SEC Form S-3ASR filed by Arcus Biosciences Inc.
Table of Contents
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2026
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 47-3893435 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
3928 Point Eden Way
Hayward, CA 94545
(510) 694-6200
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Terry Rosen, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
3928 Point Eden Way
Hayward, CA 94545
(510) 694-6200
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
| Carolyn Tang General Counsel 3928 Point Eden Way Hayward, CA 94545 (510) 694-6200 |
Mark V. Roeder, Esq. John C. Williams, Esq. Latham & Watkins LLP 140 Scott Drive Menlo Park, CA 94025 (650) 328-4600 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this 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: ☐
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: ☒
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: ☐
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 earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the 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. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| 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. ☐
Table of Contents
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement contains:
| • | a base prospectus, which covers the offering, issuance and sale by the registrant of the registrant’s common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and/or warrants from time to time in one or more offerings; and |
| • | an equity distribution agreement prospectus, which covers the offering, issuance and sale by the registrant of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $200.0 million of the registrant’s common stock that may be offered, issued and sold from time to time under an equity distribution agreement with Leerink Partners LLC, as our sales agent or principal. |
The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The specific terms of any other securities to be offered pursuant to the base prospectus will be specified in one or more prospectus supplements to the base prospectus.
The equity distribution agreement prospectus immediately follows the base prospectus.
Table of Contents
PROSPECTUS
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
We may offer and sell the securities identified above from time to time in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities.
Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus with respect to that offering. 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 described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable 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 2 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 New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RCUS.” On February 23, 2026, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $18.85 per share.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is February 25, 2026
Table of Contents
| ii | ||||
| 1 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| 5 | ||||
| 6 | ||||
| 10 | ||||
| 18 | ||||
| 20 | ||||
| 24 | ||||
| 25 | ||||
| 25 | ||||
| WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE |
26 |
i
Table of Contents
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), using a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell securities from time to time and in one or more offerings as described in this prospectus. Each time that we offer and sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and sold and the specific terms of that 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 information contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus with respect to that offering. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, you should rely on the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as applicable; 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 any prospectus or any prospectus supplement – the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement. Before purchasing any securities, 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 heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer 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 appearing in any applicable free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of that free writing prospectus, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. This prospectus incorporates by reference, and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may contain and incorporate by reference, market data and industry statistics and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the market and industry data and forecasts that may be included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptions and other risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed 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 by reference into this prospectus. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.
When we refer to “Arcus,” “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” in this prospectus, we mean Arcus Biosciences, Inc., unless otherwise specified. When we refer to “you,” we mean the potential holders of the applicable series of securities.
ii
Table of Contents
This summary highlights selected information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and does not contain all of the information that you need to consider in making your investment decision. You should carefully read the entire prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, including the risks of investing in our securities discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should also carefully read the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements, and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
References in this prospectus to “Arcus,” “the Company,” “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Arcus Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries, if any, unless otherwise specified.
Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
Overview
We are a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing differentiated molecules for patients with cancer and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Our most advanced molecules are in Phase 3 registrational studies for various cancer indications and we expect our next wave of clinical-stage molecules to come from our inflammation and autoimmune disease programs. Our vision is to leverage our internal small-molecule discovery capabilities to create, develop and commercialize highly differentiated therapies that can have a meaningful impact on patients.
Corporate Information
We were incorporated in Delaware on April 30, 2015. Our principal executive offices are located at 3928 Point Eden Way, Hayward, CA 94545, and our telephone number is (510) 694-6200. Our website address is www.arcusbio.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.
Arcus Biosciences and the Arcus Biosciences logo are the property of Arcus. Trade names, trademarks and service marks of other companies appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective holders.
Use of Proceeds
Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us hereunder, if any, for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus.
New York Stock Exchange Listing
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RCUS.” The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to other listings, if any, on the New York Stock Exchange or other securities exchange of the securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement.
1
Table of Contents
Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the risk factors and other information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities. There may be other unknown or unpredictable economic, business, competitive, regulatory or other factors that could have material adverse effects on our future results. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flow could be seriously harmed. This could cause the trading price of our securities to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. Please also carefully read the section entitled “Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Our Website” included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K.
2
Table of Contents
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents we have filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These statements relate to future events or to our future operating or financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about:
| • | our expectations regarding our relationship with Gilead Sciences, Inc.; |
| • | our expectations regarding the timing and achievement of our investigational product development activities and ongoing and planned clinical trials, including initiation of new clinical trials, completion of enrollment and availability and timing for reporting of data from ongoing clinical trials; |
| • | our expectations regarding the efficiency and speed with which we can create and advance small-molecule investigational products and develop our investigational products and combination therapies; |
| • | our reliance on third parties to conduct our ongoing and future clinical trials and third-party manufacturers to manufacture and supply our investigational products; |
| • | our expectations regarding the nature of the immuno-oncology pathways we are targeting, the size of the potential patient population and the potential market size; |
| • | our ability to obtain and maintain control of our combination investigational products and maximize the commercial potential of our investigational products; |
| • | our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals of our investigational products and the potential sales opportunities for commercializing our investigational products; |
| • | our ability to retain and recruit key personnel, estimates of our expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and our needs for additional financing; |
| • | our ability to develop, acquire and advance investigational products into, and successfully complete, clinical trials; |
| • | our initiation, scope, design, timing, progress and results of future research and development programs, preclinical studies and clinical trials; |
| • | our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property rights covering our investigational products; |
| • | our expectations regarding the developments and projections relating to our competitors; |
| • | our expectations regarding our industry; and |
| • | our expectations as to the effect that geopolitical conflicts will have on our company. |
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “potential” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We discuss in greater detail many of these risks under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement, in any free writing prospectuses we may authorize for use in connection with a specific offering, and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus in their entirety. Also, these forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of the document containing the applicable statement. Unless required by law, we undertake no
3
Table of Contents
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events or developments. Thus, you should not assume that our silence over time means that actual events are bearing out as expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. You should read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, together with the documents we have filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with a specific offering completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of the forward-looking statements in the foregoing documents by these cautionary statements.
In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as applicable, and while we believe such information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, and our management is responsible for the accuracy of such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and you are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements.
4
Table of Contents
Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us hereunder, if any, for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes, which may include costs of funding future acquisitions or for any other purpose we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement.
5
Table of Contents
The following description of our capital stock is not complete and may not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our capital stock. This description is summarized from, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, our certificate of incorporation, which has been publicly filed with the SEC. See the section titled “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”
General
Our authorized capital stock consists of 400,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share. A description of material terms and provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws affecting the rights of holders of our capital stock is set forth below. The description is intended as a summary, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation and the bylaws and to the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Common Stock
Dividend Rights
Subject to preferences that may apply to shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of outstanding shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of funds legally available if our board of directors, in its discretion, determines to issue dividends and only then at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may determine.
Voting Rights
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share. Stockholders do not have the ability to cumulate votes for the election of directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide for a classified board of directors consisting of three classes of approximately equal size, each serving 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.
No Preemptive or Similar Rights
Our common stock is not entitled to preemptive rights and is not subject to conversion, redemption or sinking fund provisions.
Right to Receive Liquidation Distributions
Upon our dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, the assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders are distributable ratably among the holders of our common stock, subject to prior satisfaction of all outstanding debt and liabilities and the preferential rights and payment of liquidation preferences, if any, on any outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any associated qualifications, limitations or restrictions. Our board of directors also can increase or decrease the number of shares of any series, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding, without
6
Table of Contents
any further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of the common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company and may adversely affect the market price of our common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock.
We will fix the designations, voting powers, preferences and rights of the preferred stock of each series we issue under this prospectus, as well as the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of any certificate of designation that contains the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of preferred stock being offered, including, to the extent applicable:
| • | the title and stated value; |
| • | the number of shares we are offering; |
| • | the liquidation preference per share; |
| • | the purchase price; |
| • | the dividend rate, period and payment date and method of calculation for dividends; |
| • | whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate; |
| • | the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if applicable; |
| • | the provisions for a sinking fund, if applicable; |
| • | the provisions for redemption or repurchase, if applicable, and any restrictions on our ability to exercise those redemption and repurchase rights; |
| • | any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market; |
| • | whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, and, if applicable, the conversion price, or how it will be calculated, and the conversion period; |
| • | whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange price, or how it will be calculated, and the exchange period; |
| • | voting rights of the preferred stock; |
| • | preemptive rights, if any; |
| • | restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment; |
| • | whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares; |
| • | a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock; |
| • | the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; |
| • | any limitations on the issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and |
| • | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the preferred stock. |
7
Table of Contents
Anti-takeover Effects of Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and Delaware Law
Delaware Law
We are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law regulating corporate takeovers. This section prevents some Delaware corporations from engaging, under some circumstances, in a business combination, which includes a merger or sale of at least 10% of the corporation’s assets with any interested stockholder, meaning a stockholder 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 the corporation’s outstanding voting stock, unless:
| • | the transaction is approved by the board of directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder; |
| • | upon closing of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction began, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding those shares owned (i) by persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or |
| • | subsequent to such time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
A Delaware corporation may “opt out” of these provisions with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or an express provision in its certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws resulting from a stockholders’ amendment approved by at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares. We have not opted out of these provisions. As a result, mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts of us may be discouraged or prevented.
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaw Provisions
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws include a number of provisions that may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying or preventing changes in control of our management team, including the following:
| • | Board of Directors Vacancies. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws authorize our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, including newly-created seats. In addition, the number of directors constituting our board of directors may be set only by resolution adopted by a majority vote of our entire board of directors. These provisions prevent a stockholder from increasing the size of our board of directors and gaining control of our board of directors by filling the resulting vacancies with its own nominees; |
| • | Classified Board. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that our board of directors is classified into three classes of directors, each of which hold office for a three-year term. In addition, directors may only be removed from the board of directors for cause and only by the approval of 66 2/3% of our then-outstanding shares of our capital stock. A third party may be discouraged from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us as it is more difficult and time consuming for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors on a classified board of directors; |
| • | Stockholder Action; Special Meeting of Stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provide that stockholders are not able to take action by written consent, and are only able to take action at annual or special meetings of our stockholders. Stockholders are not be permitted to |
8
Table of Contents
| cumulate their votes for the election of directors. Our amended and restated bylaws further provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority vote of our entire board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors or our chief executive officer; |
| • | Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations. Our amended and restated bylaws provide advance notice procedures for stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate candidates for election as directors at any meeting of stockholders. Our amended and restated bylaws also specify certain requirements regarding the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions may preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our meetings of stockholders; and |
| • | Issuance of Undesignated Preferred Stock. Our board of directors have the authority, without further action by the holders of common stock, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock with rights and preferences, including voting rights, designated from time to time by the board of directors. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock enable our board of directors to render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. |
Choice of Forum
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty; any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws; or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation and bylaws has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that a court could find these types of provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable. This provision does not apply to actions arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or any claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
In addition, our amended and restated bylaws provide that unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act; and that any person or entity holding, owning or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of Arcus shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to these provisions.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The transfer agent’s address is 150 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021, and its telephone number is (800) 962-4284. The transfer agent for any series of preferred stock that we may offer under this prospectus will be named and described in the prospectus supplement related to that series.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RCUS.” The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listing, if any, on the New York Stock Exchange or any securities market or other exchange of the preferred stock covered by such prospectus supplement.
9
Table of Contents
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, summarizes certain general 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 indicate in the supplement to what extent the general terms 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 portions of the indenture below. The summary is not complete. The form of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement and you should read the indenture for provisions that may be important 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 specified in the indenture.
General
The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution 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).
We can issue an unlimited amount of 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 forth in a prospectus supplement (including any pricing supplement or term sheet) relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the debt securities, if applicable:
| • | the title and ranking of the debt securities (including the terms of any subordination provisions); |
| • | the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities; |
| • | any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
| • | the date or dates on which the principal of the securities of the series is payable; |
| • | the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest 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; |
| • | the place or places where principal of, 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; |
| • | the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities; |
10
Table of Contents
| • | 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 the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
| • | whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities; |
| • | the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount; |
| • | 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; |
| • | the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of, premium and interest on the debt securities will be made; |
| • | if payments of principal of, premium or interest on the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined; |
| • | the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or 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; |
| • | any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities; |
| • | any addition to, deletion of or change in the Events of Default described in this prospectus 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; |
| • | any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
| • | any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities; |
| • | the provisions, 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 of the debt securities, which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies 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; and |
| • | 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 debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
11
Table of Contents
If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities 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, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Transfer and Exchange
Each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or a nominee of DTC (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, DTC, and registered in the name of DTC or a nominee of DTC. Please see “Global Securities.”
Covenants
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement any restrictive covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities. (Article IV)
No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions which may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control) which could adversely affect holders of debt securities.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
We may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any person (a “successor person”) unless:
| • | we are the surviving entity or the successor person (if other than Arcus) is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture; and |
| • | immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing. |
12
Table of Contents
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)
Events of Default
“Event of Default” means with respect to any series of debt securities, any of the following:
| • | default in the payment of any interest upon 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 the 30-day period); |
| • | default in the payment of principal of any security of that series at its maturity; |
| • | default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty by us in the indenture (other than a covenant 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 60 days after we receive written notice from the trustee or Arcus and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series as provided in the indenture; |
| • | certain voluntary or involuntary events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Arcus; |
| • | any other Event of Default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement. (Section 6.1) |
No Event of Default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to 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 principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), declare to be due and payable immediately the principal of (or, if the debt securities of that series are discount securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all debt securities of that series. In the case of an Event of Default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to 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, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul the acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to 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.
13
Table of Contents
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 right 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 on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series. (Section 6.12)
No holder of any debt security of any 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:
| • | that holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to debt securities of that series; and |
| • | the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and offered indemnity or security satisfactory to the trustee, to the trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee, and the trustee has not received from the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with that request and has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days. (Section 6.7) |
Notwithstanding any other provision in the indenture, the holder 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 security on or after the due dates expressed in that debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of payment. (Section 6.8)
The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with 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 holder 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
We and the trustee may modify, amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of any series without the consent of any holder of any debt security:
| • | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
| • | to comply with covenants in the indenture described above 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; |
14
Table of Contents
| • | 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 effect the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of any series 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 indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. (Section 9.1) |
We may also modify and amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modifications or amendments. We may not make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holders of each affected debt security then outstanding if that modification or amendment will:
| • | reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; |
| • | reduce the rate of or extend 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; |
| • | reduce the principal amount of discount securities payable upon acceleration of maturity; |
| • | waive a default in the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on any debt security (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of any series by the holders of at least 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); |
| • | make the principal of or premium or interest on any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt security; |
| • | 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 of 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 indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of 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)
Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances
Legal Defeasance. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (subject to certain exceptions). We will be so discharged upon the irrevocable deposit with the trustee,
15
Table of Contents
in trust, of 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 or U.S. government obligations 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, 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.
This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm 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, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts and 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 United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and 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) |
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees or Stockholders
None of our past, present or future directors, officers, employees or stockholders, as such, will have any liability for any of our obligations 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.
16
Table of Contents
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities, including any claim or controversy arising out of or relating to the indenture or the securities, will be governed by 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 the non-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)
17
Table of Contents
We may issue warrants for the purchase of shares of our common stock or preferred stock or of debt securities. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities, 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 investors or a warrant agent. The following summary of material provisions of the warrants and warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement and warrant certificate applicable to a particular series of warrants. The terms of any warrants offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants.
The particular terms of any issue of warrants will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the issue. Those terms may include:
| • | the 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; |
| • | the designation, stated value and terms (including, without limitation, liquidation, dividend, conversion and voting rights) of the series of preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of warrants to purchase preferred stock; |
| • | 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, if any, on and after which the warrants and the related debt securities, preferred stock or common stock will be separately transferable; |
| • | the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire; |
| • | United States Federal income tax consequences applicable to the warrants; 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 shareholders with respect to any meeting of shareholders for the election of our directors or any other matter; or |
| • | exercise any rights as shareholders of Arcus. |
Each warrant will entitle its holder to purchase the principal amount of debt securities or the number of shares of preferred stock or common stock at the exercise price set forth in, or calculable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in 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 transfer and exercise them at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any
18
Table of Contents
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 covenants 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.
19
Table of Contents
Book-Entry, Delivery and Form
Unless we indicate differently in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the securities 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, DTC, New York, New York, as depositary, 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 (“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.
20
Table of Contents
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 of a particular series are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in the securities of such series to be redeemed.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (or such other DTC nominee) will consent or vote 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 consenting 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 unless if 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 securities 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.
21
Table of Contents
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. (“Clearstream”) or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System (“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 for same-day fund settlement. Participants in Euroclear or Clearstream may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositaries.
22
Table of Contents
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.
23
Table of Contents
We may sell the offered securities from time to time:
| • | through underwriters or dealers; |
| • | through agents; |
| • | directly to one or more purchasers; or |
| • | through a combination of any of these methods of sale. |
We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation in the applicable prospectus supplement.
24
Table of Contents
Latham & Watkins LLP will pass upon the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus, and any supplement thereto, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, as set forth in their reports, which are 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 reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
25
Table of Contents
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Available Information
We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.
Our website address is www.arcusbio.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 do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. 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. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided above.
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 Exchange Act, in this prospectus, between the date of this 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, Audit Committee report, performance graph or any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or related exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K.
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:
| • | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2026. |
| • | The description of our Common Stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on March 9, 2018 and any amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating the description. |
All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 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, prior to the termination of this offering 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.
26
Table of Contents
You may request a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
Attn: Corporate Secretary
3928 Point Eden Way
Hayward, CA 94545
(510) 694-6200
Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
27
Table of Contents
PROSPECTUS
Up to $200,000,000
Common Stock
We, Arcus Biosciences, Inc., have entered into an equity distribution agreement with Leerink Partners LLC, as our sales agent, dated February 25, 2026, relating to shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “common stock”), offered by this prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the equity distribution agreement, under this prospectus we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $200.0 million from time to time through or to the sales agent, acting as our agent or principal.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RCUS.” On February 23, 2026, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $18.85 per share.
Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus will be made in sales deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in ordinary brokers’ transactions, to or through a market maker, on or through the New York Stock Exchange or any other market venue where the securities may be traded, in the over-the-counter market, in privately negotiated transactions, or through a combination of any such methods of sale. The sales agent may also sell our common stock by any other method permitted by law. The sales agent is not required to sell any specific amount of securities but will act as our sales agent using reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed terms between the sales agent and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
Under the equity distribution agreement, we may also sell common stock to the sales agent as principal for its own account, at a price to be agreed upon at the time of sale. If we sell common stock to the sales agent as principal, we will enter into a separate terms agreement with the sales agent, and we will describe the agreement in a separate prospectus supplement or pricing supplement.
The compensation to the sales agent for sales of common stock sold pursuant to the equity distribution agreement will be an amount up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds of any shares of common stock sold under the equity distribution agreement. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, the sales agent will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of the sales agent will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to reimburse the sales agent for certain of its out-of-pocket expenses. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to the sales agent with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should review carefully and consider all of the information set forth in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 of this prospectus and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
| Leerink Partners |
The date of this prospectus is February 25, 2026
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), utilizing an “automatic shelf” registration process available to “well-known seasoned issuers,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. Under this shelf registration statement, we may offer and sell from time to time in one or more offerings the common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or any combination of these securities described in this prospectus. No limit exists on the aggregate number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or warrants, or the amount of debt securities we may sell pursuant to the registration statement. We may also offer common stock or preferred stock upon conversion of debt securities, common stock upon conversion of preferred stock, or common stock, preferred stock or debt securities upon the exercise of warrants. Under this prospectus, we may offer shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $200.0 million from time to time at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering.
We provide information to you about this offering of shares of our common stock in this prospectus, which describes the specific details regarding this offering. If information in this prospectus is inconsistent with documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus filed prior to the date of this prospectus, you should rely on this prospectus. 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—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 the sales agent has not, authorized any other person to provide you with information other than that which is contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. We and the sales agent 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 the sales agent is not, making an offer to sell or soliciting an offer to buy our securities in any jurisdiction in which 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, 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, 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 captioned “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation by Reference.”
We and the sales agent 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 our 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 our 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.
We obtained the industry and market data in this prospectus from our own research as well as from industry and general publications, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. These data involve a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates. In addition, projections, assumptions and estimates of our future performance and the future performance of the industry in which we operate is necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus and documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by the independent parties and by us.
ii
Table of Contents
This prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, include trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or others. All trademarks, service marks and trade names included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any related free writing prospectus are the property of their respective owners.
S-3
Table of Contents
This summary highlights selected information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you need to consider in making your investment decision. You should carefully read the entire prospectus and any related free writing prospectus, including the risks of investing in our securities discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should also carefully read the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements, and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
References in this prospectus to “Arcus,” “the Company,” “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Arcus Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified.
Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
Overview
We are a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing differentiated molecules for patients with cancer and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Our most advanced molecules are in Phase 3 registrational studies for various cancer indications and we expect our next wave of clinical-stage molecules to come from our inflammation and autoimmune disease programs. Our vision is to leverage our internal small-molecule discovery capabilities to create, develop and commercialize highly differentiated therapies that can have a meaningful impact on patients.
Corporate Information
We were incorporated in Delaware on April 30, 2015. Our principal executive offices are located at 3928 Point Eden Way, Hayward, CA 94545, and our telephone number is (510) 694-6200. Our website address is www.arcusbio.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.
Arcus Biosciences and the Arcus Biosciences logo are the property of Arcus. Trade names, trademarks and service marks of other companies appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective holders.
1
Table of Contents
THE OFFERING
| Common stock offered by us |
Shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $200.0 million. |
| Common stock to be outstanding after this offering |
Up to 135,904,848 shares, assuming sales of 10,610,079 shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed offering price of $18.85 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on February 23, 2026. The actual number of shares issued will vary depending on the sales prices under this offering. |
| Manner of offering |
From time to time by us through or to the sales agent, acting as agent on our behalf or as principal, including through “at-the-market” offerings, as applicable. See “Plan of Distribution” for more information. |
| Use of proceeds |
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to in-license, invest in or acquire businesses, assets or technologies that we believe are complementary to our own, although we have no current plans, commitments or agreements with respect to any acquisitions. See “Use of Proceeds” on page 8 of this prospectus. |
| Risk factors |
Investing in our common stock involves significant risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. |
| New York Stock Exchange symbol |
“RCUS” |
The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 125,294,769 shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2025, and excludes:
| • | 16,904,829 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2025, at a weighted-average exercise price of $18.79 per share; |
| • | 2,035,827 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options granted after December 31, 2025, with an exercise price of $22.13 per share; |
| • | 2,858,220 shares of our common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2025; |
| • | 1,971,067 shares of common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units granted after December 31, 2025; |
| • | up to an aggregate of 3,598,598 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (our “Equity Incentive Plan”), as of December 31, 2025, as well as any annual automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan; |
| • | up to an aggregate of 2,531,327 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2020 Inducement Plan (our “Inducement Plan”), as of December 31, 2025; and |
2
Table of Contents
| • | up to an aggregate of 3,029,035 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (our “Purchase Plan”), as of December 31, 2025, as well as any annual automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the Purchase Plan. |
In addition, unless we specifically state otherwise, all information in this prospectus reflects and assumes no exercise of outstanding stock options or vesting and settlement of restricted stock units described above after December 31, 2025.
3
Table of Contents
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our common stock, you should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described below and under the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus in their entirety, together with other information in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering. The risks described in these documents are not the only ones we face, but those that we consider to be material. There may be other unknown or unpredictable economic, business, competitive, regulatory or other factors that could have material adverse effects on our future results. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flow could be seriously harmed. This could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. Please also read carefully the section below entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Additional Risks Related to This Offering
If you purchase shares of our common stock in this offering, you may experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of your shares.
The offering price per share in this offering may exceed the net tangible book value per share of our common stock outstanding prior to this offering. Assuming that an aggregate of 10,610,079 shares of our common stock are sold in this offering, based on an assumed sale price of $18.85 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on February 23, 2026, for aggregate gross proceeds of $200.0 million, then, after deducting estimated commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, you would experience immediate dilution of $12.79 per share, representing the difference between our as adjusted net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2025 after giving effect to this offering and the assumed offering price. The exercise of outstanding stock options and the settlement of outstanding restricted stock units would result in further dilution of your investment. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Dilution” for a more detailed illustration of the dilution you would incur if you participate in this offering.
Our management will have broad discretion as to the use of the net proceeds of this offering and may not use the proceeds from this offering effectively, which could affect our results of operations and cause our stock price to decline.
Although we currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering in the manner described in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus, we will have considerable discretion in the application of the net proceeds of this offering. We may use the net proceeds for purposes that do not yield a significant return or any return at all for our stockholders. In addition, pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value. If we do not invest or apply the net proceeds from this offering in ways that enhance stockholder value, we may fail to achieve expected financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline.
The actual number of shares of common stock we will issue under the equity distribution agreement in this offering and the gross proceeds resulting from those sales, at any one time or in total, is uncertain.
Subject to certain limitations in the equity distribution agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a placement notice to the sales agent to sell on our behalf shares of our common stock at any time throughout the term of the equity distribution agreement, and the sales agent will be obligated to use reasonable efforts to sell the shares of common stock. The number of shares of common stock that are sold
4
Table of Contents
by the sales agent after delivering a placement notice will fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the market price of our common stock during the sales period, any limits we may set with the sales agent in any applicable placement notice and the demand for our common stock. Because the price per share of each share of common stock sold pursuant to the equity distribution agreement 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 of common stock that will be ultimately issued or the gross proceeds to be raised in connection with those sales, if any.
You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.
To raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock at prices that may not be the same as the price per share in this offering pursuant to the equity distribution agreement. We may sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is less than the price per share paid by investors in this offering pursuant to the equity distribution agreement, 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 securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share paid by investors in this offering.
We do not intend to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.
We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and currently do not plan to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Sales of common stock offered hereby will be in “at the market offerings,” and investors who purchase shares at different times will likely pay different prices.
Investors who purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and therefore may experience different levels of dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices and number of shares sold in this offering. In addition, subject to any restrictions we may place in any applicable placement notice delivered to the sales agent, there is no minimum or maximum sales price for shares to be sold in this offering. Investors may experience a decline in the value of the shares of our common stock they purchase in this offering as a result of subsequent sales of shares of our common stock made at prices lower than the prices they paid.
Future sales or issuances of our common stock in the public markets, or the perception of such sales, could depress the trading price of our common stock.
The sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock or other equity-related securities in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We may sell large quantities of our common stock at any time pursuant to this prospectus or in one or more separate offerings. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of common stock or other equity-related securities would have on the market price of our common stock.
5
Table of Contents
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents we have filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These statements relate to future events or to our future operating or financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about:
| • | our expectations regarding our relationship with Gilead Sciences, Inc.; |
| • | our expectations regarding the timing and achievement of our investigational product development activities and ongoing and planned clinical trials, including initiation of new clinical trials, completion of enrollment and availability and timing for reporting of data from ongoing clinical trials; |
| • | our expectations regarding the efficiency and speed with which we can create and advance small-molecule investigational products and develop our investigational products and combination therapies; |
| • | our reliance on third parties to conduct our ongoing and future clinical trials and third-party manufacturers to manufacture and supply our investigational products; |
| • | our expectations regarding the nature of the immuno-oncology pathways we are targeting, the size of the potential patient population and the potential market size; |
| • | our ability to obtain and maintain control of our combination investigational products and maximize the commercial potential of our investigational products; |
| • | our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals of our investigational products and the potential sales opportunities for commercializing our investigational products; |
| • | our ability to retain and recruit key personnel, estimates of our expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and our needs for additional financing; |
| • | our ability to develop, acquire and advance investigational products into, and successfully complete, clinical trials; |
| • | our initiation, scope, design, timing, progress and results of future research and development programs, preclinical studies and clinical trials; |
| • | our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property rights covering our investigational products; |
| • | our expectations regarding the developments and projections relating to our competitors; |
| • | our expectations regarding our industry; |
| • | our anticipated use of net proceeds from this offering; and |
| • | our expectations as to the effect that geopolitical conflicts will have on our company. |
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “potential” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We discuss in greater detail many of these risks under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in any free writing prospectuses we may authorize for use in connection with this offering, and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus in their entirety. Also, these forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of the document containing the applicable statement. Unless required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any
6
Table of Contents
forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events or developments. Thus, you should not assume that our silence over time means that actual events are bearing out as expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. You should read this prospectus together with the documents we have filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of the forward-looking statements in the foregoing documents by these cautionary statements.
In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as applicable, and while we believe such information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, and our management is responsible for the accuracy of such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and you are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements.
7
Table of Contents
We may issue and sell shares of our common stock having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $200.0 million from time to time. Because there is no minimum offering amount required pursuant to the equity distribution agreement with the sales agent, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. Actual net proceeds will depend on the number of shares we sell and the prices at which such sales occur. There can be no assurance that we will sell any shares under or fully utilize the equity distribution agreement with the sales agent as a source of financing.
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the common stock offered by us hereunder, if any, for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to in-license, invest in or acquire businesses, assets or technologies that we believe are complementary to our own, although we have no current plans, commitments or agreements with respect to any acquisitions. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses of the net proceeds from this offering. Accordingly, we will retain broad discretion over the use of such proceeds. Pending the use of the net proceeds from this offering, we intend to invest the net proceeds in investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments.
8
Table of Contents
If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted immediately to the extent of the difference between the price per share of our common stock you pay in this offering and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.
Our net tangible book value as of December 31, 2025 was $630.5 million, or $5.03 per share of common stock. We calculate net tangible book value per share by dividing our net tangible book value, which is total tangible assets, less total liabilities, by the number of outstanding shares of our common stock. Dilution with respect to 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 net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.
After giving effect to the assumed sale of 10,610,079 shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed public offering price of $18.85 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on February 23, 2026, and after deducting offering commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2025 would have been $824.2 million, or $6.06 per share of our common stock. This represents an immediate increase in the net tangible book value of $1.03 per share to our existing stockholders and immediate dilution of $12.79 per share to investors purchasing shares of our common stock in this offering at the public offering price. The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:
| Assumed public offering price per share |
$ | 18.85 | ||||||
| Net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2025 |
$ | 5.03 | ||||||
| Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to investors purchasing shares of our common stock in this offering |
$ | 1.03 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| As adjusted net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2025, after giving effect to this offering |
$ | 6.06 | ||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Dilution per share to investors purchasing shares of our common stock in this offering |
$ | 12.79 | ||||||
|
|
|
The table above assumes for illustrative purposes that an aggregate of 10,610,079 shares of our common stock are sold during the term of the equity distribution agreement with the sales agent at a price of $18.85 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on February 23, 2026, for aggregate gross proceeds of $200.0 million. The shares subject to the equity distribution agreement with the sales agent 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 $18.85 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $200.0 million during the term of the equity distribution agreement with the sales agent is sold at that price, would increase our adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering to $6.09 per share and would increase the dilution in net tangible book value per share to investors in this offering to $13.76 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 $18.85 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $200.0 million during the term of the equity distribution agreement with the sales agent is sold at that price, would decrease our adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering to $6.04 per share and would decrease the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering to $11.81 per share, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us. This information is supplied for illustrative purposes only and assumes no exercise of the options outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and no settlement of the restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2025.
9
Table of Contents
The above discussion and table are based on 125,294,769 shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2025, and exclude:
| • | 16,904,829 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2025, at a weighted-average exercise price of $18.79 per share; |
| • | 2,035,827 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options granted after December 31, 2025, with an exercise price of $22.13 per share; |
| • | 2,858,220 shares of our common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2025; |
| • | 1,971,067 shares of common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units granted after December 31, 2025; |
| • | up to an aggregate of 3,598,598 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our Equity Incentive Plan, as of December 31, 2025, as well as any annual automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan; |
| • | up to an aggregate of 2,531,327 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our Inducement Plan, as of December 31, 2025; and |
| • | up to an aggregate of 3,029,035 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our Purchase Plan, as of December 31, 2025, as well as any annual automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the Purchase Plan. |
In addition, unless we specifically state otherwise, all information in this prospectus reflects and assumes no exercise of outstanding stock options or vesting and settlement of restricted stock units described above after December 31, 2025. To the extent that outstanding options have been or may be exercised or other shares are issued, investors purchasing shares of our common stock in this offering may 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 additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.
10
Table of Contents
The following description of our capital stock is not complete and may not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our capital stock. This description is summarized from, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, our certificate of incorporation, which has been publicly filed with the SEC. See the sections titled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation by Reference.”
General
Our authorized capital stock consists of 400,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share. A description of material terms and provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws affecting the rights of holders of our capital stock is set forth below. The description is intended as a summary, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation and the bylaws and to the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Common Stock
Dividend Rights
Subject to preferences that may apply to shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of outstanding shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of funds legally available if our board of directors, in its discretion, determines to issue dividends and only then at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may determine.
Voting Rights
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share. Stockholders do not have the ability to cumulate votes for the election of directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide for a classified board of directors consisting of three classes of approximately equal size, each serving 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.
No Preemptive or Similar Rights
Our common stock is not entitled to preemptive rights and is not subject to conversion, redemption or sinking fund provisions.
Right to Receive Liquidation Distributions
Upon our dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, the assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders are distributable ratably among the holders of our common stock, subject to prior satisfaction of all outstanding debt and liabilities and the preferential rights and payment of liquidation preferences, if any, on any outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any associated qualifications, limitations or restrictions. Our board of directors also can increase or decrease the number of shares of any series, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding, without
11
Table of Contents
any further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of the common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company and may adversely affect the market price of our common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock.
Anti-takeover Effects of Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and Delaware Law
Delaware Law
We are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law regulating corporate takeovers. This section prevents some Delaware corporations from engaging, under some circumstances, in a business combination, which includes a merger or sale of at least 10% of the corporation’s assets with any interested stockholder, meaning a stockholder 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 the corporation’s outstanding voting stock, unless:
| • | the transaction is approved by the board of directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder; |
| • | upon closing of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction began, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding those shares owned (i) by persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or |
| • | subsequent to such time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
A Delaware corporation may “opt out” of these provisions with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or an express provision in its certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws resulting from a stockholders’ amendment approved by at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares. We have not opted out of these provisions. As a result, mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts of us may be discouraged or prevented.
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaw Provisions
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws include a number of provisions that may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying or preventing changes in control of our management team, including the following:
| • | Board of Directors Vacancies. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws authorize our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, including newly-created seats. In addition, the number of directors constituting our board of directors may be set only by resolution adopted by a majority vote of our entire board of directors. These provisions prevent a stockholder from increasing the size of our board of directors and gaining control of our board of directors by filling the resulting vacancies with its own nominees; |
| • | Classified Board. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that our board of directors is classified into three classes of directors, each of which hold office for a three-year term. In addition, directors may only be removed from the board of |
12
Table of Contents
| directors for cause and only by the approval of 66 2/3% of our then-outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote thereon. A third party may be discouraged from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us as it is more difficult and time consuming for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors on a classified board of directors; |
| • | Stockholder Action; Special Meeting of Stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provide that stockholders are not able to take action by written consent, and are only able to take action at annual or special meetings of our stockholders. Stockholders are not permitted to cumulate their votes for the election of directors. Our amended and restated bylaws further provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority vote of our entire board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors or our chief executive officer; |
| • | Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations. Our amended and restated bylaws provide advance notice procedures for stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate candidates for election as directors at any meeting of stockholders. Our amended and restated bylaws also specify certain requirements regarding the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions may preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our meetings of stockholders; and |
| • | Issuance of Undesignated Preferred Stock. Our board of directors have the authority, without further action by the holders of common stock, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock with rights and preferences, including voting rights, designated from time to time by the board of directors. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock enable our board of directors to render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. |
Choice of Forum
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty; any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws; or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation and bylaws has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that a court could find these types of provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable. This provision does not apply to actions arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or any claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
In addition, our amended and restated bylaws provide that unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act; and that any person or entity holding, owning or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of Arcus shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to these provisions.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The transfer agent’s address is 150 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021, and its telephone number is (800) 962-4284.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RCUS.”
13
Table of Contents
We have entered into an equity distribution agreement with Leerink Partners LLC, as our sales agent, under which we may offer and sell from time to time shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $200.0 million. The sales agent may act as agents on our behalf or purchase shares of our common stock as principal.
Sales, if any, of shares of common stock under the equity distribution agreement may be made in ordinary brokers’ transactions, to or through a market maker, on or through the New York Stock Exchange or any other market venue where the common stock may be traded, in the over-the-counter market, in privately negotiated transactions, or through a combination of any such methods of sale. The sales agent may also sell shares of our common stock by any other method permitted by law.
The shares of our common stock may be sold at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices.
We will designate the maximum amount of shares of common stock to be sold through the sales agent on a daily basis or otherwise as we and the sales agent agree and the minimum price per share at which such common stock may be sold. Subject to the terms and conditions of the equity distribution agreement, the sales agent will use their reasonable efforts consistent with its normal sales and trading practices to sell on our behalf all of the designated common stock. We may instruct the sales agent not to sell any shares if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us in any such instruction. We or the sales agent, with respect to itself only, may suspend the offering of our common stock by notifying the other party. The offering of the shares by the sales agent is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the sales agent’s right to reject any order in whole or in part.
The sales agent will provide to us written confirmation following the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange each day on which common stock is sold under the equity distribution agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of shares sold on such day, the gross sales proceeds, and the compensation payable by us to the sales agent. We will report at least quarterly the number of shares sold through the sales agent under the equity distribution agreement, the net proceeds to us (before expenses), and the compensation paid by us to the sales agent in connection with the sales of the common stock.
We will pay the sales agent a commission of up to 3.0% of the gross sales price per share sold through such agent under the equity distribution agreement. We have also agreed to reimburse the sales agent for certain of its expenses in an amount up to $75,000, in addition to an amount not to exceed $12,500 per each quarter thereafter. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding compensation payable to the sales agent under the terms of the equity distribution agreement, will be approximately $0.3 million.
Settlement of any sales of common stock will occur on the second business day following the date on which such sales were made (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading). There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust, or similar arrangement. Sales of our common stock as contemplated in this prospectus will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and the sales agent may agree.
The offering of our common stock pursuant to the equity distribution agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all of our common stock subject to the equity distribution agreement or (ii) termination of the equity distribution agreement by us or by the sales agent as provided therein.
In connection with the sale of common stock on our behalf, the sales agent may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation paid to each of the sales agent may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts.
We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to the sales agent against certain liabilities, including civil liabilities under the Securities Act.
14
Table of Contents
Latham & Watkins LLP has passed upon the validity of the common stock offered by this prospectus. The sales agent is being represented by Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP in connection with the offering.
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, as set forth in their reports, which are 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 reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This prospectus is part of the registration statement on Form S-3 we filed with the SEC under the Securities Act and does not contain all the information set forth in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the reference may not be complete and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement or the exhibits to the reports or other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus for a copy of such contract, agreement or other document. Because we are subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website.
15
Table of Contents
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 Exchange Act, in this prospectus, between the date of this 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, Audit Committee report, performance graph or any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or related exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K.
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:
| • | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2026. |
| • | The description of our Common Stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on March 9, 2018 and any amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating the description. |
All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 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, prior to the termination of this offering 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 at the following address:
Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
Attn: Corporate Secretary
3928 Point Eden Way
Hayward, CA 94545
(510) 694-6200
Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
16
Table of Contents
Up to $200,000,000
Common Stock
PROSPECTUS
Leerink Partners
February 25, 2026
Table of Contents
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
| Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution |
The following table sets forth an estimate of the fees and expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered. All the amounts shown are estimates, except for the SEC registration fee.
| Amount | ||||
| SEC registration fee |
$ | (1) | ||
| The New York Stock Exchange listing fee |
(2) | |||
| FINRA filing fee (if applicable) |
(2) | |||
| Accounting fees and expenses |
(2) | |||
| Legal fees and expenses |
(2) | |||
| Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses |
(2) | |||
| Printing and miscellaneous fees and expenses |
(2) | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
$ | (2) | ||
|
|
|
|||
| (1) | In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the registrant is deferring payment of all applicable registration fees for the securities offered by this registration statement, other than with respect to the registration fees applicable to the offering of up to $200,000,000 of shares of common stock pursuant to the equity distribution agreement prospectus. Please see the registration fee table contained in Exhibit 107 to this registration statement for more information. |
| (2) | The amount of securities and number of offerings are indeterminable and the expenses cannot be estimated at this time. |
| Item 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
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 are sufficiently broad to permit indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities, including reimbursement of expenses incurred, arising under the Securities Act.
As permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws contain provisions relating to the limitation of liability and indemnification of directors and officers. The amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability:
| • | any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our 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 and stock purchases); or |
| • | any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. |
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that if Delaware law is amended after the approval by our stockholders of the certificate of incorporation to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of our directors will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.
II-1
Table of Contents
Our amended and restated bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended, against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred in connection with their service for or on our behalf. Our amended and restated bylaws provide that we shall advance the expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of an action or proceeding, and permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any director, officer, employee or other enterprise agent for any liability arising out of his or her action in that capacity, whether or not Delaware law would otherwise permit indemnification.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers and certain other key employees, which provide that we will indemnify each of our directors, executive officers and such other key employees against any and all expenses incurred by that director, executive officer or other key employee because of his or her status as one of our directors, executive officers or other key employees, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws. In addition, the indemnification agreements provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, we will advance all expenses incurred by our directors, executive officers and other key employees in connection with a legal proceeding.
Section 6.5 of our amended and restated investors’ rights agreement (the “Investor Rights Agreement”) provides for indemnification of certain of our stockholders against liabilities described in the Investor Rights Agreement.
We maintain insurance policies that indemnify our directors and officers against various liabilities under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act that might be incurred by any director or officer in his or her capacity as such.
Our Investor Rights Agreement, as amended, with Gilead Sciences, Inc. provides for indemnification by Gilead Sciences, Inc., of us, our directors, our officers who sign the registration statement and our controlling persons for some liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
Any underwriting agreement that we may enter into (Exhibit 1.1) may provide, and the equity distribution agreement (Exhibit 1.2) provides, for indemnification by any underwriters, of us, our directors, our officers who sign the registration statement and our controlling persons for some liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
II-2
Table of Contents
| Item 16. | Exhibits |
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Incorporation by Reference | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exhibit Number |
Exhibit Description |
Form | File Number | Exhibit/ Appendix Reference |
Filing Date | Filed Herewith |
||||||||||||||||
| 1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1.2 | Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of February 25, 2026, by and between the Registrant and Leerink Partners LLC. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3.1 | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. | 10-Q | 001-38419 | 3.1 | 5/9/2018 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws. | 8-K | 001-38419 | 3.1 | 5/26/2020 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4.1 | Reference is made to Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.2 | Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement, dated January 29, 2024, between the Registrant and Gilead Sciences, Inc. | SC 13D/A | 005-90423 | 99.2 | 1/31/2024 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4.3* | Form of Specimen Certificate Representing Preferred Stock. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.4 | Form of Indenture. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.5* | Form of Debt Security. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.6* | Form of Warrant. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.7* | Form of Warrant 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 in Exhibit 5.1). | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney (incorporated by reference to the signature page hereto). | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 25.1* | Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the trustee, as trustee under the indenture filed herewith. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 107 | Filing Fee Table. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| * | To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference, if applicable. |
| Item 17. | Undertakings |
| (a) | The undersigned registrant 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) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
II-3
Table of Contents
(ii) to 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; and
(iii) to 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 (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) 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 Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 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.
(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.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant 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) 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 Section 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.
(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant 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 registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
II-4
Table of Contents
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communications that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’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 Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant 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 registrant 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.
(j) The undersigned registrant hereby 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 in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
II-5
Table of Contents
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Hayward, State of California, on February 25, 2026.
| ARCUS BIOSCIENCES, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Terry Rosen | |
| Terry Rosen, Ph.D. | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Terry Rosen, Ph.D. and Robert C. Goeltz II, and each of them, as her or his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for her or him and in her or his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, and generally to do all such things in her or his name and behalf in her or his capacities as officers and directors to enable the Arcus Biosciences, Inc. to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and all requirements of the SEC, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, 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 to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or her or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signatures |
Title |
Date | ||
| /s/ Terry Rosen Terry Rosen, Ph.D. |
Director and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
February 25, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Robert C. Goeltz II Robert C. Goeltz II |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
February 25, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Alexander Azoy Alexander Azoy |
Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) |
February 25, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Dietmar Berger Dietmar Berger, M.D., Ph.D. |
Director |
February 25, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Kathryn Falberg Kathryn Falberg |
Director |
February 25, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Linda Higgins Linda Higgins, Ph.D. |
Director |
February 25, 2026 | ||
II-6
Table of Contents
| /s/ Yasunori Kaneko Yasunori Kaneko, M.D. |
Director |
February 25, 2026 | ||
| /s/ David Lacey David Lacey, M.D. |
Director |
February 25, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Nicole Lambert Nicole Lambert |
Director |
February 25, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Patrick Machado Patrick Machado, J.D. |
Director |
February 25, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Johanna Mercier Johanna Mercier |
Director |
February 25, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Andrew Perlman Andrew Perlman, M.D., Ph.D. |
Director |
February 25, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Antoni Ribas Antoni Ribas, M.D., Ph.D. |
Director |
February 25, 2026 | ||
II-7