As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 15, 2019December 22, 2023

RegistrationNo. 333-          

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington,WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORMS-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Gritstone Oncology, 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.)

58585959 Horton Street, Suite 210300

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 Oncology,bio, Inc.

58585959 Horton Street, Suite 210300

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.

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

President and Chief Executive Officer

Gritstone Oncology, Inc.,

5858 Horton Street, Suite 210

Emeryville, California 94608

Telephone: (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

Facsimile: (510)597-1488

Brian J. Cuneo, Esq.

Alan C. Mendelson, Esq.

Latham & Watkins LLP

140 Scott Drive

Menlo Park, California 94025

Telephone:(650) 328-4600

Facsimile:(650) 463-2600

 

 

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, anon-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 Rule12b-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/proposed

maximum offering price

per unit/proposed

maximum aggregate

offering price

 

Amount of

registration fee

Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share

 (1)(2)  

Preferred Stock

 (1)(2)  

Debt Securities

 (1)  

Warrants

 (1)  

Units

 (1)  

Total

 $250,000,000(3) $32,450(4)

 

 

(1)

An unspecified number of securities or aggregate principal amount, as applicable, is being registered as may from time to time be offered at unspecified prices and, in addition, an unspecified number of additional shares of common stock is being registered as may be issued from time to time upon conversion of any debt securities that are convertible into common stock or pursuant to any anti-dilution adjustments with respect to any such convertible debt securities.

(2)

Includes rights to acquire common stock or preferred stock of the Company under any shareholder rights plan then in effect, if applicable under the terms of any such plan.

(3)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. No separate consideration will be received for shares of common stock that are issued upon conversion of debt securities or preferred stock or upon exercise of common stock warrants registered hereunder. The aggregate maximum offering price of all securities issued pursuant to this registration statement will not exceed $250,000,000.

(4)

The registration fee has been calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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.

 

 

 


EXPLANATORY NOTE

This registration statement contains two prospectuses:

a base prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale by the registrant of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $250,000,000 of the registrant’s common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and/or units; and

a prospectus supplement covering the offering, issuance and sale by the registrant of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $75,000,000 of the registrant’s common stock that may be issued and sold under a sales agreement with Cowen and Company, LLC.

The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The prospectus supplement immediately follows the base prospectus. The common stock that may be offered, issued and sold by the registrant under the prospectus supplement is included in the $250,000,000 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by the registrant under the base prospectus. Any portion of the $75,000,000 included in the prospectus supplement that is not previously sold or included in an active placement notice pursuant to the sales agreement will be available for sale in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus, and if no shares are sold under the sales agreement, the full $250,000,000 of securities may be sold in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement.


The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securitiesWe may not be soldsell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor doesthese securities, and 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 15, 2019.SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED DECEMBER 22, 2023

PROSPECTUS

$250,000,000

 

 

LOGOLOGO

Gritstone Oncology,bio, Inc.

Common Stock,

Preferred Stock,

Debt Securities,

Warrants,

Subscription Rights and Units

We

From time to time, we may offer and sell up to $250,000,000$250.0 million aggregate dollar amount of shares of our common stock or 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 the aggregate of the securities identified above from time to timeany combination, together or separately, in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description ofofferings, in amounts, at prices and on the securities.

Each time we offer and sell securities,terms that we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information aboutdetermine at the time of the offering and the amounts, priceswhich will be set forth in a prospectus supplement and terms of the securities.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 with respectprospectus. The total amount of these securities will have an initial aggregate offering price of up to that offering. $250.0 million.

You should carefully read this prospectus, and the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.

We may offer and sell the securities describedinformation incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference in this prospectus, and any applicable prospectus supplement and related free writing prospectus carefully before you invest.

Our common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “GRTS.” On December 21, 2023 the last reported sales price for our common stock was $1.64 per share. None of the other securities we may offer are currently traded on any 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 or any securities market or exchange of the securities covered by the prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus.

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the information under the heading “Risk Factors ” 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 oneunderwriters or more underwriters, dealers, and agents, or directly to purchasers or through a combinationagents designated from time to time. For additional information on the methods of these methods.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 the securities, their namessuch underwriters or agents and any applicable purchase price, fee, commissionfees, discounts or discount arrangement between or among themcommissions, details regarding over-allotment options, if any, and the net proceeds to us will be set forth orin 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 calculable from the information set forth in the applicablea prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.

INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS. SEE THE “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 5 OF THIS PROSPECTUS AND ANY SIMILAR SECTION CONTAINED IN THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT CONCERNING FACTORS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES.

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “GRTS.” On October 11, 2019, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $8.61 per share.

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                , 2019.2023


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 DEBT SECURITIES

   1317 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

   2124

DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

26 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

   23

GLOBAL SECURITIES

24

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

2827 

LEGAL MATTERS

   3027 

EXPERTS

   3027 

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, we may sell securitiesprocess, from time to time, andwe may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings, up to a total dollar amount of $250,000,000 as described in this prospectus.$250.0 million. Each time that we offer and sellour securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that containswill contain more specific information about the securities being offered and sold and the specific terms of thatthe offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus 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 prospectus supplement, or free writing prospectus, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplementsupplement; provided that, if any statement 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 free writingany prospectus as applicable. Before purchasing any securities, yousupplement—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 the applicable prospectus supplement, (and any applicable free writing prospectuses), 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.

WeNeither we, nor any agent, underwriter or dealer have not 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 applicable prospectus supplementsupplement. We and any agent, underwriter or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. Wedealer take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We 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 and the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on its respective 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. This prospectus incorporates by reference, and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writingany sale of a security. This prospectus and 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 therein 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 any prospectus supplement 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, the applicable prospectus supplement 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 should not place undue reliance on this information.

When we refer to “Gritstone,Reference.“we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” in this prospectus, we mean Gritstone Oncology, Inc., unless otherwise specified. When we refer to “you,” we mean the potential holders of the applicable series of securities.

Gritstone Oncology, 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 ishttp://www.sec.gov.

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

This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and dosummary may not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided above. Forms of the indenture and other documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement or documents incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers.securities. You should refer toread the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters.

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 with 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 Form8-K or related exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form8-K.

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:

our Annual Report onForm10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2019, and Amendment No.  1 to our Annual Report onForm10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2018, as filed with the SEC on April 19, 2019;

the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, from ourDefinitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 26, 2019;

our Quarterly Reports on Form10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019, filed with the SEC onMay  13, 2019 andAugust 12, 2019, respectively;

our Current Reports on Form8-K filed with the SEC onFebruary 5, 2019,June 24, 2019 andSeptember 13, 2019; and

the description of our common stock contained in our registration statement onForm8-A filed with the SEC on September 18, 2018, including any amendments or reports filed with the SEC 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 by writing or telephoning us atcarefully, including “Risk Factors” and the following address:

Gritstone Oncology, Inc.

5858 Horton Street, Suite 210

Emeryville, California 94608

(510)871-6100

Attention: Investor Relations

Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically beenfinancial data and related notes and other information incorporated by reference, in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

before making an investment decision. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

ABOUT GRITSTONEOverview

We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company that aims to develop the world’s most potent vaccines. Specifically, we discover, develop, manufacture and deliver vaccine-based immunotherapy candidates against cancer and infectious disease. 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.

The immune system sits at the nexus of many diseases, and we believe that immune response modulation is core to several transformational product classes. Recent advances have pointed to T cells as being central to the success 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 drive transformational therapeutic and prophylactic benefits.

In oncology, we develop personalized vaccines that aim to destroy tumors through CD8+ (killer) T cell recognition of tumor cells by virtue of their surface display of neoantigens, peptides that are presented on cancer cells when 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 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 foreign, pathogen-derived peptides displayed on the surface of infected cells.

Our clinical programs include GRANITE, an immuno-oncology company developing tumor-specific cancer immunotherapies to fight multiple cancer types.individualized neoantigen-based vaccine 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 58585959 Horton Street, Suite 210,300, Emeryville, California 94608, and our telephone number is (510)871-6100. Our Our website address is www.gritstoneoncology.com. 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 andeach 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 specific factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement, involves risks. You should carefully considertogether with all of the risk factors included in our most recent Annual Report onForm 10-K, our most recent Quarterly Report on Form10-Q and any subsequent Quarterly Reports onForm 10-Q or Current Reports on Form8-K we file after the date of this prospectus, and all 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K and under 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 superseded 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 10-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 operate 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;

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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 updatedof 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 our subsequent filingslaw. 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”).

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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 the risk factorsare required to file annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and other information with 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.

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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, and 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 reference 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 effectiveness 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 our 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 this prospectus, or 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 applicableextent that a statement contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement andor any applicable free writing prospectus before acquiring any ofdocument incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes such securities. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose allstatement. 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.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We will retain 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 the securities asunder this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include funding research, clinical development, process development and manufacturing of our product candidates, increasing our working capital, reducing indebtedness, acquisitions or investments in businesses, products or technologies that are complementary to our own and capital expenditures. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.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.

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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 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 concessions 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

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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 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 compensation;

any public offering price; and

other facts material to the transaction.

We will bear all or substantially all of the costs, expenses and fees in connection 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 ordinary 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 us to an underwriter in a firm commitment underwritten offering. The applicable prospectus supplement 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 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.

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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, 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 investor rights agreement, copies of which are incorporated by referenceincluded as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus isforms a part.part, and to the applicable provisions of Delaware law.

GeneralCommon Stock

OurAs of September 30, 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 JuneSeptember 30, 2019,2023, there were outstanding:

35,769,04393,075,427 shares of our common stock outstanding held by approximately 4818 stockholders of record; andrecord.

3,038,698 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options.

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.

Common StockDividend 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 of66-2/3% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding voting stock is required to take certain actions, including amending certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, such as the provisions relating to amending our amended and restated bylaws, the classified board and director liability.

Dividends

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

Liquidation

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

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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 JuneSeptember 30, 2019,2023, no shares of convertible preferred stock arewere outstanding.

Options

As of JuneSeptember 30, 2019,2023, we had outstanding options to purchase 3,038,6987,265,543 shares of our common stock, with a per share weighted-average exercise price of $7.55, under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan and 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.$7.55.

Registration Rights

Under our amended and restated investors’ rights agreement, based on the number of shares outstanding as of June 30, 2019, the holders of approximately 8.8 million shares of common stock, or their transferees, have the right to require us to register their shares under the Securities Act so that those shares may be publicly resold, and the holders of approximately 8.8 million shares of common stock, or their transferees, have the right to include their shares in any registration statement we file, in each case as described below.

Demand Registration Rights

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of June 30, 2019, the holders of approximately 8.8 million shares of our common stock, or their transferees, are entitled to certain demand registration rights. The holders of at least 30% of these shares (or a lesser percent if the anticipated aggregate offering price to the public net of certain expenses would exceed $10 million) can request that we register all or a portion of their shares. Additionally, we are not required to effect a demand registration during the period beginning 120 days prior to the filing and ending 180 days following the effectiveness of a company-initiated registration statement relating to a public offering of our securities.

Piggyback Registration Rights

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of June 30, 2019, in the event that we determine to register any of our securities under the Securities Act (subject to certain exceptions), either for our own account or for the account of other security holders, the holders of approximately 8.8 million shares of our common stock, or their transferees, are entitled to certain “piggyback” registration rights allowing the holders to include their shares in such registration, subject to certain marketing and other limitations. As a result, whenever we propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act, other than with respect to a registration related to employee

benefit plans, the offer and sale of debt securities, or corporate reorganizations or certain other transactions, the holders of these shares are entitled to notice of the registration and have the right, subject to limitations that the

underwriters may impose on the number of shares included in the registration, to include their shares in the registration. In an underwritten offering, the managing underwriter, if any, has the right, subject to specified conditions, to limit the number of shares such holders may include.

FormS-3 Registration Rights

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of June 30, 2019, the holders of approximately 8.8 million shares of our common stock, or their transferees, are entitled to certain FormS-3 registration rights. The holders of any of at least 30% of these shares can make a written request that we register their shares on FormS-3 if we are eligible to file a registration statement on FormS-3 and if the aggregate price to the public of the shares offered is at least $10 million net of certain expenses related to the sale of the shares. These stockholders may make an unlimited number of requests for registration on FormS-3, but in no event shall we be required to file more than two registrations on FormS-3 in any given 12 month period. Additionally, we are not required to effect a

FormS-3 registration during the period beginning 30 days prior to the filing and ending 90 days following the effectiveness of a company-initiated registration statement relating to a public offering of our securities.

Expenses of Registration

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

Expiration of Registration Rights

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

Anti-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 terms.

Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute

We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits persons deemed “interested stockholders” from engaging in a “business combination” with a publicly-held Delaware corporation for three years following the date these persons become interested stockholders unless the business combination

is, or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder was, approved in a prescribed manner

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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 a66-2/3% 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

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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. AlthoughOur exclusive forum provision will not relieve us of our amendedduties to comply with the federal securities laws and restated certificatethe 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 incorporation and amended and restated bylaws contain thesimilar federal court choice of forum provisions described above,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 provision is inapplicable for a particular claim or action or that such provision is unenforceable.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 a66-2/3% 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 willare not be 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 obligateobligates us to advance expenses incurred by a director or officer in

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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 15th15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following description, together withGeneral

We may issue the additional information we includedebt securities offered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement under an indenture to be entered into between us and the trustee identified in anythe applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, summarizes certain generalsupplement. The terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. We will also indicateinclude those stated in the supplement to what extent the general termsindenture and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities.

We may issue debt securities either separately, or together with, or upon the conversion or exercise of or in exchange for, other securities described in this prospectus. Debt securities may be our senior, senior subordinated or subordinated obligations and, unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this prospectus, the debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and may be issued in one or more series.

The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a third party to be identified therein, as trustee. We have summarized select portionsthose made part of the indenture below. The summary is not complete. Theby reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (“Trust Indenture Act”), as in effect on the date of the indenture. We have filed a copy of the form of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement in which this prospectus is included. The indenture will be subject to and you should readgoverned by the indenture for provisions thatterms 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 importantsold for an aggregate public offering price of up to you. In the summary below, we have included references to the section numbers of the indenture so that you can easily locate these provisions. Capitalized terms used in the summary and not defined herein have the meanings$250.0 million. Unless otherwise specified in the indenture.

As used in this section only, “Gritstone,” “we,” “our” or “us” refer to Gritstone Oncology, Inc., unless expressly stated orapplicable prospectus supplement, the context otherwise requires.

General

The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolutionrepresent our direct, unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our board of directors and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a resolution of our board of directors, in an officer’s certificate or by a supplemental indenture. (Section 2.2) The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series (including any pricing supplement or term sheet).other unsecured indebtedness.

We canmay issue an unlimited amount ofthe debt securities under the indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. (Section 2.1) We will set forthdescribe the particular terms of each series of debt securities in a prospectus supplement (including any pricing supplement or term sheet) relating to anythat 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 following terms oftotal amount authorized and the debt securities, if applicable:

the title and ranking of the debt securities (including the terms of any subordination provisions);total amount outstanding;

 

the issue price or prices, (expressedexpressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount) at which we will sellamount of the debt securities;

 

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;amount;

 

the date or dates on which the principal of the securities of the series is payable;

 

the interest rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine thesuch rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, rates;

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

 

the place or places where principal of,and, if applicable, premium and interest, if any, on the debt securities will be payable (and the method of such payment), where the securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and demands to us in respect of the debt securities may be delivered;is payable;

the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which we may, or the holders may require us to, redeem or repurchase the debt securities;

any obligation we have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and in the terms and conditions upon which securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations;

 

the denominations in which thesuch debt securities willmay be issued,issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 andor any integral multiple thereof;of that number;

 

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

 

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

 

the currency of denomination of the debt securities, which may be United States Dollars or any foreign currency, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;denomination;

 

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

 

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

 

the manner in which theif amounts of payment of principal of,and, if applicable, premium if any, orand interest on the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts 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;index, then the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

 

the provisions, if any, provisions relating to any securitycollateral provided for thesuch debt securities;

 

any addition to deletion of or change in the Events of Default described in this prospectus covenants and/or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;indenture;

 

any addition to, deletionevents of default, if not otherwise described below under “Events of Default”;

the terms and conditions, if any, for conversion into or change in the covenants described in this prospectusexchange for shares of our common stock or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;preferred stock;

 

any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities;agents; and

 

the provisions,terms and conditions, if any, relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of such series, including if applicable, the conversion or exchange price and period, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion or exchange;

any other terms ofupon which the debt securities which may supplement, modify or delete any provisionshall be subordinated in right of the indenture as it appliespayment to that series, including any terms that may be required under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the securities; andour other indebtedness.

whether any of our direct or indirect subsidiaries will guarantee the debt securities of that series, including the terms of subordination, if any, of such guarantees. (Section 2.2)

We may issue discount debt securities that provide for an amount less than theirthe stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of theirthe maturity pursuant toof such debt securities in accordance with the terms of the 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 provide you with information on thedescribe material U.S. federal income tax considerations and other material special considerations applicablewhich apply to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If we denominate the purchase price of any of theWe may issue debt securities denominated in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units,units. If we do, we will provide you with information ondescribe the restrictions, elections, and general tax considerations specific terms and other information with respectrelating to that issue ofthe debt securities and suchthe foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.

TransferDebt securities offered under this prospectus and Exchange

Each debt securityany prospectus supplement will be representedsubordinated in right of payment to certain of our outstanding 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 eitherthe agreements 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. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:

the conversion or exchange price;

the conversion or exchange period;

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provisions regarding the convertibility or exchangeability of the debt securities, including who may convert or exchange;

events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price;

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

any anti-dilution provisions, if applicable.

Registered Global Securities

If we decide to issue debt securities in the form of one or more global securities, registered inthen we will register the name of The Depository Trust Company, or the Depositary, or a nominee of the Depositary (we will refer to any debt security represented by a global debt security as a “book-entry debt security”), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (we will refer to any debt security represented by a certificated security as a “certificated debt security”) as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as set forth under the heading “Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System” below, book-entry debt securities will not be issuable in certificated form.

Certificated Debt Securities. You may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at any office we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the indenture. (Section 2.4) No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange. (Section 2.7)

You may effect the transfer of certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of, premium and interest on certificated debt securities only by surrendering the certificate representing those certificated debt securities and either reissuance by us or the trustee of the certificate to the new holder or the issuance by us or the trustee of a new certificate to the new holder.

Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System. Each global debt security representing book-entry debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositarydepositary for the global securities or athe nominee of the Depositary. Please see “Global Securities.”

Covenants

Wedepositary, and the global securities will set forthbe delivered by the trustee to the depositary for credit to the accounts of the holders of beneficial interests in the applicabledebt 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 restrictive covenants applicablepayment 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 issue of debt securities. (Article IV)records relating to these beneficial ownership interests.

No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control

The indenture does not have any covenants or other provisions 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 we state 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 the debt securities will not contain any provisions which may afford holders of the debt securities protectionmaterial covenants in the event we have a change in control or in the eventrespect of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control) which could adversely affect holdersseries of debt securities.

Merger, Consolidation Merger andor Sale of Assets

We mayThe form of indenture provides that we will not consolidate with or merge with or into any other person or convey, transfer, sell or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, (a “successor person”) unless:

 

we are the surviving corporationperson of such merger or 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 successor person (if other than Gritstone)to which our properties and assets are conveyed, transferred, sold or leased, is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the U.S., any U.S. domesticstate or the District of Columbia or a corporation or comparable legal entity organized under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction and has expressly assumesassumed 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

immediately before and immediately after giving effect to the transaction on a pro forma basis, no Defaultevent of default, and no event which, after notice or Eventlapse of Default, shall havetime or both, would become an event of default, has occurred and be continuing.is continuing under the indenture.

Notwithstanding the above, any of our subsidiaries may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to us. (Section 5.1)

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Events of Default

“EventUnless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following events will be events of Default” meansdefault under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities of any of the following:series:

 

default in the payment ofwe fail to pay any interest uponprincipal or premium, if any, debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of the payment is deposited by us with the trustee or with a paying agent prior to the expiration of the30-day period);due;

 

default in the payment of principal ofwe fail to pay any security of that series at its maturity;interest within 30 days after it becomes due;

 

default in the performancewe fail to observe or breach ofperform any other covenant or warranty by us in the indenture (other than a covenantdebt securities or warranty that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), which default continues uncured for a period of 6090 days after we receive written notice specifying the failure from the trustee or Gritstone and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series as provided in the indenture;series; and

 

certain voluntary or involuntary events ofinvolving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Gritstone;us or any of our significant subsidiaries.

The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the debt securities of any other Eventseries of Default provided with respectany 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 that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement. (Section 6.1)to do so.

No EventIf an event of Default with respect to a particular seriesdefault (other than an event of debt securities (except as todefault resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities. (Section 6.1) The occurrence of certain Events of Default or an acceleration under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain indebtedness of ours or our subsidiaries outstanding from time to time.

We will provide the trustee written notice of any Default or Event of Default within 30 days of becoming aware of the occurrence of such Default or Event of Default, which notice will describe in reasonable detail the status of such Default or Event of Default and what action we are taking or propose to take in respect thereof. (Section 6.1)

If an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding 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 thatany series may by a notice in writing to us (andaccelerate 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 trustee if givendate 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 holders), declaretrustee, 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 be due and payable immediately the principal of (or, if the debt securities, of that series are discount securities, that portionthe payment of the principal amount asof outstanding debt securities may be specifiedsubordinated 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 termsinstruments evidencing the senior indebtedness and the indenture.

If an event of that series) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all debt securities of that series. In the case of an Event of Defaultdefault resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occurs, the principal, (or such specified amount)premium and interest amount with respect to all of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstandingthe debt securities of any series will become and be immediately due and payable immediately without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holderthe holders of outstanding debt securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect tothe debt securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, thethat series.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of thata series may rescind and annulwill have the acceleration if all Eventsright to waive any existing default or compliance with any provision of Default, other than thenon-payment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to indenture or the debt securities of that series have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. (Section 6.2) We refer you to the prospectus

supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.

The indenture provides that the trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture unless the trustee receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any cost, liability or expense which might be incurred by it in performing such duty or exercising such right or power. (Section 7.1(e)) Subject to certain rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the rightand to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred onsubject to certain limitations specified in the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series. (Section 6.12)indenture.

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

 

thatthe holder has previously givengives to the trustee written notice of a continuing Eventevent of Default with respect to debt securities of that series; anddefault;

 

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the holders of not less thanat least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of thatthe affected series have mademake a written request and offeredoffer reasonable indemnity or security satisfactory to the trustee, to the trustee to institute thea proceeding as trustee, and trustee;

the trustee has not received from fails to institute a proceeding within 60 days after such request; and

the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of thatthe affected series do not give the trustee a direction inconsistent with thatsuch request and has failedduring such 60-day period.

These limitations do not, however, apply to institute the proceeding within 60 days. (Section 6.7)

Notwithstanding any other provision in the indenture, the holdera suit instituted for payment on debt securities of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, premium and any interest on that debt securityseries on or after the due dates expressed in thatthe debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of payment. (Section 6.8)securities.

The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnishWe will periodically deliver certificates to the trustee a statement as toregarding our compliance with our obligations under the indenture. (Section 4.3) If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the securities of any series and if it is known to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the securities of that series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a responsible officer of the trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any Default or Event of Default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of that series if the trustee determines in good faith that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of those debt securities. (Section 7.5)

Modification and Waiver

WeFrom time to time, we and the trustee may, modify,without the consent of holders of the debt securities of one or more series, amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of anyone or more series, withoutor supplement the consent of any holder of any debt security:indenture, for certain specified purposes, including:

 

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;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 covenants inany requirements of the indenture described aboveSEC under the heading “Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets”;

to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to or in place of certificated securities;

to add guarantees with respect to debt securities of any series or secure debt securities of any series;

to surrender any of our rights or powers under the indenture;

to add covenants or events of default for the benefit of the holders of debt securities of any series;

to comply with the applicable procedures of the applicable depositary;

to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of debt securities;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 effectcure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or make any other change that does not materially and adversely affect the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the debt securitiesrights of any seriesholder; and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture to provide for or facilitate administration by more than one trustee; or

 

to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indentureappoint a successor trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. (Section 9.1)

We may also modify and amend the indenture with respect to one or more series.

From time to time we and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of thean 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 each series affected by the modificationsindenture or amendments.the debt securities. We may not, make any modification or amendmenthowever, without the consent of each holder affected by such action, modify or supplement the holdersindenture or the debt securities or waive compliance with any provision of each affectedthe indenture or the debt security then outstanding if that amendment will:securities in order to:

 

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

 

reduce the rate of or extendchange the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any debt security;

reduce the principal of or premium on or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or reduce the amount of or postpone the date fixed for the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to any series of debt securities;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 discount securitiesany payment required or reduce the premium payable upon acceleration of maturity;any redemption, or change the time before which no such redemption may be made;

 

waive a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any debt security (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of any series by the holders of at leastor a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);redemption payment;

 

make the principal of or premium or interest on any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt security;21


make any change to certain provisions of the indenture relating to, among other things, the right of holders of debt securities to receive payment of the principal of, premium and interest on those debt securities and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and to waivers or amendments; or

waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security. (Section 9.3)

Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities ofor change any series may on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series waive our compliance with provisions of the indenture. (Section 9.2) The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series waive any past default under the indentureprovision with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default inredemption of debt securities; or

take any other action otherwise prohibited by the paymentindenture to be taken without the consent of each holder affected by the principal of, premium or any interest on any debt security of that series; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration. (Section 6.13)action.

Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances

Legal Defeasance. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicablepermits us, at any time, to elect to discharge our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities we mayby 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 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 ofand 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 series (subjectadditional covenants which may be contained in the applicable supplemental indenture (which release is referred to certain exceptions)as “covenant defeasance”). We will be so discharged upon the irrevocable

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

money;

U.S. Government Obligations (as described below) or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. Dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency,Foreign Government Obligations (as described below) that through the scheduled payment of interestprincipal and principalinterest in accordance with their terms will provide money; or

a combination of money and/or U.S. government obligations in an amountGovernment Obligations and/or Foreign Government Obligations sufficient in the written opinion of a nationally recognizednationally-recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bankto provide money;

that, in each case specified above, provides a sufficient amount to pay and discharge each installmentthe principal of, principal, premium, if any, and interest, on andif any, mandatory sinking fund payments in respect ofon the debt securities of thatthe series, on the stated maturityscheduled due dates or on a selected date of those paymentsredemption in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities.indenture.

This dischargeIn addition, defeasance may occurbe effected only if, among other things,things:

in the case of either legal or covenant defeasance, we have delivereddeliver 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 United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, sinceto the date of execution of the indenture,effect that, or there has been a change in any applicable federal income tax law with the applicableeffect 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 law,purposes solely as a result of such legal defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in eitherthe 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;

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in the case of covenant defeasance, we deliver to the effect that, and based thereon suchtrustee an opinion shall confirmof counsel to the effect that the holders of the outstanding debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge 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 the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred. (Section 8.3)

Defeasance of Certain Covenants. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, upon compliance with certain conditions:

we may omit to comply with the covenant described under the heading “Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets” and certain other covenants set forth in the indenture, as well as any additional covenants which may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement; and

any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of that series (“covenant defeasance”).

The conditions include:

depositing with the trustee money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. Dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities; and

delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related 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 the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred. (Section 8.4)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 claim, 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 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 PersonalIndividual Liability of Directors,Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers Employees or StockholdersDirectors

None of ourEach indenture provides that no incorporator and no past, present or future directors, officers, employeesstockholder, officer or stockholders, as such,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 the indenture or for any claim based on, or in respect or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a debt security, each holder waives and releases all

such liability. This waiver and release is part of the consideration for the issue of the debt securities. However, this waiver and release may not be effective to waive liabilities under U.S. federal securities laws, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.indenture.

Governing Law

The indentureindentures and the debt securities including any claim or controversy arising out of or relating to the indenture or the securities, will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

The indenture will provide that we, the trustee and the holders of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to the indenture, the debt securities or the transactions contemplated thereby.

The indenture will provide that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon the indenture or the transactions contemplated thereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City of New York, and we, the trustee and the holder of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably submit to thenon-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. The indenture will further provide that service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail (to the extent allowed under any applicable statute or rule of court) to such party’s address set forth in the indenture will be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The indenture will further provide that we, the trustee and the holders of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the courts specified above and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim any such suit, action or other proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. (Section 10.10)23


DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of shares of our debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, or preferred stock or of debt securities. Weany combination thereof. Warrants may issue warrantsbe issued independently or together with otherour debt securities, preferred stock or common stock and the warrants 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 the investorsa bank or atrust company, as warrant agent. The followingwarrant 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 materialcertain provisions of the warrants and warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, allis not complete. For the provisionsterms of the warrant agreement and warrant certificate applicable to a particular series of warrants. The terms of any warrants, offered under ayou should refer to the prospectus supplement may differ fromfor that series of warrants and the terms described below. We urge you to read the applicablewarrant agreement for that particular series.

Debt Warrants

The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that containrelating to a particular issue of warrants to purchase debt securities will describe the terms of the warrants.

The particular terms of any issue ofdebt warrants, will be described inincluding the prospectus supplement relating to the issue. Those terms may include:following:

 

the title of the debt warrants;

the offering price for the debt warrants, if any;

the aggregate number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase such shares and the price at which such number of shares may be purchased upon such exercise;debt warrants;

 

the designation stated value and terms (including, without limitation, liquidation, dividend, conversion and voting rights) of the series of preferred stockdebt securities, including any conversion rights, purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants;

if applicable, the date from and after which the debt warrants to purchase preferred stock;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 date,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 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.

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Equity Warrants

The prospectus 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 related debt securities, preferred stock or common stockwarrants will be separately transferable;

 

the termsnumber of any rights to redeemshares of common stock or callpreferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the exercise price for the warrants;

 

the datedates on which the right to exercise the warrants willshall commence and the date on which the right will 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 consequencesconsiderations;

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 terms, 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 of Gritstone.stockholders.

Each warrant will entitle its holder

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DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

We may issue subscription rights to purchase our common stock, preferred stock or debt 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 principal amountstockholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby 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 following:

the price, if any, for the subscription rights;

the exercise price payable for our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities or upon the exercise of the subscription rights;

the number of sharessubscription rights to be issued to each stockholder;

the number and terms of our common stock, preferred stock or common stock at debt securities which may be purchased per each subscription right;

the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable;

any other terms of the subscription rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise price set forthof the subscription rights;

the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which the subscription rights shall expire;

the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities or an over-allotment privilege to 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 or calculable as set forth in,connection with the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specifyoffering of subscription rights.

The description in the applicable prospectus supplement holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time upsubscription rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the specified time onapplicable subscription rights certificate, which will be filed with the expiration date thatSEC if we set forth inoffer subscription rights. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

A holder of warrant certificates may exchange them for new warrant certificates of different denominations, present them for registration of transfersubscription rights certificate and exercise them at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Until any warrants to purchase debt securities are exercised, the holder of the warrants will not have any rights of holders of the debt securities that can be purchased upon exercise, including any rights to receive payments of principal, premium or interest on the underlying debt securities or to enforce covenantssupplement in the applicable indenture. Until any warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock are exercised, the holders of the warrants will not have any rights of holders of the underlying common stock or preferred stock, including any rights to receive dividends or payments upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up on the common stock or preferred stock, if any.their entirety.

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue units consisting of any combination of the other types of securities offered under this prospectus in onesome or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units.

The following description, together with the additional information included in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general features of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. You should read any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of units being offered, as well as the complete unit agreements that contain the terms of the units. Specific unit agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and we will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from another report that we file with the SEC, the form of each unit agreement relating to units offered under this prospectus.

If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable:

the title of the series of units;

identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units;

the price or prices at which the units will be issued;

the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable;

a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and

any other terms of the units and their constituent securities.

GLOBAL SECURITIES

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

Unless we indicate differently in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, each debt security, warrant and unit initially will be issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global notes or global securities, or, collectively, global securities. The global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, as depositary, or DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC. Unless and until it is exchanged for individual certificates evidencing securities under the limited circumstances described below, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to its nominee or by the nominee to the depositary, or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of the successor depositary.

DTC has advised us that it is:

a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law;

a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law;

a member of the Federal Reserve System;

a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and

a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among its participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. “Direct participants” in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or DTCC. DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, which we sometimes refer to as indirect participants, that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

Purchases of securities under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of the actual purchaser of a security, which we sometimes refer to as a beneficial owner, is in turn recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners of securities will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases. However, beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of their transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which they purchased securities. Transfers of ownership interests in global securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the global securities, except under the limited circumstances described below.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global securities deposited by direct participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee will not change the beneficial ownership of the securities. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

So long as the securities are in book-entry form, you will receive payments and may transfer securities only through the facilities of the depositary and its direct and indirect participants. We will maintain an office or agency in the location specified in the prospectus supplement for the applicable securities, where notices and demands in respect of the securities and the indenture may be delivered to us and where certificated securities may be surrendered for payment, registration of transfer or exchange.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time.

Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than 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 particular series are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amountprospectus supplement. The description of the interestterms of each direct participantthese units in the securitiesrelated prospectus supplement will not be complete. You should refer to the applicable form of such seriesunit and unit agreement for complete information with respect to be redeemed.these units.

Neither DTC nor CedeLEGAL MATTERS

Fenwick & Co. (or such other DTC nominee)West LLP, Seattle, Washington, will consent or voteissue an opinion about certain legal matters with respect to the securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC will mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns the consentingAny underwriters or voting rights of Cede & Co. to those direct participants to whose accounts the securities of such series are credited on the record date, identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.

So long as securities are in book-entry form, we will make payments on those securities to the depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of such securities, by wire transfer of immediately available funds. If securities are issued in definitive certificated form under the limited circumstances described below and if not otherwise provided in the description of the applicable securities herein or in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will have the option of making payments by check mailed to the addresses of the persons entitled to payment or by wire transfer to bank accounts in the United States designated in writing to the applicable trustee or other designated party at least 15 days before the applicable payment date by the persons entitled to payment, unless a shorter period is satisfactory to the applicable trustee or other designated party.

Redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments on the securitiesagents will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the responsibility of participants and not of DTC or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC, is our responsibility, disbursement of payments to direct participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

Except under the limited circumstances described below, purchasers of securities will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names and will not receive physical delivery of securities. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and its participants to exercise any rights under the securities and the indenture.

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Those laws may impair the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in securities.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with respect to the securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depositary is not obtained, securities certificates are required to be printed and delivered.

As noted above, beneficial owners of a particular series of securities generally will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in those securities. However, if:

DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for the global security or securities representing such series of securities or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when it is required to be registered and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days of the notification to us or of our becoming aware of DTC’s ceasing to be so registered, as the case may be;

we determine, in our sole discretion, not to have such securities represented by one or more global securities; or

an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series of securities,

we will prepare and deliver certificates for such securities in exchange for beneficial interests in the global securities. Any beneficial interest in a global security that is exchangeable under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence will be exchangeable for securities in definitive certificated form registered in the names that the depositary directs. It is expected that these directions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global securities.

Euroclear and Clearstream

If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, you may hold interests in a global security through Clearstream Banking S.A., which we refer to as “Clearstream,” or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, which we refer to as “Euroclear,” either directly if you are a participant in Clearstream or Euroclear or indirectly through organizations which are participants in Clearstream or Euroclear. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their respective participants through customers’ securities accounts in the names of Clearstream and Euroclear, respectively, on the books of their respective U.S. depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in such depositaries’ names on DTC’s books.

Clearstream and Euroclear are securities clearance systems in Europe. Clearstream and Euroclear hold securities for their respective participating organizations and facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between those participants through electronic book-entry changes in their accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates.

Payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to beneficial interests in global securities owned through Euroclear or Clearstream must comply with the rules and procedures of those systems. Transactions between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on one hand, and other participants in DTC, on the other hand, are also subject to DTC’s rules and procedures.

Investors will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers and other transactions involving any beneficial interests in global securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.

Cross-market transfers between participants in DTC, on the one hand, and participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with the DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by their respective U.S. depositaries; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (European time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the global securities through DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures forsame-day fund settlement. Participants in Euroclear or Clearstream may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositaries.

Due to time zone differences, the securities accounts of a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream purchasing an interest in a global security from a direct participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant participant in Euroclear or Clearstream, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear or Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a global security by or through a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream to a direct participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.

Other

The information in this section of this prospectus concerning DTC, Clearstream, Euroclear and their respective book-entry systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we do not take responsibility for this information. This information has been provided solely as a matter of convenience. The rules and procedures of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear are solely within the control of those organizations and could change at any time. Neither we nor the trustee nor any agent of ours or of the trustee has any control over those entities and none of us takes any responsibility for their activities. You are urged to contact DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants directly to discuss those matters. In addition, although we expect that DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear will perform the foregoing procedures, none of them is under any obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor any agent of ours will have any responsibility for the performance or nonperformance by DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants of these or any other rules or procedures governing their respective operations.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, “at the market” offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods or through underwriters or dealers, through agents and/or directly to one or more purchasers. The securities may be distributed 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.

Each time that we sell securities covered by this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement or supplements that will describe the method of distribution and set forth the terms and conditions of the offering of such securities, including the offering price of the securities and the proceeds to us, if applicable.

Offers to purchase the securities being offered by this prospectus may be solicited directly. Agents may also be designated to solicit offers to purchase the securities from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of our securities will be identified in a prospectus supplement.

If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, the securities will be sold to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.

If an underwriter is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter at the time of sale and the name of any underwriter will be provided 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 and/or commissions from the purchasers for which they may act as agent. 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, and may then resell the securities at varying prices to be determined by the dealer.

Any compensation paid 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 will be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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. We may enter into agreements to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make in respect thereof and to reimburse those persons for certain expenses.

Any common stock that we issue and sell will be listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, but any other securities may or may not be listed on a national 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 over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by

exercising their over-allotment option, if any. 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 concessions 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 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 so indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in 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 may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). 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 and an applicable prospectus supplement. Such 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.

The specific terms of anylock-up provisions in respect of any given offering will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business for which they receive compensation.

LEGAL MATTERS

Latham & Watkins LLP will pass upon certainadvised about legal matters relating to the issuance and sale of the securities offered hereby on behalf of Gritstone Oncology, Inc. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers or agents,offering by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. Latham & Watkins LLP and certain attorneys and investment funds affiliated with the firmtheir own an aggregate of 14,078 shares of our common stock.counsel.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018,2022, 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.

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus supplement is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion, dated October 15, 2019.27


 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT(To prospectus dated October     , 2019)

$75,000,000

 

 

LOGOLOGO

Up to $250,000,000

Common Stock

We have entered into a sales agreement with Cowen and Company, LLC, or Cowen, relating to shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the sales agreement, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, having an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000 from time to time through Cowen acting as our agent.Preferred Stock

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “GRTS.” On October 11, 2019, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $8.61 per share.Debt Securities

Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus will be made in sales deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Cowen is not required to sell any specific amount of securities, but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed terms between Cowen and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.Warrants

The compensation to Cowen for sales of common stock pursuant to the sales agreement will be an amount equal to 3% of the gross proceeds of any shares of common stock sold under the sales agreement. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, Cowen will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Cowen will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Cowen with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.Subscription Rights

Our business and an investment in our common stock involve significant risks. These risks are described under the caption “Risk Factors” beginning on pageS-7 of this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

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

Cowen

The date of this prospectus is                , 2019


TABLE OF CONTENTSUnits

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

S-1

MARKET, INDUSTRY AND OTHER DATA

S-3

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

S-4

THE OFFERING

S-6

RISK FACTORS

S-7

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

S-9

USE OF PROCEEDS

S-11

DILUTION

S-12

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

S-14

LEGAL MATTERS

S-16

EXPERTS

S-16

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

S-16

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

S-16

 

S-i


ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may offer shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000 from time to time under this prospectus supplement at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. The $75,000,000 of shares of our common stock that may be sold under this prospectus are included in the $250,000,000 of shares of common stock that may be sold under the registration statement.

We provide information to you about this offering of shares of our common stock in two separate documents that are bound together: (1) this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific details regarding this offering; and (2) the accompanying prospectus, which provides general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer to this “prospectus,” we are referring to both documents combined. If information in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on this prospectus supplement. However, if any statement 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 supplement—the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement as our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since the earlier dates.

We have not, and Cowen has not, authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We and Cowen take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not, and Cowen is not, making an offer to sell or soliciting an offer to buy our securities in any jurisdiction where an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making that offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and in any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering, is accurate only as of the date of those respective documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering, in their entirety before making an investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the documents to which we have referred you in the sections of this prospectus supplement entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference.”

We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus and the offering of the common stock in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. This prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.

When we refer to “Gritstone,” “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” in this prospectus, we mean Gritstone Oncology, Inc., unless otherwise specified. When we refer to “you,” we mean the holders of common stock of the Company.

Gritstone Oncology, 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 may appear without the® and symbol, but those references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights, or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks and tradenames.

MARKET, INDUSTRY AND OTHER DATA

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

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

This summary provides a general overview of selected information and does not contain all of the information you should consider before buying our common stock. Therefore, you should read the entire prospectus supplement, accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering carefully, including the information incorporated by reference herein and therein, before deciding to invest in our common stock. Investors should carefully consider the information set forth under “Risk Factors” beginning on pageS-7 of this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

Gritstone Oncology, Inc.

Overview

We are an immuno-oncology company developing tumor-specific cancer immunotherapies to fight multiple cancer types. Our goal is to extend the benefits of immunotherapy by leveraging new insights into the immune system’s ability to destroy cancer cells, based on the study of patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors such asanti-PD-(L)1 antibodies. A key hypothesis that has emerged in the field of immuno-oncology is that there are large groups of cancer patients whose tumors have successfully evaded the immune system (so called “cold” tumors) despite having markers that could be recognized by the immune system. Our approach seeks to generate a therapeutic immune response in these patients by unleashing the demonstrated natural power of a patient’s own immune system to recognize short tumor-specific peptide sequences presented on cancer cells, referred to as tumorspecific neoantigens, or TSNA, in order to destroy tumor cells. Leveraging these insights, we have built our tumor-specific immunotherapy approach on two key pillars—first, our proprietary Gritstone EDGETM machine learning-based platform, which gives us a powerful ability to predict from a routine tumor biopsy the TSNA that are presented on a patient’s tumor cells; and second, our ability to develop and manufacture potent immunotherapies utilizing patients’ TSNA to drive the patient’s immune system to attack and destroy tumors. Our tumor-specific immunotherapy portfolio consists of our personalized immunotherapy product candidate,GRANITE-001, which is manufactured uniquely for each patient, and our“off-the-shelf” immunotherapy product candidate series, SLATE, which is designed for selected subsets of patients with common tumor neoantigens. In April, 2019, we initiated lead optimization of a separate product class of bispecific antibodies, or BiSAb, which offer an alternative approach tooff-the-shelf therapy utilizing our EDGE-identified novel tumor-specific antigens.

About Gritstone

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

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

We are an emerging growth company as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (1) December 31, 2023, (2) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, (3) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or



the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common stock held bynon-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million as of the last business day of the second fiscal quarter of such year or (4) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion innon-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting requirements and is relieved of certain other significant requirements that are otherwise generally applicable to public companies. As an emerging growth company:

 

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

 

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

                

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

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



THE OFFERING

Common stock offered by us

Shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000.

Common stock outstanding after this offering

Up to 44,479,844 shares, assuming sales at a price of $8.61 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on October 11, 2019. The actual number of shares issued will vary depending on the sales price under this offering.

Manner of offering

“At the market offering” that may be made from time to time through our sales agent, Cowen and Company, LLC. See “Plan of Distribution” onpage S-14.

Use of proceeds

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, if any, for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, working capital and funding research and development, and capital expenditures including clinical program progression. See “Use of Proceeds” on pageS-11.

Risk factors

You should read the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement for a discussion of factors to consider before deciding to purchase shares of our common stock.

Symbol on the Nasdaq Global Select Market

“GRTS”

The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 35,769,043 shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2019 and excludes, in each case as of June 30, 2019:

3,038,698 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options to purchase common stock that were outstanding as of June 30, 2019, with a weighted average exercise price of $7.55 per share;

3,027,327 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2018 Incentive Award Plan, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan; and

572,334 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan.

In addition, unless we specifically state otherwise, all information in this prospectus assumes no exercise of outstanding stock options subsequent to June 30, 2019.



RISK FACTORS

You should consider carefully the risks described below and discussed under the section captioned “Risk Factors” contained in our annual report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and in our quarterly report for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2019, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, each of which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement in their entirety, together with other information in this prospectus supplement, and the information and documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering before you make a decision to invest in our common stock. If any of the following events actually occur, our business, operating results, prospects or financial condition could be materially and adversely affected. This could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline and you may lose all or part of your investment. The risks described below are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business operations.

Risks Relating to this Offering

Our management team may invest or spend the proceeds of this offering in ways with which you may not agree or in ways which may not yield a significant return.

Our management will have broad discretion over the use of proceeds from this offering. We intend to use the net proceeds, if any, from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, working capital and funding research and development, and capital expenditures including clinical program progression. Our management will have considerable discretion in the application of the net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. The net proceeds may be used for corporate purposes that do not increase our operating results or enhance the value of our common stock.

You may experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value per share of the common stock you purchase.

The price per share of our common stock being offered may be higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock outstanding prior to this offering. Assuming that an aggregate of 8,710,801 shares are sold at a price of $8.61 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on October 11, 2019, for aggregate proceeds of $75.0 million in this offering, and after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, you will suffer immediate and substantial dilution of $2.88 per share, representing the difference between the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock as of June 30, 2019 after giving effect to this offering and the assumed offering price of $8.61 per share. See the section entitled “Dilution” below for a more detailed discussion of the dilution you will incur if you purchase common stock in this offering.

You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.

In order to raise additional capital, we expect to in the future offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is equal to or greater than the price per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock in future transactions may be higher or lower

than the price per share in this offering. As of June 30, 2019, approximately 6.0 million shares of common stock that are either subject to outstanding options or reserved for future issuance under our existing equity incentive plans are eligible for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by the provisions of various vesting schedules and Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Securities Act.

The actual number of shares we will issue under the sales agreement, at any one time or in total, is uncertain.

Subject to certain limitations in the sales agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a placement notice to Cowen at any time throughout the term of the sales agreement. The number of shares that are sold by Cowen after delivering a placement notice will fluctuate based on the market price of the common shares during the sales period and limits we set with Cowen. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock during the sales period, it is not possible at this stage to predict the number of shares that will be ultimately issued.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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

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

our clinical and regulatory development plans;

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

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

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

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

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

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

our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and expectations;

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

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

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

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

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

our use of proceeds from this offering;

our future financial performance;

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

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

These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our business and the industry in which we operate and management’s beliefs and assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance or development and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are in some cases beyond our control. As a result, any or all of our forward-looking statements in, or incorporated by reference in, this prospectus may turn out to be inaccurate. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially

from current expectations include, among other things, those listed under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus and the discussion in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as amended, in each of “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Potential investors are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future. You should, however, review the factors and risks we describe in the reports we will file from time to time with the SEC after the date of this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

USE OF PROCEEDS

We may issue and sell shares of our common stock having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $75,000,000 from time to time. The amount of proceeds from this offering will depend upon the number of shares of our common stock sold and the market price at which they are sold. There can be no assurance that we will be able to sell any shares under or fully utilize the sales agreement with Cowen as a source of financing. We intend to use the net proceeds, if any, from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, increasing our working capital and funding research and development and capital expenditures including clinical program progression.

The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including our development and commercialization efforts with respect to our product candidates, as well as the amount of cash used in our operations. We therefore cannot estimate with certainty the amount of net proceeds to be used for the purposes described above. We may find it necessary or advisable to use the net proceeds for other purposes, and we will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds. Pending the uses described above, we plan to invest the net proceeds, if any, from this offering in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.

DILUTION

Our net tangible book value as of June 30, 2019 was approximately $182.4 million, or $5.10 per share. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our total tangible assets, less total liabilities, by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2019. Dilution in net tangible book value per share represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers of shares of common stock in this offering and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after giving effect to this offering.

After giving effect to the sale of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $75.0 million in this offering at an assumed offering price of $8.61, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on October 11, 2019, and after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2019 would have been approximately $254.7 million, or $5.73 per share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $0.63 per share to existing stockholders and immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $2.88 per share to new investors purchasing our common stock in this offering. The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:

Assumed public offering price per share

   $8.61 

Net tangible book value per share as of June 30, 2019

 $5.10   

Increase per share attributable to new investors

 $0.63   
 

 

 

   

As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering

    5.73 
   

 

 

 

Dilution per share to new investors

   $2.88 
   

 

 

 

The shares sold in this offering, if any, will be sold from time to time at various prices. An increase of $1.00 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $8.61 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $75.0 million is sold at that price, would cause our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering to be $5.92 per share and would increase the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors to $3.69 per share, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us. A decrease of $1.00 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $8.61 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $75.0 million is sold at that price, would cause our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering to be $5.54 per share and would decrease the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors to $2.07 per share, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us. This information is supplied for illustrative purposes only.

To the extent that outstanding options or warrants are exercised or outstanding restricted stock awards vest, investors purchasing our common stock in this offering will experience further dilution. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.

The above discussion and table are based on 35,769,043 shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2019, and excludes, in each case as of June 30, 2019:

3,038,698 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options to purchase common stock that were outstanding as of June 30, 2019, with a weighted average exercise price of $7.55 per share;

3,027,327 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2018 Incentive Award Plan, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan; and

572,334 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We have entered into a sales agreement with Cowen, under which we may offer and sell from time to time up to $75,000,000 of our common stock through Cowen as our sales agent. Sales of our common stock, if any, will be made at market prices by any method that is deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or any other trading market for our common stock. If authorized by us in writing, Cowen may purchase shares of our common stock as principal.

Cowen will offer our common stock subject to the terms and conditions of the sales agreement on a daily basis or as otherwise agreed upon by us and Cowen. We will designate the maximum amount of common stock to be sold through Cowen on a daily basis or otherwise determine such maximum amount together with Cowen. Subject to the terms and conditions of the sales agreement, Cowen will use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell on our behalf all of the shares of common stock requested to be sold by us. We may instruct Cowen not to sell common stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us in any such instruction. Cowen or we may suspend the offering of our common stock being made through Cowen under the sales agreement upon proper notice to the other party. Cowen and we each have the right, by giving written notice as specified in the sales agreement, to terminate the sales agreement in each party’s sole discretion at any time.

The aggregate compensation payable to Cowen as sales agent equals 3% of the gross sales price of the shares sold through it pursuant to the sales agreement. We have also agreed to reimburse Cowen up to $50,000 of Cowen’s actual outside legal expenses incurred by Cowen in connection with this offering, and for certain other expenses, including Cowen’s FINRA counsel fees in an amount up to $10,000. We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding commissions and reimbursements payable to Cowen under the sales agreement, will be approximately $400,000.

The remaining sales proceeds, after deducting any expenses payable by us and any transaction fees imposed by any governmental, regulatory, or self-regulatory organization in connection with the sales, will equal our net proceeds for the sale of such common stock.

Cowen will provide written confirmation to us following the close of trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on each day in which common stock is sold through it as sales agent under the sales agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of shares of common stock sold through it as sales agent on that day, the volume weighted average price of the shares sold and the net proceeds to us.

We will report at least quarterly the number of shares of common stock sold through Cowen under the sales agreement, the net proceeds to us and the compensation paid by us to Cowen in connection with the sales of common stock.

Settlement for sales of common stock will occur, unless the parties agree otherwise, on the second business day that is also a trading day following the date on which any sales were made in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

In connection with the sales of our common stock on our behalf, Cowen will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation paid to Cowen will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed in the sales agreement to provide indemnification and contribution to Cowen against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. As sales agent, Cowen will not engage in any transactions that stabilizes our common stock.

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and trades under the symbol “GRTS.” The transfer agent of our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

Cowen and/or its affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, various investment banking and other financial services for us and our affiliates, for which services they have received, and may in the future receive, customary fees.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the issuance of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon by our counsel, Latham & Watkins LLP, Menlo Park, California. Cowen and Company, LLC is being represented in connection with this offering by Cooley LLP, New York, New York. Latham & Watkins LLP and certain attorneys and investment funds affiliated with the firm own an aggregate of 14,078 shares of our common stock.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as set forth in their report which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on FormS-3 under the Securities Act, of which this prospectus forms a part. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit from this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus certain information included in the registration statement. For further information about us and the securities we are offering under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. With respect to the statements contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus regarding the contents of any agreement or any other document, in each instance, the statement is qualified in all respects by the complete text of the agreement or document, a copy of which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.

We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents instead of having to repeat the information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. Any statement contained in 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 modifies or replaces that statement. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future information filed (rather than furnished) with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act between the date of this prospectus and the termination of this offering, provided, however, that we are not incorporating any information furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any current report on Form8-K:

our Annual Report onForm10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2019, and Amendment No.  1 to our Annual Report onForm10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2018, as filed with the SEC on April 19, 2019;

the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, from ourDefinitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 26, 2019;

our Quarterly Reports on Form10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019, filed with the SEC onMay  13, 2019 andAugust 12, 2019, respectively;

our Current Reports on Form8-K filed with the SEC onFebruary 5, 2019,June 24, 2019 andSeptember 13, 2019; and

the description of our common stock contained in our registration statement onForm8-A filed with the SEC on September 18, 2018, including any amendments or reports filed with the SEC for the purposes of updating this description.

These documents may also be accessed on our website at www.gritstoneoncology.com. Except as otherwise specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, information contained in, or accessible through, our website is not a part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

We will furnish without charge to you, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference, including exhibits to these documents by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Gritstone Oncology, Inc.

5858 Horton Street, Suite 210

Emeryville, California 94608

(510)871-6100

Attention: Investor Relations

Up to $75,000,000

LOGO

Common Stock

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT2023

 

 

 

Cowen

            , 2019


PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.

Item 14.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following is an estimate (other than the SEC registration fee and FINRA filing fee) of thetable sets forth estimated expenses that we may incur in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered hereby. All such expenses are to be paid byEach item listed is estimated, except for the registrant.SEC registration fee.

 

SEC registration fee

  $32,450 

FINRA filing fee

  $38,000 

Printing expenses

  $(1) 

Legal fees and expenses

  $(1) 

Accounting fees and expenses

  $(1) 

Blue Sky, qualification fees and expenses

  $(1) 

Transfer agent fees and expenses

  $(1) 

Trustee fees and expenses

  $(1) 

Warrant agent fees and expenses

  $(1) 

Miscellaneous

  $(1) 
  

 

 

 

Total

  $(1) 
  

 

 

 

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*

  $* 

 

(1)*

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

Item 15.

Item 15.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Subsection (a)Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes a court to award, or a corporation’s board of directors to grant, indemnity to directors and officers under certain circumstances and subject to certain limitations. The terms of Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the DGCL, empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or who is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful.

Subsection (b) of Section 145 empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

Section 145 further provides that to the extent a director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against

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expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith; that indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; and the indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and administrators. Section 145 also empowers the corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liabilities under Section 145.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL provides that a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Any underwriting agreement or distribution agreement that the registrant enters into with any underwriters or agents involved in the offering or sale of any securities registered hereby may require such underwriters or dealers to indemnify the registrant, some or all of its directors and officers and its controlling persons, if any, for specified liabilities, which may include liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide for the indemnification provisions described above and elsewhere herein. We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and officers which may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the DGCL. These indemnification agreements generally require us, among other things, to indemnify our officers and directors against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers, other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct. These indemnification agreements also generally require us to advance any expenses incurred by the directors or officers as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. In addition, we have purchased a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances. These indemnification provisions and the indemnification agreements may beare sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of our officers and directorsunder 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 eliminate the personal liability of its directors for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as a director, except liability for the following:

any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its stockholders;

acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (regarding unlawful dividends or stock purchases); or

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

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

the Registrant is required to indemnify its directors and 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 set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law;

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, subject to limited exceptions; and

the rights conferred in the restated bylaws are not exclusive.

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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.Act of 1933, as amended.

Item 16.

Exhibits

(a)Item 16.

Exhibits

The 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
 
   Incorporated by Reference 

Exhibit

Number

  

Exhibit Description

Form  Exhibit No.   Filing Date   Provided
Herewith
  

Exhibit Description

  Form   File No.   Exhibit   Filing
Date
   Filed
Herewith
 
1.1*  Form of Underwriting Agreement.         Form of Underwriting Agreement          
1.2  Sales Agreement, dated October 15, 2019, by and between Gritstone Oncology, Inc. and Cowen and Company, LLC.         X 
3.1(a) Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation   10-Q      3.1    10/02/18   
3.1(b)  Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended.  8-K   3.1    10/02/2018    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 

 

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Exhibit

Number

  

Exhibit Description

  Incorporated by Reference to Filings
Indicated
   Provided
Herewith
 
  Form  Exhibit No.   Filing Date 
  3.2  Amended and Restated Bylaws.  8-K   3.2    10/02/2018   
  4.1  Reference is made to Exhibits 3.1 through 3.2.        
  4.2  Form of Common Stock Certificate.  S-1/A   4.2    09/17/2018   
  4.3*  Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.        
  4.4  Form of Indenture.         X 
  4.5*  Form of Note.        
  4.6*  Form of Warrant.        
  4.7*  Form of Warrant Agreement.        
  4.8*  Form of Unit Agreement.        
  5.1  Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP.         X 
23.1  Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.         X 
23.2  Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included inExhibit 5.1).         X 
24.1  Powers of Attorney (incorporated by reference to the signature page hereto).        
25.1*  Statement of Eligibility on FormT-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the trustee, as trustee under the indenture filed herewith.        
99.1  Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated as of June  29, 2018, by and among Gritstone Oncology, Inc. and the investors listed therein.  S-1   10.2    08/23/2018   
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 referencereference.

**

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

Item 17.

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

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(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.

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(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.

(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

II-4


(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 initialbona fide offering thereof.

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(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-5


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrantRegistrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on FormS-3 and has duly caused this registration statementRegistration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Emeryville, State of California, on October 15, 2019.the 22nd day of December, 2023.

 

GRITSTONE ONCOLOGY,BIO, INC.

By: /s/ Andrew Allen, M.D., Ph.D.
 

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

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 M.D., Ph.D. and Jean-Marc Bellemin,Vassiliki “Celia” Economides, and each of them, acting individually, as his or her true and lawfulattorneys-in-fact, proxies and agents, each with full power of substitution, and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to file and sign any and all amendments including post-effective amendments and any registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective under Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act, 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 saidattorneys-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 tofor all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that saidattorneys-in-fact, proxies and agents, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney shall be governed by and construed with the laws of the State of Delaware and applicable federal securities laws.

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

 

Name

  

Title

 

Date

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

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

  

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive OfficerOfficer))

 October 15, 2019December 22, 2023

/s/ Jean-Marc BelleminVassiliki Economides

Jean-Marc BelleminVassiliki Economides

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting OfficerOfficer))

 October 15, 2019December 22, 2023

/s/ Richard HeymanJames Cho

Richard Heyman, Ph.D.James Cho

  

DirectorChief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 October 15, 2019December 22, 2023

/s/ Elaine Jones

Elaine Jones, Ph.D.

  

Chairperson of our Board of Directors

December 22, 2023

/s/ Clare Fisher

Clare Fisher

Director

 October 15, 2019December 22, 2023

/s/ Steve Krognes

Steve Krognes

  

Director

 October 15, 2019December 22, 2023

/s/ Judith LiNaiyer A. Rizvi

Judith LiNaiyer A. Rizvi, M.D.

  

Director

 October 15, 2019December 22, 2023

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/s/ Lawrence Corey

Lawrence Corey, M.D.

Director

December 22, 2023

/s/ Nicholas SimonShefali Agarwal

Nicholas SimonShefali Agarwal, M.D., M.P.H.

  

Director

 October 15, 2019

/s/ Thomas Woiwode

Thomas Woiwode, Ph.D.

Director

October 15, 2019December 22, 2023

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