10/09/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/09/2024 20:34
Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-270030
The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to these securities has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities, and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, Dated SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated February 27, 2023)
Shares of Common Stock
Pre-Funded Warrants to Purchase up to Shares of Common Stock
We are offering shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and, in lieu of offering shares of our common stock to certain investors who so choose, pre-funded warrants to purchase up to shares of our common stock. The purchase price of each pre-funded warrant will be equal the price per share at which shares of common stock are being sold to the public in this offering, minus $0.01, which is the exercise price of each pre-funded warrant. This prospectus supplement also relates to the offering of the shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of such pre-funded warrants.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "XNCR." The closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on September 9, 2024 was $19.89 per share. We do not intend to list the pre-funded warrants on the Nasdaq Global Market or any other national securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the section titled "Risk Factors" beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement and under similar headings in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus for a discussion of certain risks you should consider before investing in our securities.
Per Share |
Per Pre- Funded Warrant |
Total | ||||||||||
Public offering price | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1) | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us | $ | $ | $ |
(1) | See "Underwriting" beginning on page S-19 for additional information regarding underwriter compensation. |
We have granted the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days to purchase up to additional shares of our common stock from us at the public offering price set forth above, less underwriting discounts and commissions.
The underwriters expect to deliver the shares and pre-funded warrants against payment on or about , 2024.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Joint Book-Running Managers
Leerink Partners | Raymond James |
RBC Capital Markets
Co-Manager
Wedbush PacGrow
The date of this prospectus supplement is, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement | Page | |
About This Prospectus Supplement | S-ii | |
Prospectus Supplement Summary | S-1 | |
The Offering | S-4 | |
Risk Factors | S-6 | |
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements | S-9 | |
Market and Industry Data | S-10 | |
Use of Proceeds | S-11 | |
DIVIDEND POLICY | S-12 | |
Dilution | S-13 | |
Description of Pre-Funded Warrants | S-14 | |
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR U.S. AND NON-U.S. HOLDERS | S-15 | |
Underwriting | S-19 | |
Legal Matters | S-24 | |
Experts | S-24 | |
Where You Can Find More Information | S-25 | |
Information Incorporated by Reference | S-25 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus | Page | |
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS | ii | |
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY | 1 | |
RISK FACTORS | 3 | |
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | 4 | |
USE OF PROCEEDS | 5 | |
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK | 6 | |
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES | 10 | |
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS | 18 | |
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS | 20 | |
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS | 21 | |
LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES | 22 | |
SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS | 25 | |
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION | 26 | |
LEGAL MATTERS | 28 | |
EXPERTS | 28 | |
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION | 28 | |
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE | 29 |
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus are part of an "automatic shelf" registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a "well-known seasoned issuer" as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act) using a "shelf" registration process. This prospectus supplement describes the specific terms of this offering. The accompanying base prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, provides general information about us, some of which, such as the section therein titled "Plan of Distribution," may not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer to this prospectus, we are referring to both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, combined.
We urge you to carefully read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein and the additional information under the headings "Where You Can Find More Information" and "Information Incorporated by Reference" before buying any of the securities being offered under this prospectus supplement. These documents contain information you should consider when making your investment decision.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in the accompanying base prospectus. To the extent any information in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying base prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. The information in this prospectus supplement will be deemed to modify or supersede the information in the accompanying base prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein, except for those documents incorporated by reference therein which we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement.
You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front cover of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus or on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, as applicable. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, the securities described in this prospectus supplement only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the offering of the securities in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the securities and the distribution of this prospectus supplement outside the United States. This prospectus supplement 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 supplement by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.
We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.
In this prospectus supplement, unless otherwise indicated or required by the context, the terms "Xencor," "we," "our," "us" and the "Company" refer to Xencor, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiary.
We use our trademarks and our logo in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference also include trademarks, tradenames and service marks that are the property of other organizations. Solely for convenience, trademarks and tradenames referred to in this prospectus supplement appear without the "®" and "™" symbols, but those references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or that the applicable owner will not assert its rights, to these trademarks and tradenames.
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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
This summary contains basic information about us and this offering. This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus supplement. This summary is not complete and may not contain all of the information that may be important to you and that you should consider before deciding whether or not to invest in our securities. For a more complete understanding of Xencor and this offering, you should carefully read this prospectus supplement, including the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, in its entirety. Investing in our securities involves risks that are described in this prospectus supplement under the heading "Risk Factors," under the heading "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing engineered antibody therapeutics to treat patients with cancer and other serious diseases, who have unmet medical needs. We are advancing a broad portfolio of clinical-stage XmAb drug candidates from our proprietary Fc technology platforms. We also use our protein engineering capabilities to increase our understanding of protein structure and interactions and to design new Fc technologies and XmAb development candidates with improved properties. In addition to engineering protein-target interactions, our approach to protein design includes engineering Fc domains, the parts of antibodies that interact with multiple segments of the immune system and control antibody structure. The Fc domain is constant and interchangeable among antibodies, and our engineered Fc domains can be readily substituted for natural Fc domains.
Our protein engineering capabilities and Fc technologies enable us and our partners to develop XmAb antibodies and other types of biotherapeutic drug candidates with improved properties and functionality, which can provide innovative approaches to treating disease and potential clinical advantage over other treatment options. For example, we developed an antibody scaffold to rapidly create novel multi-specific antibodies that bind two or more different targets simultaneously, creating entirely new biological mechanisms. Other applications of our protein engineering technologies enhance antibody performance by increasing immune inhibitory activity, improving cytotoxicity, extending circulating half-life and stabilizing novel protein structures. Three marketed XmAb medicines have been developed with our protein engineering technologies.
Clinical-Stage XmAb Drug Candidates
Our modular XmAb bispecific technology and protein engineering capabilities enable us to rapidly advance multiple drug candidates into clinical development.We are currently enrolling Phase 1 or Phase 2 studies for four wholly-owned candidates to treat patients with many different types of serious diseases:
● | XmAb819 (ENPP3 x CD3): XmAb819 is designed to engage the immune system, activating T cells for highly potent and targeted killing of tumor cells expressing ENPP3, an antigen highly expressed on kidney cancers. Xencor's XmAb 2+1 multivalent format used in XmAb819 enables greater selectivity of ENPP3-expressing tumor cells compared to normal cells, which express lower levels of ENPP3. We are currently conducting a Phase 1 study to evaluate XmAb819 in patients with advanced clear cell RCC. |
● | XmAb808 (B7-H3 x CD28): XmAb808 is a tumor-selective, co-stimulatory CD28 bispecific antibody that binds to the broadly expressed tumor antigen B7-H3 and is constructed with the XmAb 2+1 format. Co-stimulation is required for T cells to achieve full activation, and targeted CD28 bispecific antibodies may provide conditional co-stimulation of T cells when the antibodies are bound to tumor cells. We are conducting a Phase 1 study to evaluate XmAb808 in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors. |
● | XmAb541 (CLDN6 x CD3): XmAb541 is a bispecific T-cell engager that targets Claudin-6 (CLDN6), a tumor-associated antigen in ovarian cancer and other solid tumors, and CD3. The XmAb 2+1 multivalent format used in XmAb541 enables greater selectivity for CLDN6 over similar Claudin family members, such as CLDN9, CLDN3 and CLDN4. We are currently conducting a Phase 1 study to evaluate XmAb541 in patients with ovarian cancer and other CLDN6 expressing tumor types. The first patient was dosed in April 2024. Through 2025, we plan to advance the ongoing Phase 1 dose-escalation study toward target dose levels. |
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● | Vudalimab (PD-1 x CTLA-4): Vudalimab is a bispecific antibody that targets PD-1 and CTLA-4, two immune checkpoint receptors, to selectively activate the tumor microenvironment, and it is being developed for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Data from a Phase 1 study that enrolled heavily pretreated patients with multiple solid tumor types indicated that vudalimab was generally well-tolerated with encouraging clinical activity. We are conducting two Phase 2 studies of vudalimab in patients with mCRPC who have progressed beyond current standard of care options, as a monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy, and we anticipate a data readout from these studies in the first half of 2025. We are also conducting a Phase 1b/2 study evaluating vudalimab in combination with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment in patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, and we plan to evaluate the safety of the combination in the first half of 2025. |
Recent Developments
Clinical Progress Updates in Early-Stage Oncology Programs
On September 9, 2024, we announced the following updates to ongoing clinical studies:
● | XmAb819 (ENPP3 x CD3): Initial evidence of anti-tumor activity has been observed in recent dose-escalation cohorts in the ongoing Phase 1 study, including RECIST responses, and the duration of treatment for several patients in earlier dose cohorts has extended beyond one year. Cytokine release syndrome remains manageable, and the tolerability profile from recent dose cohorts, including no maximum tolerated dose being reached, supports continued dose escalation toward target dose levels. We continue to anticipate reaching target dose levels by year end and plan to provide a clinical update around initiation of the first dose expansion cohort during the first half of 2025. | |
● | XmAb808 (B7-H3 x CD28): The majority of patients enrolled into the ongoing Phase 1 dose-escalation study are men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). In this group of patients, prostate specific antigen (PSA) declines have been observed during the four-week monotherapy safety run-in period. Tolerability from recent dose cohorts remains supportive of continued dose escalation in combination with pembrolizumab. We continue to anticipate reaching target dose levels by year end and plan to provide a clinical update around initiation of dose expansion cohorts during the first half of 2025. |
XmAb Drug Candidates for the Treatment of Patients with Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases and Planned Clinical Studies
On September 9, 2024, we announced new clinical development plans for plamotamab and announced new XmAb drug candidates to be evaluated for the treatment of patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. We believe that plamotamab and XmAb657 could address significant unmet needs for patients with a wide-range of autoimmune diseases that could be responsive to targeted B-cell depletion, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, advanced systemic lupus erythematosus, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, myasthenia gravis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, pemphigus vulgaris, Sjogren's syndrome, and systemic sclerosis. We believe that XmAb942 and a drug candidate to potentially emerge from the XmAb TL1A x IL-23 program could address significant unmet medical needs for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the two most common forms of IBD.
● | Plamotamab (CD20 x CD3): We plan to initiate a Phase 1b/2a proof-of-concept study for plamotamab in multi-drug resistant rheumatoid arthritis (MDR-RA) in the first half of 2025. The Phase 1b portion of the study will select a priming and step-up dose regimen based on the regimen established in oncology, and will assess the initial safety, efficacy, and biomarkers of plamotamab in patients with MDR-RA. The selected dose regimen will then be evaluated in the randomized Phase 2a portion, with efficacy determined at week 24. We previously completed a Phase 1 clinical study of plamotamab in hematologic cancers, completing enrollment in late 2023. Results from the study showed favorable tolerability and comparable preliminary efficacy data, when cross compared to results from studies of a competitor molecule within the class, with similar patient baseline characteristics. Based on these clinical outcomes, significant B-cell depletion observed in preclinical studies, and the emergent biology supportive of B-cell targeted T cell engagers for the treatment of patients with autoimmune diseases, we plan to evaluate plamotamab in MDR-RA, in which patients progressed through two prior lines of therapy. |
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● | XmAb657 (CD19 x CD3): We have leveraged our XmAb protein engineering platforms to create XmAb657, a potent, potentially long-acting CD19 x CD3 bispecific antibody, utilizing the XmAb 2+1 bispecific antibody format and Xtend Fc technology. In non-human primate studies, a single dose of XmAb657 deeply reduced B cells by over 99.98% in the peripheral compartment, bone marrow and lymph nodes, which was sustained for at least 28 days. Half-life was estimated to be 15 days, which indicates a potential for durable B-cell depletion in clinical studies. XmAb657 was well tolerated preclinically, with no clinical signs of cytokine release syndrome. We plan to initiate a first-in-human study during the second half of 2025. |
● | XmAb942 (Xtend TL1A): XmAb924 is a monospecific anti-TL1A antibody, utilizing Xencor's Xtend Fc domain and proprietary Fc silencing technology, with potentially class-leading potency, and is under development for patients with IBD. The two most common forms of IBD are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Half-life preclinically was greater than 22 days, potentially supporting an 8- to 12-week dosing regimen in humans. An abstract with preclinical characterization was accepted for presentation at the United Europe Gastroenterology Week (UEGW) in Vienna, Austria on Tuesday, October 15. We anticipate dosing the first subject in a first-in-human, single-ascending dose study of XmAb942 in the fourth quarter of 2024, with interim data during the first half of 2025. |
● | XmAb TL1A x IL-23: An expertly engineered XmAb TL1A x IL-23p19 bispecific antibody could potentially provide dual targeting of important inflammatory pathways for autoimmune and inflammatory disease, while avoiding the complexities of dosing and formulary access for two separate TL1A and IL23 targeted drugs. We anticipate initiating first-in-human studies during 2026. |
Legal Proceeding
We are currently a party to an action initiated by Merus N.V. (Merus) in the District of Delaware alleging that our manufacture, use, offer for sale, sale, and/or importation of common light chain antibodies and heterodimeric antibodies infringes certain claims of three Merus patents. Merus filed its complaint against us on August 5, 2024. Merus asserted claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 9,944,695, 9,358,286 and 11,926,859 (collectively, the Asserted Patents). Merus seeks a judgment of patent infringement, an order enjoining us from infringing the Asserted Patents, a damages award (together with interest), a declaration of willful infringement, and a finding that this case is exceptional. Our deadline to answer, move, or otherwise respond to Merus's complaint is October 10, 2024. We believe we have strong defenses to Merus's claims, including defenses of invalidity and/or non-infringement, but there is no guarantee that we will prevail.
Cash Runway
Based on our planned use of the net proceeds from this offering and our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable debt securities, as of the date of this prospectus supplement, we estimate that such funds will be sufficient to enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through 2027. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could use our available capital resources sooner, or for purposes that are different, than we currently expect. We will need to raise additional financing to continue our products' development for the foreseeable future, and expect to continue doing so until we becomes profitable. Our ability to access capital when needed is not assured and, if capital is not available to us when, and in the amounts, needed, we may be required to significantly curtail, delay or discontinue one or more of our research or development programs or the commercialization of any product candidate, or be unable to expand our operations or otherwise capitalize on our business opportunities, as desired, which could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Corporate and Other Information
We were incorporated in California in August 1997 under the name Xencor. In September 2004, we reincorporated in the state of Delaware under the name Xencor, Inc. Our principal offices are located at 465 North Halstead Street, Suite 200, Pasadena, CA 91107, and our telephone number is (626) 305-5900. Our website address is www.xencor.com. Our website and the information contained on, or that can be accessed through, the website will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in and are not considered part of this Annual Report. Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), are available free of charge on the Investor Relations portion of our web site at www.xencor.com as soon as reasonably practical after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet site at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.
S-3
THE OFFERING
Common stock offered by us | shares of common stock. | |
Pre-funded warrants offered by us | We are also offering, in lieu of common stock to certain investors who so choose, pre-funded warrants to purchase up to shares of our common stock. The purchase price of each pre-funded warrant is equal to the price per share at which shares of our common stock are being sold in this offering, minus $0.01, which is the exercise price of each pre-funded warrant. Each Pre-Funded warrant will be exercisable from the date of issuance and will expire on the date the warrant is exercised in full, subject to an ownership limitation. See the section titled "Description of Pre-Funded Warrants" for additional detail. This prospectus supplement also relates to the offering of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants. | |
Option to purchase additional shares from us | We have granted the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days from the day of this prospectus supplement to purchase up to an additional shares of our common stock from us at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The number of shares subject to the underwriters' option will equal 15% of the total number of shares of common stock we are offering plus the shares of our common stock underlying the pre-funded warrants. | |
Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering | shares (or shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full), in each case assuming no exercise of any pre-funded warrants. | |
Use of proceeds | We estimate the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $ million, or approximately $ million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us and excluding proceeds from any pre-funded warrant exercises. | |
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include research and development, capital expenditures, working capital and general and administrative expenses. See the section titled "Use of Proceeds" for additional detail. | ||
Risk factors | Investing in our securities involves a significant risks. See the section titled "Risk Factors" and other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before investing in our securities. | |
Nasdaq Global Market symbol | "XNCR". We do not intend to list the pre-funded warrants on the Nasdaq Global Market or any other national securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system. |
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The above discussion is based on 61,766,054 shares of our common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2024, and excludes:
● | 12,661,426 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of June 30, 2024 with a weighted-average exercise price of $28.48 per share; |
● | 1,778,656 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance upon vesting of outstanding restricted stock units as of June 30, 2024; |
● | 4,281,022 shares of our common stock reserved as of June 30, 2024 for future issuance under our 2023 Equity Incentive Plan; |
● | 987,344 shares of our common stock reserved as of June 30, 2024 for future issuance under our 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan; |
● | 130,298 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options granted subsequent to June 30, 2024 with a weighted-average exercise price of $18.54 per share; and |
● | 67,149 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance upon vesting of outstanding restricted stock units granted subsequent to June 30, 2024. |
Further, the number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering does not take into account the shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants.
In addition, the number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering excludes shares of common stock that we may sell pursuant to our sales agreement (Sales Agreement) with Leerink Partners LLC, dated February 27, 2023. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we may sell up to $200.0 million of shares of our common stock remaining available for sale by us under the Sales Agreement after the expiration or waiver of the lock-up period applicable to us and described under the section titled "Underwriting."
Except as otherwise noted, all information in this prospectus supplement assumes no exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares of our common stock, no exercise of the pre-funded warrants offered hereby, no exercise of the outstanding stock options and no vesting of the restricted stock units described above.
S-5
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, as well as our other filings with the SEC, include material risk factors relating to our business. Those risks and uncertainties and the risks and uncertainties described below are not the only risks and uncertainties that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that are not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial or that are not specific to us, such as general economic conditions, may also materially and adversely affect our business and operations. If any of those risks and uncertainties or the risks and uncertainties described below actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects could be harmed substantially. In such a case, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and those risks and uncertainties incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, as well as the other information included in this prospectus supplement, before making an investment decision with respect to our common stock. Please also carefully read the section below titled "Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements."
Risks Related to This Offering
Purchasers of securities in this offering will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of their investment.
The public offering price per share of common stock and pre-funded warrants in this offering is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock before giving effect to this offering. Accordingly, if you purchase securities in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution of approximately $ per share, representing the difference between the public offering price per share of common stock and pre-funded warrant (rounded for purposes of the pre-funded warrants) and our as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2024, assuming no exercise of the pre-funded warrants and excluding any resulting accounting associated with the pre-funded warrants. In addition, if our outstanding stock options are exercised, restricted stock units vest and settle or we raise additional capital, you could experience further dilution. For a further description of the dilution that you will experience immediately after this offering, see the section titled "Dilution."
Future sales of our common stock or securities convertible into common stock, or the perception that such future sales may occur, may cause our stock price to decline.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock, in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, following this offering could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. A substantial majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock are, and the securities sold in this offering upon issuance will be, freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act. We may sell large quantities of our common stock at any time pursuant to one or more separate offerings in the future, including pursuant to the Sales Agreement. 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.
We may issue additional equity or convertible debt securities in the future, which may result in additional dilution to you.
In order to raise additional capital, we expect to in the future offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is equal to or greater than the price per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, in future transactions, including any sales of shares of our common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement, may be higher or lower than the price per share in this offering.
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Our management will have broad discretion to determine how to use the net proceeds from this offering, and may use or invest them in ways with which investors may disagree or that may not enhance our operating results or the price of our common stock.
Our management will have broad discretion over the use of proceeds from this offering, and we could spend the proceeds from this offering in ways with which investors may not agree or that do not yield a favorable return, if at all. If we do not invest or apply the net proceeds from this offering in ways that improve our operating results, we may fail to achieve expected financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline and could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. See the section titled "Use of Proceeds" for additional detail.
We do not expect to pay dividends for the foreseeable future. As a result, you must rely on stock appreciation for any return on your investment.
We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. Any payment of cash dividends will also depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and other factors and will be at the discretion of our board of directors. Accordingly, you will have to rely on future appreciation in the market value of our common stock, if any, to earn a return on your investment in our common stock. There is no guarantee that our common stock will appreciate or even maintain the price at which investors have purchased it.
There is no public market for the pre-funded warrants being offered in this offering.
There is no public trading market for the pre-funded warrants being offered in this offering, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the pre-funded warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system. Without an active market, the liquidity of the pre-funded warrants will be limited.
Holders of pre-funded warrants purchased in this offering will have no rights as holders of common stock until such holders exercise their pre-funded warrants and acquire our common stock.
Until holders of pre-funded warrants acquire shares of our common stock upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants, as applicable, holders of pre-funded warrants will have no rights with respect to the shares of our common stock underlying such pre-funded warrants, as applicable. Upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants, the holders will be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of common stock only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise date.
The pre-funded warrants are speculative in nature.
The pre-funded warrants merely represent the right to acquire shares of common stock at a fixed price. Specifically, commencing on the date of issuance, holders of the pre-funded warrants may exercise their right to acquire the common stock and pay an exercise price of $0.01 per share, subject to certain adjustments. Moreover, following this offering, the market value of the pre-funded warrants is uncertain and there can be no assurance that the market value of the pre-funded warrants will equal or exceed their public offering price.
Furthermore, each pre-funded warrant will expire once exercised in full. In the event that our common stock price does not exceed the exercise price of the pre-funded warrants during the period when the pre-funded warrants are exercisable, as applicable, such pre-funded warrants may not have any value.
Significant holders or beneficial holders of our common stock may not be permitted to exercise pre-funded warrants that they hold.
A holder of a pre-funded warrant will not be entitled to exercise any portion of any pre-funded warrant which, upon giving effect to such exercise, would cause (i) the aggregate number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 9.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, or (ii) the combined voting power of our securities beneficially owned by the holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 9.99% of the combined voting power of all of our capital stock then outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the pre-funded warrants, as applicable, unless such percentage is increased upon at least 61 days' prior notice, but not in excess of 19.99%. As a result, you may not be able to exercise your pre-funded warrants for shares of our common stock at a time when it would be financially beneficial for you to do so. In such circumstances, you could seek to sell your pre-funded warrants to realize value, but you may be unable to do so in the absence of an established trading market for the pre-funded warrants.
S-7
Risks Related to our Intellectual Property
Our products could infringe patents and other property rights of others, which may result in costly litigation and, if we are not successful, could cause us to pay substantial damages or limit our ability to commercialize our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our commercial success depends upon our ability, and the ability of our collaborators, to develop, manufacture, market and sell our product candidates and use our proprietary technologies without infringing the patents and other proprietary rights of third parties. There is considerable intellectual property litigation in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. For example, we are aware of issued patents owned by Merus N.V. (Merus) that may relate to and claim components of our bispecific antibody product candidates and partnered bispecific product candidates, including plamotamab, vudalimab and XmAb819, will putatively expire in 2033. In August 2024, Merus filed suit against us in the United States District Court of the District of Delaware alleging that we have infringed three of its patents. We maintain that our development of these candidates currently falls into the "safe harbor" of non-infringement under 35 U.S.C. §271(e)(1). This protection, however, would not be available upon commercialization nor can we give assurances on how the Court would rule on this issue. We also believe we have strong defenses to Merus's claims, including defenses of invalidity and/or non-infringement for the Merus patents, but there is no guarantee that we will prevail. If we are found to infringe the Merus patents, we may be ordered by a court to cease commercializing the applicable product candidates, which could materially harm our business. In addition, we could be found liable for monetary damages, including treble damages and attorneys' fees if we are found to have willfully infringed the Merus patents.
In addition, as the biopharmaceutical industry expands and more patents are issued, the risk increases that there may be patents issued to third parties that relate to our products and technology of which we are not aware or that we must challenge to continue our operations as currently contemplated. Our products may infringe or may be alleged to infringe these patents. Because some patent applications in the United States may be maintained in secrecy until the patents are issued, because patent applications in the United States and many foreign jurisdictions are typically not published until eighteen months after filing and because publications in the scientific literature often lag behind actual discoveries, we cannot be certain that others have not filed patents that may cover our technologies, our product candidates or their use. Additionally, pending patent applications which have been published can, subject to certain limitations, be later amended in a manner that could cover our technologies, our products or the use of our products. We may become party to, or threatened with, future adversarial proceedings or litigation regarding intellectual property rights with respect to our products and technology. Third parties may assert infringement claims against us based on existing patents or patents that may be granted in the future.
In order to defend against a claim of patent infringement, we would need to demonstrate that our products or methods either do not infringe the patent claims of the relevant patent or that the patent claims are invalid, and we may not be able to do this. Proving invalidity is difficult. For example, in the United States, proving invalidity requires a showing of clear and convincing evidence to overcome the presumption of validity enjoyed by issued patents. This burden is a high one, and there is no assurance that a court would find these claims to be invalid or not infringed. Even if we are successful in these proceedings, we may incur substantial costs and divert management's time and attention in pursuing these proceedings, which could have a material adverse effect on us.
Any such claims are likely to be expensive to defend, and some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of complex patent litigation more effectively than we can because they have substantially greater resources.
If we are found to infringe a third party's intellectual property rights, we could be required to obtain a license from such third party to continue developing and marketing our products and technology. We may also elect to enter into such a license in order to settle litigation or in order to resolve disputes prior to litigation. However, we may not be able to obtain any required license on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Even if we were able to obtain a license, it could be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us and could require us to make substantial royalty payments. We could also be forced, including by court order, to cease commercializing the infringing technology or product. In addition, we could be found liable for monetary damages, including treble damages and attorneys' fees if we are found to have willfully infringed a patent. A finding of infringement could prevent us from commercializing our product candidates or force us to cease some of our business operations, which could materially harm our business. Claims that we have misappropriated the confidential information or trade secrets of third parties could have a similar negative impact on our business.
S-8
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to future events or to our future operating or financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement include, but are not limited to, statements about:
● | the effects of inflation on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and performance; |
● | our ability to execute on our plans to research, develop and commercialize our product candidates; |
● | the timing or success of our ongoing and planned clinical trials; |
● | the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our product candidates; |
● | our ability to identify additional products or product candidates with significant commercial potential that are consistent with our business objectives; |
● | our ability to receive research funding and achieve anticipated milestones under our collaborations; |
● | our partners' ability to advance drug candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical trials; |
● | our ability to attract collaborators with development, regulatory, and commercialization expertise; |
● | the ability of our publicly announced preliminary clinical trial data to support continued clinical development and regulatory approval for specific treatments; |
● | our ability to protect our intellectual property position; |
● | the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of our product candidates; |
● | costs of compliance and our failure to comply with new and existing governmental regulations; |
● | the capabilities and strategy of our suppliers and vendors including key manufacturers of our clinical drug supplies; |
● | significant competition in our industry; |
● | costs of litigation and the failure to successfully defend lawsuits and other claims against us; |
● | the potential loss or retirement of key members of management; |
● | our failure to successfully execute our growth strategy including any delays in our planned future growth; |
● | our failure to maintain effective internal controls; and |
● | our ability to accurately estimate expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and needs for additional financing. |
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "may," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "should," "would," "will" and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements.
These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, are based on assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We discuss in greater detail, and incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement in their entirety, many of these risks and uncertainties under the section titled "Risk Factors" in this prospectus supplement, in any free writing prospectus we may authorize for use in connection with this offering, and in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC. 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 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 supplement, together with the documents we have filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference and any free writing prospectus we have authorized 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.
S-9
MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA
This prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference herein contain statistical data, estimates, forecasts, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business and the markets for certain diseases, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets and the incidence and prevalence of certain medical conditions. Information that is based on statistical data, estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances reflected in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market and other data from reports, research surveys, medical and general publications, government data, studies and similar data prepared by market research firms and other third parties. These third parties may, in the future, alter the manner in which they conduct surveys and studies regarding the markets in which we operate our business. The market and other estimates included in this prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference herein, as they relate to projections, involve numerous assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed in the section of this prospectus supplement titled "Risk Factors" and in the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
S-10
USE OF PROCEEDS
We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of the common stock and pre-funded warrants in this offering will be approximately $ million, or approximately $ million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We will receive nominal proceeds, if any, upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants.
We currently intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include research and development, capital expenditures, working capital and general and administrative expenses. We also may use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in other businesses, products and technologies that are complementary to our own, although we have no current plans, commitments or arrangements to do so.
The amounts and timing of our use of the net proceeds from this offering will depend on a number of factors, such as the timing and progress of our research and development efforts, the timing and progress of any partnering and commercialization efforts, technological advances and the competitive environment for our products. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to be received upon the completion of this offering. Additionally, our management will have broad discretion in the timing and application of these proceeds. Pending application of the net proceeds as described above, we intend to invest the proceeds of this offering in short-term and long-term, investment grade, interest-bearing securities, money market funds, certificates of deposit and corporate debt securities.
S-11
DIVIDEND POLICY
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. The payment of dividends on our capital stock will depend on our earnings, financial condition and other business and economic factors affecting us at such time as the board of directors may consider relevant. If we do not pay dividends, our common stock may be less valuable because a return on your investment will only occur if the common stock price appreciates.
S-12
DILUTION
Purchasers of securities in this offering will experience immediate dilution to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share of common stock or pre-funded warrant and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of common stock immediately after this offering.
Our net tangible book value as of June 30, 2024 was approximately $543.8 million, or $8.80 per share of common stock. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing the net of total tangible assets less total liabilities, by the aggregate number of shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2024.
After giving effect to the sale by us of shares of common stock at the public offering price of $ per share of common stock and pre-funded warrants to purchase shares of common stock at the public offering price of $ per pre-funded warrant (which equals the public offering price per share of common stock less the $0.01 exercise price of each such pre-funded warrant) (and excluding shares of common stock issued and any proceeds received upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants or any resulting accounting associated with the pre-funded warrants), and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2024 would have been approximately $ million, or $ per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $ per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $ per share of common stock issued to the investors purchasing shares of our common stock and pre-funded warrants in this offering. The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:
Public offering price per share of common stock | $ | |||||||
Net tangible book value per share as of June 30, 2024 | $ | 8.80 | ||||||
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to investors participating in this offering | ||||||||
As adjusted net tangible book value per share as of June 30, 2024, after giving effect to this offering | ||||||||
Dilution per share to investors participating in this offering | $ |
If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of common stock in this offering in full at the public offering price of $ per share of common stock (and excluding shares of our common stock issued and any proceeds received upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants or any resulting accounting associated with the pre-funded warrants), after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value per share as of June 30, 2024 would have been $ per share, and the immediate dilution in as adjusted net tangible book value to investors participating in this offering would have been $ per share.
If holders of the pre-funded warrants exercise the pre-funded warrants in full, our as adjusted net tangible book value per share of common stock as of June 30, 2024, after giving effect to this offering (but not the exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares), would have been $ per share, and the dilution in as adjusted net tangible book value per share to investors participating in this offering would have been $ per share.
The foregoing table and calculations (other than historical net tangible book value) are based on 61,766,054 shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2024, and exclude:
● | 12,661,426 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of June 30, 2024 with a weighted-average exercise price of $28.48 per share; |
● | 1,778,656 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance upon vesting of outstanding restricted stock units as of June 30, 2024; |
● | 4,281,022 shares of our common stock reserved as of June 30, 2024 for future issuance under our 2023 Equity Incentive Plan; |
● | 987,344 shares of our common stock reserved as of June 30, 2024 for future issuance under our 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan; |
● | 130,298 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options granted subsequent to June 30, 2024 with a weighted-average exercise price of $18.54 per share; and |
● | 67,149 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance upon vesting of outstanding restricted stock units granted subsequent to June 30, 2024. |
In addition, the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after this offering excludes additional shares of common stock that we may sell pursuant to our Sales Agreement. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we may sell up to $200.0 million of shares of our common stock remaining under the Sales Agreement after the expiration or waiver of the lock-up period applicable to us and described under the section titled "Underwriting".
To the extent that outstanding stock options as of June 30, 2024 have been or may be exercised, outstanding restricted stock units vest or other shares are issued, investors purchasing our common stock or pre-funded warrants 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.
S-13
DESCRIPTION OF PRE-FUNDED WARRANTS
The following is a brief summary of certain terms and conditions of the pre-funded warrants being offered in this offering. The following description is subject in all respects to the provisions contained in the pre-funded warrants.
Form
The pre-funded warrants will be issued as individual warrant agreements to each individual purchaser of pre-funded warrants. The form of pre-funded warrants will be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K that we expect to file with the SEC.
Term
The pre-funded warrants will expire on the date the warrant is exercised in full.
Exercisability
The pre-funded warrants are exercisable at any time after their original issuance. The pre-funded warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice and by payment in full of the exercise price in immediately available funds for the number of shares of common stock purchased upon such exercise. As an alternative to payment of the exercise price in immediately available funds, the holder may, in its sole discretion, elect to exercise the pre-funded warrants through a cashless exercise, in which case the holder would receive upon such exercise the net number of shares of our common stock determined according to the formula set forth in the pre-funded warrant. No fractional shares of our common stock will be issued in connection with the exercise of a pre-funded warrant. In lieu of fractional shares, we will, at our election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of any fractional share in an amount equal to such fractional share multiplied by the exercise price or round down to the nearest whole share.
Exercise Limitations
Under the pre-funded warrants, we may not effect the exercise of any pre-funded warrants, and a holder will not be entitled to exercise any portion of any pre-funded warrant that, upon giving effect to such exercise, would cause: (i) the aggregate number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by such holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 9.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 4.99%) of the number of issued and outstanding shares of our common stock following such exercise; or (ii) the combined voting power of our securities beneficially owned by such holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 9.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 4.99%) of the combined voting power of all of our securities outstanding following such exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the pre-funded warrants. However, any holder of a pre-funded warrant may increase or decrease such percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% upon at least 61 days' prior notice from the holder to us.
Exercise Price
The exercise price of our common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants is $0.01 per share. The exercise price of the pre-funded warrants and the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our common stock, as well as upon any distribution of assets, including cash, stock or other property, to our stockholders.
Transferability
Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in the pre-funded warrants and applicable laws, the pre-funded warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without our consent.
Exchange Listing
There is no established trading market for the pre-funded warrants, and we do not expect a market to develop. We do not intend to apply for the listing of the pre-funded warrants on the Nasdaq Global Market or any other national securities exchange or any other nationally recognized trading system.
Fundamental Transactions
Upon the consummation of a fundamental transaction (as described in the pre-funded warrants, and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our common stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our voting power of our capital stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of more than 50% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock), the holders of the pre-funded warrants will be entitled to receive, upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants, the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that such holders would have received had they exercised the pre-funded warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction, without regard to any limitations on exercise contained in the pre-funded warrants.
No Rights as a Stockholder
Except by virtue of such holder's ownership of shares of our common stock, the holder of a pre-funded warrant does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our common stock, including any voting rights or the right to receive dividends, until such holder exercises the pre-funded warrant.
S-14
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for U.S. AND Non-U.S. Holders
The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock and pre-funded warrants, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all the potential tax considerations relating thereto. Throughout this summary, all references to our common stock are meant to include our pre-funded warrants. This summary is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, administrative rulings and judicial decisions, all as of the date hereof. These authorities may be changed or subject to differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect, with the resulting U.S. federal income tax consequences being different from those set forth below. We have not sought and will not seek any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following summary, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with such statements and conclusions.
This summary also does not address the tax considerations arising under the laws of any U.S. state or local or any non-U.S. jurisdiction, estate or gift tax, the 3.8% Medicare tax on net investment income or any alternative minimum tax consequences. In addition, this discussion does not address tax considerations applicable to a holder's particular circumstances or to a holder that may be subject to special tax rules, including, without limitation:
● | banks, insurance companies or other financial institutions; |
● | tax-exempt or government organizations; |
● | brokers or dealers in securities or currencies; |
● | traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings; |
● | persons that own, or are deemed to own, more than 5.0% of our capital stock; |
● | certain U.S. expatriates, citizens or former long-term residents of the United States; |
● | persons who hold our common stock as a position in a hedging transaction, "straddle," "conversion transaction," synthetic security, other integrated investment, or other risk reduction transaction; |
● | persons who do not hold our common stock as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, for investment purposes); |
● | persons deemed to sell our common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code; |
● | pension plans; |
● | partnerships, or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or investors in any such entities or arrangements; |
● | persons for whom our stock constitutes "qualified small business stock" within the meaning of Section 1202 of the Code; |
● | integral parts or controlled entities of foreign sovereigns; |
● | passive foreign investment companies and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax; or |
● | persons that acquire our common stock as compensation for services. |
In addition, if a partnership, including any entity or arrangement classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership, and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, partnerships that hold our common stock, and partners in such partnerships, should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them of the purchase, ownership, and disposition of our common stock.
You are urged to consult your tax advisor with respect to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to your particular situation, as well as any tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock arising under the U.S. federal estate or gift tax rules or under the laws of any U.S. state or local or any non-U.S. or other taxing jurisdiction or under any applicable tax treaty.
S-15
Definition of a U.S. Holder
For purposes of this summary, a "U.S. Holder" is any beneficial owner of our common stock that is a "U.S. person," and is not a partnership, or an entity treated as a partnership or disregarded from its owner, each for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. person is any person that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as any of the following:
● | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
● | a corporation created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia; |
● | an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or |
● | a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one or more U.S. persons (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (2) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
For purposes of this summary, a "Non-U.S. Holder" is any beneficial owner of our common stock that is not a U.S. Holder or a partnership, or other entity treated as a partnership or disregarded from its owner, each for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Treatment of Pre-Funded Warrants
Although it is not entirely free from doubt, we generally believe a pre-funded warrant should be treated as common stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes and a U.S. Holder or Non-U.S. Holder of pre-funded warrants should generally be taxed in the same manner as a holder of our common stock, as described below. Accordingly, no gain or loss should be recognized (other than with respect to cash paid in lieu of a fractional share) upon the exercise of a pre-funded warrant, and, upon exercise, the holding period of a pre-funded warrant should carry over to the common stock received. Similarly, the tax basis of the pre-funded warrant should carry over to the common stock received upon exercise, increased by the exercise price of $0.01 per share. However, our characterization of a pre-funded warrant is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may treat our pre-funded warrants as warrants to acquire our common stock. If so, the amount and character of your gain with respect to an investment in our pre-funded warrants could change. Accordingly, each holder should consult his, her or its own tax advisor regarding the risks associated with the acquisition of pre-funded warrants pursuant to this offering (including potential alternative characterizations). The balance of this discussion generally assumes that our characterization described above is respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders
Distributions on Common Stock
As discussed above under "Dividend Policy," we do not currently expect to make distributions on our common stock. In the event that we do make distributions of cash or other property, distributions paid on common stock, other than certain pro rata distributions of common stock, will be treated as a dividend to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, if any, and will be includible in income by the U.S. Holder and taxable as ordinary income when received. If a distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be first treated as a tax-free return of the U.S. Holder's investment, up to the U.S. Holder's tax basis in the common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as a capital gain. Subject to applicable limitations, dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders may be eligible for taxation as "qualified dividend income" and therefore may be taxable at rates applicable to long-term capital gains. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the availability of the reduced tax rate on dividends in their particular circumstances. Dividends received by a corporate U.S. Holder will be eligible for the dividends-received deduction if the U.S. Holder meets certain holding period and other applicable requirements.
Constructive Distributions on Our Pre-Funded Warrants
Under Section 305 of the Code, an adjustment to the exercise price or number of shares of common stock that will be issued on the exercise of our pre-funded warrants may be treated as a constructive distribution to a U.S. Holder of pre-funded warrants if, and to the extent that, such adjustment has the effect of increasing such U.S. Holder's proportionate interest in our "earnings and profits" or assets, depending on the circumstances of such adjustment (for example, if such adjustment is to compensate for a distribution of cash or other property to holders of our common stock). Adjustments made pursuant to a bona fide reasonable adjustment formula that has the effect of preventing dilution of the interest of the holder of the pre-funded warrants should generally not result in a constructive distribution. Any constructive distributions generally would be subject to the tax treatment described under "-Distributions on Common Stock" above.
Sale or Other Disposition of Common Stock
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, gain or loss realized on the sale or other disposition of common stock will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder held the common stock for more than one year. The amount of the gain or loss will equal the difference between the amount realized on the disposition and the U.S. Holder's tax basis in the common stock disposed of. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. Holders will be subject to reduced tax rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
S-16
Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders
Distribution
As discussed in the section entitled "Dividend Policy," we do not anticipate paying any dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. If we make distributions on our common stock, those payments will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent we have current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. To the extent those distributions exceed both our current and our accumulated earnings and profits, they will constitute a return of capital and will first reduce a Non-U.S. Holder's basis in our common stock, as applicable, but not below zero. Any excess will be treated as capital gain and will be treated as described below under the "-Gain on Sale or Other Disposition of Common Stock" section. Any such distributions would be subject to the discussions below regarding back up withholding and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA.
Subject to the discussion below on effectively connected income, any dividend paid to a Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. withholding tax either at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividend or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the U.S. and such holder's country of residence. To receive a reduced treaty rate, a Non-U.S. Holder must provide us or our agent with an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8 BEN-E (generally including a U.S. taxpayer identification number), or another appropriate version of IRS Form W-8 (or a successor form), which must be updated periodically, and which, in each case, must certify qualification for the reduced treaty rate. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty.
Dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder that are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder's conduct of a trade or business within the United States and that are not eligible for relief from U.S. (net basis) income tax under an applicable income tax treaty, generally are exempt from the (gross basis) withholding tax described above. To obtain this exemption from withholding tax, the Non-U.S. Holder must provide the applicable withholding agent with an IRS Form W-8ECI or successor form or other applicable IRS Form W-8 certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder's conduct of a trade or business within the United States. Such effectively connected dividends, if not eligible for relief under a tax treaty, would not be subject to a withholding tax, but would be taxed at the same rates applicable to U.S. persons, net of certain deductions and credits and if, in addition, the Non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, may also be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty)
If you are eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax pursuant to a tax treaty, you may be able to obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld if you timely file an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS.
As described under "Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders -Constructive Distributions on Our Pre-Funded Warrants" above, an adjustment to the pre-funded warrants could result in a constructive distribution to a Non-U.S. Holder, which would be treated as described above in this section. Any resulting withholding tax attributable to deemed dividends would be collected from other amounts payable or distributable to the Non-U.S. Holder. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the proper treatment of any adjustments to the pre-funded warrants.
Gain on Sale or Other Disposition of Common Stock
Subject to the discussion below regarding backup withholding and FATCA, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be required to pay U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other disposition of our common stock unless:
● |
the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder's conduct of a trade or business within the United States and not eligible for relief under an applicable income tax treaty, in which case the Non-U.S. Holder will be required to pay tax on the net gain derived from the sale under regular U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to U.S. persons, and for a Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation, such Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to the branch profits tax at a 30% rate (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected gain, as adjusted for certain items; |
● | the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year in which the sale or disposition occurs and certain other conditions are met, in which case the Non-U.S. Holder will be required to pay a flat 30% tax on the gain derived from the sale, which tax may be offset by U.S. source capital losses (even though the Non-U.S. Holder is not considered a resident of the United States) (subject to applicable income tax or other treaties); or |
● |
we are a "U.S. real property holding corporation" for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or a USRPHC, at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or the Non-U.S. Holder's holding period for our common stock. We believe we are not currently and do not anticipate becoming a USRPHC. However, because the determination of whether we are a USRPHC depends on the fair market value of our United States real property interests relative to the fair market value of our other business assets, there can be no assurance that we will not become a USRPHC in the future. Even if we become a USRPHC, however, gain arising from the sale or other taxable disposition by a Non-U.S. Holder of our common stock will not be subject to United States federal income tax if (a) shares of our common stock are "regularly traded," as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market, such as the Nasdaq Global Market, and (b) the Non-U.S. Holder owns or owned, actually and constructively, 5% or less of the shares of our common stock throughout the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange. If the foregoing exception does not apply, such Non-U.S. Holder's proceeds received on the disposition of shares will generally be subject to withholding at a rate of 15% and such Non-U.S. Holder will generally be taxed on any gain in the same manner as gain that is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business, except that the branch profits tax generally will not apply. Non-U.S. Holders of pre-funded warrants should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these rules with respect to the pre-funded warrants (which are not expected to be "regularly traded" on an established securities market). |
S-17
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information returns may be filed with the IRS in connection with distributions on common stock, and the proceeds of a sale or other disposition of common stock. A non-exempt U.S. Holder may be subject to U.S. backup withholding on these payments if it fails to provide its taxpayer identification number to the withholding agent and comply with certification procedures or otherwise establish an exemption from backup withholding.
A Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to U.S. information reporting and backup withholding on these payments unless the Non-U.S. Holder complies with certification procedures to establish that it is not a U.S. person (within the meaning of the Code). The certification requirements generally will be satisfied if the Non-U.S. Holder provides the applicable withholding agent with a statement on the applicable IRS Form (or a suitable substitute or successor form), together with all appropriate attachments, signed under penalties of perjury, stating, among other things, that such Non-U.S. Holder is not a U.S. person. Applicable Treasury Regulations provide alternative methods for satisfying this requirement. In addition, the amount of distributions on common stock paid to a Non-U.S. Holder, and the amount of any U.S. federal tax withheld therefrom, must be reported annually to the IRS and the holder. This information may be made available by the IRS under the provisions of an applicable tax treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides.
Payment of the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of common stock to or through a non-U.S. office of a U.S. broker or of a non-U.S. broker with certain specified U.S. connections generally will be subject to information reporting requirements, but not backup withholding, unless the Non-U.S. Holder certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a U.S. person or an exemption otherwise applies. Payments of the proceeds of a sale or other disposition of common stock to or through a U.S. office of a broker generally will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding, unless the Non-U.S. Holder certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a U.S. person or otherwise establishes an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment generally will be allowed as a credit against the holder's U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Foreign Account
The Code generally imposes a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% on dividends and, subject to the discussion below regarding proposed regulations issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, the gross proceeds of a disposition of securities paid to a "foreign financial institution" (as specifically defined for this purpose), unless such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. government to, among other things, withhold on certain payments and to collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities substantial information regarding U.S. account holders of such institution (which includes certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners) or otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. A U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% also applies to dividends and, subject to the discussion below regarding proposed regulations issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, will apply to the gross proceeds of a disposition of securities paid to a non-financial foreign entity (as defined in the Code), unless such entity either provides the withholding agent with a certification that it does not have any substantial direct or indirect "United States owners" (as defined in the Code) or provides information regarding each substantial United States owners of the entity, or otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules.
Under certain circumstances, a Non-U.S. Holder might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify the requirements described in the paragraph above.
The U.S. Treasury Department released proposed regulations which, if finalized in their present form, would eliminate the federal withholding tax of 30% applicable to the gross proceeds of a sale or other disposition of our common stock. In its preamble to such proposed regulations, the U.S. Treasury Department stated that taxpayers may generally rely on the proposed regulations until final regulations are issued. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible impact of these rules on their investment in our common stock, and the possible impact of these rules and the proposed regulations on the entities through which they hold our common stock, including, without limitation, the process and deadlines for meeting the applicable requirements to prevent the imposition of this 30% withholding tax.
EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR SHOULD CONSULT ITS TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE PARTICULAR U.S. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PURCHASING, HOLDING AND DISPOSING OF OUR SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY PROPOSED OR OTHER CHANGE IN APPLICABLE LAWS.
S-18
UNDERWRITING
Leerink Partners LLC, Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and RBC Capital Markets, LLC are acting as representatives of each of the underwriters named below and as joint bookrunning managers for this offering. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement among us and the underwriters, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the number of shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants set forth opposite its name below.
Underwriter |
Number of Shares |
Number of Pre-Funded Warrants |
||||||
Leerink Partners LLC | ||||||||
Raymond James & Associates, Inc. | ||||||||
RBC Capital Markets, LLC | ||||||||
Wedbush Securities Inc. | ||||||||
Total |
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement, the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase all of the shares and pre-funded warrants sold under the underwriting agreement if any of the shares or pre-funded warrants are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
BMO Capital Markets Corp. is acting as a capital markets advisor to us in connection with this offering, and will receive a fee for acting in such capacity. BMO Capital Markets Corp. will not engage in, nor is affiliated with any FINRA member that is engaging in, the solicitation or distribution of the offering.
The underwriters are offering the shares and pre-funded warrants, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the shares and pre-funded warrants, and subject to other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officers' certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.
Discounts and Commissions
The representatives have advised us that the underwriters propose initially to offer the shares and pre-funded warrants to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $ per share and $ per pre-funded warrant. After the initial offering of the shares and pre-funded warrants, the public offering price, concession or any other term of this offering may be changed by the representatives.
The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discounts and commissions and proceeds, before expenses, to us. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of our common stock.
Total | ||||||||||||||||
Per Share |
Per Pre-Funded Warrant |
Without Option |
With Option |
|||||||||||||
Public offering price | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Underwriting discounts and commissions | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us | $ | $ | $ | $ |
We estimate expenses payable by us in connection with this offering, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions referred to above, will be approximately $ . We have also agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain of their expenses in an amount up to $25,000. The underwriters have also agreed to reimburse us for certain expenses.
S-19
Option to Purchase Additional Shares
We have granted an option to the underwriters, exercisable for 30 days after the date of this prospectus supplement, to purchase up to additional shares at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. If the underwriters exercise this option, each underwriter will be obligated, subject to the conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, to purchase a number of additional shares proportionate to that underwriter's initial amount reflected in the above table.
No Sales of Similar Securities
We and our executive officers and directors have agreed not to sell or transfer any common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common stock, for 60 days after the date of this prospectus supplement without first obtaining the written consent of Leerink Partners LLC and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. on behalf of the underwriters. Specifically, we and these other persons have agreed, with certain limited exceptions, not to directly or indirectly:
● | offer, pledge, sell or contract to sell any common stock; |
● | sell any option or contract to purchase any common stock; |
● | purchase any option or contract to sell any common stock; |
● | grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of any common stock; |
● | otherwise dispose of or transfer any common stock; |
● | request or demand that we file a registration statement related to the common stock; or |
● | enter into any swap or other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequence of ownership of any common stock, whether any such swap, agreement or transaction is to be settled by delivery of shares or other securities, in cash or otherwise. |
The lock-up provisions apply to common stock and to securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common stock. They also apply to common stock owned now or acquired later by the person executing the lock-up agreement or for which the person executing the lock-up agreement later acquires the power of disposition. The lock-up restrictions will not apply to issuance of common stock upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrant during the 60-day period.
Nasdaq Global Market Listing
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "XNCR." There is no established public trading market for the pre-funded warrants, and we do not expect a market to develop. We do not intend to list the pre-funded warrants on the Nasdaq Global Market or any other national securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system.
Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids
Until the distribution of the shares is completed, SEC rules may limit underwriters and selling group members from bidding for and purchasing our common stock. However, the representatives may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of the common stock, such as bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain that price.
S-20
In connection with this offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell our common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, purchases on the open market to cover positions created by short sales and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in this offering. "Covered" short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares described above. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the option to purchase additional shares granted to them under the underwriting agreement described above. "Naked" short sales are sales in excess of such option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of our common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of shares of common stock made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the closing of this offering.
The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased shares sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.
Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters' purchases to cover the syndicate short sales may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. The underwriters may conduct these transactions on the Nasdaq Global Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the representatives will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
The underwriters may also engage in passive market making transactions in our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M during a period before the commencement of offers or sales of shares of our common stock in this offering and extending through the completion of distribution. A passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid of that security. However, if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker's bid, that bid must then be lowered when specified purchase limits are exceeded.
Electronic Distribution
In connection with this offering, certain of the underwriters or securities dealers may distribute prospectuses by electronic means, such as e-mail.
Other Relationships
The underwriters and certain of their affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Some of the underwriters and certain of their affiliates may in the future engage in investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us and our affiliates, for which they may in the future receive customary fees, commissions and expenses.
Leerink Partners LLC is the agent under the Sales Agreement, pursuant to which we may offer and sell up to $200.0 million of shares of our common stock remaining available for sale by us under the Sales Agreement after the expiration or waiver of the lock-up period applicable to us and described above.
In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
S-21
Selling Restrictions
Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each, a "Relevant State"), no securities have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in that Relevant State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, except that securities may be offered to the public in that Relevant State at any time:
A. | to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation; |
B. | to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or |
C. | in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation, |
provided that no such offer of securities shall require us or any of the representatives to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer to the public" in relation to any securities in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any securities, and the expression "Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom
No securities have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in the United Kingdom prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority, except that the securities may be offered to the public in the United Kingdom at any time:
A. | to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation; |
B. | to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or |
C. | in any other circumstances falling within Section 86 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FMSA), |
provided that no such offer of the securities shall require us or any representative to publish a prospectus pursuant to Section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation. For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer to the public" in relation to the securities in the United Kingdom means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any securities and the expression "UK Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
S-22
Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada
The securities may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the securities must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser's province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser's province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Israel
In the State of Israel this prospectus supplement shall not be regarded as an offer to the public to purchase securities under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, which requires a prospectus to be published and authorized by the Israel Securities Authority, if it complies with certain provisions of Section 15 of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, including, inter alia, if: (i) the offer is made, distributed or directed to not more than 35 investors, subject to certain conditions, or the Addressed Investors; or (ii) the offer is made, distributed or directed to certain qualified investors defined in the First Addendum of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, subject to certain conditions, or the "Qualified Investors". The Qualified Investors shall not be taken into account in the count of the Addressed Investors and may be offered to purchase securities in addition to the 35 Addressed Investors. We have not and will not take any action that would require it to publish a prospectus in accordance with and subject to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968. We have not and will not distribute this prospectus supplement or make, distribute or direct an offer to subscribe for our securities to any person within the State of Israel, other than to Qualified Investors and up to 35 Addressed Investors.
Qualified Investors may have to submit written evidence that they meet the definitions set out in of the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968. In particular, we may request, as a condition to be offered securities, that Qualified Investors will each represent, warrant and certify to us and/or to anyone acting on our behalf: (i) that it is an investor falling within one of the categories listed in the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968; (ii) which of the categories listed in the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968 regarding Qualified Investors is applicable to it; (iii) that it will abide by all provisions set forth in the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968 and the regulations promulgated thereunder in connection with the offer to be issued securities; (iv) that the securities that it will be issued are, subject to exemptions available under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968: (a) for its own account; (b) for investment purposes only; and (c) not issued with a view to resale within the State of Israel, other than in accordance with the provisions of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968; and (v) that it is willing to provide further evidence of its Qualified Investor status. Addressed Investors may have to submit written evidence in respect of their identity and may have to sign and submit a declaration containing, inter alia, the Addressed Investor's name, address and passport number or Israeli identification number.
S-23
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement will be passed upon for us by Paul Hastings LLP, San Diego, California. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Latham & Watkins LLP, San Diego, California.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Xencor, Inc. as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2023 and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 incorporated in this prospectus supplement and registration statement by reference from Xencor, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been audited by RSM US LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports thereon incorporated herein by reference, and have been incorporated in this prospectus and registration statement in reliance upon such reports and upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
S-24
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including Xencor. You may also access our reports and proxy statements free of charge at our Internet website, www.xencor.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus included in this filing is part of a registration statement filed by us with the SEC. The full registration statement can be obtained from the SEC, as indicated above, or from us.
This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 we filed with the SEC relating to the securities to be offered. This prospectus supplement does not contain all of the information we have included in the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, and we refer you to the omitted information. The statements this prospectus supplement makes pertaining to the content of any contract, agreement or other document that is an exhibit to the registration statement necessarily are summaries of their material provisions and do not describe all exceptions and qualifications contained in those contracts, agreements or documents. You should read those contracts, agreements or documents for information that may be important to you. The registration statement, exhibits and schedules are available at the SEC's Internet website.
You should rely only on information in this prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference herein. We have not authorized any person to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date of the front page of this prospectus supplement, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement or any sale of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement.
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this prospectus supplements, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement contain important information that you should read about us.
The following documents are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement:
(a) | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024; | |
(b) | The information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 24, 2024; | |
(c) | Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2024; | |
(d) | Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on August 5, 2024; | |
(e) | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on (i) November 7, 2023, (ii) April 9, 2024, (iii) June 13, 2024, (iv) June 14, 2024 and (v) September 9, 2024 (other than the Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1); | |
(f) | the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-36182), filed under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act on November 7, 2013, including any subsequent amendment or report filed for the purpose of amending such description, including the description of common stock contained in Exhibit 4.3 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2020. |
We also incorporate by reference any future filings (other than current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary) made with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including those made after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a part, until we file a post-effective amendment that indicates the termination of the offering of the securities made by this prospectus supplement and will become a part of this prospectus supplement from the respective dates that such documents are filed with the SEC. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.
Documents incorporated by reference are available from us, without charge. You may obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement by requesting them in writing or by telephone at the following address:
Xencor, Inc.
465 North Halstead Street, Suite 200
Pasadena, California 91107
Telephone Number: (626) 305-5900
S-25
PROSPECTUS
Xencor, Inc.
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Rights
Units
From time to time, we may offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, either individually or in combination with other securities, in one or more offerings. 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, rights or units. In addition, certain selling security holders to be identified in supplements to this prospectus may offer and sell these securities from time to time.
This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide the specific terms of these offerings and securities in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as any documents incorporated by reference herein or therein before you invest in any of the securities being offered.
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the trading symbol "XNCR." On February 24, 2023, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $34.18 per share. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to other listings, if any, on The Nasdaq Global Market or other securities exchange of the securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" on page 3 of this prospectus and contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, and under similar headings in the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
The securities may be offered and sold from time to time directly to investors by us or by any selling security holder, through agents designated by us or to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers, on a continuous or delayed basis. If applicable, we will provide specific information about any selling security holders in one or more supplements to this prospectus. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled "Plan of Distribution" in this prospectus. If any agents, underwriters, brokers or dealers are involved in the sale of any securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such agents, underwriters, brokers or dealers and any applicable fees, commissions, discounts and over allotment options will be set forth in a prospectus supplement or a related free writing prospectus. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement or a related free writing 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.
The date of this prospectus is February 27, 2023.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS | ii |
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY | 1 |
RISK FACTORS | 3 |
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | 4 |
USE OF PROCEEDS | 5 |
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK | 6 |
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES | 10 |
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS | 18 |
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS | 20 |
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS | 21 |
LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES | 22 |
SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS | 25 |
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION | 26 |
LEGAL MATTERS | 28 |
EXPERTS | 28 |
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION | 28 |
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE | 29 |
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the 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"), utilizing a "shelf" registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock, shares of our preferred stock, various series of debt securities and warrants or rights to purchase any of such securities, either individually or in combination with other securities described in this prospectus or in units, in one or more offerings. There is no limit on the aggregate amount of the securities that we may offer pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. In addition, selling security holders to be named in a prospectus supplement may sell certain of our securities from time to time. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer.
Each time we or any selling security holder offer securities under this prospectus, we or the selling security holder will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain more specific information about the 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 and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus or in any documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. To the extent that any statement that we make in a prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements made in this prospectus, the statement made in this prospectus will be deemed modified or superseded by those made in the prospectus supplement. We urge you to read carefully this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information" and "Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference," before buying any of the securities being offered.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
You should rely only on the information that we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related 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. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so.
You should not assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information we have incorporated by reference herein or therein is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of a security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the section entitled "Where You Can Find More Information."
Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this prospectus to "Xencor," "we," "us" and "our" refer to Xencor, Inc.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information contained 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 financial statements, and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Xencor, Inc.
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing engineered monoclonal antibody and cytokine therapeutics to treat patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases who have unmet medical needs. We use our protein engineering capabilities to increase our understanding of protein structures and interactions and to design new technologies and XmAb® drug candidates with improved properties. We advance these candidates into clinical-stage development, where we are conducting Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies for a broad portfolio of programs, to determine which programs we advance into later stages of development and potentially commercialization, which programs we partner to access complementary resources to optimize development, or which programs we terminate.
Our approach to protein design includes engineering Fc domains, the parts of antibodies that interact with multiple segments of the immune system and controls antibody structural architecture. The Fc domain is constant and interchangeable among antibodies, and our engineered XmAb Fc domains can be readily substituted for natural Fc domains.
Our protein engineering capabilities and Fc technologies enable us and our partners to develop XmAb antibodies and biotherapeutic drug candidates with improved properties and functionality, which can provide innovative approaches to treating disease and potential clinical advantage over other treatment options. For example, we have developed an antibody scaffold to rapidly create novel multi-specific antibodies that bind two or more different targets simultaneously, creating entirely new biological mechanisms. Other applications of our protein engineering technologies enhance antibody performance by increasing immune inhibitory activity, improving cytotoxicity, extending circulating half-life and stabilizing novel protein structures, such as engineered cytokines. Three marketed XmAb medicines have been developed with our protein engineering technologies and are generating royalties for us.
Our Corporate Information
We were incorporated in California in August 1997 under the name Xencor. In September 2004, we reincorporated in the State of Delaware under the name Xencor, Inc. Our principal executive offices are located at 111 West Lemon Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016, and our telephone number is (626) 305-5900. Our website address is www.xencor.com. Information found on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus or part of any prospectus supplement. Our website address is included in this prospectus as an inactive textual reference only.
Description of Securities
We may offer shares of our common stock and preferred stock, various series of debt securities and warrants or rights to purchase any of such securities, either individually or in combination with other securities or in units, from time to time under this prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of any offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:
● | designation or classification; |
● | aggregate principal amount or aggregate offering price; |
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● | maturity date, if applicable; |
● | original issue discount, if any; |
● | rates and times of payment of interest or dividends, if any; |
● | redemption, conversion, exercise, exchange or sinking fund terms, if any; |
● | ranking; |
● | restrictive covenants, if any; |
● | voting or other rights, if any; |
● | conversion or exchange prices or rates, if any, and, if applicable, any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the conversion or exchange prices or rates and in the securities or other property receivable upon conversion or exchange; and |
● | material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations, if any. |
The applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents we have incorporated by reference.
The securities may be offered directly to investors by us or by any selling security holder from time to time, through agents designated by us or to or through agents, underwriters, brokers or dealers. We will provide specific information about any selling security holders in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We, and our agents, underwriters, brokers or dealers, reserve the right to accept or reject all or part of any proposed purchase of securities. If we do offer securities to or through agents, underwriters, brokers or dealers, we will include in the applicable prospectus supplement:
● | the names of those agents, underwriters, brokers or dealers; |
● | applicable fees, discounts and commissions to be paid to them; |
● | details regarding over-allotment or other options to purchase additional securities, if any; and |
● | the net proceeds to us, if any. |
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 intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include funding research and development, capital expenditures, working capital and general and administrative expenses. See "Use of Proceeds" on page 5 of this prospectus.
Nasdaq Global Market Listing
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "XNCR."
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RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and described under the section entitled "Risk Factors" contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as any amendments thereto and other filings we make with the SEC from time to time, 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 a specific 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 occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and future growth prospects could be seriously harmed. This could cause the market price of our securities to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. Please also carefully read the section below entitled "Forward-Looking Statements."
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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 that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about:
● | the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and performance; |
● | our ability to execute on our plans to research, develop and commercialize our product candidates; |
● | the success of our ongoing and planned clinical trials; |
● | the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our product candidates; |
● | our ability to identify additional products or product candidates with significant commercial potential that are consistent with our business objectives; |
● | our ability to receive research funding and achieve anticipated milestones under our collaborations; |
● | our partners' ability to advance drug candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical trials; |
● | our ability to attract collaborators with development, regulatory, and commercialization expertise; |
● | our ability to protect our intellectual property position; |
● | the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of our products; |
● | costs of compliance and our failure to comply with new and existing governmental regulations; |
● | the capabilities and strategy of our suppliers and vendors including key manufacturers of our clinical drug supplies; |
● | significant competition in our industry; |
● | the potential loss or retirement of key members of management; |
● | our failure to successfully execute our growth strategy including any delays in our planned future growth; |
● | our failure to maintain effective internal controls; and |
our ability to accurately estimate expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and needs for additional financing.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "may," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "should," "would," "will" and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements.
These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, are based on assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We discuss in greater detail, and incorporate by reference into this prospectus in their entirety, many of these risks and uncertainties under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in the applicable prospectus supplement, in any free writing prospectus we may authorize for use in connection with a specific offering, and in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC. 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 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, the applicable prospectus supplement, together with the documents we have filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference and any free writing prospectus we have authorized 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.
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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 under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include research and development, capital expenditures, working capital and general and administrative expenses. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in businesses, products and technologies that are complementary to our own, although we have no current plans, commitments or agreements to do so. Accordingly, we will retain broad discretion over the use of such proceeds. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities sold pursuant to such prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we will not receive any proceeds from the sale of securities by selling security holders.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
As of the date of this prospectus, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of December 31, 2022, 59,997,713 shares of common stock were outstanding and no shares of preferred stock were outstanding.
The following summary describes the material terms of our capital stock. The descriptions of capital stock are qualified by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our second amended and restated bylaws, which are incorporated by reference as exhibits into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and by reference to the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL").
Common Stock
Voting. Our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors, and does not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors can elect all of the directors standing for election.
Dividends. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then-outstanding preferred stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds.
Liquidation. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities, subject to the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Rights and Preferences. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.
Fully Paid and Nonassessable. All of our outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.
Preferred Stock
Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by stockholders, to designate up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix or alter, from time to time, the designations, powers and rights of each series of preferred stock and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of any series of preferred stock, including dividend rights, dividend rate, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions), redemption price or prices, and the liquidation preference of any wholly unissued series of preferred stock, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of the common stock, and to establish the number of shares constituting any such series. To date, none of the 10,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock have been designated by our board of directors.
Our board of directors will fix the rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series that we sell under this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplements in the certificate of designation relating to each such series. We will incorporate by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or as an exhibit to one or more Current Reports on Form 8-K, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of the related series of preferred stock. This description will include:
● | the title and stated value; |
● | the number of shares we are offering; |
● | the liquidation preference per share, if any; |
● | the purchase price per share; |
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● | the dividend rate per share, dividend period, payment date or dates and method of calculation for dividends, as applicable; |
● | whether dividends, if any, will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate; |
● | our right, if any, to defer payment of dividends and the maximum length of any such deferral period; |
● | the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any; |
● | the provisions for a sinking fund, if any; |
● | the provisions for redemption or repurchase, if applicable, and any restrictions on our ability to exercise those redemption or 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 or other securities of ours, including warrants, and, if applicable, the conversion price, or how it will be calculated, and under what circumstances and the mechanism by which it may be adjusted, and the conversion period; |
● | whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities or other securities of ours, and, if applicable, the exchange price, or how it will be calculated, and under what circumstances it may be adjusted, and the exchange period; |
● | voting rights, if any; |
● | preemptive rights, if any; |
● | restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any; |
● | whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares; |
● | a discussion of any material or special U.S. 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 issuances of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on parity with the series of preferred stock being issued as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and |
● | Any other specific terms, rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications or limitations of, or restrictions on the preferred stock. |
If we issue and sell shares of preferred stock pursuant to this prospectus, together with any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the shares will be fully paid and nonassessable and will not have, or be subject to, any preemptive or similar rights.
The laws of the State of Delaware, the state of our incorporation, provide that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately as a class on any proposal involving fundamental changes in the rights of holders of such preferred stock. This right is in addition to any voting rights that may be provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.
The issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power, conversion or other rights of holders of common stock and reduce the likelihood that common stockholders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation. Preferred stock could be issued quickly with terms designed to delay, deter or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.
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Delaware Anti-Takeover Law and Provisions of Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Second Amended and Restated Bylaws
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our second amended and restated bylaws contain certain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing another party from acquiring control of us, and therefore could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. These provisions and certain provisions of the DGCL which are summarized below, may also discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids, and are designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate more favorable terms with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of potentially discouraging a proposal to acquire us.
Delaware Anti-Takeover Law
We are subject to Section 203 of the DGLC ("Section 203"). Section 203 generally prohibits a public Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business combination" with an "interested stockholder" for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
● | prior to such time the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; |
● | upon consummation of the transaction which 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 commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) 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 |
● | at or subsequent to such time the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 662/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Section 203 defines a business combination to include:
● | any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; |
● | any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition involving the interested stockholder of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation; |
● | subject to exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; |
● | subject to exceptions, any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; and |
● | the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation. |
In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by the entity or person.
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Second Amended and Restated Bylaws
Among other things, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and second amended and restated bylaws:
● | permit our Board of Directors to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, with any rights, preferences and privileges as they may designate (including the right to approve an acquisition or other change in our control); |
● | provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution by a majority of the total number of authorized directors; |
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● | provide that all vacancies, including newly created directorships, may, except as otherwise required by law, be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum; |
● | require that any action to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and not be taken by written consent; |
● | provide that stockholders seeking to present proposals before a meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at a meeting of stockholders must provide notice in writing in a timely manner, and also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder's notice; |
● | do not provide for cumulative voting rights (therefore allowing the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors to elect all of the directors standing for election, if they should so choose); |
● | provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by the chairman of our Board of Director, our Chief Executive Officer or by our Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors; and |
● | establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, as well as procedures and other requirements addressing the universal proxy rules adopted by the SEC. |
The provisions of the DGCL and the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and second amended and restated bylaws could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they might also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions might also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The transfer agent and registrar's address is 250 Royall Street, Canton, MA, 02021. 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 for that series.
Listing on The Nasdaq Global Market
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "XNCR".
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplements or free writing prospectuses, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to an "indenture," we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.
We will issue the debt securities under an indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the indenture. The indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). We have filed forms of senior and subordinated indentures as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.
The following summaries of material provisions of the senior debt securities, the subordinated debt securities and the related indentures are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete indentures that contain the terms of the debt securities. Except as we may otherwise indicate, the terms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are identical.
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 an officers' certificate or by a supplemental indenture. Debt securities may be issued in separate series without limitation as to aggregate principal amount. We may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the debt securities of any series. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:
● | the title of the series of debt securities; |
● | the principal amount being offered, and if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding; |
● | any limit upon the aggregate principal amount that may be issued; |
● | the maturity date or dates; |
● | the form of the debt securities of the series; |
● | the applicability of any guarantees; |
● | whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt; |
● | whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination; |
● | if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such debt securities will be issued is a price other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities that is convertible into another security or the method by which any such portion shall be determined; |
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● | the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates; |
● | our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period; |
● | if applicable, the date or dates after which, or the period or periods during which, and the price or prices at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions; |
● | the date or dates, if any, on which, and the price or prices at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder's option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable; |
● | the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
● | any and all terms, if applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the debt securities of that series and any security for our obligations with respect to such debt securities and any other terms which may be advisable in connection with the marketing of debt securities of that series; |
● | whether the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities; the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such global security or securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities; and the depositary for such global security or securities; |
● | if applicable, the provisions relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of the series and the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at our option or the holders' option) conversion or exchange features, the applicable conversion or exchange period and the manner of settlement for any conversion or exchange; |
● | if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of debt securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof; |
● | additions to or changes in the covenants applicable to the particular debt securities being issued, including, among others, the consolidation, merger or sale covenant; |
● | additions to or changes in the events of default with respect to the securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to such securities to be due and payable; |
● | additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance; |
● | additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture; |
● | additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of the indenture both with and without the consent of holders of debt securities issued under the indenture; |
● | the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars; |
● | whether interest will be payable in cash or additional debt securities at our or the holders' option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made; |
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● | whether the debt securities are to be offered at a price such that they will be deemed to be offered at an "original issue discount" as defined in paragraph (a) of Section 1273 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; |
● | the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we will pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any and principal amounts of the debt securities of the series to any holder that is not a "United States person" for federal tax purposes; |
● | any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the debt securities of the series; and |
● | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, any other additions or changes in the provisions of the indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations. |
Conversion or Exchange Rights
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, our preferred stock or other securities. We will include provisions as to settlement upon conversion or exchange and whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock, our preferred stock or other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the indenture will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. However, any successor to or acquiror of such assets must assume all of our obligations under the indenture or the debt securities, as appropriate. If the debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for our other securities or securities of other entities, the person with whom we consolidate or merge or to whom we sell all of our property must make provisions for the conversion of the debt securities into securities that the holders of the debt securities would have received if they had converted the debt securities before the consolidation, merger or sale.
Events of Default under the Indenture
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:
● | if we fail to pay interest when due and payable and our failure continues for 90 days and the time for payment has not been extended; |
● | if we fail to pay the principal, premium or sinking fund payment, if any, when due and payable and the time for payment has not been extended; |
● | if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the debt securities or the indenture, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive written notice of such failure from the trustee or we and the trustee receive notice from the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and |
● | if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur. |
We will describe in each applicable prospectus supplement any additional events of default relating to the relevant series of debt securities. If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default arises due to the occurrence of certain specified bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization events, the unpaid principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder.
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The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.
Subject to the terms of the applicable indenture, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be required in the exercise of its powers to use the same degree of care that a prudent person would use in the conduct of its own affairs; provided, however, that the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. 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, provided that:
● | the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and |
● | subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding. |
A holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the indenture or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies only if:
● | the holder has given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series; |
● | the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made a written request and such holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the trustee or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense to be incurred in compliance with instituting the proceeding as trustee; and |
● | the trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 60 days after the notice, request and offer. |
These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities.
We will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indenture.
If a default occurs and is continuing under the applicable indenture and is actually known to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee must mail to each holder notice of the default within 45 days after it occurs, unless such default has been cured. Except in the case of a default in the payment of principal or premium of, or interest on, any debt security or certain other defaults specified in an indenture, the trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors, or responsible officers of the trustee, in good faith determine that withholding notice is in the best interests of holders of the relevant series of debt securities.
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Modification of Indenture; Waiver
Subject to the terms of the indenture for any series of debt securities that we may issue, we and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to the following specific matters:
● | to fix any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture; |
● | to comply with the provisions described above under "- Consolidation, Merger or Sale;" |
● | to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose; |
● | to add to our covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default or to surrender any right or power conferred to us in the indenture; |
● | to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in such indenture; |
● | to provide for the issuance of, and establish the form and terms and conditions of, the debt securities of any series as provided above under "- General," to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of the indenture or any series of debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities; |
● | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under any indenture by a successor trustee; |
● | to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or |
● | to change anything that does not materially adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series in any material respect; provided that any amendment made solely to conform the provisions of the indenture to the corresponding description of the debt securities contained in the applicable prospectus or prospectus supplement shall be deemed not to adversely affect the interests of the holders of such debt securities; provided further, that in connection with any such amendment we will provide the trustee with an officers' certificate certifying that such amendment will not adversely affect the rights or interests of the holders of such debt securities. |
In addition, under the indenture, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the trustee may make the following changes only with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:
● | extending the fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series; |
● | reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption of any series of any debt securities; |
● | reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver; |
● | changing any of our obligations to pay additional amounts; |
● | reducing the amount of principal of an original issue discount security or any other note payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof; |
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● | changing the currency in which any note or any premium or interest is payable; |
● | impairing the right to enforce any payment on or with respect to any note; |
● | adversely changing the right to convert or exchange, including decreasing the conversion rate or increasing the conversion price of, such note, if applicable; |
● | in the case of the subordinated indenture, modifying the subordination provisions in a manner adverse to the holders of the subordinated debt securities; |
● | if the debt securities are secured, changing the terms and conditions pursuant to which the debt securities are secured in a manner adverse to the holders of the secured debt securities; |
● | reducing the requirements contained in the applicable indenture for quorum or voting; |
● | changing any of our obligations to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes required by the indenture; or |
● | modifying any of the above provisions set forth in this paragraph. |
Discharge
Each indenture provides that, subject to the terms of the indenture and any limitation otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we may elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:
● | provide for payment; |
● | register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series; |
● | replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series; |
● | pay principal of and premium and interest on any debt securities of the series; |
● | maintain paying agencies; |
● | hold monies for payment in trust; |
● | recover excess money held by the trustee; |
● | compensate and indemnify the trustee; and |
● | appoint any successor trustee. |
In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.
Form, Exchange and Transfer
We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indentures provide that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or another depositary named by us and identified in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to that series. To the extent the debt securities of a series are issued in global form and as book entry, a description of terms relating to any book-entry securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the applicable indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
Subject to the terms of the applicable indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will impose no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.
We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.
If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:
● | issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or |
● | register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part. |
Information Concerning the Trustee
The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.
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Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest payment.
We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the trustee as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
All money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.
Ranking Debt Securities
The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement. The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of subordinated debt securities that we may issue. It also does not limit us from issuing any other secured or unsecured debt.
The senior debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally in right of payment to all our other senior unsecured debt. The senior indenture does not limit the amount of senior debt securities that we may issue. It also does not limit us from issuing any other secured or unsecured debt.
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplement and free writing prospectus, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, which may consist of warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities and may be issued in one or more series. Warrants may be offered independently or in combination with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement, and may be attached to or separate from those securities. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus. The following description of warrants will apply to the warrants offered by this prospectus unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement for a particular series of warrants may specify different or additional terms.
We will issue the warrants under a warrant agreement that we will enter into with a warrant agent to be selected by us. The warrant agent will act solely as an agent of ours in connection with the warrants and will not act as an agent for the holders or beneficial owners of the warrants. We will file as exhibits 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 warrant and/or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate, as applicable, that contain the terms of the particular series of warrants we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of such warrants. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the warrants and the warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the form of warrant and/or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate, as applicable, and any supplemental agreements applicable to a particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus related to the particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as any related free writing prospectus, and the complete form of warrant and/or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate, as applicable, and any supplemental agreements that contain the terms of the warrants.
General
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants being offered, including:
● | the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered; |
● | the currency for which the warrants may be purchased; |
● | if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security; |
● | if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable; |
● | in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at, and currency in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise; |
● | in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise; |
● | the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreements and the warrants; |
● | the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants; |
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● | any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; |
● | the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire; |
● | the manner in which the warrant agreements and warrants may be modified; |
● | a discussion of material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations, if any, of holding or exercising the warrants; |
● | the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; and |
● | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants. |
Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including:
● | in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture; or |
● | in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any. |
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrants may be exercised as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered thereby. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the warrant agent in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent.
Upon receipt of payment and the warrant or warrant certificate, as applicable, properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent, if any, or any other office, including ours, indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the warrants (or the warrants represented by such warrant certificate) are exercised, a new warrant or a new warrant certificate, as applicable, will be issued for the remaining warrants.
Governing Law
Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the warrants and any warrant agreements will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants
Each warrant agent, if any, will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.
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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS
General
We may issue rights to purchase common stock, preferred stock or the other securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms and conditions for each right. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the rights as described in this prospectus.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms and conditions of the issue of rights being offered, the rights agreement relating to the rights and the rights certificates representing the rights, including, as applicable:
● | the title of the rights; |
● | the date of determining the stockholders entitled to the rights distribution; |
● | the title, aggregate number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights; |
● | the exercise price; |
● | the currencies in which the rights are being offered; |
● | the aggregate number of rights issued; |
● | the date, if any, on and after which the rights will be separately transferable; |
● | the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the right will expire; and |
● | any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange and exercise of the rights. |
Exercise of Rights
Each right will entitle the holder of rights to purchase for cash the principal amount of shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities at the exercise price provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will be void.
Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters, brokers or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements and free writing prospectuses, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any units that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of units in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any units offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. However, no prospectus supplement will fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.
We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a report that we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement that describes the terms of the series of units we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of the related series of units. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the units are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the unit agreement and any supplemental agreements applicable to a particular series of units. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the particular series of units that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete unit agreement and any supplemental agreements that contain the terms of the units.
General
We may issue units comprised of one or more debt securities, shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, warrants or rights in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of units, including:
● | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
● | any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and |
● | any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units. |
The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under "Description of Capital Stock," "Description of Debt Securities," "Description of Warrants" and "Description of Rights" will apply to each unit and to any common stock, preferred stock, debt security, warrant or right included in each unit, respectively.
Issuance in Series
We may issue units in such amounts and in numerous distinct series as we determine.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units
Each unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more than one series of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a unit may, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.
We, the unit agents and any of their agents may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of the units evidenced by that certificate for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested, despite any notice to the contrary. See "Legal Ownership of Securities."
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LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
We may issue securities in registered form or in the form of one or more global securities. We describe global securities in greater detail below. We refer to those persons who have securities registered in their own names on the books that we or any applicable trustee, depositary, warrant agent or other agent maintain for this purpose as the "holders" of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those persons who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names, as "indirect holders" of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.
Book-Entry Holders
We may issue securities in book-entry form only, as we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means securities may be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary's book-entry system. These participating institutions, which are referred to as participants, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.
Only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Securities issued in global form will be registered in the name of the depositary or its participants. Consequently, for securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities, and we will make all payments on the securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.
As a result, investors in a book entry security will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary's book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not legal holders, of the securities.
Street Name Holders
We may terminate a global security or issue securities that are not issued in global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in "street name." Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.
For securities held in street name, we or any applicable trustee or depositary will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities, and we or any such trustee or depositary will make all payments on those securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect holders, not legal holders, of those securities.
Legal Holders
Our obligations, as well as the obligations of any applicable trustee, agent or third party employed by us or a trustee or any agents, run only to the legal holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.
For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with its participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, we may want to obtain the approval of the holders to amend an indenture, to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of an indenture, or for other purposes. In such an event, we would seek approval only from the legal holders, and not the indirect holders, of the securities. Whether and how the legal holders contact the indirect holders is up to the legal holders.
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When we refer to "you" in this prospectus, we mean those who invest in the securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect holders of those securities. When we refer to "your securities" in this prospectus, we mean the securities in which you will hold a direct or indirect interest.
Special Considerations for Indirect Holders
If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form because the securities are represented by one or more global securities or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:
● | the performance of third-party service providers; |
● | how it handles securities payments and notices; |
● | whether it imposes fees or charges; |
● | how it would handle a request for the holders' consent, if ever required; |
● | whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a legal holder, if that is permitted in the future; |
● | how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and |
● | if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary's rules and procedures will affect these matters. |
Global Securities
A global security is a security that represents one or any other number of individual securities held by a depositary. Generally, all securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.
Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we issue to, deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, DTC will be the depositary for all securities issued in book-entry form.
A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary, its nominee or a successor depositary, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under "- Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated." As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and legal holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a legal holder of the security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.
If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued as a global security, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.
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Special Considerations for Global Securities
The rights of an indirect holder relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor's financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.
If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:
● | an investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations we describe below; |
● | an investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as we describe above; |
● | an investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and to other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form; |
● | an investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective; |
● | the depositary's policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor's interest in a global security. We and any applicable trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary's actions or for its records of ownership interests in a global security. We and the trustee also do not supervise the depositary in any way; |
● | the depositary may, and we understand that DTC will, require that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your broker or bank may require you to do so as well; and |
● | financial institutions that participate in the depositary's book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in a global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the securities. There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries. |
Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated
In a few special situations described below, a global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing those interests. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in securities transferred to their own names, so that they will be direct holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above.
Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, a global security will terminate when the following special situations occur:
● | if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days; |
● | if we notify any applicable trustee that we wish to terminate that global security; or |
● | if an event of default has occurred with regard to securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived. |
The applicable prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement. When a global security is terminated, only the depositary, and not we, the trustee, the agent or other third party, as applicable, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions in whose names the securities represented by the global security will be registered and, therefore, who will be the direct holders of those securities.
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SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS
If the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is used by selling security holders for the resale of any securities registered thereunder pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be entered into by us with such selling security holders or otherwise, information about such selling security holders, their beneficial ownership of our securities and their relationship with us will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference into the registration statement.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, "at-the-market" offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities to or through one or more underwriters or dealers (acting as principal or agent), through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers. We may distribute securities from time to time in one or more transactions:
● | at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
● | at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
● | at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or |
● | at negotiated prices. |
Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement or supplements (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) that will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:
● | the name or names of any agents or underwriters, brokers or dealers and the amount of shares underwritten or purchased by each of them; |
● | the purchase price of the securities or other consideration therefor and the proceeds we will receive from the sale; |
● | any over-allotment or other options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; |
● | any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents' or underwriters' compensation; |
● | any initial public offering price; |
● | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to brokers or dealers; and |
● | any securities exchanges or markets on which such securities may be listed. |
Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement will be underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts. If such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities Act.
We may designate agents who agree to use their reasonable efforts to solicit purchases of our securities for the period of their appointment or to sell our securities on a continuing basis. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay to the agent in the prospectus supplement.
If underwriters are used in the sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement, other than securities covered by any over-allotment or other option. If a dealer is used in the sale of securities, we or an underwriter will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. To the extent required, we will set forth in the prospectus supplement the name of the dealer and the terms of the transaction.
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We may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions the underwriters allow or reallow or pay to brokers or dealers. We may use underwriters, dealers or agents with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, dealer or agent, the nature of any such relationship.
We may sell securities directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters or agents. Underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify in the applicable prospectus supplement any underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents and will describe their compensation. We may have agreements with the underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents to indemnify them against specified civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which they may be required to make with respect to these liabilities. Agents, underwriters, brokers and dealers, and their affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
We, and/or the selling security holders, if applicable, may authorize underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these contracts.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each class or series of securities we may offer will be a new issue of securities with no established trading market, other than our common stock, which is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market. We may elect to list any other class or series of securities on any exchange or market, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in these securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.
Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum price. Syndicate-covering or other short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities, either through exercise of the over-allotment option or in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a stabilizing or covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of these activities at any time.
Any underwriters who are qualified market makers on The Nasdaq Global Market may engage in passive market making transactions in the securities on The Nasdaq Global Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of the securities. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security. If all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker's bid, however, the passive market maker's bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded. Passive market making may stabilize the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
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LEGAL MATTERS
Paul Hastings LLP, San Diego, California will pass for us upon the validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Xencor, Inc. as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2022 and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022 incorporated in this prospectus and registration statement by reference from Xencor, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 have been audited by RSM US LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports thereon incorporated herein by reference, and have been incorporated in this prospectus and registration statement in reliance upon such reports and upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including Xencor. You may also access our reports and proxy statements free of charge at our Internet website, http://www.xencor.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus. The prospectus included in this filing is part of a registration statement filed by us with the SEC. The full registration statement can be obtained from the SEC, as indicated above, or from us.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 we filed with the SEC relating to the securities to be offered. This prospectus does not contain all of the information we have included in the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, and we refer you to the omitted information. The statements this prospectus makes pertaining to the content of any contract, agreement or other document that is an exhibit to the registration statement necessarily are summaries of their material provisions and do not describe all exceptions and qualifications contained in those contracts, agreements or documents. You should read those contracts, agreements or documents for information that may be important to you. The registration statement, exhibits and schedules are available at the SEC's Internet website.
You should rely only on information in this prospectus or incorporated by reference herein. We have not authorized any person to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of the front page of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of the securities offered by this prospectus.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information from other documents that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the information or documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC (Commission File No. 001-36182):
● | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2023; and |
● | the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-36182), filed under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act on November 7, 2013, including any subsequent amendment or report filed for the purpose of amending such description. |
Any information in any of the foregoing documents will automatically be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that information in this prospectus or in a later filed document that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference modifies or replaces such information. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
We also incorporate by reference any future filings (other than current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary) made with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act until we file a post-effective amendment that indicates the termination of the offering of the securities covered by this prospectus and will become a part of this prospectus from the date that such documents are filed with the SEC. Information in such future filings updates and supplements the information provided in this prospectus. Any statements in any such future filings will automatically be deemed to modify and supersede any information in any document we previously filed with the SEC that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference to the extent that statements in the later filed document modify or replace such earlier statements.
We will furnish without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference, including exhibits to these documents. Any such request may be made by writing us at Xencor, Inc., 111 West Lemon Avenue, Monrovia, California 91016 Attn: Corporate Secretary or telephoning us at (626) 305-5900.
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Shares of Common Stock
Pre-Funded Warrants to Purchase up to Shares of Common Stock
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Leerink Partners
Raymond James
RBC Capital Markets
Wedbush PacGrow
, 2024