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Apellis (APLS) tendered 82.4% of shares; Biogen to close merger May 14, 2026

Filing Impact
(Neutral)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
SC 14D9/A

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Apellis Pharmaceuticals filed Amendment No. 3 to its Schedule 14D-9 supplementing its solicitation/recommendation statement regarding Biogen’s tender offer and proposed merger. The offer expired May 13, 2026, with 105,687,831 Shares validly tendered (~82.4% of outstanding). Purchaser accepted those Shares on May 14, 2026, and expects to consummate the merger on May 14, 2026 under Section 251(h) of the DGCL without a stockholder vote. At the effective time, remaining outstanding Shares (subject to narrow exceptions) will be converted into the merger consideration and Apellis will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Biogen, its Shares delisted from Nasdaq.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.

Insights

Merger acceptance completed following a successful tender; closing via short-form merger.

Biogen’s purchaser accepted for payment 105,687,831 Shares (approximately 82.4%) and, having satisfied other conditions, intends to effect the merger under Section 251(h) of the DGCL on May 14, 2026. This path permits merger without a stockholder vote when statutorily required tender thresholds are met.

The principal remaining mechanics are payment processing for tendered shares, treatment of shares subject to appraisal rights, delisting steps, and termination of Exchange Act registration and reporting obligations; timing and administrative actions will appear in subsequent filings and communications.

Cash consideration per Share $41.00 per Share offer to purchase dated April 14, 2026
Contingent value right cap $4.00 aggregate per Share CVR payable upon achievement of specified milestones
Shares validly tendered 105,687,831 Shares immediately prior to expiration time (May 13, 2026)
Tender as percentage of outstanding 82.4% percentage of Shares outstanding immediately prior to expiration time
Offer expiration May 13, 2026 offer expired at one minute after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
Acceptance and expected merger date May 14, 2026 Purchaser accepted for payment and expects to consummate merger
Contingent Value Right (CVR) financial
"one contractual, non-transferable contingent value right per Share representing the right to receive contingent cash"
A contingent value right (CVR) is a short-term claim given to shareholders as part of a corporate deal that pays out only if specific future milestones or targets are met, such as regulatory approval or sales thresholds. Think of it like a coupon that becomes redeemable only if the company clears a stated hurdle; it matters to investors because it preserves potential upside from uncertain outcomes while also carrying extra risk and separate market value from the main stock.
Section 251(h) of the DGCL regulatory
"expect to consummate the merger on May 14, 2026 in accordance with Section 251(h) of the DGCL"
Appraisal under Section 262 of the DGCL legal
"stockholders who were entitled to, and properly demanded, appraisal for such Shares in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL"
 
 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14D-9

(Amendment No. 3)

Solicitation/Recommendation Statement

Under Section 14(d)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Name of Subject Company)

 

 

Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Name of Person Filing Statement)

 

 

Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

03753U106

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

Cedric Francois, M.D., Ph.D.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

100 Fifth Avenue

Waltham, MA 02451

(617) 977-5700

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

on Behalf of the Person Filing Statement)

 

 

With copies to:

 

Stuart M. Falber

Hal J. Leibowitz

Andrew R. Bonnes

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP

60 State Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

(617) 526-6000

 

Adam O. Emmerich, Esq.

Ronald C. Chen, Esq.

Victor Goldfeld, Esq.

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

51 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

(212) 403-1000

 

 

 

 

Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.

 

 
 


This Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 14D-9 (this “Amendment”) amends and supplements the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 previously filed by Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Apellis”), with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 14, 2026 (together with any exhibits and annexes thereto and as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Schedule 14D-9”). The Schedule 14D-9 relates to the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO filed with the SEC on April 14, 2026 (together with any amendments and supplements thereto, the “Schedule TO”) by Biogen Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Biogen”), and Aspen Purchaser Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Biogen (“Purchaser”). The Schedule TO relates to the tender offer by Purchaser to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Shares”), of Apellis in exchange for (i) $41.00 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest and subject to reduction for any applicable tax withholding, plus (ii) one contractual, non-transferable contingent value right per Share representing the right to receive contingent cash payments of up to an aggregate of $4.00 in cash, without interest and subject to reduction for any applicable tax withholding, upon the achievement of certain specified milestones in accordance with the terms and conditions of a contingent value rights agreement to be entered into by and among Biogen, Apellis and a rights agent mutually acceptable to Biogen and Apellis, in each case, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated April 14, 2026 (together with any amendments and supplements thereto, the “offer to purchase”) and in the related Letter of Transmittal (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time), copies of which were incorporated by reference into the Schedule 14D-9 as Exhibits (a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(B), respectively. Terms used, but not otherwise defined, in this Amendment shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Schedule 14D-9.

Except as set forth below, the information set forth in the Schedule 14D-9 remains unchanged and is incorporated herein by reference as relevant to the items in this Amendment.

Item 8. Additional Information.

Item 8 of the Schedule 14D-9 is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following text immediately before the section entitled “—Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”:

Final Results of the Offer

The offer and related withdrawal rights expired as scheduled at one minute after 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 13, 2026 (the “expiration time”), and the offer was not extended. Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, the depositary for the offer, advised Purchaser that, immediately prior to the expiration time, a total of 105,687,831 Shares were validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the offer, representing approximately 82.4% of the Shares outstanding immediately prior to the expiration time.

As of the expiration time, the number of Shares validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the offer (excluding Shares tendered pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures that have not yet been “received”, as such term is defined by Section 251(h)(6)(f) of the DGCL), together with any Shares beneficially owned by Biogen or any of its subsidiaries, satisfied the minimum condition that, immediately prior to the expiration time, the number of Shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn (excluding shares tendered pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures that have not yet been “received,” as such term is defined by Section 251(h)(6)(f) of the DGCL), together with any Shares beneficially owned by Biogen or any of its subsidiaries, equaled at least one share more than fifty percent (50%) of the Shares then outstanding. All other conditions to the consummation of the offer having been satisfied or waived, on May 14, 2026, Purchaser irrevocably accepted for payment all Shares that were validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the offer, and payment for such Shares will be made promptly in accordance with the terms of the offer and the merger agreement.

Following the expiration time and acceptance for payment of the Shares, the remaining conditions to the merger set forth in the merger agreement were satisfied or waived, and Purchaser expects to consummate the merger on May 14, 2026 in accordance with Section 251(h) of the DGCL without a vote of the stockholders of Apellis. At the effective time, Purchaser will merge with and into Apellis, the separate existence of Purchaser will cease and Apellis will continue as the surviving corporation in the merger and a wholly owned subsidiary of Biogen. Pursuant to the merger agreement, at the effective time, each Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time (other than Shares that are (i) held in the treasury of Apellis, (ii) irrevocably accepted for purchase in the offer by Purchaser and “received” (as such term is defined by Section 251(h)(6)(f) of the DGCL) by Purchaser, (iii) held by Biogen, Purchaser or any other wholly owned subsidiary of Biogen as of both the commencement of the offer and immediately prior to the effective time or (iv) held by stockholders who were entitled to, and properly demanded, appraisal for such Shares in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL) will be converted into the right to receive the merger consideration, without interest and subject to reduction for any applicable withholding taxes.


As a result of the merger, the Shares will be delisted and will cease to trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Biogen and Apellis intend to take steps to cause the termination of the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act and suspend all of Apellis’ reporting obligations under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable.”


SIGNATURE

After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

Dated: May 14, 2026    Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
   By:   

/s/ Timothy Sullivan

   Name:    Timothy Sullivan
   Title:    Chief Financial Officer

FAQ

Did Biogen’s tender offer reach the necessary acceptance threshold for APLS?

Yes. The purchaser reported 105,687,831 Shares validly tendered, representing approximately 82.4% of outstanding shares, which satisfied the minimum condition tied to a >50% threshold.

What will Apellis shareholders receive for each share in the transaction?

Each Share validly tendered will receive $41.00 in cash plus one contingent value right per Share to receive up to an aggregate $4.00 upon specified milestones under the CVR agreement.

When is the merger expected to be consummated and under what Delaware provision?

Purchaser accepted shares on May 14, 2026, and the parties expect to consummate the merger on May 14, 2026 under Section 251(h) of the DGCL without a stockholder vote.

What happens to Apellis’ Nasdaq listing and Exchange Act reporting after the merger?

At the effective time, Apellis’ Shares will be delisted from the Nasdaq Global Select Market, and Biogen and Apellis intend to take steps to terminate registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act and suspend reporting obligations.