Terns Announces Proposed Public Offering

Rhea-AI Summary

Terns Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: TERN) has initiated a proposed public offering of $75 million in common stock, with an additional 30-day option for underwriters to purchase more shares. The offering, aimed at advancing its clinical-stage pipeline—including programs for oncology and NASH—will be managed by Jefferies, Cowen, and other financial institutions. Proceeds are intended for the development of clinical programs such as TERN-501, TERN-701, and TERN-601. This offering is subject to market conditions, and completion is not guaranteed.

Positive

• Proposed public offering of $75 million to strengthen financial position.
• Funds aimed at advancing key clinical-stage programs for oncology and NASH.

Negative

• Potential dilution of shares for existing shareholders due to new stock offering.

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Dec. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Terns Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Terns” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: TERN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of small-molecule product candidates to address serious diseases, including oncology, obesity and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), today announced that it has commenced a proposed underwritten public offering of $75.0 million of shares of its common stock. In addition, Terns expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional shares of common stock offered in the public offering at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. All of the shares to be sold in the offering will be offered by Terns. The offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

Jefferies and Cowen are acting as lead book-running managers for the proposed offering. UBS Investment Bank is also acting as a bookrunner for the proposed offering. Mizuho and JMP Securities, a Citizens Company, are acting as co-lead managers for the proposed offering.

Terns intends to use the net proceeds from the proposed offering to advance its clinical-stage development pipeline, including the TERN-501, TERN-701 and TERN-601 clinical programs and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The public offering will be made pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which became effective on March 14, 2022. A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to this offering, when available, may be obtained from Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at 877-821-7388 or by email at prospectus_department@jefferies.com or Cowen and Company, LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, by telephone at 1-833-297-2926 or by e-mail: PostSaleManualRequests@broadridge.com.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification of these securities under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

About Terns Pharmaceuticals

Terns Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of small-molecule product candidates to address serious diseases, including oncology, obesity and NASH. Terns’ pipeline includes four clinical stage development programs including an allosteric BCR-ABL inhibitor, a THR-β agonist, an FXR agonist, a VAP-1 inhibitor, and a preclinical small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist program.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about Terns Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including those related to completion, timing and size of the proposed public offering. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “due,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “positioned,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and other similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends, or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. The Company has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about future events and financial trends that it believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results and the implementation of the Company’s plans to vary materially, including the risks associated with the initiation, cost, timing, progress, results and utility of the Company’s current and future research and development activities and preclinical studies and clinical trials. These risks are not exhaustive. For a detailed discussion of the risk factors that could affect the Company and the offering, please refer to the risk factors identified in the Company’s SEC reports, including but not limited to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2022, and its preliminary prospectus supplement. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Contacts for Terns

Investors
Justin Ng
investors@ternspharma.com

Media
Jenna Urban
Berry & Company Public Relations
media@ternspharma.com

FAQ

What is the purpose of Terns Pharmaceuticals' $75 million public offering?

The public offering aims to advance Terns Pharmaceuticals' clinical-stage development pipeline, including key programs targeting oncology and NASH.

Who are the underwriters for Terns Pharmaceuticals' proposed stock offering?

Jefferies and Cowen are the lead book-running managers, with UBS Investment Bank also acting as a bookrunner.

What impact will the public offering have on Terns Pharmaceuticals' shareholders?

The public offering may lead to share dilution for existing shareholders as new shares are issued.

What are the clinical programs included in Terns Pharmaceuticals' pipeline?

The pipeline includes TERN-501, TERN-701, and TERN-601, focusing on serious diseases such as oncology and NASH.