Arcus Biosciences (RCUS) SC 13D/AArcus Biosciences / GILEAD SCIENCES ownership change

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 3)*

ARCUS BIOSCIENCES, INC.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $0.0001

(Title of Class of Securities)

03969F109

(CUSIP Number)

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

333 Lakeside Drive

Foster City, California 94404

650-574-3000

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

January 29, 2024

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of § 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box ¨.

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See § 240.13d-7(b) for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

SCHEDULE 13D

This Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13D (the “Schedule 13D”) relates to the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of Arcus Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”). The Issuer’s principal executive offices are located at 3928 Point Eden Way, Hayward, California 94545.

(a)            This Schedule 13D is being filed by Gilead Sciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Gilead” or the “Reporting Person”).

(b)            The principal business address of the Reporting Person is 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, California 94404.

(c)            The principal business of the Reporting Person is to develop and commercialize innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need and engage in any other activity or business lawfully carried on by a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.

The directors and executive officers of the Reporting Person are set forth on Schedule I, attached hereto. Schedule I sets forth the following information with respect to each such person:

(i)             name;

(ii)            business address;

(iii)            position with the Reporting Person and present principal occupation or employment and, for persons not employed by the Reporting Person, the name, principal business and address of any corporation or other organization in which such employment is conducted; and

(iv)            citizenship.

(d) – (e)   During the last five years, neither the Reporting Person nor any person named in Schedule I has been (i) convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (ii) a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

(f)            The jurisdiction of organization of the Reporting Person is set forth in subsection (a) above. The citizenship of each of the individuals referred to in Schedule I is set forth on Schedule I.

Gilead acquired from the Issuer 2,200,000 shares of Common Stock in the Issuer’s public offering (the “Public Offering”) at the public offering price of $27.50 per share. The Public Offering was completed on June 2, 2020. The total consideration paid by Gilead for these shares of Common Stock was $60,500,000, and such consideration was obtained from the available cash resources of Gilead.

On May 27, 2020, Gilead entered into the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) pursuant to which Gilead agreed to purchase an initial 5,963,029 shares of the Issuer’s Common Stock (the “Initial Purchase”) at a purchase price of $33.54 per share (the “Initial Purchase Price”), which purchase occurred on July 13, 2020. The total consideration for the Initial Purchase was $199,999,992.66, and such consideration was obtained from the available cash resources of Gilead.

On January 31, 2021, Gilead entered into the Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement (as defined below) pursuant to which Gilead agreed to purchase an additional 5,650,000 shares of the Issuer’s Common Stock (the “Second Purchase”) at a purchase price of $39.00 per share (the “Second Purchase Price”), which purchase occurred on February 1, 2021. The total consideration for the Second Purchase was $230,350,000.00, and such consideration was obtained from the available cash resources of Gilead.

On June 27, 2023, Gilead entered into the Second Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement (as defined below) pursuant to which Gilead agreed to purchase an additional 1,010,000 shares of the Issuer’s Common Stock (the “Third Purchase”) at a purchase price of $19.26 per share (the “Third Purchase Price”), which purchase occurred on June 28, 2023. The total consideration for the Third Purchase was $19,452,600, and such consideration was obtained from the available cash resources of Gilead.

On January 29, 2024, Gilead entered into the Third Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement (as defined below) pursuant to which Gilead agreed to purchase an additional 15,238,095 shares of the Issuer’s Common Stock (the “Fourth Purchase”) at a purchase price of $21.00 per share (the “Fourth Purchase Price”), which purchase occurred on January 29, 2024. The total consideration for the Fourth Purchase was $320,000,000, and such consideration was obtained from the available cash resources of Gilead. Under the Third Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement, Gilead also has the right, at its option, to purchase additional shares from the Issuer, up to a maximum of 35% of the Issuer’s then-outstanding Common Stock, from time to time for a period of five years from the closing of the Initial Purchase, at a purchase price equal to the greater of a 20% premium to market (based on a trailing five-day average closing price) at the time Gilead exercises such option and the Initial Purchase Price. It is expected that the total consideration paid in connection with any exercise of such option will be obtained from the available cash resources of Gilead. In addition, pursuant to the Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement (as defined below), Gilead has the right to designate three individuals to be appointed to the Issuer’s board of directors.

On May 27, 2020, Gilead and the Issuer entered into an Option, License and Collaboration Agreement (the “Collaboration Agreement”) pursuant to with Gilead obtained an exclusive option to acquire an exclusive license to all of the Issuer’s current and future clinical programs during the 10-year collaboration term and, for those programs that enter clinical development prior to the end of the collaboration term, for up to an additional three years thereafter.

In addition to the Collaboration Agreement, Gilead and the Issuer entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), which was amended and restated on January 31, 2021 to account for the Second Purchase (the “Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement”), on June 27, 2023 to account for the Third Purchase (the “Second Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement”), and on January 29, 2024 to account for the Fourth Purchase (the “Third Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement”) and an Investor Rights Agreement (as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, which was subsequently amended and restated on January 29, 2024, the “Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement” and, together with the Third Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement, the “Equity Agreements”) pursuant to which Gilead made the Initial Purchase at the Initial Purchase Price, the Second Purchase at the Second Purchase Price, the Third Purchase at the Third Purchase Price and the Fourth Purchase at the Fourth Purchase Price. Gilead also has the right, at its option, to purchase additional shares from the Issuer, up to a maximum of 35% of the Issuer’s then-outstanding Common Stock, from time to time for a period of five years from the closing of the Initial Purchase, at a purchase price equal to the greater of a 20% premium to market (based on a trailing five-day average closing price) at the time Gilead exercises such option and the Initial Purchase Price. The Equity Agreements also include standstill and lock-up provisions and provide Gilead with certain other stock purchase and registration rights, as well as the right to designate three individuals to be appointed to the Issuer’s board of directors.

The acquisitions by the Reporting Person of the Issuer’s securities as described herein were effected in connection with entry into the Collaboration Agreement and the Equity Agreements, and because of the belief that the securities of the Issuer represent an attractive investment. The foregoing description of the Equity Agreements is not complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such agreements. The Third Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Except as otherwise described herein, the Reporting Person currently has no plan(s) or proposal(s) that relate to, or would result in, any of the events or transactions described in Item 4(a) through (j) of Schedule 13D, although the Reporting Person reserves the right, at any time and from time to time, to review or reconsider such position and/or change such purpose and/or formulate plans or proposals with respect thereto.

The Reporting Person intends to review from time to time its investment in the Issuer and the Issuer’s business affairs, financial position, performance and other investments considerations. The Reporting Person may from time to time engage in discussions with the Issuer, its directors and officers, other stockholders of the Issuer and other persons on matters that relate to the management, operations, business, assets, capitalization, financial condition, strategic plans, governance and the future of the Issuer and/or its subsidiaries. Based upon such review and discussions, as well as general economic, market and industry conditions and prospectus and the Reporting Person’s liquidity requirements and investment considerations, and subject to the limitations in the agreements described above, the Reporting Person may consider additional courses of action, which may include, in the future, formulating plans or proposals regarding the Issuer and/or its subsidiaries, including possible future plans or proposals concerning events or transactions of the kind described in Item 4(a) through (j) of Schedule 13D.

(a)-(b)

Number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned:

Percent of class:

The number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned consists of (i) 2,200,000 shares of common stock of the Issuer purchased in the Issuer’s public offering that closed on June 2, 2020, (ii) the initial purchase of 5,963,029 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, (iii) the subsequent purchase of 5,650,000 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer pursuant to the Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement, (iv) the subsequent purchase of 1,010,000 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement, (v) the subsequent purchase of 15,238,095 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer pursuant to the Third Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement and (vi) 1,471,657 Option Shares.

The percentage ownership was calculated based upon 74,855,565 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer issued and outstanding on November 1, 2023, as reported in the Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 7, 2023, and after giving effect to the offering of 15,238,095 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer, as reported in the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 30, 2024, assuming the immediate exercise in full by Gilead of its option to purchase the Option Shares.

Number of shares as to which such person has:

To the best knowledge of the Reporting Person, none of the individuals listed on Schedule I beneficially owns any of the Issuer’s Common Stock.

(c)            Except as reported in this Schedule 13D, neither the Reporting Person nor, to the best knowledge of the Reporting Person, any of the individuals listed on Schedule I have effected any transactions in the Common Stock during the past sixty (60) days.

(d)            Not applicable.

(e)            Not applicable.

Except as disclosed in Items 3 and 4 of this Schedule 13D, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal or otherwise) to which the Reporting Person is a party with respect to the securities of the Issuer.

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of the undersigned’s knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Schedule I

The name and present principal occupation of each of the executive officers and directors of Gilead Sciences, Inc. are set forth below. Unless otherwise noted, each of these persons have as their business address c/o Gilead Sciences, Inc., 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, California 94404.

* The present principal occupation for each of these individuals is officer of Gilead Sciences, Inc. and officer, trustee and/or director of other affiliated entities.