ASFILEDWITHTHE SECURITIESAND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONON OCTOBER 29, 2021As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 22, 2023

Registration No. 333-260292333-          

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington,WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Gritstone bio, Inc.GRITSTONE BIO, INC.

(Exact name of Registrantregistrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware2836 47-4859534

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)No.)

5959 Horton Street, Suite 300

Emeryville, California 94608

(510) 871-6100

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’sregistrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Andrew Allen, M.D., Ph.D.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Gritstone bio, Inc.

5959 Horton Street, Suite 300

Emeryville, California 94608

(510) 871-6100

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

Effie Toshav, Esq.

Rahsaan W. Thompson

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Gritstone bio, Inc.
5959 Horton Street, Suite 300

Emeryville, California 94608

(510) 871-6100

Robert A. Freedman, Esq.

Ryan Mitteness, Esq.

Chelsea Anderson, Esq.

Fenwick & West LLP

401 Union Street, 5th Floor

Seattle, WA 98101

(415) 875-2300

Brian J. Cuneo
Latham & Watkins LLP
140 Scott Drive
Menlo Park, California 94025
Telephone: (650) 328-4600

 

 

APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.box:  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.box:  ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.offering:  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlierearliest effective registration statement for the same offering.offering:  ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective onupon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities-Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D.I. D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   Accelerated filer 
Non-accelerated filer   Smaller reporting company 
Emerging growth company 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Amount

to be

Registered(1)

 

Proposed

Maximum
Offering Price

Per Share(2)

 

Proposed

Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price

 Amount of
Registration Fee
(3)

Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share

 

5,000,000

 

$9.00

 

$45,000,000

 

$4,171.50

 

 

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement shall be deemed to cover any additional shares to be offered or issued from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with respect to the shares being registered.

(2)

This estimate is made pursuant to Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee. The Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share is the average of the high and low prices for the registrant’s common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on October 12, 2021.

(3)

The registration fee has been calculated in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The amount of the registration fee was previously paid.

The registrantRegistrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrantRegistrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The selling stockholders named in this prospectusWe may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, nor doesand it seekis not soliciting an offer to buy these securities, in any jurisdictionstate where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion, dated October 29, 2021SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED DECEMBER 22, 2023

PROSPECTUS

$250,000,000

LOGO

LOGO

Gritstone bio, Inc.

5,000,000 Shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock,

Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Rights and Units

 

 

This prospectus relates to the proposed resale or other disposition of up to 5,000,000 shares of Gritstone bio, Inc. common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, fromFrom time to time, by the selling stockholders identified in this prospectus. We are not selling anywe may offer up to $250.0 million aggregate dollar amount of shares of common stock under this prospectus and will not receive any proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our common stock byor preferred stock, debt securities, warrants to purchase our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, subscription rights to purchase our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities and/or units consisting of some or all of these securities, in any combination, together or separately, in one or more offerings, in amounts, at prices and on the selling stockholders.

The selling stockholders or their pledgees, assignees or successors-in-interest may offer and sell or otherwise disposeterms that we will determine at the time of the sharesoffering and which will be set forth in a prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. The total amount of common stock describedthese securities will have an initial aggregate offering price of up to $250.0 million.

You should read this prospectus, the information incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference in this prospectus, from time to time through public or private transactions at prevailing market prices, at pricesand any applicable prospectus supplement and related to prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. The shares of common stock offered by thisfree writing prospectus may be offered by the selling stockholders directly to purchasers or to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers, or other agents. The selling stockholders will bear all commissions and discounts, if any, attributable to the sales of shares. We will bear all other costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the shares. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 17 for more information about how the selling stockholders may sell or dispose of their shares of common stock.carefully before you invest.

Our common stock is listedtraded on theThe Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “GRTS.” On October 14, 2021,December 21, 2023 the last reported salesales price offor our common stock was $1.64 per share. None of the other securities we may offer are currently traded on theany securities exchange. The applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listing on The Nasdaq Global Select Market was $9.37 per share.or any securities market or exchange of the securities covered by the prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus.

 

 

INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS. SEE THEAn investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the information under the headingRISK FACTORSRisk FactorsON PAGE 5 OF THIS PROSPECTUS AND ANY SIMILAR SECTION IN OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS CONCERNING FACTORS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES.beginning on page 4 of this prospectus before investing in our securities.

Common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights and/or units may be sold by us to or through underwriters or dealers, directly to purchasers or through agents designated from time to time. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such underwriters or agents and any applicable fees, discounts or commissions, details regarding over-allotment options, if any, and the net proceeds to us will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacydetermined if this prospectus is truthful or accuracy of this prospectus.complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is                , 2021.2023


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PAGE

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

   1 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCEPROSPECTUS SUMMARY

   2

ABOUT GRITSTONE

4 

RISK FACTORS

   4

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

5

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

7

INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

8 

USE OF PROCEEDS

   69

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

10 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

   712 

DESCRIPTION OF PRIVATE PLACEMENT OF COMMON STOCK

13

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

14

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTIONDEBT SECURITIES

   17

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

24

DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

26

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

27 

LEGAL MATTERS

   1927 

EXPERTS

   1927 

i


ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or the SEC,(“SEC”), using a “shelf” registration process. By using aUnder this shelf registration statement, the selling stockholders may sell securitiesprocess, from time to time, aswe may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus. We may authorizeprospectus in one or more free writing prospectusesofferings, up to be provided to youa total dollar amount of $250.0 million. Each time we offer our securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that maywill contain materialmore specific information relating to these offerings. The free writing prospectusabout the terms of the offering. We may also add, update or change in a prospectus supplement any of the information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. Ifor in documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. To the extent there is any inconsistencya conflict between the information contained in this prospectus and the applicable free writing prospectus supplement, you should rely on the free writing prospectus. Before purchasinginformation in the prospectus supplement; provided that, if any securities, youstatement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date—for example, a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement—the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement. This prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplements and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, includes all material information relating to this offering. You should carefully read both this prospectus and anythe applicable free writing prospectuses,prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described under the headingheadings “Incorporation of Information by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”Information” before buying any of our securities in this offering.

Neither we, nor the selling stockholders,any agent, underwriter or dealer have authorized anyone to providegive you with any information or to make any representationsrepresentation other than thosethe information and representations contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you.applicable prospectus supplement. We and the selling stockholdersany agent, underwriter or dealer take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. The selling stockholders willYou may not make an offer to sell these securities inimply from the delivery of this prospectus and any jurisdiction whereapplicable prospectus supplement, nor from a sale made under this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, that our affairs are unchanged since the offerdate of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the cover, that the information appearingcontained in any applicable free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of that free writing prospectus, and that any informationdocument incorporated by reference is accurate only as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, resultsregardless of operationsthe time of delivery of this prospectus and prospects may have changed since those dates.any applicable prospectus supplement or any sale of a security. This prospectus incorporatesand any applicable prospectus supplement may only be used where it is legal to sell the securities.

THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO OFFER AND SELL SECURITIES UNLESS IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “GRTS,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Gritstone bio, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries unless otherwise specified. This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference herein and any free writing prospectustherein may contain additional trade names, trademarks and incorporate by reference, market data and industry statistics and forecasts thatservice marks of other companies, which are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe these sources are reliable, wethe property of their respective owners. We do not guarantee the accuracyintend our use or completenessdisplay of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other companies.

1


PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained in other parts of this information and we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the market and industry data and forecasts that may be includedprospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptionsfrom our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023, and our other risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussedfilings with the SEC listed below under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus and any applicable free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated“Incorporation of Information by reference into this prospectus. Accordingly, investors shouldReference.” This summary may not place undue reliance on this information.

When we refer to “Gritstone,” “we,” “our,” “us” andcontain all the “Company” in this prospectus, we mean Gritstone bio, Inc., unless otherwise specified.

Gritstone bio, Gritstone, Gritstone EDGE, GRANITE, SLATE and our logo are some of our trademarks 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 and tradenames referred to in this prospectus appear without the ® or symbols, 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 and tradenames.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Available Information

We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.

Our website address is www.gritstonebio.com. The information on, or accessible through, our website, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus. We have included our website address as an inactive textual reference only.

Incorporation by Reference

The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file withyou should consider before investing in securities. You should read the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement.

We incorporate by reference our documents listed below and any future filings made by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the “Exchange Act” in this prospectus, between the date of thisentire prospectus and the termination of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus. We are not, however, incorporating by reference any documents or portions thereof, whether specifically listed below or filed in the future, that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including any Compensation Committee report and performance graph or any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or related exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K.

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 11, 2021;

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021, filed with the SEC on May  6, 2021 and August 5, 2021, respectively.

our Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than information furnished rather than filed) filed with the SEC on January  22, 2021, February  1, 2021, March  8, 2021, May  6, 2021, June  1, 2021, June  21, 2021, June  23, 2021, August  17, 2021, September  17, 2021 and September 29, 2021; and

the description of our common stock which is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, in our registration statement on Form 8-A, filed on September 18, 2018, including any amendment or reports filed for the purposes of updating this description.

All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of this offering, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

You may request a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus (other than exhibits, unless they are specificallycarefully, including “Risk Factors” and the financial data and related notes and other information incorporated by reference, in the documents) by writing or telephoning us at the following address:before making an investment decision. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Gritstone bio, Inc.

5959 Horton Street, Suite 300

Emeryville, California 94608

(510) 871-6100

Attention: Investor Relations

Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

ABOUT GRITSTONEOverview

We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next generationthat aims to develop the world’s most potent vaccines. Specifically, we discover, develop, manufacture and deliver vaccine-based immunotherapy candidates against cancer and infectious diseasedisease. Our goal is to unlock more potent and durable immunity by harnessing vaccine innovation. We aim to achieve that goal by leveraging our in-house capabilities and technologies to address the shortcomings of currently available vaccines and immunotherapies. Our approach seeks to generate a prophylactic or therapeutic

The immune system sits at the nexus of many diseases, and we believe that immune response by leveraging insights intomodulation is core to several transformational product classes. Recent advances have pointed to T cells as being central to the immune system’s abilitysuccess of cancer immunotherapy and critical in the elimination of virally infected cells. We believe that our scientific approach of focusing on generating antigen-specific T cells, particularly the challenging but critical cytotoxic CD8+ T cell subclass, has the potential to recognizedrive transformational therapeutic and prophylactic benefits.

In oncology, we develop personalized vaccines that aim to destroy diseasedtumors through CD8+ (killer) T cell recognition of tumor cells by targeting select antigens. Our programsvirtue of their surface display of neoantigens, peptides that are built on two key pillars, the first being our proprietary Gritstone EDGE artificial intelligence platform, which enables us to identify antigens that can be recognized by the immune system with a high degree of accuracy. These antigens can comprise short, tumor-specific, mutated peptide sequences presented on cancer cells referredwhen certain mutations occur in tumor DNA. In infectious disease, we develop both therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines targeting both T cells and B cells. We believe we are leading the field of development and application of self-amplifying mRNA (samRNA), a rapidly emerging platform technology. Our unique approach to immunogen design, whereby our vaccines deliver, as tumor-specific neoantigens (TSNA), appropriate, whole proteins to drive neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) and/or protein fragments to drive T cell responses, has the potential to both neutralize incoming pathogens (through nAbs) and kill infected cells through CD8+ T cell recognition of viral proteinsforeign, pathogen-derived peptides displayed uponon the surface of cells infected by virus. The second pillar is our potent, flexible,cells.

Our clinical programs include GRANITE, an individualized neoantigen-based vaccine platform, which we have engineered to deliver selected antigens to the patient’s immune system to drive the destruction of tumors or virally-infected cells.program; SLATE, an “off-the-shelf” neoantigen-based vaccine program; CORAL, a next-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccine program; and HIV, an HIV vaccine program in collaboration with Gilead Sciences, Inc (Gilead).

Corporate Information

We were founded in August 2015 as a Delaware corporation.corporation under the name Gritstone Oncology, Inc. Our principal executive offices are located at 5959 Horton Street, Suite 300, Emeryville, California 94608, and our telephone number is (510) 871-6100. Our Our website address is www.gritstonebio.com. The information on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus. We have included our website address as an inactive textual reference only. Investors should not rely on any such information in deciding whether to purchase our common stock.

The Securities We May Offer

With this prospectus, we may offer common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights to purchase our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, and/or units consisting of some or all of these

2


securities in any combination. The aggregate offering price of securities that we offer with this prospectus will not exceed $250.0 million. Each time we offer securities with this prospectus, we will provide offerees with a prospectus supplement that will contain the specific terms of the securities being offered. The following is a summary of the securities we may offer with this prospectus.

Common Stock

We may offer shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

Preferred Stock

We may offer shares of our preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, in one or more series. Our board of directors or a committee designated by the board will determine the dividend, voting, conversion and other rights of the series of shares of preferred stock being offered. Each series of preferred stock will be more fully described in the particular prospectus supplement that will accompany this prospectus, including redemption provisions, rights in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or the winding up, voting rights and rights to convert into common stock.

Debt Securities

We may offer general obligations, which may be secured or unsecured, senior or subordinated and convertible into shares of our common stock or preferred stock. In this prospectus, we refer to the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities together as the “debt securities.” Our board of directors will determine the terms of each series of debt securities being offered.

We will issue the debt securities under an indenture between us and a trustee. In this document, we have summarized general features of the debt securities from the indenture. We encourage you to read the indenture, which is an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Warrants

We may offer warrants for the purchase of debt securities, shares of preferred stock or shares of common stock. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities. Our board of directors will determine the terms of the warrants.

Subscription Rights

We may offer subscription rights for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. We may issue subscription rights independently or together with other securities. Our board of directors will determine the terms of the subscription rights.

Units

We may offer units consisting of some or all of the securities described above, in any combination, including common stock, preferred stock, warrants and/or debt securities. The terms of these units will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The description of the terms of these units in the related prospectus supplement will not be complete. You should refer to the applicable form of unit and unit agreement for complete information with respect to these units.

3


RISK FACTORS

InvestmentAn investment in anyour securities offered pursuantinvolves a high degree of risk. The prospectus supplement applicable to this prospectus involves risks. Youeach offering of securities will contain a discussion of the risks applicable to an investment in our securities. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the riskspecific factors includeddiscussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information contained or incorporated by reference in the prospectus supplement or appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequentunder Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, which are incorporated herein by reference, and may be amended, supplemented or Currentsuperseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future and which are incorporated herein by reference. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations.

4


CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and documents incorporated herein by reference contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “expect,” “predict,” “potential” and similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and under Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Quarterly Reports on Form 8-K10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023 as well as those discussed in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any free writing prospectus. Moreover, we fileoperate in a competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this prospectus include, among other things, statements about:

our clinical and regulatory development plans for our product candidates;

our expectations regarding the potential market size and size of the potential patient populations for our product candidates, in particular those within the GRANITE®, SLATE® and CORAL programs, and any future product candidates with limited patient populations, if approved for commercial use;

our expectations regarding the data to be derived in our ongoing and planned clinical trials, including, in particular, our expectations for the size and design of our planned clinical trials, timing of commencement and initiation of our trials and the timing of the availability of data from such trials;

our expectations regarding our Gritstone EDGE artificial intelligence and vaccine platforms, including our ability to utilize (i) our Gritstone EDGE platform to predict the tumor-specific neoantigens that will be presented on a patient’s tumor cells and identify highly conserved T cell epitopes for durable protection for infectious diseases and (ii) our vaccine platform to deliver selected antigens to the patient’s immune system to drive the destruction of tumors or virally-infected cells;

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

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

our plans and strategy regarding maintaining existing and entering into new collaborations and/or partnerships;

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

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

our expectations with respect to the commercialization, marketing and manufacturing of our product candidates;

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;

developments and projections relating to our competitors and our industry, including the success of competing therapies that are or may become available;

our ability to attract and retain key management and technical personnel;

5


our expectations regarding our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce intellectual property protection for our therapeutic candidates;

our expectations regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or the end of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations;

our expectations regarding the impact of the macroeconomic and geopolitical environment, including inflation, rising interest rates, the federal budget, instability in the global banking system, volatile market conditions, potential recessions, and geopolitical conflict, and their potentially material adverse impact on our business and the execution of our preclinical studies and clinical trials;

the sufficiency of our capital resources and our ability to obtain funding for our operations, including funding necessary to complete the development and commercialization of our product candidates;

the accuracy of our estimates of our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, expenses, future revenue and capital requirements;

our future financial performance; and

our use of our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.

The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this prospectus. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this prospectus to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations, except as required by law. We intend the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

6


WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities 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, the exhibits filed therewith or the documents incorporated by reference therein. For further information about us and the securities offered hereby, reference is made to the registration statement, the exhibits filed therewith and the documents incorporated by reference therein. Statements contained in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and in each instance, we refer you to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and are required to file annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and other information contained orwith the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and various other information about us. You may also inspect the documents described herein at our principal executive offices, 5959 Horton Street, Suite 300, Emeryville, California 94608, during normal business hours.

Information about us is also available at our website at www.gritstonebio.com. However, the information on our website is not a part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

7


INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those other documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, as updatedand information we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. A Current Report (or portion thereof) furnished, but not filed, on Form 8-K shall not be incorporated by our subsequentreference into this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of any offering of securities made by this prospectus:

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 9, 2023;

our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 26, 2023 (but only with respect to information required by Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022);

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on May  11, 2023, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2022, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2023;

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on April  6, 2023 , May  11, 2023, June  21, 2022, August  9, 2023, August  15, 2023, September 27, 2023;

the description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on September 18, 2018 under Section  12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description, including Exhibit 4.3 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022; and

filings we make with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, and prior to the risk factorseffectiveness of the registration statement.

We will furnish without charge to you, on written or oral request, a copy of any or all of such documents that has been incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into the documents that this prospectus incorporates). Written or oral requests for copies should be directed to Gritstone bio, Inc., Attn: Investor Relations, 5959 Horton Street, Suite 300, Emeryville, California 94608, and otherour telephone number is (510) 871-6100. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” for information concerning how to obtain copies of materials that we file with the SEC.

Any statement contained in any applicable free writingthis prospectus, before acquiring any of such securities. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to loseor in a document, all or a portion of which is incorporated by reference, shall be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not, except as so modified or superseded, constitute a part of your investment in the offered securities.this prospectus.

8


USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive anyretain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds to us from the sale of our securities under this prospectus. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of sharessecurities under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include funding research, clinical development, process development and manufacturing of our common stockproduct candidates, increasing our working capital, reducing indebtedness, acquisitions or investments in this offering. The selling stockholdersbusinesses, products or technologies that are complementary to our own and capital expenditures. We will receive allset forth in the applicable prospectus supplement our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities. Pending the application of the net proceeds, we intend to invest the net proceeds in short-term or long-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.

9


PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities covered by this prospectus to one or more underwriters for public offering and sale by them, and may also sell the securities to investors directly or through agents. We will name any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. We have reserved the right to sell or exchange securities directly to investors on our own behalf in jurisdictions where we are authorized to do so. We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions:

at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

at negotiated prices.

We may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities being offered by this offering.prospectus. We may also designate agents to solicit offers to purchase the securities from time to time. We will name in a prospectus supplement any agent involved in the offer or sale of our securities. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, an agent will be acting on a best efforts basis, and a dealer will purchase securities as a principal for resale at varying prices to be determined by the dealer.

If we utilize an underwriter in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, we will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriter at the time of sale and we will provide the name of any underwriter in the prospectus supplement that the underwriter will use to make resales of the securities to the public. In connection with the sale of the securities, we, or the purchasers of securities for whom the underwriter may act as agent, may compensate the underwriter in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions. The underwriter may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.

We will provide in the applicable prospectus supplement any compensation we pay to underwriters, dealers, or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer shall be fair and reasonable. We may enter into agreements to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to reimburse them for certain expenses. We may grant underwriters who participate in the distribution of our securities under this prospectus an option to purchase additional securities in connection with the distribution.

The securities we offer under this prospectus may or may not be listed through The Nasdaq Global Select Market or any other securities exchange. To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include short sales of the securities, which involves the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than we sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their option to purchase additional securities. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling stockholdersconcessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a

10


level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.

We may engage in at the market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and they may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in these sale transactions will pay be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus. The financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

We will file a prospectus supplement to describe the terms of any offering of our securities covered by this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will disclose:

the terms of the offer;

the names of any underwriters, including any managing underwriters, as well as any dealers or agents;

the purchase price of the securities from us;

the net proceeds to us from the sale of the securities;

any delayed delivery arrangements;

any options under which underwriters, if any, may purchase additional securities from us;

any underwriting discounts, commissions or other items constituting underwriters’ compensation, and any commissions paid to agents;

in a subscription rights offering, whether we have engaged dealer-managers to facilitate the offering or subscription, including their name or names and expenses incurred bycompensation;

any public offering price; and

other facts material to the selling stockholders for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses incurred by the selling stockholders in disposing of the shares. transaction.

We will bear all otheror substantially all of the costs, expenses and fees and expenses incurred in effectingconnection with the registration of our securities under this prospectus. The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the shares coveredordinary course of business.

Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise or the securities are sold by thisus to an underwriter in a firm commitment underwritten offering. The applicable prospectus including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, fees and expenses of our counsel, certain expenses of counselsupplement may provide that the original issue date for your securities may be more than two scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities. Accordingly, in such a case, if you wish to trade securities on any date prior to the selling stockholders and our independent registered public accountants.second business day before the original issue date for your securities, you will be required, by virtue of the fact that your securities initially are expected to settle in more than two scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities, to make alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.

11


DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

The following summary describesdescription summarizes the most important terms of our capital stock and the material provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, the amended and restated investors’ rights agreement to which we and certain of our stockholders are parties and of the Delaware General Corporation Law.stock. Because the followingit 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 investors’ rights agreement, copies of which have been filedare included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is part.forms a part, and to the applicable provisions of Delaware law.

Common Stock

As of September 30, 2021,2023, our authorized capital stock consists of 300,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share. As of September 30, 2021,2023, there were 64,251,58193,075,427 shares of our common stock outstanding held by approximately 4418 stockholders of record.

The actual number of stockholders is greater than the number of record holders and includes stockholders who are beneficial owners but whose shares are held in street name by brokers and other nominees. This number of holders of record also does not include stockholders whose shares may be held in trust by other entities.

Our common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, was registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the trading symbol “GRTS.”

The following description of our capital stock and provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws are summaries of material terms and provisions and are qualified by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, copies of which have been filed with the SEC and are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Dividend Rights

Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding 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.

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 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 are 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, 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.

12


Liquidation

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock are 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 preferred stock.

Fully Paid and Nonassessable

All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

Undesignated Preferred Stock

OurUnder our certificate of incorporation, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share, 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 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 preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company or other corporate action. As of September 30, 2021,2023, no shares of preferred stock were outstanding.

Options

As of September 30, 2021,2023, we had outstanding options to purchase 5,280,2847,265,543 shares of our common stock, with a per share weighted-average exercise price of $9.82, under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, 2018 Equity Incentive Plan and our 2021 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan.$7.55.

Warrants

In December 2020, we issued and sold, in a private placement transaction, warrants to purchase 27,480,719 shares of our common stock, with a per share weighted average exercise price of $3.34 per share of Common Stock, of which $3.33 per share was paid by each holder of such warrants at the time of purchase (such warrants, the “Pre-Funded Warrants”).

The material terms and provisions of the Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock are summarized below. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by the form of pre-funded warrant, which was filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K on December 28, 2020.

Exercisability. The holder may exercise the Pre-Funded Warrants at any time. There is no expiration date for the Pre-Funded Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, certain holders will be prohibited from exercising such warrants into shares of our common stock if, as a result of such exercise, the holder, together with its affiliates, would own more than 9.99% of the total number of shares of our common stock then issued and outstanding. The Pre-Funded Warrants are exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part, by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full for the number of shares of our common stock purchased upon such exercise (except in the case of a cashless exercise as discussed below).

Exercise Price. The exercise price of each Pre-Funded Warrant is $3.34 per share of Common Stock, of which $3.33 per share was paid by each purchaser of Pre-Funded Warrants at time of purchase. The exercise price of the warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of stock dividends, subdivisions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or reorganizations affecting our common stock.

Payment of Exercise Price. The warrant holders have the option to provide payment of the exercise price of the shares being acquired upon exercise of the warrants (i) by wire transfer or cashier’s check, or, in certain circumstances as described below (ii) by cashless exercise.

Cashless Exercise. If at any time there is no effective resale registration statement registering the resale of the Pre-Funded Warrants, in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to us upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder may elect instead to receive upon such exercise the net number of shares of common stock determined according to a formula set forth in the Pre-Funded Warrants.

Transferability. Subject to applicable laws and the restriction on transfer set forth in the warrant agreement, the Pre-Funded Warrants may be transferred at the option of the holders upon surrender of the warrants to the warrant agent together with the appropriate instruments of transfer.

Change of Control Transactions. If, at any time while each Pre-Funded Warrant is outstanding, there is a Change of Control, which generally includes a merger or consolidation resulting in the sale of 50% or more of the voting securities of the Company, the sale of all or substantially all of the assets or voting securities of the Company, or other change of control transaction, then the holder has the right thereafter to receive, upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrant, the same amount and kind of securities, cash or property as it would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of such Change of Control if it had been, immediately prior to such Change of Control, the holder of the number of Warrant Shares then issuable upon exercise in full of the Pre-Funded Warrant (the “Alternate Consideration”). If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Change of Control, then the holder will be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants following such Change of Control.

Events of Failure. In the event that we fail to timely deliver shares of Common Stock to any holder, we are required to make whole any holder who purchases shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by such holder of shares of Common Stock issuable upon an exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants that the holder anticipated receiving from the Company, as described in the Pre-Funded Warrants.

Rights as a Stockholder. Except for the right to participate in certain dividends and distributions and as otherwise provided in the Pre-Funded Warrants or by virtue of a holder’s ownership of our common stock, the holders of the Pre-Funded Warrants do not have the rights or privileges of holders of our Common Stock, including any voting rights, until they exercise their warrants.

Waivers and Amendments. Any term of the Pre-Funded Warrants may be amended or waived with our written consent and the written consent of the holder of such Pre-Funded Warrant.

No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants. As to any fraction of a share which the holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, we shall cause the warrant agent to, at our option, pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the exercise price of the Pre-Funded Warrant per whole share or round such fractional share up to the nearest whole share.

Anti-TakeoverAnti-takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of our Amended andOur 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 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 termsterms.

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

13


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 (in the absence of a Chief Executive Officer) 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 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 and our amended and restated bylaws 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

14


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. The exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. In addition, 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. Our exclusive forum provision will not relieve us of our duties to comply with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with these laws, rules and regulations.

The enforceability of similar federal court choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that a court could find this type of provision to be inapplicable or unenforceable. If a court were to find either of the choice of forum provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions.

The choice of forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with the company or its directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against the company and its directors, officers and other employees and result in increased costs for investors to bring a claim.

Amendment of Charter Provisionsthe Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

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.

Limitations of Liability and Indemnification Matters

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that limit the liability of our directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Consequently, our directors are not

personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for:

 

any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or

 

any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Each of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that we are required to indemnify our directors and officers, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Our amended and restated bylaws also obligates us to advance expenses incurred by a director or officer in

15


advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding, and permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of his or her actions in that capacity regardless of whether we would otherwise be permitted to indemnify him or her under Delaware law. We have entered and expect to continue to enter into agreements to indemnify our directors, executive officers and other employees as determined by our board of directors. With specified exceptions, these agreements provide for indemnification for related expenses including, among other things, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any of these individuals in any action or proceeding. We believe that these bylaw provisions and indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. We also maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and officers for breach of their fiduciary duty. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and our stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damages.

The Nasdaq Global Select Market Listing

Our common stock is listed on theThe 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 &Equiniti Trust Company, LLC. The address of the transfer agent and registrar’s addressregistrar is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219.

16


DESCRIPTION OF PRIVATE PLACEMENT OF COMMON STOCKDEBT SECURITIES

On September 16, 2021, weGeneral

We may issue the debt securities offered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement under an indenture to be entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”between us and the trustee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of the debt securities will include those stated in the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (“Trust Indenture Act”) with certain purchasers identified, as in effect on the signature pages thereto, pursuant to which we agreed to sell and such purchasers agreed to purchase an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock at a per share purchase price of $11.00, in a private placement transaction (the “Private Placement”). The closingdate of the Private Placement occurred on September 17, 2021. The aggregate gross cash proceeds to the Company for the shares of Common Stock sold pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement was $55.0 million. The purchasersindenture. We have filed a copy of the Common Stock under the Securities Purchase Agreement are the selling stockholders named in this prospectus.

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

Pursuantform of indenture as an exhibit to the Securities Purchase Agreement, we agreed to file the registration statement ofin which this prospectus is a partincluded. The indenture will be subject to coverand governed by the resaleterms of the Trust Indenture Act. We may offer under this prospectus up to an aggregate principal amount of $250.0 million in debt securities, or if debt securities are issued at a discount, or in a foreign currency, foreign currency units or composite currency, the principal amount as may be sold for an aggregate public offering price of up to $250.0 million. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will represent our direct, unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured indebtedness.

We may issue the debt securities in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. We will describe the particular terms of each series of debt securities in a prospectus supplement relating to that series, which we will file with the SEC. The prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of debt securities being offered will specify the particular amounts, prices and terms of those debt securities. These terms may include:

the title of the series;

the aggregate principal amount, and, if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding;

the issue price or prices, expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

any limit on the aggregate principal amount;

the date or dates on which principal is payable;

the interest rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates;

the date or dates from which interest, if any, will be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable;

the place or places where principal and, if applicable, premium and interest, is payable;

the terms and conditions upon which we may, or the holders may require us to, redeem or repurchase the debt securities;

the denominations in which such debt securities may be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple of that number;

whether the debt securities are to be issuable in the form of certificated securities (as described below) or global securities (as described below);

the portion of principal amount that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date if other than the principal amount of the debt securities;

the currency of denomination;

the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal and, if applicable, premium and interest, will be made;

17


if payments of principal and, if applicable, premium or interest, on the debt securities are to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than the currency of denomination, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;

if amounts of principal and, if applicable, premium and interest may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index, then the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

the provisions, if any, relating to any collateral provided for such debt securities;

any addition to or change in the covenants and/or the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture;

any events of default, if not otherwise described below under “Events of Default”;

the terms and conditions, if any, for conversion into or exchange for shares of our Common Stockcommon stock or preferred stock;

any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents; and

the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to keep such registration statement effective with respectour other indebtedness.

We may issue discount debt securities that provide for an amount less than the stated principal amount to each selling stockholders until the date on which allbe due and payable upon acceleration of the sharesmaturity of our Common Stock registered for resale under the registration statement have been disposed ofsuch debt securities in accordance with such registration statement, disposedthe terms of pursuantthe indenture. We may also issue debt securities in bearer form, with or without coupons. If we issue discount debt securities or debt securities in bearer form, we will describe material U.S. federal income tax considerations and other material special considerations which apply to Rule 144 underthese debt securities in the Securities Act, or can be resold pursuant to Rule 144 without restriction or limitation (including without any limitation as to volume of sales and without the selling stockholders complying with any method of sale requirements or notice requirements under Rule 144).applicable prospectus supplement.

We are registering the resale of the above-referenced shares to permit each of the selling stockholders identified below,may issue debt securities denominated in or their permitted transferees or other successors-in-interest that may be identifiedpayable in a supplement to this prospectusforeign currency or if required,currencies or a post-effective amendmentforeign currency unit or units. If we do, we will describe the restrictions, elections, and general tax considerations relating to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, to reselldebt securities and the foreign currency or otherwise dispose of the sharescurrencies or foreign currency unit or units in the manner contemplated under “Plan of Distribution” in thisapplicable prospectus (as may be supplemented and amended). This prospectus covers the sale or other disposition by the selling stockholders of up to the total number of shares of Common Stock that were issued to the selling stockholders pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement (the “PIPE Shares”) and such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with respect to the PIPE Shares. Throughout this prospectus, when we refer to the shares of our Common Stock being registered on behalf of the selling stockholders, we are referring to the shares of our Common Stock issued to the selling stockholders pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, and when we refer to the selling stockholders in this prospectus, we are referring to the purchasers under the Securities Purchase Agreement and, as applicable, their permitted transferees or other successors-in-interest that may be identified in a supplement to this prospectus or, if required, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.supplement.

The selling stockholders may sell some, all or none of their shares. We do not know how long the selling stockholders will hold the shares before selling them, and we currently have no agreements, arrangements or understandings with the selling stockholders regarding the sale or other disposition of any of the shares. The shares of our Common Stock covered hereby may be offered from time to time by the selling stockholders.

When we refer to “selling stockholders” in this prospectus, we mean those persons listed in the table below, as well as their transferees, pledgees or donees or their successors. The information regarding shares beneficially owned after the offering assumes the sale of all shares offered by the selling stockholders. To our knowledge, subject to community property laws where applicable, except as otherwise noted in any footnote to the table, each person named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of Common Stock set forth opposite such person’s name.

The following table sets forth the name of each selling stockholder, the number of shares and percentage of our Common Stock beneficially owned by the selling stockholders as of September 30, 2021, the number of shares of our Common Stock that may beDebt securities offered under this prospectus and the number and percentageany prospectus supplement will be subordinated in right of payment to certain of our Common Stock beneficially ownedoutstanding senior indebtedness. In addition, we will seek the consent of the holders of any such senior indebtedness prior to issuing any debt securities under this prospectus to the extent required by the selling stockholders assuming allagreements evidencing such senior indebtedness.

Registrar and Paying Agent

The debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange at the corporate trust office of the security registrar or at any other office or agency that we maintain for those purposes. In addition, the debt securities may be presented for payment of principal, interest and any premium at the office of the paying agent or at any office or agency that we maintain for those purposes.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

Debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our Common Stock registered hereunder are sold. Beneficial ownership is determinedcommon stock. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be stated in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to our Common Stock. Generally, a person “beneficially owns” shares of our Common Stock if the person has or shares withapplicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the right to vote those shares or to dispose of them, or if the person has the right to acquire voting or disposition rights within 60 days. The number of shares of our

Common Stock in the column “Number of Shares Offered” represents all of the shares of our Common Stock that a selling stockholder may offer and sell from time to time under this prospectus.

   Prior to Offering      After Offering 

Name

  Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
   Percentage
of Shares
Beneficially
Owned
  Number of
Shares
Offered
   Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
   Percentage
of Shares
Beneficially
Owned
 

Frazier Life Sciences Public Fund, L.P.(1)

   3,636,364    5.7  3,636,364    —      —   

Gilead Sciences, Inc.(2)

   1,624,136    2.5  454,545    1,169,591    1.8

Entities Affiliated with Redmile Group, LLC(3)

   6,818,027    9.9  909,091    6,918,925    9.9

(1)

Consists of 3,636,364shares of Common Stock held directly by Frazier Life Sciences Public Fund L.P. FHMLSP, L.P. is the general partner of Frazier Life Sciences Public Fund L.P. and FHMLSP, L.L.C. is the general partner of FHMLSP, L.P. Patrick J. Heron, James N. Topper, Albert Cha and James Brush are the members of FHMLSP, L.L.C. and therefore share voting and investment power over the shares held by Frazier Life Sciences Public Fund L.P. Each of Drs. Cha and Topper and Messrs. Brush and Heron disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of their pecuniary interest in such shares. The principal business address of Frazier Life Sciences Public Fund L.P. is Two Union Square, 601 Union Street, Suite 3200, Seattle, WA 98101.

(2)

Consists of 1,624,136shares of Common Stock held by Gilead Sciences, Inc. The principal business address of Gilead Sciences, Inc. is 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, California 94404.

(3)

Redmile Group, LLC’s beneficial ownership “Prior to Offering” is comprised of an aggregate of 6,818,027 shares of Common Stock, which consists of 2,821,085 shares of Common Stock and 3,996,942 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Pre-Funded Warrants held by private investment vehicles and/or separately managed accounts of which Redmile Group, LLC is the investment manager/adviser (collectively, the “Redmile Funds”) and, in such capacity, exercises sole voting and investment power over all of the securities held by the Redmile Funds and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these securities. Jeremy C. Green serves as the managing member of Redmile Group, LLC and also may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these securities. Redmile Group, LLC and Mr. Green each disclaim beneficial ownership of these securities, except to the extent of its or his pecuniary interest in such shares, if any. Beneficial ownership “Prior to Offering” excludes an aggregate of 11,063,058 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants described above, which are not exercisable within 60 days of September 30, 2021 by virtue of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation described below. Pursuant to the terms of the Pre-Funded Warrants, a holder of a Pre-Funded Warrant does not have the right to exercise any portion of the Pre-Funded Warrants held by such holder, and any such exercise shall be void ab initio, to the extent (but only to the extent) that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise, the holder (together with the holder’s affiliates, and any other persons acting as a group together with the holder or any of the holder’s affiliates), would beneficially own in excess of 9.99% (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”) of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants (the “Beneficial Ownership Blocker”). The Beneficial Ownership Limitation may be changed at a holder’s election upon 61 days’ notice to the Issuer. The number of shares of Common Stock into which the Pre-Funded Warrants are convertible is limited to that number of shares of Common Stock that would result in the stockholders, together with its affiliates, having an aggregate beneficial ownership of no more than 9.99% of the total issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock. “Number of Shares Offered” is comprised of: (i) 1,289 shares of Common Stock held by Map 20 Segregated Portfolio, a segregated portfolio of LMA SPC, (ii) 90,910 shares of Common Stock held by Redmile Biopharma Investments I, L.P, (iii) 123,565 shares of Common Stock held by Redmile Capital Fund, LP, (iv) 47,188 shares of Common Stock held by Redmile Capital Offshore II Master Fund, Ltd., (v) 4,534 shares of Common Stock held by Redmile Capital Offshore II Master Fund, Ltd. (Strategic Sleeve), (vi) 65,213 shares of Common Stock held by Redmile Capital Offshore Master Fund, Ltd., (vii) 557,586 shares of Common Stock held by Redmile Strategic Master Fund,

LP. and (viii) 18,806 shares of Common Stock held by Redmile Capital Offshore Fund (ERISA), Ltd., each of which is a Redmile Fund. Beneficial ownership “After Offering” is comprised of an aggregate of 6,918,925 shares of Common Stock, which consists of 1,911,994 shares of Common Stock and 5,006,931 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Pre-Funded Warrants held by the Redmile Funds, and excludes an aggregate of 10,053,069 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants described above, which would not be exercisable within 60 days of September 30, 2021 if the Redmile Funds sold all of the shares of Common Stock under “Number of Shares Offered” by virtue of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation described above. The address of the Redmile Funds is c/o Redmile Group, LLC One Letterman Drive, Building D, Suite D3-300, San Francisco, California 94129.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The selling stockholders, which as used herein includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest selling shares of common stock or interests in shares of common stock received after the date of this prospectus from a selling stockholder as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other transfer, may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of their shares of common stock or interests in shares of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.

The selling stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when disposing of shares or interests therein:following:

 

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;conversion or exchange price;

 

block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sellconversion or exchange period;

18


provisions regarding the shares as agent, but may position and resell a portionconvertibility or exchangeability of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicabledebt securities, including who may convert or exchange;

 

privately negotiated transactions;events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price;

 

provisions affecting conversion or exchange in settlementthe event of short sales;our redemption of the debt securities; and

 

throughany anti-dilution provisions, if applicable.

Registered Global Securities

If we decide to issue debt securities in the writingform of one or settlementmore global securities, then we will register the global securities in the name of optionsthe depositary for the global securities or the nominee of the depositary, and the global securities will be delivered by the trustee to the depositary for credit to the accounts of the holders of beneficial interests in the debt securities.

The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement for debt securities of a series that are issued in global form. None of us, the trustee, any payment agent or the security registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global debt security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to these beneficial ownership interests.

No Protection in the Event of Change of Control

The indenture does not have any covenants or other hedging transactions, whether throughprovisions providing for a put or increased interest or otherwise that would afford holders of our debt securities additional protection in the event of a recapitalization transaction, a change of control or a highly leveraged transaction. If we offer any covenants or provisions of this type with respect to any debt securities covered by this prospectus, we will describe them in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Covenants

Unless otherwise indicated in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement, our debt securities will not have the benefit of any covenants that limit or restrict our business or operations, the pledging of our assets or the incurrence by us of indebtedness. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any material covenants in respect of a series of debt securities.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

The form of indenture provides that we will not consolidate with or merge into any other person or convey, transfer, sell or lease our properties and assets substantially as an options exchangeentirety to any person, unless:

we are the surviving person of such merger or otherwise;consolidation, or if we are not the surviving person, the person formed by the consolidation or into or with which we are merged or the person to which our properties and assets are conveyed, transferred, sold or leased, is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the U.S., any state or the District of Columbia or a corporation or comparable legal entity organized under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction and has expressly assumed all of our obligations, including the payment of the principal of and, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities and the performance of the other covenants under the indenture; and

 

broker-dealersimmediately before and immediately after giving effect to the transaction on a pro forma basis, no event of default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default, has occurred and is continuing under the indenture.

19


Events of Default

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following events will be events of default under the indenture with respect to debt securities of any series:

we fail to pay any principal or premium, if any, when it becomes due;

we fail to pay any interest within 30 days after it becomes due;

we fail to observe or perform any other covenant in the debt securities or the indenture for 90 days after written notice specifying the failure from the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series; and

certain events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us or any of our significant subsidiaries.

The trustee may agreewithhold notice to the holders of the debt securities of any series of any default, except in payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities of a series, if the trustee considers it to be in the best interest of the holders of the debt securities of that series to do so.

If an event of default (other than an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) occurs, and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may accelerate the maturity of the debt securities. If this happens, the entire principal amount, plus the premium, if any, of all the outstanding debt securities of the affected series plus accrued interest to the date of acceleration will be immediately due and payable. At any time after the acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on such acceleration is obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of such series may rescind and annul such acceleration if:

all events of default (other than nonpayment of accelerated principal, premium or interest) have been cured or waived;

all lawful interest on overdue interest and overdue principal has been paid; and

the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree.

In addition, if the acceleration occurs at any time when we have outstanding indebtedness that is senior to the debt securities, the payment of the principal amount of outstanding debt securities may be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment of any amounts due under the senior indebtedness, in which case the holders of debt securities will be entitled to payment under the terms prescribed in the instruments evidencing the senior indebtedness and the indenture.

If an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occurs, the principal, premium and interest amount with respect to all of the debt securities of any series will be due and payable immediately without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or the holders of the debt securities of that series.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series will have the right to waive any existing default or compliance with any provision of the indenture or the debt securities of that series and to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, subject to certain limitations specified in the indenture.

No holder of any debt security of a series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the indenture or for any remedy under the indenture, unless:

the holder gives to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default;

20


the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series make a written request and offer reasonable indemnity to the trustee to institute a proceeding as trustee;

the trustee fails to institute a proceeding within 60 days after such request; and

the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series do not give the trustee a direction inconsistent with such request during such 60-day period.

These limitations do not, however, apply to a suit instituted for payment on debt securities of any series on or after the due dates expressed in the debt securities.

We will periodically deliver certificates to the trustee regarding our compliance with our obligations under the indenture.

Modification and Waiver

From time to time, we and the trustee may, without the consent of holders of the debt securities of one or more series, amend the indenture or the debt securities of one or more series, or supplement the indenture, for certain specified purposes, including:

to provide that the surviving entity following a change of control permitted under the indenture will assume all of our obligations under the indenture and debt securities;

to provide for certificated debt securities in addition to uncertificated debt securities;

to comply with any requirements of the SEC under the Trust Indenture Act;

to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of debt securities of any series as permitted by the indenture;

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or make any other change that does not materially and adversely affect the rights of any holder; and

to appoint a successor trustee under the indenture with respect to one or more series.

From time to time we and the trustee may, with the selling stockholdersconsent of holders of at least a majority in principal amount of an outstanding series of debt securities, amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities series, or waive compliance in a particular instance by us with any provision of the indenture or the debt securities. We may not, however, without the consent of each holder affected by such action, modify or supplement the indenture or the debt securities or waive compliance with any provision of the indenture or the debt securities in order to:

reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to sellan amendment, supplement, or waiver to the indenture or such debt security;

reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest or reduce the amount of or postpone the date for payment of sinking fund or analogous obligations;

reduce the principal of or change the stated maturity of the debt securities;

make any debt security payable in money other than that stated in the debt security;

change the amount or time of any payment required or reduce the premium payable upon any redemption, or change the time before which no such redemption may be made;

waive a specified numberdefault in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities or a redemption payment;

21


waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt securities or change any provision with respect to redemption of debt securities; or

take any other action otherwise prohibited by the indenture to be taken without the consent of each holder affected by the action.

Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances

The indenture permits us, at any time, to elect to discharge our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities by following certain procedures described in the indenture. These procedures will allow us either:

to defease and be discharged from any and all of our obligations with respect to any debt securities except for the following obligations (which discharge is referred to as “legal defeasance”):

1. to register the transfer or exchange of such shares at a stipulated price per share;debt securities;

2. to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities;

3. to compensate and indemnify the trustee; or

4. to maintain an office or agency in respect of the debt securities and to hold monies for payment in trust; or

to be released from our obligations with respect to the debt securities under certain covenants contained in the indenture, as well as any additional covenants which may be contained in the applicable supplemental indenture (which release is referred to as “covenant defeasance”).

In order to exercise either defeasance option, we must irrevocably deposit with the trustee or other qualifying trustee, in trust for that purpose:

money;

U.S. Government Obligations (as described below) or Foreign Government Obligations (as described below) that through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money; or

 

a combination of money and/or U.S. Government Obligations and/or Foreign Government Obligations sufficient in the written opinion of a nationally-recognized firm of independent accountants to provide money;

that, in each case specified above, provides a sufficient amount to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities of the series, on the scheduled due dates or on a selected date of redemption in accordance with the terms of the indenture.

In addition, defeasance may be effected only if, among other things:

in the case of either legal or covenant defeasance, we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel, as specified in the indenture, stating that as a result of the defeasance neither the trust nor the trustee will be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

in the case of legal defeasance, we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling to the effect that, or there has been a change in any applicable federal income tax law with the effect that (and the opinion shall confirm that), the holders of outstanding debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes solely as a result of such legal defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner, including as a result of prepayment, and at the same times as would have been the case if legal defeasance had not occurred;

22


in the case of covenant defeasance, we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the outstanding debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if covenant defeasance had not occurred; and

certain other conditions described in the indenture are satisfied.

If we fail to comply with our remaining obligations under the indenture and applicable supplemental indenture after a covenant defeasance of the indenture and applicable supplemental indenture, and the debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any undefeased event of default, the amount of money and/or U.S. Government Obligations and/or Foreign Government Obligations on deposit with the trustee could be insufficient to pay amounts due under the debt securities of the affected series at the time of acceleration. We will, however, remain liable in respect of these payments.

The term “U.S. Government Obligations” as used in the above discussion means securities that are direct obligations of or non-callable obligations guaranteed by the United States of America for the payment of which obligation or guarantee the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged.

The term “Foreign Government Obligations” as used in the above discussion means, with respect to debt securities of any series that are denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, (1) direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged or (2) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agent or instrumentality of such government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by that government, which in either case under clauses (1) or (2), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer.

Regarding the Trustee

We will identify the trustee with respect to any series of debt securities in the prospectus supplement relating to the applicable debt securities. You should note that if the trustee becomes a creditor of ours, the indenture and the Trust Indenture Act limit the rights of the trustee to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such methodsclaim, as security or otherwise. The trustee and its affiliates may engage in, and will be permitted to continue to engage in, other transactions with us and our affiliates. If, however, the trustee acquires any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of sale;the Trust Indenture Act, it must eliminate such conflict or resign.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the trustee. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee, in the exercise of its rights and powers, must use the degree of care and skill of a prudent person in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to that provision, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any of the holders of the debt securities, unless they have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity or security.

No Individual Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers or Directors

Each indenture provides that no incorporator and no past, present or future stockholder, officer or director of our company or any successor corporation in those capacities will have any individual liability for any of our obligations, covenants or agreements under the debt securities or such indenture.

Governing Law

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

23


DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of our debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, or any combination thereof. Warrants may be issued independently or together with our debt securities, preferred stock or common stock and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants. The warrant agent will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. This summary of certain provisions of the warrants is not complete. For the terms of a particular series of warrants, you should refer to the prospectus supplement for that series of warrants and the warrant agreement for that particular series.

Debt Warrants

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to purchase debt securities will describe the terms of the debt warrants, including the following:

the title of the debt warrants;

the offering price for the debt warrants, if any;

the aggregate number of the debt warrants;

the designation and terms of the debt securities, including any conversion rights, purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants;

if applicable, the date from and after which the debt warrants and any debt securities issued with them will be separately transferable;

the principal amount of debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a debt warrant and the exercise price for the warrants, which may be payable in cash, securities or other property;

the dates on which the right to exercise the debt warrants will commence and expire;

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the debt warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

whether the debt warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates or debt securities that may be issued upon exercise of the debt warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form;

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations;

the antidilution provisions of the debt warrants, if any;

the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the debt warrants;

any provisions with respect to the holder’s right to require us to repurchase the debt warrants upon a change in control or similar event; and

 

any other method permitted by applicable law.additional terms of the debt warrants, including procedures and limitations relating to the exchange, exercise, and settlement of the debt warrants.

Debt warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations. Debt warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their debt warrants, holders of debt warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise and will not be entitled to payment of principal or any premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise.

24


Equity Warrants

The sellingprospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants to purchase our common stock or preferred stock will describe the terms of the warrants, including the following:

the title of the warrants;

the offering price for the warrants, if any;

the aggregate number of warrants;

the designation and terms of the common stock or preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;

if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each security;

if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable;

the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the exercise price for the warrants;

the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and expire;

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations;

the antidilution provisions of the warrants, if any;

the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants;

any provisions with respect to a holder’s right to require us to repurchase the warrants upon a change in control or similar event; and

any additional terms of the warrants, including procedures and limitations relating to the exchange, exercise and settlement of the warrants.

Holders of equity warrants will not be entitled:

to vote, consent, or receive dividends;

receive notice as stockholders with respect to any meeting of stockholders for the election of our directors or any other matter; or

exercise any rights as stockholders.

25


DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

We may from timeissue subscription rights to time, pledgepurchase our common stock, preferred stock or grantdebt securities. These subscription rights may be offered independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the stockholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a security interest instandby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.

The prospectus supplement relating to any subscription rights we offer, if any, will, to the extent applicable, include specific terms relating to the offering, including some or all of the shares offollowing:

the price, if any, for the subscription rights;

the exercise price payable for our common stock, owned by them and, if they default inpreferred stock or debt securities upon the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock, from time to time, under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provisionexercise of the Securities Actsubscription rights;

the number of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), amending subscription rights to be issued to each stockholder;

the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus. The selling stockholders also may transfer the shares of common stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

In connection with the salenumber and terms of our common stock, preferred stock or interests therein, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions,debt securities which may in turn engage in short salesbe purchased per each subscription right;

the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable;

any other terms of the common stock insubscription rights, including the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of our common stock shortterms, procedures and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

The aggregate proceedslimitations relating to the selling stockholders from the saleexchange and exercise of the common stock offered by them will be subscription rights;

the purchase price of the common stock less discounts or commissions, if any. Each of the selling stockholders

reservesdate on which the right to acceptexercise the subscription rights shall commence, and togetherthe date on which the subscription rights shall expire;

the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege with their agents from timerespect to time,unsubscribed securities or an over-allotment privilege to reject,the extent the securities are fully subscribed; and

if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement which may be entered into by us in whole orconnection with the offering of subscription rights.

The description in part,the applicable prospectus supplement of any proposed purchase of common stock to be made directly or through agents. Wesubscription rights we offer will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering.

The selling stockholders also may resell all or a portion of the sharesnecessarily be complete and will be qualified in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, provided that they meet the criteria and conformits entirety by reference to the requirements of that rule.

The selling stockholders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents that participate in the sale of the common stock or interests therein may be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act. Any discounts, commissions, concessions or profit they earn on any resale of the shares may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Selling stockholders who are “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Actapplicable subscription rights certificate, which will be subjectfiled with the SEC if we offer subscription rights. We urge you to read the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

To the extent required, the shares of our common stock to be sold, the names of the selling stockholders, the respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the names of any agents, dealer or underwriter,applicable subscription rights certificate and any applicable commissionsprospectus supplement in their entirety.

26


DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue units consisting of some or discounts with respect to a particular offerall of the securities described above, in any combination, including common stock, preferred stock, warrants and/or debt securities. The terms of these units will be set forth in an accompanyinga prospectus supplement. The description of the terms of these units in the related prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendmentwill not be complete. You should refer to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.

In orderapplicable form of unit and unit agreement for complete information with respect to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the common stock may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the common stock may not be sold unless it has been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.units.

We have advised the selling stockholders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, may apply to sales of shares in the market and to the activities of the selling stockholders and their affiliates. In addition, to the extent applicable, we will make copies of this prospectus (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time) available to the selling stockholders for the purpose of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The selling stockholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and state securities laws, relating to the registration of the shares offered by this prospectus.

We have agreed with the selling stockholders to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part effective and to remain continuously effective until the earlier of (1) such time as all of the shares covered by this prospectus have been disposed of pursuant to and in accordance with such registration statement or (2) the date on which all of the shares may be sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity ofFenwick & West LLP, Seattle, Washington, will issue an opinion about certain legal matters with respect to the common stock being offeredsecurities. Any underwriters or agents will be advised about legal matters relating to any offering by this prospectus has been passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP. As of the date of this prospectus, Latham & Watkins LLP and certain attorneys in the firm who have rendered, and will continue to render, legal services to us,their own shares of our common stock representing in the aggregate less than one percent of the shares of our common stock outstanding.counsel.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020,2022, 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.

 

27


LOGO

Up to $250,000,000

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Subscription Rights

Units

PROSPECTUS

                , 2023


PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.Distribution

The following table sets forth the costs andestimated expenses payable by the registrant in connection with the saleissuance and distribution of common stockthe securities being registered. All amounts are estimatesregistered hereby. Each item listed is estimated, except for the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC registration fee.

 

   Amount to be
paid
 

SEC registration fee

  $4,172 

Legal fees and expenses

   95,000 

Accounting fees and expenses

   25,000 

Printing and Miscellaneous expenses

   35,828 
  

 

 

 

Total

  $150,000 
  

 

 

 

SEC registration fee

  $36,900 

Printing and engraving*

   * 

Legal fees and expenses*

   * 

Accounting fees and expenses*

   * 

Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses*

   * 

Miscellaneous expenses*

   * 
  

 

 

 

Total*

  $* 

*

These fees and expenses depend on the type of securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly, cannot be estimated at this time.

Item 15.

Indemnification of DirectorsOfficers and Officers.Directors

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law empowersauthorizes a corporationcourt to indemnify itsaward, or a corporation’s board of directors to grant, indemnity to directors and officers under certain circumstances and subject to purchase insurance with respect to liability arising outcertain limitations. The terms of their capacity or status as directors and officers, provided that the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in our best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s actions were unlawful. The Delaware General Corporation Law further provides that the indemnification permitted thereunder shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the directors and officers may be entitled under the corporation’s bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or otherwise. The certificate of incorporation of the registrant provides for the indemnification of the registrant’s directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law. In addition, the bylaws of the registrant require the registrant to fully indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the registrant, or is or was a director or officer of the registrant serving at the registrant’s request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

Section 102(b)(7)145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporationare sufficiently broad to provide in itspermit indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities, including reimbursement of expenses incurred, arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”).

As permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Registrant’s restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that a directoreliminate the personal liability of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholdersdirectors for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary dutyduties as a director, except (1)liability for the following:

any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporationRegistrant or its stockholders, (2) for stockholders;

acts or omissions not in good faith or whichthat involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) for paymentslaw;

under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (regarding unlawful dividends or unlawful stock repurchasespurchases); or redemptions or (4) for

any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. The registrant’s certificate of incorporation provides that the registrant’s directors shall not be personally liable to it or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director and that if

As permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Registrant’s restated bylaws provide that:

the Registrant is amendedrequired to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability ofindemnify its directors then the liability of the registrant’s directors shall be eliminated or limitedand executive officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to limited exceptions;

the Registrant may indemnify its other employees and agents as so amended.set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law;

Section 174 of

the Registrant is required to advance expenses, as incurred, to its directors and executive officers in connection with a legal proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, provides, among other things, that a director who willfully or negligently approves of an unlawful payment of dividends or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption may be held liable for such actions. A director who was either absent when subject to limited exceptions; and

the unlawful actions were approved, or dissented atrights conferred in the time, may avoid liability by causing his or her dissent to such actions to be enteredrestated bylaws are not exclusive.

 

II-1


in the books containing minutes of the meetings of the board of directors at the time such action occurred or immediately after such absent director receives notice of the unlawful acts.

As permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, the registrant has entered into separate indemnification agreements with each of the registrant’s directors and certain of the registrant’s officers which require the registrant, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities which may arise by reason of their status as directors, officers or certain other employees.

The registrant has obtained and intends to maintain insurance policies under which its directors and officers are insured, within the limits and subject to the limitations of those policies, against certain expenses in connection with the defense of, and certain liabilities which might be imposed as a result of, actions, suits or proceedings to which they are parties by reason of being or having been directors or officers. The coverage provided by these policies may apply whether or not the registrant would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

These indemnification provisions and the indemnification agreements entered into between the registrant and the registrant’s officers and directors may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of the registrant’s officers and directors for liabilities (including reimbursement of expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Item 16.

Exhibits

(a) ExhibitsThe exhibits listed below are filed (except where otherwise indicated) as part of this Registration Statement.

 

Exhibit

Number

  Exhibit Description  Incorporated by Reference to
Filings Indicated
  

Provided

Herewith

  Form  Exhibit
No.
  Filing
Date
3.1  Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended.  8-K  3.1  10/02/18  
3.2  Amended and Restated Bylaws.  8-K  3.2  10/02/18  
4.1  Reference is made to Exhibits 3.1 through 3.2.        
4.2  Form of Common Stock Certificate.  S-1/A  4.2  09/17/18  
4.3  Description of Common Stock.  10-K  4.3  03/11/20  
5.1  Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP.  S-3  5.1  10/15/21  
23.1  Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.        X
23.2  Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).  S-3  23.2  10/15/21  
24.1  Powers of Attorney (incorporated by reference to the signature page hereto).        
99.1  Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 16, 2021.  8-K  10.1  09/17/21  
     Incorporated by Reference 

Exhibit
Number

 

Exhibit Description

  Form   File No.   Exhibit   Filing
Date
   Filed
Herewith
 
1.1* Form of Underwriting Agreement          
3.1(a) Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation   10-Q      3.1    10/02/18   
3.1(b) Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation   10-Q      3.1    05/06/21   
3.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws   10-Q      3.2    05/06/21   
4.1 Form of Common Stock Certificate   S-1      4.2    09/17/18   
4.2 Description of Common Stock   10-K      4.3    03/10/22   
4.3 Form of Pre-Funded Warrant issued in First PIPE Financing   10-K      4.1    12/28/20   
4.4 Form of Pre-Funded Warrant issued in Third PIPE Financing   8-K      4.1    10/25/22   
4.5 Form of Debt Security           X 
4.6 Form of Indenture           X 
4.7* Form of Warrant          
4.8* Form of Warrant Agreement          
4.9* Form of Preferred Stock Certificate          
4.10* Form of Subscription Rights Certificate          
4.11* Form of Unit          
4.12* Form of Unit Agreement          
5.1 Opinion of Fenwick & West LLP           X 

 

II-2


Incorporated by Reference

Exhibit
Number

Exhibit Description

FormFile No.ExhibitFiling
Date
Filed
Herewith
23.1Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting FirmX
23.2Consent of Fenwick & West LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)X
24.1Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto)X
25.1**Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Senior Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
25.2**Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Subordinated Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
107Filing Fee TableX

*

To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and incorporated herein by reference.

**

To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Rule 5b-3 thereunder.

Item 17.

Undertakings

(a) The undersigned registrantRegistrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) Toto include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) Toto reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SECSecurities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) Toto include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided,, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)subparagraphs (i), (a)(1)(ii), and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SECSecurities and Exchange Commission by the registrantRegistrant pursuant to sectionSection 13 or sectionSection 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is a part of the registration statement.

II-3


(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(A)(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrantRegistrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B)(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by sectionSection 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided,, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

II-3


(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrantRegistrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

Thesecurities, the undersigned registrantRegistrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrantRegistrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrantRegistrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Anyany preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrantRegistrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Anyany free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrantRegistrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;Registrant;

(iii) Thethe portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrantRegistrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant;Registrant; and

(iv) Anyany other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrantRegistrant to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrantRegistrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’sRegistrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to sectionSection 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

II-4


(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the registrantRegistrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrantRegistrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SECSecurities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrantRegistrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrantRegistrant in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrantRegistrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(d) The undersigned registrantIf and when applicable, the Registrant hereby further undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (the “Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SECSecurities and Exchange Commission under sectionSection 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

II-4II-5


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Emeryville, State of California, on October 29, 2021.the 22nd day of December, 2023.

 

Gritstone bio, Inc.GRITSTONE BIO, INC.
By: /s/ Andrew Allen, M.D., Ph.D.
Name: Andrew Allen, M.D., Ph.D.
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Andrew Allen and Vassiliki “Celia” Economides, and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, proxies and agents, each with full power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement (including post-effective amendments or any abbreviated registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) increasing the number of securities for which registration is sought), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, proxies and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact, proxies and agents, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

SignatureName  Title Date

/s/ Andrew Allen, M.D., Ph.D.

Andrew Allen, M.D., Ph.D.

  

President, and Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

 October 29, 2021December 22, 2023

/s/ Vassiliki Economides

Vassiliki Economides

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 October 29, 2021December 22, 2023

*/s/ James Cho

James Cho

  

Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 October 29, 2021December 22, 2023

*/s/ Elaine Jones

Elaine Jones, Ph.D.

Chairperson of our Board of Directors

December 22, 2023

/s/ Clare Fisher

Clare Fisher

Director

December 22, 2023

/s/ Steve Krognes

Steve Krognes

Director

December 22, 2023

/s/ Naiyer A. Rizvi

Naiyer A. Rizvi, M.D.

Director

December 22, 2023

II-6


/s/ Lawrence Corey

Lawrence Corey, M.D.

Director

December 22, 2023

/s/ Shefali Agarwal

Shefali Agarwal, M.D., M.P.H.

  

Director

 October 29, 2021

*

Richard Heyman, Ph.D.

Director

October 29, 2021

*

Elaine Jones, Ph.D.

Director

October 29, 2021

*

Steve Krognes

Director

October 29, 2021

*

Judith Li

Director

October 29, 2021

*

Naiyer Rizvi, M.D.

Director

October 29, 2021
*By:/s/ Andrew Allen

Andrew Allen, M.D., Ph.D.

Attorney-in-Fact

December 22, 2023

 

II-5II-7