Biotech Acquisition: XOMA Expands Portfolio with Turnstone Biologics Buyout

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

XOMA Royalty Corporation has announced plans to commence a tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Turnstone Biologics (TSBX), pursuant to a Merger Agreement dated June 26, 2025. This SC TO-C filing represents preliminary communications before the formal tender offer launch.

Key aspects of the transaction:

• XOMA will acquire all issued and outstanding common shares of Turnstone (par value $0.001)
• The deal includes a Contingent Value Rights (CVR) Agreement for potential additional payments to Turnstone stockholders
• Transaction will be executed through XRA 3 Corp, a wholly-owned subsidiary of XOMA

The formal tender offer has not yet commenced. When initiated, XOMA will file a Schedule TO with the SEC, and Turnstone will file a Schedule 14D-9 with their recommendation. Shareholders are advised to review the complete tender offer materials once available through the SEC website or XOMA's investor relations portal.

Positive

• XOMA Royalty Corporation plans to acquire Turnstone Biologics Corp. through a tender offer, indicating potential value creation through M&A activity
• The transaction is structured to include Contingent Value Rights (CVR), offering Turnstone shareholders potential additional value based on future performance milestones

Negative

• The tender offer has not yet commenced, introducing timing uncertainty for the transaction completion
• The filing indicates multiple potential risk factors that could prevent deal closure, including possible competing offers and regulatory/legal challenges

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE TO

(Rule 14d-100)

TENDER OFFER STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 14(d)(1) OR 13(e)(1)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

TURNSTONE BIOLOGICS CORP.

(Name of Subject Company (Issuer))

XOMA ROYALTY CORPORATION

(Name of Filing Persons (Offeror))

Common Stock, Par Value $0.001 Per Share

(Title of Class of Securities)

98419J206

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

Owen Hughes

XOMA Royalty Corporation

2200 Powell Street, Suite 310

Emeryville, California 94608

Tel. (510) 204-7200

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Filing Persons)

 

 

Copies to:

Ryan A. Murr

Branden C. Berns

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

One Embarcadero Center Suite 2600

San Francisco, CA 94111

 

 

 

☒ Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.

Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the statement relates:

 

  ☒ third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1.

  ☐ issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4.

  ☐ going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3.

  ☐ amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2.

Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender offer. ☐

If applicable, check the appropriate box(es) below to designate the appropriate rule provision(s) relied upon:

 

  ☐ Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer)

  ☐ Rule 13d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer)

 

 

 

This filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a planned tender offer (the “Offer”) by XOMA Royalty Corporation, a Nevada corporation (“Parent”), to purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Shares”), of Turnstone Biologics Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Turnstone”), to be commenced pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 26, 2025, among Parent, XRA 3 Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, and Turnstone (the “Merger Agreement”).

The press release filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell securities. The Offer for the Shares described in this filing has not commenced. At the time the Offer is commenced, Parent will file a tender offer statement on Schedule TO with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and Turnstone will file a solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9, with respect to the Offer.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements related to Parent and Turnstone and the acquisition by Parent of Turnstone, including express or implied forward-looking statements about the future operations and performance of Turnstone and Parent. These forward-looking statements are within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated timing of and closing of the proposed Offer, the merger and related transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (collectively referred to as the “transactions”). The words “anticipate,” “approximately,” “look to,” “plan,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “could” or “should,” the negative of these terms or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific. Parent cautions that a number of important factors, including those described in this communication, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements in this communication are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this communication, including, without limitation, the impact of actions of other parties with respect to the transactions; the possibility that competing offers will be made; the outcome of any legal proceedings that have been or could be instituted against Parent, Turnstone or their respective directors; the risk that the transactions may not be completed in a timely manner, or at all, which may adversely affect Turnstone’s or Parent’s respective businesses and the price of their respective common stock; the failure to satisfy all of the closing conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; the occurrence of the events giving rise to payments under the Contingent Value Rights (“CVR”) Agreement; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement; the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transactions on Turnstone’s and Parent’s respective businesses and operating results; risks that the transactions may disrupt Turnstone’s or Parent’s respective current plans and business operations; risks related to the diverting of management’s attention from Turnstone’s and Parent’s respective ongoing business operations; general economic and market conditions and the other risks identified in Turnstone’s and Parent’s respective filings with the SEC and subsequent filings with the SEC. Should any risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, these developments could have a material adverse effect on the transactions and/or Turnstone and Parent’s ability to successfully complete the transactions and, with respect to any CVR payment amounts, the consideration ultimately paid to Turnstone stockholders (including whether any payments will be payable at all). In addition, unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Parent cautions investors not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this communication represent Parent’s views only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Parent disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

The tender offer for the Shares of Turnstone referenced in this communication has not yet commenced. This communication is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares, nor is it a substitute for the tender offer materials that Parent will file with the SEC. At the time the tender offer is commenced, Parent will file tender offer materials on Schedule TO, and, thereafter, Turnstone will file a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the SEC with respect to the tender offer. The Offer will be made only pursuant to the tender offer materials (including an offer to purchase, a related letter of transmittal and certain other tender offer documents) filed with the SEC.

THE TENDER OFFER MATERIALS (INCLUDING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE, A RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CERTAIN OTHER TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. HOLDERS OF SHARES OF TURNSTONE’S COMMON STOCK ARE URGED TO READ THESE DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE (AS EACH MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME) BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT HOLDERS OF SHARES OF TURNSTONE’S COMMON STOCK SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING TENDERING THEIR SHARES.

The Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and certain other tender offer documents, as well as the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, will be made available to all holders of shares of Turnstone’s common stock at no expense to them. The tender offer materials and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement will be made available for free at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by accessing the Investor Relations section of Parent’s website at https://investors.xoma.com/.

EXHIBIT INDEX.

 

Index No.	  	 
99.1	  	Press Release issued by XOMA Royalty Corporation on June 27, 2025

FAQ

What is XOMA Royalty Corporation's tender offer for TSBX stock?

XOMA Royalty Corporation has announced plans to purchase all outstanding shares of Turnstone Biologics Corp. (TSBX) common stock. The tender offer is being made pursuant to a Merger Agreement dated June 26, 2025, between XOMA Royalty Corporation, XRA 3 Corp. (a wholly owned subsidiary), and Turnstone Biologics.

When will TSBX's tender offer commence?

The tender offer for TSBX shares has not yet commenced. When it begins, XOMA Royalty Corporation will file a tender offer statement on Schedule TO with the SEC, and Turnstone will file a solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9.

What risks could affect TSBX's tender offer completion?

Key risks include: possibility of competing offers, potential legal proceedings, failure to satisfy closing conditions, risk of termination of the Merger Agreement, market conditions, and business disruption. The deal may not complete in a timely manner or at all, which could adversely affect both companies' businesses and stock prices.

How can TSBX shareholders access tender offer materials?

When available, tender offer materials will be accessible free of charge through: 1) The SEC's website at www.sec.gov, 2) XOMA's investor relations website at https://investors.xoma.com/. Materials will include the Offer to Purchase, Letter of Transmittal, and Solicitation/Recommendation Statement.

What is the Contingent Value Rights (CVR) agreement in TSBX's tender offer?

The filing mentions a Contingent Value Rights (CVR) Agreement that could affect the consideration paid to Turnstone stockholders. The occurrence of certain events under the CVR Agreement will determine whether any additional payments will be made to TSBX stockholders, though specific terms are not detailed in this filing.