of research and clinical development – represent a major milestone in the field of genomic medicine and ushers in a new treatment approach for patients living with hemophilia. uniQure is now advancing a pipeline of proprietary gene therapies for the treatment of patients with Huntington's disease, refractory temporal lobe epilepsy, ALS, Fabry disease, and other severe diseases.

About Hercules Capital

Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE: HTGC) is the leading and largest specialty finance company focused on providing senior secured venture growth loans to high-growth, innovative venture capital-backed companies in a broad variety of technology and life sciences industries. Since inception (December 2003), Hercules has committed more than $22 billion to over 680 companies and is the lender of choice for entrepreneurs and venture capital firms seeking growth capital financing.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are often indicated by terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," “establish,” "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "look forward to", "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," “seek,” "should," "will," "would" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information available to management only as of the date of this press release. Examples of these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated benefits of the term loan agreement, the potential launch of AMT-130 in the United States in 2026, and the Company’s ability to achieve the regulatory or financial milestones under the term loan agreement. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: the Company’s ability to comply with the covenants and other obligations under the loan agreement with Hercules Capital, Inc.; risks associated with the clinical results and the development and timing of the Company’s programs; the Company’s interactions with regulatory authorities, which may affect the initiation, timing and progress of clinical trials and pathways and timing for regulatory approval; the Company’s ability to continue to build and maintain the Company infrastructure and personnel needed to achieve its goals; the Company’s effectiveness in managing current and future clinical trials and regulatory processes; the continued development and acceptance of gene therapies; the Company’s ability to demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of its gene therapy candidates in clinical trials; the Company’s ability to obtain, maintain and protect intellectual property; and the Company’s ability to fund its operations and to raise additional capital as needed. These risks and uncertainties are more fully described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company’s periodic securities filings with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2025, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 9, 2025 and July 29, 2025, and in other filings that the Company makes with the SEC from time to time. Given these risks, uncertainties, and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and the Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

uniQure Contacts

For Investors:	For Media:
Chiara Russo	Tom Malone
Direct: 781-491-4371	Direct: 339-970-7758
Mobile: 617-306-9137	Mobile: 339-223-8541
c.russo@uniQure.com	t.malone@uniQure.com

FAQ

What is the total value of uniQure's (QURE) new debt facility with Hercules Capital?

The total debt facility is $175 million, consisting of $50 million refinancing existing debt and potential access to an additional $125 million.

What are the interest rate terms for uniQure's new debt facility?

The facility has a floating interest rate of the greater of 9.45% and the prime rate plus 2.45%, currently at 9.70%, down from the previous 11.95%.

When does uniQure's (QURE) new debt facility mature?

The debt facility tranches mature in October 2030, extended from the previous January 2027 maturity date.

What is the purpose of uniQure's new debt financing?

The financing is designed to fund the potential commercial launch of AMT-130, uniQure's investigational gene therapy for Huntington's disease, anticipated in 2026.

How is uniQure's new $175M debt facility structured?

The facility consists of three tranches: $50M refinancing current debt, $100M available subject to regulatory and financial milestones, and $25M subject to Hercules' approval.