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Gritstone bio, Inc., a biotechnology firm specializing in biological products, disclosed in a recent 8-K filing that it has auctioned off its assets, following a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on October 10, 2024.
According to InvestingPro data, the company had been operating with a significant debt burden, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.62 and an Altman Z-Score of -9.84, indicating severe financial distress. The auction, which took place from Monday through Thursday, resulted in the sale of the company's machinery, equipment, and certain intellectual property assets.
The Emeryville, California-based company, which was previously listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker GRTSQ, had its stock suspended from trading on October 22, 2024, and subsequently began trading on the OTC Pink Marketplace. InvestingPro data shows the stock has lost over 99% of its value year-to-date, with its market capitalization dropping to just $1.65 million.
The company's financial health score is rated as "WEAK" by InvestingPro analysts. The asset auction is expected to yield approximately $21.25 million in cash proceeds, exclusive of credit bids amounting to $4.5 million from Hercules Capital (NYSE:HTGC), Inc., and Future Solutions Investments LLC, which are the company’s prepetition and post-petition secured lenders.
Hercules Capital, Inc., emerged as the successful credit bidder for Gritstone bio's machinery and equipment assets, while Future Solutions Investments LLC won the bid for certain "binder" intellectual property assets. Seattle Project Corp. was declared the successful bidder for the remainder of the company's assets, excluding certain excluded items.
The sales are pending approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, which is set to consider the approval on December 20, 2024. The company has cautioned that trading in its common stock during the Chapter 11 proceedings is highly speculative and risky, with potential outcomes uncertain.
This information is based on the latest SEC filing by Gritstone bio, Inc. For investors monitoring similar situations, InvestingPro offers comprehensive financial health analysis and real-time alerts for over 1,400 US stocks, helping identify potential bankruptcy risks before they materialize. The platform's Pro Research Reports provide detailed insights into company fundamentals, debt levels, and financial stability metrics.
In other recent news, Gritstone bio reported October financials amid ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The company's GRANITE cancer vaccine revealed promising interim Phase 2 data, indicating a 21% relative risk reduction in disease progression or death in the overall treated population, and a 38% reduction in a subgroup with low circulating tumor DNA.
However, Gritstone bio reported a second-quarter net loss of $23 million, with cash reserves of $62 million and $40 million in debt. To navigate these financial challenges, Gritstone bio engaged Raymond (NS:RYMD) James as a financial advisor to explore strategic options.
Simultaneously, the company announced significant layoffs and the impending delisting from the Nasdaq Stock Market. Analysts from B.Riley, Jones Trading, and JMP Securities downgraded Gritstone bio, citing concerns about the company's financial position and interim data, while TD Cowen and Piper Sandler maintained positive ratings. Finally, Gritstone bio announced the election of Elaine Jones, Ph.D., and Clare Fisher to its Board of Directors, and the approval of executive officers' compensation by stockholders. These are the recent developments in Gritstone bio's ongoing operations.
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