Form 8-K Vera Therapeutics, Inc. For: Feb 01

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 1, 2023

 

Vera Therapeutics, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware		001-40407		81-2744449
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

8000 Marina Boulevard, Suite 120 Brisbane, California				94005
(Address of principal executive offices)				(Zip Code)

(650) 770-0077

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

☐

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

☐

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

☐

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

☐

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A common stock, $0.001 par value per share		VERA		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 

Item 8.01

Other Events.

Follow-On Public Offering

On February 1, 2023, Vera Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Cowen and Company, LLC and Evercore Group L.L.C., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (collectively, the “Underwriters”), relating to the issuance and sale in a public offering of 14,285,715 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”). The price to the public in the offering was $7.00 per share. The gross proceeds to the Company from the offering will be approximately $100.0 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company. The closing of the offering is expected to occur on February 6, 2023, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. In addition, the Company granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days, to purchase up to 2,142,857 additional shares of Common Stock at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions.

The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company, customary conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of the Company and the Underwriters, including for liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, other obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Underwriting Agreement were made only for purposes of such agreement and as of specific dates, were solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by such parties.

The offering is being made pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form S-3 and accompanying prospectus (File No. 333-265408), previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and a prospectus supplement thereunder. A copy of the Underwriting Agreement is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this report, and the foregoing description of the terms of the Underwriting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibit. A copy of the opinion of Cooley LLP relating to the legality of the issuance and sale of the shares of Common Stock in the offering is attached as Exhibit 5.1 hereto.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this report are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about the Company’s expectations with respect to the completion of the offering and the expected gross proceeds from the offering. Words such as “expect”, “may,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements necessarily contain these identifying words. For such statements, the Company claims the protection of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual events or results may differ materially from the Company’s expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with market conditions, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the offering, the COVID-19 global pandemic and other macroeconomic and geopolitical events, such as the ongoing military conflict between Ukraine and Russia and related sanctions. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by the Company’s forward-looking statements are disclosed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including in the section captioned “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequently filed Quarter Reports on Form 10-Q and the prospectus supplement relating to the offering. These forward-looking statements represent the Company’s judgment as of the time of this report. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as may be required under applicable law.

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.		Description
1.1		Underwriting Agreement by and among the Company, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Cowen and Company, LLC and Evercore Group L.L.C., dated February 1, 2023.
5.1		Opinion of Cooley LLP.
23.1		Consent of Cooley LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

				Vera Therapeutics, Inc.
Dated: February 2, 2023
				By:		/s/ Marshall Fordyce, M.D.
						Marshall Fordyce, M.D.
						Chief Executive Officer