Aptose Announces $4.43 Million Registered Direct Offering Priced At-the-Market Under Nasdaq Rules

SAN DIEGO and TORONTO, May 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aptose Biosciences Inc. (“Aptose” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: APTO, TSX: APS), a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing highly differentiated oral targeted agents to treat hematologic malignancies, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the issuance and sale of 3,855,000 of its common shares (or common share equivalents in lieu thereof) at a purchase price of $1.15 per share (or per common share equivalent in lieu thereof) in a registered direct offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules. Additionally, in a concurrent private placement, Aptose has agreed to issue unregistered series A warrants to purchase up to 3,855,000 common shares and series B warrants to purchase up to 3,855,000 common shares, each at an exercise price of $1.15 per share. The unregistered warrants will be exercisable beginning on the effective date of shareholder approval of the issuance of the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants. The series A warrants will expire five years from the date of shareholder approval and the series B warrants will expire eighteen months from the date of shareholder approval. The offering is expected to close on or about June 3, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering.

The gross proceeds to the Company from the offering are expected to be approximately $4.43 million, before deducting the placement agent’s fees and other offering expenses. The Company currently intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The common shares (or common share equivalents in lieu thereof) offered in the registered direct offering (but excluding the unregistered warrants or the common shares underlying such unregistered warrants) described above are being offered pursuant to a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-267801), including a base prospectus, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on October 11, 2022, and declared effective by the SEC on October 21, 2022. The offering of the common shares (or common share equivalents in lieu thereof) are being made only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective registration statement. A final prospectus supplement and an accompanying base prospectus relating to, and describing the terms of, the registered direct offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC's website located at http://www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus relating to the registered direct offering, when available, may also be obtained from H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC at 430 Park Ave., New York, New York 10022, by telephone at [phone], or by email at [e-mail].