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424B4
Table of Contents

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4)
Registration No. 333-230980

6,500,000 Shares

 

LOGO

Common Stock

 

 

We are offering 6,500,000 shares of our common stock.

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “GRTS.” On April 24, 2019, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $12.30 per share.

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined under the federal securities laws and, as such, have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and may elect to do so in future filings.

 

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 14 of this prospectus, as well as the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our common stock.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities, or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

     Per Share      Total  

Public offering price

   $ 11.50      $ 74,750,000  

Underwriting discounts(1)

   $ 0.69      $ 4,485,000  

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

   $ 10.81      $ 70,265,000  

 

(1)

See “Underwriting” for additional information regarding compensation payable to the underwriters.

The underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional 975,000 shares of common stock from us at the public offering price less the underwriting discount within 30 day from the date of this prospectus.

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares against payment in New York, New York on April 29, 2019.

 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC   Cowen             Barclays

BTIG

 

 

Prospectus dated April 24, 2019


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

Prospectus Summary

     1  

The Offering

     10  

Risk Factors

     14  

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     22  

Market and Industry Data

     24  

Use of Proceeds

     25  

Dividend Policy

     26  

Capitalization

     27  

Dilution

     28  

Description of Capital Stock

     29  

Shares Eligible for Future Sale

     34  

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

     36  

Underwriting

     40  

Legal Matters

     46  

Experts

     46  

Where You Can Find More Information

     46  

Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference

     47  

 

Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. We and the underwriters take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We and the underwriters are offering to sell shares of common stock and seeking offers to buy shares of common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of this prospectus, or other earlier date stated in this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of shares of our common stock.

No action is being taken in any jurisdiction outside the United States to permit a public offering of our common stock or possession or distribution of this prospectus in that jurisdiction. Persons who come into possession of this prospectus in jurisdictions outside the United States are required to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions as to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus applicable to that jurisdiction.

Gritstone Oncology™, Gritstone™, Gritstone EDGE™, GRANITE™, SLATE™ and our logo are some of our trademarks and service marks used in this prospectus. This prospectus also includes trademarks, tradenames and service marks that are the property of other organizations. Solely for convenience, our trademarks, service marks and tradenames referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ® and ™ symbol, but those references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights, or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks, service marks and tradenames.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before deciding to invest in our common stock, you should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the information in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Investors should carefully consider the information set forth under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 14 of this prospectus and those identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as amended. Some of the statements in, or incorporated by reference in, this prospectus constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Unless the context otherwise requires or as otherwise noted, references in this prospectus to the “Company,” “Gritstone Oncology,” “Gritstone,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Gritstone Oncology, Inc.

Gritstone Oncology, Inc.

Overview

We are an immuno-oncology company developing tumor-specific cancer immunotherapies to fight multiple cancer types. Our goal is to extend the benefits of immunotherapy by leveraging new insights into the immune system’s ability to destroy cancer cells, based on the study of patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-(L)1 antibodies. A key hypothesis that has emerged in the field of immuno-oncology is that there are large groups of cancer patients whose tumors have successfully evaded the immune system (so called “cold” tumors) despite having markers that could be recognized by the immune system. Our approach seeks to generate a therapeutic immune response in these patients by unleashing the demonstrated natural power of a patient’s own immune system to recognize short tumor-specific peptide sequences presented on cancer cells, referred to as tumor-specific neoantigens, or TSNA, in order to destroy tumor cells. The importance of TSNA as targets for the immune system was first recognized in 2014 and 2015 in patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors by two of our co-founders, Dr. Timothy Chan and Dr. Naiyer Rizvi. Leveraging these insights, we have built our tumor-specific immunotherapy approach on two key pillars—first, our proprietary Gritstone EDGETM machine learning-based platform, which gives us a powerful ability to predict from a routine tumor biopsy the TSNA that are presented on a patient’s tumor cells; and second, our ability to develop and manufacture potent immunotherapies utilizing patients’ TSNA to drive the patient’s immune system to attack and destroy tumors. Our tumor-specific immunotherapy portfolio consists of our personalized immunotherapy product candidate, GRANITE-001, which is manufactured uniquely for each patient, and our “off-the-shelf” immunotherapy product candidate series, SLATE, which is designed for selected subsets of patients with common tumor neoantigens. We have recently initiated lead optimization of a separate product class of bispecific antibodies, or BiSAb, which offer an alternative approach to off-the-shelf therapy utilizing our EDGE-identified novel tumor-specific antigens.

Our tumor-specific immunotherapy has been tested pre-clinically in non-human primates, the animal model that most closely approximates human immune responses. In this model, we have demonstrated that our immunotherapy elicits potent and sustained T cell responses against delivered antigens. Of particular note, we have shown an ability to effectively prime naïve CD8+ T cells to high levels (comparable to those seen in responders to T cell therapies in clinical studies) against antigens that are new to the recipient’s immune system (a so-called de novo primed response)—one of the highest immunologic hurdles in activating T cell responses. Because human tumors (and their TSNA) can successfully evade the immune system, overcoming this hurdle by priming a CD8+ T cell response is a key goal of our immunotherapy approach.

 

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We initiated a first-in-human Phase 1/2 clinical trial of GRANITE-001, our first personalized immunotherapy product candidate, in the fourth quarter of 2018, evaluating it in the treatment of common solid tumors, including metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and gastroesophageal, bladder and colorectal cancers, in each case in combination with checkpoint inhibitors provided by our collaborator, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, or BMS. We dosed our first patient in the first quarter of 2019. The Phase 1 portion of our Phase 1/2 trial will seek to establish a dose for further investigation in Phase 2 and to evaluate safety, tolerability and, importantly, immunogenicity of our product candidate. We will seek to further evaluate efficacy and safety in the Phase 2 cohort expansion portion in several common solid tumor types. Our second tumor-specific product candidate series, SLATE, will utilize the same antigen delivery system as GRANITE-001 but contains a fixed cassette with TSNA that are shared across a subset of cancer patients rather than a cassette unique to an individual patient, providing us with an off-the-shelf alternative to our personalized manufactured product candidate, GRANITE-001. In April 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, agreed in principle that we may submit an Investigational New Drug application, or IND, for SLATE that leverages existing non-clinical data, including toxicology data, thus enabling acceleration of our expected IND filing date into the second quarter of 2019. In addition, we have a patient screening protocol running at several clinical sites, which we anticipate will further expedite early identification of SLATE-eligible patients. We now expect to initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of SLATE-001 in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of patients with advanced solid tumors, including metastatic lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer, in mid-2019.

We are developing a second immunotherapy platform targeting shared tumor antigens, including shared TSNA, which relies upon BiSAb. BiSAb have been shown by others to exhibit early evidence of efficacy in B cell malignancies, using B cell-specific targets such as CD19, CD20 and BCMA, and our goal is to extend this concept into the treatment of solid tumors using our novel approach to identify tumor-specific antigens and antibody fragments against such targets. Our BiSAb approach uses an antibody fragment to recognize a tumor antigen and, in the same molecule, a different antibody fragment to recognize immune effector cells. These therapeutics aim to refocus immune effector cells specifically upon the tumor through antibody-driven recognition of tumor-specific antigens. We use our EDGE platform to identify novel solid tumor-specific antigens and develop antibody fragments that bind tightly and with high specificity to these targets. These antibody fragments are deployed within a bispecific antibody framework to form novel “drug-in-a-bottle” therapeutic candidates. We expect this program to generate a development candidate in the second half of 2019.

Gritstone EDGE—Our TSNA Prediction Platform

The first pillar of our tumor-specific cancer immunotherapy approach is our understanding of TSNA and the application of our proprietary, artificial intelligence based Gritstone EDGE platform to predict the presence of a patient’s unique TSNA on tumor cells. While there are frequently hundreds of mutations in the DNA of a tumor cell, only approximately 1% of these mutations are actually transcribed, translated and processed into a unique “non-self” peptide sequence that is presented on the surface of tumor cells and can be recognized by a patient’s own T cells. Furthermore, these rare TSNA are usually unique to each individual patient’s tumor. Current technologies cannot predict the presence of TSNA with sufficient accuracy to design a therapy that is likely to be effective. The Gritstone EDGE platform consists of proprietary machine learning models that use DNA/RNA sequence data derived from a patient’s tumor biopsy to predict which mutations will generate TSNA most likely to be presented on the tumor cell surface. Applying our EDGE platform to data from human tumors, we have shown a nine-fold improvement in the accuracy of prediction for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class I antigens and an almost twenty-fold improvement for MHC Class II antigens with our platform compared to publicly available approaches. We believe that

 

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mutations selected by our EDGE platform have a much higher likelihood of being useful targets for immunization than mutations selected using industry standard methods. The development and validation of EDGE is described in a manuscript published in Nature Biotechnology in December 2018 and presented in an oral session at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting in April 2019.

Our Tumor-Specific Neoantigen Therapies

The second pillar of our tumor-specific cancer immunotherapy approach is our ability to develop and manufacture a therapeutic to direct a robust T cell response to those TSNA predicted to be presented on the patient’s tumor. Each of our immunotherapy product candidates comprise a sequential immunization with a viral prime and RNA boosts delivered by intramuscular injection, which we refer to as our heterologous prime-boost. In our GRANITE-001 product candidate, each of the viral prime and RNA boosts contain a patient-specific set of predicted TSNA, whereas the viral prime and RNA boost in our SLATE product candidate series contains a fixed TSNA cassette that is designed for the subset of patients who carry the relevant neoantigens. Grounded in traditional infectious disease vaccine immunology, and informed by recent successes against pathogens like malaria and Ebola, this two-step immunization utilizes a prime and a boost to educate the patient’s T cells to detect TSNA and destroy tumor cells. In non-human primate models, we have demonstrated a profound and specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cell response to antigens administered in this way, CD8+ T cells being the critical cell type for tumor cell killing, and often the hardest response to generate in primates and humans.

Our tumor-specific immunotherapy candidates are intended to fit easily into a community oncology setting and to be administered in earlier lines of treatment, in combination with checkpoint inhibitors to further drive a robust T cell response, rather than only in refractory or relapsed cancers. We have designed our personalized immunotherapy candidate such that oncologists will not have to alter their treatment practices, and we believe that this will extend the utility of our medicines into the community setting and not limit their use to scarce centers of excellence.

 

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Our Personalized Immunotherapy Process (GRANITE-001)

Our personalized immunotherapy process leverages our proprietary EDGE platform to predict the TSNA that will be presented on a patient’s tumor, allowing us to create a patient-specific heterologous prime-boost immunotherapy that is designed to elicit a potent anti-tumor T cell response. We believe that our personalized immunotherapy product candidate will have an addressable population of approximately 70-80% of patients with certain common solid tumor types that typically carry large numbers of mutations, such as lung cancer. Our process begins with a routine tumor needle biopsy from the patient. We utilize our in-house sequencing capabilities with the tumor sample and then apply our proprietary EDGE platform to derive a set of predicted TSNA likely to be presented on the patient’s tumor. Using these TSNA, we design highly potent personalized immunotherapies containing the relevant neoantigens to be administered by simple intramuscular injection. Our process is outlined in the figure below.

 

 

LOGO

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.Routine Biopsy Sequencing Neoantigen Prediction Personalized Immunotherapy Simple Injection Routine clinical biopsy Tumor DNA Gritstone EDGETM Patient-specific predicted Immunotherapy as input material Tumor RNA AI model for tumor neoantigens inserted into administered in Normal DNA antigen prediction trained viral and RNA vectors conjunction with on human tumor data checkpoint inhibitors Oncologist Gritstone Oncologist

 

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Our EDGE Antigen Identification Engine to Design Off-The-Shelf Neoantigen-Directed Products (SLATE Series)

While many patients with solid tumors may carry multiple TSNA unique to that patient, it has been shown that a minority of patients will carry a TSNA that is shared with other patients. The presence of these shared TSNA is likely to occur when a functionally important mutation (termed a driver mutation), which is recurrently observed across different patients, carries the potential to be processed and presented by the tumor cell as a neoantigen. Early analyses suggest that while each such shared neoantigen may only be found on less than 2% of patients with a particular tumor type, our heterologous prime-boost system can deliver at least 20 of these TSNA, which we believe will result in the off-the-shelf product candidates having an addressable population of approximately 12-15% of patients within common solid tumor types such as colorectal cancer and lung cancer. Our off-the-shelf product candidates are expected to be specific to a particular tumor type, and the TSNA module is fixed for each product candidate. As a result, the essential aspect to the utilization of the SLATE product candidates is the ability to accurately identify patients whose tumors contain one of the TSNA represented within the particular off-the-shelf product candidate. The routine screening of patients’ tumors using commercially-available genomic screens, together with identification of the patient’s human leukocyte antigen, or HLA, type from blood with a standard clinical assay, enables identification of such patients. The figure below illustrates the application of GRANITE-001 and SLATE-001 product candidates to a typical cancer patient.

 

LOGO

Routine Biopsy 1. Standard tumor genome panel test plus HLA test Shared neoantigens? YES SLATE-001 One therapy for many patients 10% - 15%* of patient population 2. Private neoantigens? YES GRANITE-001 One therapy for one patient 70% - 80%* of patient population *in certain solid tumors (e.g., NSCLC)

Bispecific Antibodies for Solid Tumors

Our EDGE platform has identified multiple tumor antigens which are shared between patients and are highly tumor-specific to refocus immune effector cells into the tumor environment. BiSAb have been shown by others to have early evidence of efficacy in B cell malignancies, using B cell-specific surface markers such as CD19, CD20 and BCMA to identify B cells. We expect this program to generate a development candidate in the second half of 2019.

 

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Our EDGE Antigen Identification Engine—Beyond Tumor-Specific Neoantigens

Beyond TSNA-directed therapeutics, we are leveraging our expertise in cancer genomics and our tumor antigen discovery platform to identify novel peptide sequences (not mutated) that may be shared across common tumor types (shared tumor antigens), which we believe are likely to have value as targets to direct T cells onto tumors specifically. Shared tumor antigen targets enable us to opportunistically partner or develop additional therapeutic approaches to redirect T cells onto tumors using these highly specific targets. These approaches include (1) our SLATE series of “off-the-shelf” product candidates, including shared tumor antigens in our heterologous prime-boost platform, (2) modifying the receptors of the patient’s own T cells to help them recognize tumor targets (adoptive T cell therapy), and (3) using small adapter proteins that have two recognition arms—one for tumors and one for T cells (bispecific antibodies), as noted above. In August 2018, we announced our collaboration supporting this strategy with bluebird bio, Inc., or bluebird bio, whereby we will identify up to ten tumor-specific targets and associated T cell receptors for therapeutic application within bluebird bio’s cell therapy platform.

 

 

LOGO

Gritstone Platform (ChAdV + SAM) Other Technologies Tumor Patient-Specific Antigen Shared Neoantigens Shared Tumor Antigens Discovery Neoantigens Personalized Off-the-Shelf Therapeutic GRANITE-001 SLATE-001 TCR Antibody Therapy Development (+BioManufacturing) (+BioManufacturing) GRANITE-001 + SLATE-001 + Adoptive T Cell Bi-Specific mAb or Clinical Checkpoint Inhibitors Checkpoint Inhibitors Therapy Adaptor Therapy Development IND 2H 2018 IND 2H 2019

Our Team

To deliver on the promise of our novel therapeutic approach, we have assembled a highly experienced management team with focused expertise in each of our core disciplines of cancer genomics, immunology and vaccinology, clinical and regulatory development and biomanufacturing from several leading biotechnology companies, including Clovis Oncology, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Genentech, Inc. and Foundation Medicine, Inc. Our co-founder Dr. Andrew Allen brings experience as a co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Clovis Oncology, Inc., with prior experience in various leadership roles at Pharmion Corporation and Chiron Corporation, where he worked on Proleukin (IL-2), the first cancer immunotherapy. The scientific advisory board includes selected experts in relevant disciplines, including Dr. Timothy Chan (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) and Dr. Naiyer Rizvi (Columbia University Medical Center), who together first demonstrated that TSNA are key T cell targets in cancer patients responding to checkpoint inhibitor therapy, as well as Dr. James Gulley (National Cancer Institute), who is an international expert in cancer immunotherapy with a focus on vaccines, and Dr. Eugene Zhukovsky, who is an expert in the development of bispecific biotherapeutics.

 

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Our Strategy

Our goal is to eradicate cancer by initially developing personalized immunotherapies that focus on the unique and individual nature of a patient’s tumor. Our strategy to achieve this includes the following key components:

 

   

Rapidly advance GRANITE-001, our lead product candidate, in multiple clinical settings, with the objective of generating a significant CD8+ T cell response to tumor-specific neoantigens. GRANITE-001 is our first personalized immunotherapy product candidate. It is engineered to elicit a significant T cell response to selected antigens in humans (particularly CD8+ T cell responses) based upon extensive clinical experience with many different vectors in the realm of infectious disease. We initiated a first-in-human Phase 1/2 trial of our heterologous prime-boost regimen in combination with checkpoint inhibitors provided by our collaborator BMS in the fourth quarter of 2018, and we dosed our first patient in the first quarter of 2019.

 

   

Invest in our Gritstone EDGE platform and maximize its utility across modalities. The EDGE platform utilizes proprietary machine learning models and an extensive dataset of over a million HLA-presented peptides from over 300 human tumor and matched normal tissue specimens. We are initially applying the platform to develop multiple formats of personalized cancer immunotherapies—including our heterologous prime-boost immunization containing TSNA (our GRANITE-001 program) as well as “off-the-shelf” therapies targeting shared tumor-specific antigens (our SLATE program)—in order to maximize the utility of our prediction capabilities across modalities. We intend to continually make investments to improve the EDGE platform’s prediction capabilities in order to develop more efficacious medicines—for instance, our development of what we believe will be a best-in-class Class II HLA prediction platform. Genomic and immune response data from our clinical trials will serve to further validate and refine our machine learning platform.

 

   

Build upon the discoveries from our Gritstone EDGE platform to rapidly move SLATE-001 and other shared tumor-specific antigen product candidates into multiple clinical settings where shared (neo)antigens may have utility. For SLATE-001, this includes—but will not be limited to—KRAS-driven tumors such as colorectal cancer, pancreatic ductal carcinoma and adenocarcinomas of the lung. We intend to initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of SLATE-001 in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of patients with advanced solid tumors, in mid-2019. For BiSAb against shared tumor-specific antigens, we expect to nominate a development candidate in the second half of 2019 to enter IND-enabling studies.

 

   

Continue to build our in-house manufacturing capabilities to maintain the highest controls on quality and capacity. We believe the speed, quality, reliability and scalability of our manufacturing capabilities will be a core competitive advantage to our clinical development and commercial success. We intend to internalize the majority of the manufacturing steps to drive down both cost and production time, as well as establish full control over intellectual property and product quality. We believe that operating our own manufacturing facility will provide us with enhanced control of material supply for both clinical trials and the commercial market, will enable the more rapid implementation of process changes, and will allow for better long-term manufacturing cost control.

 

   

Move tumor-specific immunotherapy into community oncology settings and earlier lines of treatment. We are designing our tumor-specific immunotherapy product candidates to fit into a community oncology setting. This approach is designed to enable oncologists to integrate our tumor-specific immunotherapy product candidates into their treatment practices without requiring a change in the current treatment paradigm. We believe this strategy has the potential to extend the use of our medicines into the community setting, enabling rapid trial

 

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execution, and expanding commercial use beyond limited centers of research excellence. Additionally, we intend to develop our tumor-specific immunotherapy product candidates in earlier lines of treatment, where recent clinical data with other forms of immunotherapy suggest efficacy is likely to be stronger, versus being used in highly refractory or late-stage cancer patients.

 

   

Enter into collaborations to realize the full potential of our platform. The breadth of our EDGE platform enables its application to a variety of therapeutic formats, including cell therapy, bispecific antibodies and other areas where shared tumor antigens could be impactful to cancer treatment. We intend to form collaborations around certain aspects of our platform, such as shared tumor antigens, as we believe we will benefit from the resources and capabilities of other organizations in the manufacture, development and commercialization of such diverse immunotherapies. Aligned with this strategy, our strategic collaboration with bluebird bio involves use of our EDGE platform to identify tumor-specific targets and associated T cell receptors for clinical application within bluebird bio’s cell therapy platform.

Risks Associated with Our Business

Our ability to implement our business strategy is subject to numerous risks that you should be aware of before making an investment decision. These risks are described more fully in ‘‘Risk Factors,’’ immediately following this prospectus summary, and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as amended, which is incorporated by reference herein. These risks include the following, among others:

 

   

We are an early-stage biopharmaceutical company with a limited operating history and no products approved for commercial sale. We have incurred significant losses since our inception, and we anticipate that we will continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future, which, together with our limited operating history, makes it difficult to assess our future viability.

 

   

We will require substantial additional financing to achieve our goals, and a failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed on acceptable terms, or at all, could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development programs, commercialization efforts or other operations.

 

   

Our tumor-specific cancer immunotherapy approach is based on novel ideas and technologies that are unproven and may not result in marketable products, which exposes us to unforeseen risks and makes it difficult for us to predict the time and cost of product development and potential for regulatory approval.

 

   

Our business is dependent on the successful development, regulatory approval and commercialization of our personalized immunotherapy product candidate, GRANITE-001, which is in early stages of development and for which we have only recently begun clinical trials.

 

   

We may be unable to obtain regulatory approval for our tumor-specific immunotherapy product candidates under applicable regulatory requirements. The denial or delay of any such approval would delay commercialization of our product candidates and adversely impact our potential to generate revenue, our business and our results of operations.

 

   

Clinical development involves a lengthy and expensive process with an uncertain outcome, and delays can occur for a variety of reasons outside of our control.

 

   

We rely on third parties in the conduct of all of our preclinical studies and intend to rely on third parties in the conduct of all of our future clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully

 

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carry out their contractual duties, fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements or meet expected deadlines, we may be unable to obtain regulatory approval for our tumor-specific immunotherapy product candidates.

 

   

Our success depends on our ability to protect our intellectual property and our proprietary technologies.

Corporate Information

We were founded in August 2015 as a Delaware corporation. Our principal executive offices are located at 5858 Horton Street, Suite 210, Emeryville, California 94608, and our telephone number is (510) 871-6100. Our website address is www.gritstoneoncology.com. The information on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference herein. We have included our website address as an inactive textual reference only.

Implications of Being An Emerging Growth Company

We are an emerging growth company as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (1) December 31, 2023, (2) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, (3) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million as of the last business day of the second fiscal quarter of such year or (4) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting requirements and is relieved of certain other significant requirements that are otherwise generally applicable to public companies. As an emerging growth company:

 

   

We will present in this prospectus only two years of audited financial statements, plus unaudited condensed financial statements for any interim period, and related management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations;

 

   

We will avail ourselves of the exemption from the requirement to obtain an attestation and report from our auditors on the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;

 

   

We will provide less extensive disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements; and

 

   

We will not require stockholder non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements.

 

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THE OFFERING

 

Common stock offered by us

   6,500,000 shares.

Underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares from us

  

We have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 975,000 additional shares at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions.

Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering

  

35,550,097 shares (or 36,525,097 shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares).

Use of proceeds

  

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $69.6 million, or approximately $80.2 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, at the public offering price of $11.50 per share, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

We currently expect to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash resources, to fund our Phase 1/2 clinical trials of GRANITE-001 and SLATE-001, to fund the accelerated buildout of our manufacturing facility to internalize production of our vaccine platform, to fund internal research and development activities, including preclinical and IND-enabling activities for our BiSAb program against multiple tumor-specific targets, and for working capital and general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” on page 25 for a more complete description of the intended use of proceeds from this offering.

Risk factors

   See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 14 and other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus for a discussion of factors that you should consider carefully before deciding to invest in our common stock.

Nasdaq Global Select Market symbol

   “GRTS”

The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 29,050,097 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018, and excludes the following:

 

   

2,429,859 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options as of December 31, 2018 having a weighted-average exercise price of $5.31 per share;

 

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2,695,110 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2018 Incentive Award Plan as of December 31, 2018, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan; and

 

   

282,334 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of December 31, 2018, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan.

In addition, unless we specifically state otherwise, all information in this prospectus reflects and assumes the following:

 

   

no exercise of outstanding stock options subsequent to December 31, 2018; and

 

   

no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase up to an additional 975,000 shares of common stock.

 

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Summary Financial Data

The following tables present our selected financial data for the periods and as of the dates indicated. We have derived the following summary statements of operations and comprehensive loss data for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, from our audited financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in the future. You should read the financial data below in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as amended, incorporated by reference herein.

 

    Year Ended December 31,  
    2017     2018  
    (in thousands, except share
and per share amounts)
 

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss Data:

   

Collaboration revenue

  $ —       $ 1,187  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

   

Research and development

    35,691       54,965  

General and administrative

    6,072       11,806  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    41,763       66,771  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

    (41,763     (65,584

Interest income, net

    386       809  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

    (41,377     (64,775

Unrealized loss on marketable securities

    (71     (11
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net and comprehensive loss

  $ (41,448   $ (64,786
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share, basic and diluted(1)

  $ (20.70   $ (7.26
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted(1)

    1,999,044       8,919,281  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

See Notes 2 and 12 to our audited financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for further details on the calculations of our basic and diluted net loss per share and the weighted-average number of shares used in the computation of the per share amounts.

 

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The table below presents our balance sheet data as of December 31, 2018:

 

   

on an actual basis; and

 

   

on an as adjusted basis to give further effect to the sale of 6,500,000 shares of common stock in this offering at the public offering price of $11.50 per share, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

     As of December 31, 2018  
     Actual      As Adjusted  
     (in thousands)  
    

(unaudited)

 

Balance Sheets Data:

    

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities

   $ 153,110     $ 222,725  

Working capital(1)

     142,528       212,143  

Total assets

     189,558       259,173  

Total liabilities

     40,436       40,436  

Accumulated deficit

     (126,402     (126,402

Total stockholders’ equity

     149,122       218,737  

 

(1)

We define working capital as current assets less current liabilities. See our audited financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus for details regarding our current assets and current liabilities.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the other information in this prospectus or incorporated by reference herein, including our financial statements and the related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as amended, before deciding whether to invest in our common stock. The occurrence of any of the events or developments described below could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, prospects and stock price. In such an event, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock and This Offering

Our stock price is volatile and you may not be able to resell shares of our common stock at or above the price you paid.

The trading price of our common stock is highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. These factors include those discussed in this “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and others such as:

 

   

results from, and any delays in, our clinical trials for GRANITE-001, SLATE-001 or any other future clinical development programs, including public misperception of the results of our trials;

 

   

announcements by academic or other third parties challenging the fundamental premises underlying our approach to treating cancer and/or biopharmaceutical product development;

 

   

announcements of regulatory approval or disapproval of our current or any future product candidates;

 

   

failure or discontinuation of any of our research and development programs;

 

   

manufacturing setbacks or delays of or issues with the supply of the materials for our personalized immunotherapy candidate;

 

   

announcements relating to future licensing, collaboration or development agreements, including the early termination or failure of an existing strategic collaboration;

 

   

delays in the commercialization of our current or any future product candidates;

 

   

public misperception regarding the use of our therapies;

 

   

acquisitions and sales of new products, technologies or businesses;

 

   

quarterly variations in our results of operations or those of our future competitors;

 

   

changes in earnings estimates or recommendations by securities analysts;

 

   

announcements by us or our competitors of new products, significant contracts, commercial relationships, acquisitions or capital commitments;

 

   

developments with respect to intellectual property rights;

 

   

our commencement of, or involvement in, litigation;

 

   

changes in financial estimates or guidance, including our ability to meet our future revenue and operating profit or loss estimates or guidance;

 

   

any major changes in our board of directors or management;

 

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new legislation in the United States relating to the sale or pricing of pharmaceuticals;

 

   

FDA or other U.S. or foreign regulatory actions affecting us or our industry;

 

   

product liability claims or other litigation or public concern about the safety of our product candidates;

 

   

market conditions in the biopharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors; and

 

   

general economic conditions in the United States and abroad.

In addition, the stock markets in general, and the markets for biopharmaceutical and biotechnology stocks in particular, have experienced extreme volatility that may have been unrelated to the operating performance of the issuer. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price or liquidity of our common stock. In the past, when the market price of a stock has been volatile, holders of that stock have sometimes instituted securities class action litigation against the issuer. If any of our stockholders were to bring such a lawsuit against us, we could incur substantial costs defending the lawsuit and the attention of our management would be diverted from the operation of our business.

An active, liquid and orderly market for our common stock may not develop, and you may not be able to resell your common stock at or above the public offering price.

Prior to our initial public offering in September 2018, there was no public market for shares of our common stock. Our stock only recently began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, but we can provide no assurance that we will be able to maintain an active trading market on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or any other exchange in the future. We and the representatives of the underwriters will determine the public offering price of our common stock through negotiation. This price will not necessarily reflect the price at which investors in the market will be willing to buy and sell our shares following this offering. The lack of an active market may impair your ability to sell your shares at the time you wish to sell them or at a price that you consider reasonable. An inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital by selling shares and may impair our ability to acquire other businesses, applications, or technologies using our shares as consideration.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding our stock, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. If any of the analysts who cover us issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding us, our business model, our intellectual property or our stock performance, or if our clinical trials and operating results fail to meet the expectations of analysts, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

We incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management devotes substantial time to new compliance initiatives. We may fail to comply with the rules that apply to public companies, including Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which could result in sanctions or other penalties that would harm our business.

We incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses as a public company, including costs resulting from public company reporting obligations under the Exchange Act and regulations regarding corporate governance practices. The listing requirements of the Nasdaq Global Select Market and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, require that we satisfy certain corporate

 

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governance requirements relating to director independence, filing annual and interim reports, stockholder meetings, approvals and voting, soliciting proxies, conflicts of interest and a code of conduct. Our management and other personnel devote a substantial amount of time to ensure that we comply with all of these requirements. Moreover, the reporting requirements, rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly. Any changes we make to comply with these obligations may not be sufficient to allow us to satisfy our obligations as a public company on a timely basis, or at all. These reporting requirements, rules and regulations, coupled with the increase in potential litigation exposure associated with being a public company, could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or board committees or to serve as executive officers, or to obtain certain types of insurance, including directors’ and officers’ insurance, on acceptable terms.

As a public company, we are subject to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, and the related rules of the SEC, which generally require our management and independent registered public accounting firm to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Beginning with the second annual report that we will be required to file with the SEC, Section 404 requires an annual management assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. However, for so long as we remain an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404. Once we are no longer an emerging growth company or, if prior to such date, we opt to no longer take advantage of the applicable exemption, we will be required to include an opinion from our independent registered public accounting firm on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) December 31, 2023, (2) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, (3) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the prior June 30th or (4) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.

To date, we have never conducted a review of our internal control for the purpose of providing the reports required by these rules. During the course of our review and testing, we may identify deficiencies and be unable to remediate them before we must provide the required reports. Furthermore, if we have a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting, we may not detect errors on a timely basis and our financial statements may be materially misstated. We or our independent registered public accounting firm may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting, which could harm our operating results, cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and cause the trading price of our stock to fall. In addition, as a public company we are required to file accurate and timely quarterly and annual reports with the SEC under the Exchange Act. In order to report our results of operations and financial statements on an accurate and timely basis, we will depend on CROs to provide timely and accurate notice of their costs to us. Any failure to report our financial results on an accurate and timely basis could result in sanctions, lawsuits, delisting of our shares from the Nasdaq Global Select Market or other adverse consequences that would materially harm to our business.

Purchasers in this offering will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of their investment.

The public offering price of our common stock is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock before giving effect to this offering. Accordingly, if you purchase our common stock in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution of approximately

 

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$5.35 per share, based on our net tangible book value as of December 31, 2018 and assuming the issuance and sale of 6,500,000 shares of our common stock at the public offering price of $11.50 per share. Furthermore, if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares, or outstanding options are exercised, you could experience further dilution. For a further description of the dilution that you will experience immediately after this offering, see the section titled “Dilution.”

If we sell shares of our common stock in future financings, stockholders may experience immediate dilution and, as a result, our stock price may decline.

We may from time to time issue additional shares of common stock at a discount from the current trading price of our common stock. As a result, our stockholders would experience immediate dilution upon the purchase of any shares of our common stock sold at such discount. In addition, as opportunities present themselves, we may enter into financing or similar arrangements in the future, including the issuance of debt securities, preferred stock or common stock. If we issue common stock or securities convertible into common stock, our common stockholders would experience additional dilution and, as a result, our stock price may decline.

Our principal stockholders and management own a significant percentage of our stock and will be able to exert significant control over matters subject to stockholder approval.

As of December 31, 2018, our executive officers, directors and their respective affiliates held over a majority of our outstanding voting stock and, upon the closing of this offering, that same group will hold over a majority of our outstanding voting stock. Therefore, even after this offering these stockholders will have the ability to influence us through this ownership position. These stockholders may be able to determine all matters requiring stockholder approval. For example, these stockholders may be able to control elections of directors, or approval of any merger, sale of assets, or other major corporate transaction. This may prevent or discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or offers for our common stock that you may feel are in your best interest as one of our stockholders.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could cause our stock price to fall.

If our existing stockholders sell, or indicate an intention to sell, substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market after the lock-up and other legal restrictions on resale discussed in this prospectus lapse, the trading price of our common stock could decline. Based upon the number of shares outstanding as of December 31, 2018, upon the closing of this offering, we will have outstanding a total of 35,550,097 shares of common stock, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock and no exercise of outstanding options.

The lock-up agreements pertaining to this offering will expire 90 days from the date of this prospectus. After the lock-up agreements expire, up to approximately 10.9 million additional shares of common stock held by directors, executive officers and other affiliates will be eligible for sale in the public market, subject to Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Cowen and Company, LLC and Barclays Capital Inc. may, however, in their sole discretion, permit our officers, directors and other stockholders who are subject to these lock-up agreements to sell shares prior to the expiration of the lock-up agreements.

In addition, as of December 31, 2018, approximately 5.1 million shares of common stock that are either subject to outstanding options or reserved for future issuance under our existing equity incentive plan will become eligible for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by the provisions of

 

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various vesting schedules, the lock-up agreements and Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Securities Act. If these additional shares of common stock are sold, or if it is perceived that they will be sold, in the public market, the trading price of our common stock could decline.

Further, the holders of approximately 10.1 million shares of our common stock, or approximately 35% of our total outstanding common stock as of December 31, 2018, will be entitled to rights with respect to the registration of their shares under the Securities Act, subject to vesting schedules and to the lock-up agreements described above. Registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in the shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act, except for shares purchased by affiliates. Any sales of securities by these stockholders could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our common stock.

We have broad discretion to determine how to use the funds raised in this offering, and may use them in ways that may not enhance our operating results or the price of our common stock.

Our management will have broad discretion over the use of proceeds from this offering, and we could spend the proceeds from this offering in ways our stockholders may not agree with or that do not yield a favorable return, if at all. We currently expect to use the net proceeds of this offering, together with our existing cash resources, to fund our Phase 1/2 clinical trials of GRANITE-001 and SLATE-001, to fund the accelerated buildout of our manufacturing facility to internalize production of our vaccine platform, to fund internal research and development activities, including preclinical and IND-enabling activities for our bispecific antibody program against multiple tumor-specific targets, and for working capital and general corporate purposes. However, our use of these proceeds may differ substantially from our current plans. If we do not invest or apply the proceeds of this offering in ways that improve our operating results, we may fail to achieve expected financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline.

Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.

We have incurred substantial losses during our history and do not expect to become profitable in the near future, and we may never achieve profitability. To the extent that we continue to generate taxable losses, unused losses will carry forward to offset a portion of future taxable income, if any, until such unused losses expire, if ever. Under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the IRC, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” generally defined as a greater than 50 percentage point change (by value) in its equity ownership by certain stockholders over a three-year period, the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net operating loss carryforwards, or NOLs, and other pre-change tax attributes (such as research and development tax credits) to offset its post-change income or taxes may be limited. In connection with our initial public offering which closed in October 2018, we performed an IRC Section 382 and 383 analysis and determined we had an ownership change. There was no reduction in federal or California net operating loss carryforwards or research and development income tax credits as a result of this ownership change. Any future equity financing transactions, private placements, and other transactions that may occur within the specified three year period may trigger additional ownership changes, which could further limit our use of such tax attributes. Any such limitations, whether as a result of prior or future offerings of our common stock or sales of common stock by existing stockholders, could have an adverse effect on our results of operations in our future years. Furthermore, under recently enacted U.S. tax legislation, although the treatment of tax losses generated before December 31, 2017 has generally not changed, tax losses generated in calendar year 2018 and beyond may only offset 80% of our taxable income. This change may require us to pay federal income taxes in future years despite generating a loss for federal income tax purposes in prior years.

 

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Recent U.S. tax legislation and future changes to applicable U.S. tax laws and regulations may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Changes in laws and policy relating to taxes may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, the U.S. government enacted significant tax reform legislation in 2017, and certain provisions of such legislation may adversely affect us. Changes include, but are not limited to, a federal corporate income tax rate decrease to 21% for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, a reduction to the maximum deduction allowed for net operating losses generated in tax years after December 31, 2017, eliminating carrybacks of net operating losses, and providing for indefinite carryforwards for losses generated in tax years after December 31, 2017. The legislation is unclear in many respects and could be subject to potential amendments and technical corrections, and will be subject to interpretations and implementing regulations by the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service, any of which could mitigate or increase certain adverse effects of the legislation. In addition, it is unclear how these U.S. federal income tax changes will affect state and local taxation. Generally, future changes in applicable U.S. tax laws and regulations, or their interpretation and application could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Provisions in our charter documents and under Delaware law could discourage a takeover that stockholders may consider favorable and may lead to entrenchment of management.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that could delay or prevent changes in control or changes in our management without the consent of our board of directors. These provisions include the following:

 

   

a classified board of directors with three-year staggered terms, which may delay the ability of stockholders to change the membership of a majority of our board of directors;

 

   

no cumulative voting in the election of directors, which limits the ability of minority stockholders to elect director candidates;

 

   

the exclusive right of our board of directors to elect a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the board of directors or the resignation, death or removal of a director, which prevents stockholders from being able to fill vacancies on our board of directors;

 

   

the ability of our board of directors to authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock and to determine the price and other terms of those shares, including preferences and voting rights, without stockholder approval, which could be used to significantly dilute the ownership of a hostile acquiror;

 

   

the ability of our board of directors to alter our amended and restated bylaws without obtaining stockholder approval;

 

   

the required approval of at least 66 2/3% of the shares entitled to vote at an election of directors to adopt, amend or repeal our amended and restated bylaws or repeal the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation regarding the election and removal of directors;

 

   

a prohibition on stockholder action by written consent, which forces stockholder action to be taken at an annual or special meeting of our stockholders;

 

   

the requirement that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by our chief executive officer or president or by the board of directors, which may delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or to take action, including the removal of directors; and

 

   

advance notice procedures that stockholders must comply with in order to nominate candidates to our board of directors or to propose matters to be acted upon at a stockholders’ meeting,

 

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which may discourage or deter a potential acquiror from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquiror’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.

We are also subject to the anti-takeover provisions contained in Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Under Section 203, a corporation may not, in general, engage in a business combination with any holder of 15% or more of its capital stock unless the holder has held the stock for three years or, among other exceptions, the board of directors has approved the transaction. For a description of our capital stock, see the section titled “Description of Capital Stock.”

Claims for indemnification by our directors and officers may reduce our available funds to satisfy successful third-party claims against us and may reduce the amount of money available to us.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.

In addition, as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated bylaws and our indemnification agreements that we have entered into with our directors and officers provide that:

 

   

We will indemnify our directors and officers for serving us in those capacities or for serving other business enterprises at our request, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that a corporation may indemnify such person if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the registrant and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

   

We may, in our discretion, indemnify employees and agents in those circumstances where indemnification is permitted by applicable law.

 

   

We are required to advance expenses, as incurred, to our directors and officers in connection with defending a proceeding, except that such directors or officers shall undertake to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification.

 

   

We will not be obligated pursuant to our amended and restated bylaws to indemnify a person with respect to proceedings initiated by that person against us or our other indemnitees, except with respect to proceedings authorized by our board of directors or brought to enforce a right to indemnification.

 

   

The rights conferred in our amended and restated bylaws are not exclusive, and we are authorized to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors, officers, employees and agents and to obtain insurance to indemnify such persons.

 

   

We may not retroactively amend our amended and restated bylaw provisions to reduce our indemnification obligations to directors, officers, employees and agents.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provide for an exclusive forum in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and in the U.S. federal district courts for certain disputes between us and our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty, any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant

 

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to the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws, any action to interpret, apply, enforce, or determine the validity of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws, or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Similarly, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the U.S. federal district courts are the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. The choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and other employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

We do not currently intend to pay dividends on our common stock, and, consequently, your ability to achieve a return on your investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our common stock.

We do not currently intend to pay any cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. We currently intend to invest our future earnings, if any, to fund our growth. Therefore, you are not likely to receive any dividends on your common stock for the foreseeable future. Since we do not intend to pay dividends, your ability to receive a return on your investment will depend on any future appreciation in the market value of our common stock. There is no guarantee that our common stock will appreciate or even maintain the price at which our holders have purchased it.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference herein, contains forward-looking statements concerning our business, operations and financial performance and condition, as well as our plans, objectives and expectations for our business operations and financial performance and condition. Any statements contained, or incorporated by reference, herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “due,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “positioned,” “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. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

   

our expectations regarding the potential market size and size of the potential patient populations for GRANITE-001, SLATE-001, our BiSAb program and any future product candidates, if approved for commercial use;

 

   

our clinical and regulatory development plans;

 

   

our expectations with regard to our Gritstone EDGE platform, including our ability to utilize the platform to predict the TSNA that will be presented on a patient’s tumor cells and identify shared antigens for other therapeutic classes;

 

   

our expectations with regard to the data to be derived in our Phase 1/2 clinical trial, GO-004;

 

   

the timing of commencement of future nonclinical studies and clinical trials and research and development programs;

 

   

our ability to acquire, discover, develop and advance product candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical trials;

 

   

our intentions and our ability to establish collaborations and/or partnerships;

 

   

the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals for our product candidates;

 

   

our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and expectations;

 

   

our intentions with respect to the commercialization of our product candidates;

 

   

the pricing and reimbursement of our product candidates, if approved;

 

   

the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business, product candidates and technology platforms, including additional indications for which we may pursue;

 

   

the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our product candidates, including the projected terms of patent protection;

 

   

estimates of our expenses, future revenue, capital requirements, our needs for additional financing and our ability to obtain additional capital;

 

   

our use of proceeds from this offering;

 

   

our future financial performance;

 

   

developments and projections relating to our competitors and our industry, including competing therapies and procedures; and

 

   

other risks and uncertainties, including those listed under the caption “Risk Factors.”

These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our business and the industry in which we operate and management’s

 

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beliefs and assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance or development and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are in some cases beyond our control. As a result, any or all of our forward-looking statements in, or incorporated by reference in, this prospectus may turn out to be inaccurate. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus and the discussion in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as amended, in each of “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Potential investors are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future. You should, however, review the factors and risks we describe in the reports we will file from time to time with the SEC after the date of this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

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MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

This prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference herein, contains estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business, as well as data regarding market research, estimates and forecasts prepared by our management. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances that are assumed in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market and other data from reports, research surveys, studies and similar data prepared by market research firms and other third parties, industry, medical and general publications, government data and similar sources. In some cases, we do not expressly refer to the sources from which this data is derived. In that regard, when we refer to one or more sources of this type of data in any paragraph, you should assume that other data of this type appearing in the same paragraph is derived from the same sources, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of 6,500,000 shares of our common stock in this offering will be approximately $69.6 million at the public offering price of $11.50 per share, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, we estimate that the net proceeds will be approximately $80.2 million at the public offering price of $11.50 per share, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

We currently expect to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash resources, to fund our Phase 1/2 clinical trials of GRANITE-001 and SLATE-001, to fund the accelerated buildout of our manufacturing facility to internalize production of our vaccine platform, to fund internal research and development activities, including preclinical and IND-enabling activities for our bispecific antibody program against multiple tumor-specific targets, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

We may also use a portion of the remaining net proceeds and our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities to in-license, acquire, or invest in complementary businesses, technologies, products or assets. However, we have no current commitments or obligations to do so.

Due to the uncertainties inherent in the clinical development and regulatory approval process, it is difficult to estimate with certainty the exact amounts of the net proceeds from this offering that may be used for the above purposes. As such, our management will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from this offering. The amounts and timing of our expenditures will depend upon numerous factors, including: (i) the time and cost necessary to advance GRANITE-001 and SLATE-001 through our Phase 1/2 clinical trials and future clinical trials; (ii) the timing of scaling our manufacturing capabilities and internalizing certain of our manufacturing processes; (iii) the time and cost associated with our research and development activities; and (iv) our ability to obtain regulatory approval for and subsequently commercialize GRANITE-001, SLATE-001 and any other future product candidates.

We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, together with the net proceeds from this offering, will be sufficient to fund our planned operations for at least 18 months following the date of this offering and through preliminary efficacy data for our planned Phase 1/2 clinical trial for GRANITE-001. After this offering, we will require substantial capital in order to advance GRANITE-001, SLATE-001, the BiSAb program and any other future product candidates through pivotal clinical trials, regulatory approval and commercialization. For additional information regarding our potential capital requirements, see “Risk Factors—We will require substantial additional financing to achieve our goals, and a failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed on acceptable terms, or at all, could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development programs, commercialization efforts or other operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as amended, incorporated by reference herein.

Pending the use of the proceeds from this offering, we intend to invest the net proceeds in interest-bearing, investment-grade securities, certificates of deposit or government securities.

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings, if any, to fund the development and expansion of our business and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination related to dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and capitalization as of December 31, 2018:

 

   

on an actual basis; and

 

   

on an as adjusted basis to give further effect to the sale of 6,500,000 shares of common stock in this offering at the public offering price of $11.50 per share, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

You should read this information together with our financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the information set forth in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as amended, incorporated by reference herein.

 

    As of December 31, 2018  
        Actual             As Adjusted      
   

(in thousands, except share and

per share data)

 
          (unaudited)  

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities

  $ 153,110     $ 222,725  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

   

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted

    —         —    

Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share; 300,000,000 shares authorized, 28,823,130 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 300,000,000 shares authorized, 35,323,130 shares issued and outstanding, as adjusted

    16       17  

Additional paid-in capital

    275,593       345,207  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (85     (85

Accumulated deficit

    (126,402     (126,402
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

    149,122       218,737  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

  $ 149,122     $ 218,737  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

The as adjusted column in the table above is based on shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018, and excludes the following:

 

   

2,429,859 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options as of December 31, 2018 having a weighted-average exercise price of $5.31 per share;

 

   

2,695,110 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2018 Incentive Award Plan as of December 31, 2018, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan; and

 

   

282,334 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of December 31, 2018, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan.

 

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DILUTION

If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share of our common stock in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock after this offering.

As of December 31, 2018, we had a historical net tangible book value of $149.1 million, or $5.13 per share of common stock. Our net tangible book value represents total tangible assets less total liabilities, all divided by 29,050,097 shares of common stock outstanding on December 31, 2018, which includes 226,967 shares of restricted common stock that were subject to repurchase as of December 31, 2018.

After giving effect to the sale of 6,500,000 shares of common stock in this offering at the public offering price of $11.50 per share, and after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2018 would have been approximately $218.7 million, or $6.15 per share. This represents an immediate increase in as adjusted net tangible book value of $1.02 per share to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $5.35 per share to new investors. The following table illustrates this per share dilution:

 

Public offering price per share

      $ 11.50  

Historical net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2018

   $ 5.13     

Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors purchasing shares in this offering

     1.02     
  

 

 

    

As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering

        6.15  
     

 

 

 

Dilution per share to new investors purchasing shares in this offering

      $ 5.35  
     

 

 

 

 

If the underwriters fully exercise their option to purchase additional shares, as adjusted net tangible book value after this offering would increase to approximately $6.28 per share, and there would be an immediate dilution of approximately $5.22 per share to new investors.

To the extent that outstanding options with an exercise price per share that is less than the as adjusted net tangible book value per share are exercised, new investors will experience further dilution. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.

The foregoing tables and calculations above are based on 29,050,097 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018, including 226,967 shares of restricted common stock that were subject to repurchase as of December 31, 2018, and exclude the following:

 

   

2,429,859 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options as of December 31, 2018 having a weighted-average exercise price of $5.31 per share;

 

   

2,695,110 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2018 Incentive Award Plan as of December 31, 2018, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan; and

 

   

282,334 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of December 31, 2018, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following summary describes our capital stock and the material provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, the investor rights agreement to which we and certain of our stockholders are parties and of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Because the following is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a complete description, you should refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and amended and restated investor rights agreement, copies of which are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is part.

General

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes 300,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share. As of December 31, 2018, there were outstanding:

 

   

2,429,859 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options; and

 

   

29,050,097 shares of our common stock, held by approximately 89 stockholders of record. This number does not include beneficial owners whose shares are held by nominees in street name.

Common Stock

Voting Rights

Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors. Our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the voting shares are able to elect all of the directors. In addition, the affirmative vote of holders of 66-2/3% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding voting stock is required to take certain actions, including amending certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, such as the provisions relating to amending our amended and restated bylaws, the classified board and director liability.

Dividends

Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding convertible preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds.

Liquidation

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities and the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any then outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock.

Rights and Preferences

Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion, subscription or other rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights,

 

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preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to and may be adversely affected by the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our convertible preferred stock that we may designate in the future.

Fully Paid and Nonassessable

All of our outstanding shares of common stock are, and the shares of common stock to be issued in this offering will be, fully paid and nonassessable.

Convertible Preferred Stock

Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of convertible preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof. These rights, preferences and privileges could include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting, or the designation of, such series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of common stock. The issuance of our convertible preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock and the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon our liquidation. In addition, the issuance of convertible preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company or other corporate action. As of December 31, 2018, no shares of convertible preferred stock are outstanding, and we have no present plan to issue any shares of convertible preferred stock.

Options

As of December 31, 2018, we had outstanding options to purchase 2,429,859 shares of our common stock, with a per share weighted-average exercise price of $5.31, under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan and 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.

Registration Rights

Under our amended and restated investors’ rights agreement, based on the number of shares outstanding as of December 31, 2018, the holders of approximately 10.1 million shares of common stock, or their transferees, have the right to require us to register their shares under the Securities Act so that those shares may be publicly resold, and the holders of approximately 10.1 million shares of common stock, or their transferees, have the right to include their shares in any registration statement we file, in each case as described below.

Demand Registration Rights

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of December 31, 2018, the holders of approximately 10.1 million shares of our common stock, or their transferees, will be entitled to certain demand registration rights. The holders of at least 30% of these shares (or a lesser percent if the anticipated aggregate offering price to the public net of certain expenses would exceed $10 million) can request that we register all or a portion of their shares. Additionally, we will not be required to effect a demand registration during the period beginning 120 days prior to the filing and ending 180 days following the effectiveness of a company-initiated registration statement relating to a public offering of our securities.

Piggyback Registration Rights

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of December 31, 2018, in the event that we determine to register any of our securities under the Securities Act (subject to certain exceptions),

 

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either for our own account or for the account of other security holders, the holders of approximately 10.1 million shares of our common stock, or their transferees, will be entitled to certain “piggyback” registration rights allowing the holders to include their shares in such registration, subject to certain marketing and other limitations. As a result, whenever we propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act, other than with respect to a registration related to employee benefit plans, the offer and sale of debt securities, or corporate reorganizations or certain other transactions, the holders of these shares are entitled to notice of the registration and have the right, subject to limitations that the underwriters may impose on the number of shares included in the registration, to include their shares in the registration. In an underwritten offering, the managing underwriter, if any, has the right, subject to specified conditions, to limit the number of shares such holders may include.

Form S-3 Registration Rights

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of December 31, 2018, the holders of approximately 10.1 million shares of our common stock, or their transferees, will be entitled to certain Form S-3 registration rights. The holders of any of at least 30% of these shares can make a written request that we register their shares on Form S-3 if we are eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-3 and if the aggregate price to the public of the shares offered is at least $10 million net of certain expenses related to the sale of the shares. These stockholders may make an unlimited number of requests for registration on Form S-3, but in no event shall we be required to file more than two registrations on Form S-3 in any given 12 month period. Additionally, we will not be required to effect a Form S-3 registration during the period beginning 30 days prior to the filing and ending 90 days following the effectiveness of a company-initiated registration statement relating to a public offering of our securities.

Expenses of Registration

We will pay the registration expenses of the holders of the shares registered pursuant to the demand, piggyback and Form S-3 registration rights described above, including the expenses of one counsel for the selling holders.

Expiration of Registration Rights

The demand, piggyback and Form S-3 registration rights described above will expire, with respect to any particular stockholder, upon the earlier of three years after the consummation of our initial public offering or when that stockholder can sell all of its shares under Rule 144 of the Securities Act during any three-month period.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our Amended and Restated Bylaws and Delaware Law

Some provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that could make the following transactions more difficult: acquisition of us by means of a tender offer; acquisition of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or removal of our incumbent officers and directors. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish or could deter transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interest or in our best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium over the market price for our shares.

These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to

 

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acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging these proposals because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute

We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits persons deemed “interested stockholders” from engaging in a “business combination” with a publicly-held Delaware corporation for three years following the date these persons become interested stockholders unless the business combination is, or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder was, approved in a prescribed manner or another prescribed exception applies. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status did own, 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. The existence of this provision may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the board of directors, such as discouraging takeover attempts that might result in a premium over the market price of our common stock.

Undesignated Preferred Stock

The ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control of us. These and other provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of our company.

Special Stockholder Meetings

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called by our board of directors, or by our President or Chief Executive Officer.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals

Our amended and restated bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors.

Elimination of Stockholder Action by Written Consent

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws eliminate the right of stockholders to act by written consent without a meeting.

Classified Board; Election and Removal of Directors; Filling Vacancies

Our board of directors is divided into three classes. The directors in each class will serve for a three-year term, one class being elected each year by our stockholders, with staggered three-year terms. Only one class of directors will be elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms. Because our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights, our stockholders holding a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding will be able to elect all of our directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for the removal of any of our directors only for cause and requires a

 

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stockholder vote by the holders of at least a 66-2/3% of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock. Furthermore, any vacancy on our board of directors, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the size of the board, may only be filled by a resolution of the board of directors unless the board of directors determines that such vacancies shall be filled by the stockholders. This system of electing and removing directors and filling vacancies may tend to discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, because it generally makes it more difficult for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors.

Choice of Forum

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the exclusive forum for: any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty; any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws; or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Similarly, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the U.S. federal district courts are the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. Although our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains the choice of forum provision described above, it is possible that a court could find that such a provision is inapplicable for a particular claim or action or that such provision is unenforceable.

Amendment of Charter Provisions

The amendment of any of the above provisions, except for the provision making it possible for our board of directors to issue undesignated preferred stock, would require approval by a stockholder vote by the holders of at least a 66-2/3% of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock.

The provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

The Nasdaq Global Select Market Listing

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “GRTS.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219.

 

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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Future sales of our common stock, including shares issued upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants, in the public market after this offering, or the perception that those sales may occur, could cause the prevailing market price for our common stock to fall or impair our ability to raise equity capital in the future. As described below, only a limited number of shares of our common stock will be available for sale in the public market for a period of 90 days after consummation of this offering due to contractual and legal restrictions on resale described below. Future sales of our common stock in the public market either before (to the extent permitted) or after restrictions lapse, or the perception that those sales may occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock at such time and our ability to raise equity capital at a time and price we deem appropriate.

Sale of Restricted Shares

Based on the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and assuming (1) no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock and (2) no exercise of any of our other outstanding options, we will have outstanding an aggregate of approximately 35,550,097 shares of common stock following this offering. Of these shares, all of the shares of common stock to be sold in this offering, and any shares sold upon exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, will be freely tradable in the public market without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, unless the shares are held by any of our “affiliates” as such term is defined in Rule 144 of the Securities Act. Certain of the remaining shares of common stock held by existing stockholders immediately prior to the consummation of this offering will be “restricted securities” as such term is defined in Rule 144. These restricted securities were issued and sold by us, or will be issued and sold by us, in private transactions and are eligible for public sale only if registered under the Securities Act or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, including the exemptions provided by Rule 144 or Rule 701, which rules are summarized below.

Lock-Up Agreements

In connection with this offering, we, our directors, our executive officers and certain of our stockholders have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, with the underwriters not to dispose of or hedge any shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock during the period from the date of the lock-up agreement continuing through the date 90 days after the date of this prospectus, except with the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Cowen and Company, LLC and Barclays Capital Inc.

Certain of our employees, including our executive officers, and/or directors may enter into written trading plans that are intended to comply with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act. Sales under these trading plans would not be permitted until the expiration of the lock-up agreements relating to the offering described above.

Following the lock-up periods set forth in the agreements described above, and assuming that the representatives of the underwriters do not release any parties from these agreements, all of the shares of our common stock that are restricted securities or are held by our affiliates as of the date of this prospectus will be eligible for sale in the public market in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

Rule 144

In general, under Rule 144, as currently in effect, once we have been subject to the public company reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, for at least 90 days, a person (or persons whose

 

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shares are required to be aggregated) who is not deemed to have been one of our “affiliates” for purposes of Rule 144 at any time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our “affiliates,” is entitled to sell those shares in the public market (subject to the lock-up agreement referred to above, if applicable) without complying with the manner of sale, volume limitations or notice provisions of Rule 144, but subject to compliance with the public information requirements of Rule 144. If such a person has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least one year, including the holding period of any prior owner other than “affiliates,” then such person is entitled to sell such shares in the public market without complying with any of the requirements of Rule 144 (subject to the lock-up agreement referred to above, if applicable). In general, under Rule 144, as currently in effect, once we have been subject to the public company reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for at least 90 days, our “affiliates,” as defined in Rule 144, who have beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least six months are entitled to sell in the public market, upon expiration of any applicable lock-up agreements and within any three-month period, a number of those shares of our common stock that does not exceed the greater of:

 

   

1% of the number of common shares then outstanding, which will equal approximately 355,500 shares of common stock immediately after this offering (calculated as of December 31, 2018 on the basis of the assumptions (1)-(2) described above); or

 

   

the average weekly trading volume of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to such sale.

Such sales under Rule 144 by our “affiliates” or persons selling shares on behalf of our “affiliates” are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions, notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us. Notwithstanding the availability of Rule 144, our “affiliates” have entered into lock-up agreements as referenced above and their restricted securities will become eligible for sale (subject to the above limitations under Rule 144) upon the expiration of the restrictions set forth in those agreements.

Rule 701

In general, under Rule 701 as currently in effect, any of our employees, directors, officers, consultants or advisors who acquired common stock from us in connection with a written compensatory stock or option plan or other written agreement in compliance with Rule 701 under the Securities Act before the effective date of a registration statement under the Securities Act (to the extent such common stock is not subject to a lock-up agreement) is entitled to rely on Rule 701 to resell such shares in reliance on Rule 144, but without compliance with the holding period requirements contained in Rule 144. Accordingly, subject to any applicable lock-up agreements, under Rule 701 persons who are not our “affiliates,” as defined in Rule 144, may resell those shares without complying with the minimum holding period or public information requirements of Rule 144, and persons who are our “affiliates” may resell those shares without compliance with Rule 144’s minimum holding period requirements (subject to the terms of the lock-up agreement referred to above, if applicable).

Registration Rights

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of December 31, 2018, the holders of approximately 10.1 million shares of our common stock, or their transferees, will, subject to the lock-up agreements referred to above, be entitled to certain rights with respect to the registration of the offer and sale of those shares under the Securities Act. For a description of these registration rights, see “Description of Capital Stock—Registration Rights.” If the offer and sale of these shares are registered, they will be freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS

The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock issued pursuant to this offering, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. The effects of other U.S. federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, and any applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax laws are not discussed. This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, in each case in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a Non-U.S. Holder. We have not sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position to that discussed below regarding the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock.

This discussion is limited to Non-U.S. Holders that hold our common stock as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a Non-U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, including the impact of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income. In addition, it does not address consequences relevant to Non-U.S. Holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:

 

   

U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

 

   

persons subject to the alternative minimum tax;

 

   

persons holding our common stock as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment;

 

   

banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions;

 

   

brokers, dealers or traders in securities;

 

   

“controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

 

   

partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and investors therein);

 

   

tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;

 

   

persons deemed to sell our common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;

 

   

tax-qualified retirement plans; and

 

   

“qualified foreign pension funds” as defined in Section 897(l)(2) of the Code and entities all of the interests of which are held by qualified foreign pension funds.

If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, partnerships holding our common stock and the partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them.

THIS DISCUSSION IS NOT TAX ADVICE. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS

 

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TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON STOCK ARISING UNDER THE U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.

Definition of Non-U.S. Holder

For purposes of this discussion, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is any beneficial owner of our common stock that is neither a “U.S. person” nor an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. person is any person that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as any of the following:

 

   

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and all substantial decisions of which are subject to the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (2) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Distributions

As described in the section titled “Dividend Policy,” we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. However, if we do make distributions of cash or property on our common stock, such distributions will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Amounts not treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital and first be applied against and reduce a Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock, but not below zero. Any excess will be treated as capital gain and will be treated as described below under “—Sale or Other Taxable Disposition.”

Subject to the discussion below regarding effectively connected income, dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividends (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty, provided the Non-U.S. Holder furnishes a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) certifying qualification for the lower treaty rate). A Non-U.S. Holder that does not timely furnish the required documentation, but that qualifies for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable tax treaties.

If dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such dividends are attributable), the Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from the U.S. federal withholding tax described above. To claim the exemption, the Non-U.S. Holder must furnish to the applicable withholding agent a valid IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States.

Any such effectively connected dividends will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be

 

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subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected dividends, as adjusted for certain items. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition

Subject to the discussions below regarding backup withholding and FATCA, a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such gain is attributable);

 

   

the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or

 

   

our common stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest, or USRPI, by reason of our status as a U.S. real property holding corporation, or USRPHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected gain, as adjusted for certain items.

Gain described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), which may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses of the Non-U.S. Holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the Non-U.S. Holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.

With respect to the third bullet point above, we believe we currently are not, and do not anticipate becoming, a USRPHC. Because the determination of whether we are a USRPHC depends, however, on the fair market value of our USRPIs relative to the fair market value of our non-U.S. real property interests and our other business assets, there can be no assurance we currently are not a USRPHC or will not become one in the future. Even if we are or were to become a USRPHC, gain arising from the sale or other taxable disposition by a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if our common stock is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market, and such Non-U.S. Holder owned, actually and constructively, 5% or less of our common stock throughout the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition or the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period.

Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Payments of dividends on our common stock will not be subject to backup withholding, provided the Non-U.S. Holder certifies its non-U.S. status, such as by furnishing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or W-8ECI, or otherwise establishes an exemption. However, information returns are

 

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required to be filed with the IRS in connection with any dividends on our common stock paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. In addition, proceeds of the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related brokers generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting if the applicable withholding agent receives the certification described above or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Proceeds of a disposition of our common stock conducted through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker that does not have certain enumerated relationships with the United States generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting.

Copies of information returns that are filed with the IRS may also be made available under the provisions of an applicable treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Additional Withholding Tax on Payments Made to Foreign Accounts

Withholding taxes may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA) on certain types of payments made to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on dividends on, or, subject to the recently released proposed Treasury Regulations discussed below, gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our common stock paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code), unless (1) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (3) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain “specified United States persons” or “United States-owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.

Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA generally applies to payments of dividends on our common stock. While, beginning on January 1, 2019, withholding under FATCA would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our common stock, recently proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued.

Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in our common stock.

 

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UNDERWRITING

We and the underwriters named below have entered into an underwriting agreement on April 24, 2019 with respect to the shares being offered. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the number of shares indicated in the following table. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Cowen and Company, LLC and Barclays Capital Inc. are the representatives of the underwriters.

 

Underwriters

   Number of
Shares
 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

     2,730,000  

Cowen and Company, LLC

     2,015,000  

Barclays Capital Inc.

     1,365,000  

BTIG, LLC

     390,000  
  

 

 

 

Total

     6,500,000  
  

 

 

 

The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the shares being offered, if any are taken, other than the shares covered by the option described below unless and until this option is exercised.

The underwriters have an option to buy up to an additional 975,000 shares from us. They may exercise that option for 30 days. If any shares are purchased pursuant to this option, the underwriters will severally purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as set forth in the table above.

The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters by us. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase up to an additional 975,000 shares from us.

 

     No Exercise      Full Exercise  

Per Share

   $ 0.69      $ 0.69  

Total

   $ 4,485,000      $ 5,157,750  

Shares sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any shares sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount of up to $0.414 per share from the public offering price. After the initial offering of the shares, the representatives may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The offering of the shares by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

In addition, in connection with this offering, we and our executive officers, directors, and certain stockholders have agreed with the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, not to dispose of or hedge any of our or their common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date 90 days after the date of this prospectus, except with the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Cowen and Company, LLC and Barclays Capital Inc. This agreement does not apply to any existing employee benefit plans. See the section titled “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” for a discussion of certain transfer restrictions.

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “GRTS”.

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares of our common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and

 

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purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering, and a short position represents the amount of such sales that have not been covered by subsequent purchases. A “covered short position” is a short position that is not greater than the amount of additional shares for which the underwriters’ option described above may be exercised. The underwriters may cover any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to cover the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase additional shares pursuant to the option described above. “Naked” short sales are any short sales that create a short position greater than the amount of additional shares for which the option described above may be exercised. The underwriters must cover any such naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of common stock made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.

The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased shares sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Purchases to cover a short position and stabilizing transactions, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock, and together with the imposition of the penalty bid, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of our common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on the Nasdaq Global Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

We estimate that our share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $650,000. We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain of their expenses in an amount up to $40,000.

We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, a variety of these services to the issuer and to persons and entities with relationships with the issuer, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses and the underwriters in this offering also served as underwriters in our initial public offering in October 2018.

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to assets, securities or instruments of the issuer (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) or persons and entities with relationships

 

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with the issuer. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long and/or short positions in such assets, securities and instruments.

European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”) an offer to the public of our common stock may not be made in that Relevant Member State, except that an offer to the public in that Relevant Member State of our common stock may be made at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive:

 

   

To any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

 

   

To fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or

 

   

In any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive;

provided that no such offer or shares of our common stock shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to public” in relation to our common stock in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and our common stock to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase our common stock, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State, and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended), including by Directive 2010/73/EU and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State.

This European Economic Area selling restriction is in addition to any other selling restrictions set out below.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, this prospectus is only addressed to and directed at qualified investors who are (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the Order); or (ii) high net worth entities and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). Any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus relates is available only to relevant persons and will only be engaged in with relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this prospectus or any of its contents.

Canada

The securities may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients,

 

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as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions, and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the securities must be made in accordance with an exemption form, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Hong Kong

The securities may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance”) or which do not constitute an invitation to the public within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“Securities and Futures Ordinance”), or (ii) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the securities may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” in Hong Kong as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder.

Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the shares may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the shares be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined under Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”)) under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to conditions set forth in the SFA.

Where the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor, the securities (as defined in

 

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Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation has acquired the shares under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer in that corporation’s securities pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore (“Regulation 32”).

Where the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an accredited investor, the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that trust has acquired the shares under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer that is made on terms that such rights or interest are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction (whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets), (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32.

Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to Section 309B of the SFA, we have determined, and hereby notify all relevant persons (as defined in the CMP Regulations 2018), that the shares are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the CMP Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

Japan

The securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended), or the FIEA. The securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan (including any person resident in Japan or any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan) or to others for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the FIEA and otherwise in compliance with any relevant laws and regulations of Japan.

Australia

No placement document, prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), in relation to the offering. This offering document does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”), and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act.

Any offer in Australia of the shares may only be made to persons (the “Exempt Investors”) who are “sophisticated investors” (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), “professional investors” (within the meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the shares without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.

 

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The shares applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be offered for sale in Australia in the period of 12 months after the date of allotment under the offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act. Any person acquiring shares must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions.

This offering document contains general information only and does not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It does not contain any securities recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this offering document is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.

Dubai International Financial Centre

This offering document relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This offering document is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set forth in this prospectus and has no responsibility for the offering document. The securities to which this offering document relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered should conduct their own due diligence on the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this offering document you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

Switzerland

We have not and will not register with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”) as a foreign collective investment scheme pursuant to Article 119 of the Federal Act on Collective Investment Scheme of 23 June 2006, as amended (“CISA”), and accordingly the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus have not and will not be approved, and may not be licenseable, with FINMA. Therefore, the securities have not been authorized for distribution by FINMA as a foreign collective investment scheme pursuant to Article 119 CISA and the securities offered hereby may not be offered to the public (as this term is defined in Article 3 CISA) in or from Switzerland. The securities may solely be offered to “qualified investors,” as this term is defined in Article 10 CISA, and in the circumstances set out in Article 3 of the Ordinance on Collective Investment Scheme of 22 November 2006, as amended (“CISO”), such that there is no public offer. Investors, however, do not benefit from protection under CISA or CISO or supervision by FINMA. This prospectus and any other materials relating to the securities are strictly personal and confidential to each offeree and do not constitute an offer to any other person. This prospectus may only be used by those qualified investors to whom it has been handed out in connection with the offer described in this prospectus and may neither directly or indirectly be distributed or made available to any person or entity other than its recipients. It may not be used in connection with any other offer and shall in particular not be copied and/or distributed to the public in Switzerland or from Switzerland. This prospectus does not constitute an issue prospectus as that term is understood pursuant to Article 652a and/or 1156 of the Swiss Federal Code of Obligations. We have not applied for a listing of the securities on the SIX Swiss Exchange or any other regulated securities market in Switzerland, and consequently, the information presented in this prospectus does not necessarily comply with the information standards set out in the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange and corresponding prospectus schemes annexed to the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the issuance of our common stock offered in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP, Menlo Park, California. Cooley LLP, San Francisco, California, is acting as counsel for the underwriters in connection with this offering. Latham & Watkins LLP and certain attorneys and investment funds affiliated with the firm own an aggregate of 14,078 shares of common stock.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as set forth in their report which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of common stock offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. For further information with respect to Gritstone Oncology, Inc. and the common stock offered hereby, reference is made to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein. Statements contained in, or incorporated by reference in, this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement. The SEC also maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address is www.sec.gov.

We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available at the website of the SEC referred to above. We maintain a website at www.gritstoneoncology.com. You may access our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The reference to our website address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on our website, and you should not consider the contents of our website in making an investment decision with respect to our common stock.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information from other documents that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Information in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the information or documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC (Commission File No. 001-38663):

 

   

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2019, and Amendment No. 1 to our Current Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2018, as filed with the SEC on April 18, 2019; and

 

   

Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 5, 2019.

Notwithstanding the statements in the preceding paragraphs, no document, report or exhibit (or portion of any of the foregoing) or any other information that we have “furnished” to the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act shall be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

We will furnish without charge to you, on written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including exhibits to these documents. You should direct any requests for documents to Gritstone Oncology, Inc., Attn: Legal, 5858 Horton Street, Suite 210, Emeryville, CA 94608.

You also may access these filings on our website at www.gritstoneoncology.com. We do not incorporate the information on our website into this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus and you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed through, our website as part of this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus (other than those filings with the SEC that we specifically incorporate by reference into this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus).

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed modified, superseded or replaced for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus modifies, supersedes or replaces such statement.

 

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