SEC Form S-3 filed by Nektar Therapeutics

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2025

Registration No. 333-    

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Nektar Therapeutics

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware		94-3134940
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

455 Mission Bay Boulevard South

San Francisco, California 94158

(415) 482-5300

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Howard W. Robin

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

Nektar Therapeutics

455 Mission Bay Boulevard South

San Francisco, California 94158

(415) 482-5300

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copy to:

Sam Zucker

Justin Platt

Goodwin Procter LLP

601 Marshall Street

Redwood City, CA 94063

(650) 752-3100

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time or at one time as determined by the Registrant after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer		☐		Accelerated filer		☐
Non-accelerated filer		☒		Smaller reporting company		☒
				Emerging growth company		☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

 

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This registration statement contains the following:

 

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a base prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale of up to $300,000,000 by us of the securities identified above from time to time in one or more offerings; and

 

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a sales agreement prospectus supplement covering the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $75,000,000 of our common stock that may be issued and sold under an equity distribution agreement with Piper Sandler & Co. and BTIG, LLC, or the sales agents.

The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The specific terms of any securities to be offered pursuant to the base prospectus will be specified in a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus. The specific terms of the common stock to be issued and sold under the sales agreement are specified in the sales agreement prospectus supplement that immediately follows the base prospectus.

 

Table of Contents

 

		Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS			1
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			2
ABOUT THE COMPANY			3
RISK FACTORS			5
USE OF PROCEEDS			6
DIVIDEND POLICY			7
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES			8
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK			9
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES			14
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS			21
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS			22
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			25
LEGAL MATTERS			28
EXPERTS			28
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			28
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE			29

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a shelf registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.

Under the shelf registration process, we may from time to time sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings with an aggregate offering price of up to $300,000,000 as described in this prospectus. This prospectus describes the general manner in which we may offer the securities described in this prospectus. Each time we sell securities pursuant to the registration statement we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the offering and the securities offered, and may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between information in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the most recent applicable prospectus supplement and documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. This prospectus may not be used to offer to sell, solicit an offer to buy or consummate a sale of our securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

This prospectus, together with any accompanying prospectus supplement, contains important information you should know before investing in our securities, including important information about us and the securities being offered. You should carefully read both documents, as well as the additional information contained in the documents described under “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” in both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, and in particular the annual, quarterly and current reports and other documents we file with the SEC. Neither this prospectus nor any accompanying prospectus supplement is an offer to sell these securities or is soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in an applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different, additional or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We do not take responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not making an offer to sell these securities or soliciting any offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus we authorize to be delivered to you is accurate only as of the date of that document or any other date set forth in that document. Additionally, any information we have incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference or other date set forth in that document, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any sale of securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and prospects may have changed since that date.

This prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and the information incorporated herein or therein by reference contains market data, industry statistics and other data that have been obtained or compiled from information made available by independent third parties. We have not independently verified the accuracy and completeness of such data. This prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and the information incorporated herein or therein by reference include trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or other companies. Solely for convenience, we may refer to our trademarks included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus without the TM or ^® symbols, but any such references are not intended to indicate that we will not assert, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, our rights to our trademarks or other intellectual property. All trademarks, service marks and trade names included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

When used in this prospectus, the terms “Nektar,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Nektar Therapeutics, a Delaware corporation, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, together with any accompanying prospectus supplement, includes and incorporates by reference “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of this prospectus, including any financial projections, any statements of the plans and objectives of management for future operations, any statements related to our financial condition and future working capital needs, any statements regarding potential future financing alternatives, any statements concerning proposed drug candidates and our future research and development plans, any statements regarding the timing for the start or end of clinical trials or submission of regulatory approval filings, any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance, any statements regarding the initiation, formation, or success of our collaboration arrangements, any statements regarding future payments that may come due to us, any statements regarding our plans and objectives to initiate or continue clinical trials and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “potential” or “continue,” or the negative thereof or other comparable terminology. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, such expectations or any of the forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect and actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in the forward-looking statements. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and in any other documents incorporated herein or therein (including in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings we make with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act). All forward-looking statements and reasons why results may differ included in this prospectus are made as of the date hereof and we do not intend to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law or applicable regulations.

 

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ABOUT THE COMPANY

The following highlights information about us and our business contained elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. It is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in any of our securities. You should carefully read this prospectus together with the more detailed information incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “Nektar,” “the company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Nektar Therapeutics.

Overview

We are a clinical stage, research-based drug discovery biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing innovative medicines in the field of immunotherapy. Within this growing field, we direct our efforts toward creating new immunomodulatory agents that selectively induce, amplify, attenuate or prevent immune responses in order to achieve desired therapeutic outcomes. We apply our deep understanding of immunology to identify and create innovative drug candidates and use our drug development expertise to advance these molecules through preclinical and clinical development. Our pipeline of clinical-stage and preclinical-stage immunomodulatory agents targets the treatment of autoimmune diseases (e.g. rezpegaldesleukin and NKTR-0165, respectively) and cancer (e.g. NKTR-255). We continue to make significant investments in building and advancing our pipeline of drug candidates as we believe that this is the best strategy to build long-term stockholder value.

Our Drug Candidates and Pipeline

By modulating the immune system, our drug candidates target pathways that play critical roles in a wide range of serious diseases. In autoimmune diseases, our focus is on addressing imbalances in the immune system to restore the body’s self-tolerance mechanisms and to achieve immune homeostasis. In oncology, we are focused on activating the immune system’s natural tumor-fighting mechanisms.

Autoimmune diseases

We recognize that many autoimmune diseases are caused by an imbalance in the body’s immune system. A failure of the body’s self-tolerance mechanisms enables the formation of pathogenic T cells that cause the immune system to mistakenly attack and damage healthy cells in a person’s body. Current systemic treatments for autoimmune diseases, including corticosteroids and anti-TNF agents, suppress the immune system broadly and come with severe side effects. Pharmaceutical agents designed to rebalance the immune system by increasing the function of regulatory T cells (Treg cells), powerful inhibitory immune cells, could be used to treat patients suffering from autoimmune disorders and inflammatory diseases.

Rezpegaldesleukin

Our drug candidate rezpegaldesleukin is a potential first-in-class resolution therapeutic that may address this underlying immune system imbalance in people with autoimmune disorders and inflammatory diseases. It is designed to target the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor complex in the body in order to stimulate proliferation of Treg cells. By activating these cells, rezpegaldesleukin may act to bring the immune system back into balance. Rezpegaldesleukin is being developed as a once or twice monthly self-administered injection for a number of autoimmune disorders and inflammatory diseases.

NKTR-0165

We believe that our preclinical tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor type II (TNFR2) agonist asset is a potentially unique bivalent antibody that selectively stimulates TNFR2 receptor activity, without modulation of the TNFR1 signaling. TNFR2 signaling drives immunoregulatory function and can provide a direct protective

 

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effect for tissue cells. TNFR2 is highly expressed on Tregs, neuronal cells and endothelial cells and has been shown to potentiate the suppressive effects and overall functional properties of Tregs. Our focus is on TNFR2 antibody candidates that show selective Treg cell binding and signaling profiles that may be potentially developed for treatment of autoimmune diseases, such as ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis and vitiligo. We are currently conducting Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling studies for this program, after having exercised an option to gain an exclusive license to specified agonistic antibodies and other materials that were developed pursuant to a research collaboration and license option agreement we entered into with Biolojic Design, Ltd. in 2021, with the goal of preparing for an IND submission in the second half of 2025.

Oncology

NKTR-255

In oncology, we focus on developing medicines based on targeting biological pathways that stimulate and sustain the body’s immune response in order to fight cancer. NKTR-255 is an investigational biologic that is designed to target the interleukin-15 (IL-15) pathway in order to activate the body’s innate and adaptive immunity. Activation of the IL-15 pathway enhances the survival and function of natural killer (NK) cells and induces survival of both effector and CD8+ memory T cells. Recombinant human IL-15 is rapidly cleared from the body and must be administered frequently and in high doses limiting its utility due to toxicity. Through optimal engagement of the IL-15 receptor complex, NKTR-255 is designed to enhance functional NK cell populations and the formation of long-term immunological memory, which may lead to sustained and durable anti-tumor immune response.

Corporate History and Information

We were incorporated in California in 1990 and reincorporated in Delaware in 1998. Our principal corporate office is located at 455 Mission Bay Boulevard South, San Francisco, California 94158, and our telephone number is (415) 482-5300. Our website address is https://nektar.com. We do not incorporate the information on or accessible through our website into this prospectus, and you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed through, our website a part of this prospectus or incorporated by reference herein. For further information regarding us and our financial information, you should refer to our recent filings with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”

Implications of Being a Smaller Reporting Company

We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Exchange Act. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies until the fiscal year following the determination that our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is more than $250 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenues are less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is more than $700 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves certain risks. Before you invest in any of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or any combination thereof, in addition to the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, you should carefully consider the risk factors contained in Item 1A under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our annual report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2024, which is incorporated into this prospectus by reference, as updated by our annual or quarterly reports for subsequent fiscal years or fiscal quarters that we file with the SEC and that are so incorporated. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information about how to obtain a copy of these documents. You should also carefully consider the risks and other information that may be contained in, or incorporated by reference into, any prospectus supplement relating to specific offerings of securities.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of any securities described in this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include research and development and clinical development costs to support the advancement of our drug candidates, including conducting pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, as applicable, for rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-0165 and NKTR-255; working capital; capital expenditures; general and administrative expenses; and other general corporate purposes. We may also use net proceeds to fund potential acquisitions of, or investments in, complementary businesses, products, services and technologies. We have not entered into any agreements or commitments with respect to any material acquisitions or investments at this time.

We may set forth additional information concerning our expected use of net proceeds from sales of securities in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the specific offering. Pending use of net proceeds as described above, we may temporarily invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation instruments, including high quality, investment grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government, or may hold such proceeds as cash, until they are used for their stated purpose. We have not determined the amount of net proceeds to be used specifically for such purposes. As a result, management will retain broad discretion over the allocation of net proceeds.

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock. We do not anticipate paying any dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. Any future determination to declare dividends will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on various factors, including applicable laws, our results of operations, financial condition, future prospects and any other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Investors should not purchase our common stock with the expectation of receiving cash dividends.

 

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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

We may offer shares of common or preferred stock, various series of senior or subordinated debt securities, warrants, or units consisting of combinations of the foregoing, in each case from time to time under this prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplement, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. At the time we offer a particular type or series of securities, we will provide an applicable prospectus supplement describing the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:

 

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designation or classification;

 

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aggregate principal amount or aggregate offering price;

 

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voting or other rights;

 

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rates and times of payment of interest, dividends or other payments;

 

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liquidation preference;

 

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original issue discount;

 

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maturity;

 

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ranking;

 

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restrictive covenants;

 

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redemption, conversion, exercise, exchange, settlement or sinking fund terms, including prices or rates, and any provisions for changes to or adjustments in such prices or rates and in the securities or other property receivable upon conversion, exercise, exchange or settlement;

 

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any securities exchange or market listing arrangements; and

 

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important U.S. federal income tax considerations.

This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities unless accompanied by an applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should read the prospectus supplement related to any securities being offered.

We may sell the securities directly to or through underwriters, dealers or agents. We and our underwriters, dealers or agents reserve the right to accept or reject all or part of any proposed purchase of securities. If we do offer securities through underwriters or agents, we will include in the applicable prospectus supplement (i) the names of the underwriters or agents and applicable fees, discounts and commissions to be paid to them; (ii) details regarding over-allotment options, if any; and (iii) net proceeds to us.

The following descriptions are not complete and may not contain all the information you should consider before investing in any securities we may offer hereunder; such descriptions are summarized from, and qualified by reference to, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated bylaws and the other documents referred to in the descriptions, all of which are or will be publicly filed with the SEC, as applicable. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following summary description of our common stock and preferred stock, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of our capital stock. The following description of our capital stock does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, which are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and by applicable law. The terms of our common stock and preferred stock may also be affected by Delaware law.

General

Our authorized capital stock consists of 300,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, all of which are undesignated. As of March 26, 2025, we had 186,103,588 shares of common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

Common Stock

The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Directors are elected by a plurality vote and the holders of common stock are not entitled to cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of directors. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the voting stock are able to elect all of the directors.

Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any shares of preferred stock currently outstanding or issued in the future, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preference of any then outstanding preferred stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive rights and no right to convert their common stock into any other securities. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

Exchange Listing

Our common stock is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “NKTR.” On March 26, 2025, the closing price for our common stock, as reported on Nasdaq, was $0.8016 per share. As of March 26, 2025, we had approximately 139 stockholders of record.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Preferred Stock

Undesignated Preferred Stock

Our board of directors has the authority, without further vote or action by the stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix, by filing a certificate of designation pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of such series. We will incorporate by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement, which includes this prospectus, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of any series of preferred stock we may offer pursuant to this prospectus.

 

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The DGCL provides that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately as a class on a proposed amendment to our certificate of incorporation involving certain fundamental changes in the rights of holders of that preferred stock. This right is in addition to any voting rights that may be provided in the applicable certificate of designation. The issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power, conversion rights or other rights of holders of common stock and reduce the likelihood that holders of common stock will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation. Issuance of preferred stock could delay or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock. The rights of holders of our common stock described above will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of any preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.

The existence of authorized but unissued shares of undesignated preferred stock may enable our board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. For example, if in the due exercise of its fiduciary obligations, our board of directors were to determine that a takeover proposal is not in the best interests of us or our stockholders, our board of directors could cause shares of preferred stock to be issued without stockholder approval in one or more private offerings or other transactions that might dilute the voting or other rights of the proposed acquirer, stockholder or stockholder group.

Authorized but Unissued Capital Stock

The DGCL does not require stockholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares. However, the listing requirements of Nasdaq, which would apply so long as our common stock remains listed on Nasdaq, require stockholder approval of certain issuances equal to or exceeding 20% of the then outstanding voting power or then outstanding number of shares of common stock. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including for future public offerings, to raise additional capital or to facilitate acquisitions. Issuance of unissued and unreserved common stock or preferred stock may render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Certain provisions of the DGCL and of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us. These provisions, which are summarized below, are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids 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 are also designed in part to encourage anyone seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. 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. However, we believe that the advantages gained by protecting our ability to negotiate with any unsolicited and potentially unfriendly acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging such proposals, including those priced above the then-current market value of our common stock, because, among other reasons, the negotiation of such proposals could improve their terms.

Delaware Takeover Statute

We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL, or Section 203. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that this stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless the

 

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business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. Under Section 203, a business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder is prohibited unless it satisfies one of the following conditions:

 

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before the stockholder became interested, our board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

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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, shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans, in some instances, but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder; or

 

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at or after the time the stockholder became interested, the business combination was approved by our board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Section 203 defines a business combination to include:

 

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any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

 

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any sale, transfer, lease, pledge, exchange, mortgage or other disposition involving the interested stockholder of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation;

 

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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;

 

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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; or

 

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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.

Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Our certificate of incorporation provides for our board of directors to be divided into three classes, with staggered three-year terms. As a result, only one class of directors will be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms. Stockholders have no cumulative voting rights. Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of preferred stock, directors may not be removed without cause. Any vacancies on the board of directors shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, unless the board of directors otherwise determines that the vacancy shall be filled by stockholders entitled to vote for directors.

Our certificate of incorporation also requires that any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders and may not be effected by a consent in writing. This limit may lengthen the amount of time required to take stockholder actions and would prevent the amendment of our bylaws or removal of directors by our stockholder without holding a meeting of stockholders. The stockholders may amend our bylaws, or adopt new bylaws, and may amend certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation, including the provisions related to stockholder actions and the calling of special meetings of stockholders, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of 66.67% of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of the voting stock of our company entitled to vote at an election of directors. These provisions may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company.

 

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The classification of our board of directors and lack of cumulative voting may make it more difficult for our existing stockholders to replace our board of directors or for another party to obtain control of us by replacing our board of directors. Since our board of directors has the power to retain and discharge our officers, these provisions could also make it more difficult for existing stockholders or another party to effect a change in management. These and other provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management. These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continued stability in the composition of our board of directors and in the policies of our board of directors and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened change in control. These provisions are designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal and to discourage certain tactics that may be used to replace our board of directors. However, such provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares and, as a consequence, such provisions also may inhibit increases in the market price of our shares that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts.

Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with regard to stockholder proposals relating to the nomination of candidates for election as directors or new business to be brought before meetings of our stockholders. These procedures provide that notice of stockholder proposals must be timely given in writing to our secretary prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken. Generally, to be timely, notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than the close of business on the 60th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the annual meeting for the preceding year. The notice must contain certain information specified in the bylaws. These provisions may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed. These provisions may also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company.

Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware does not have jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware, or, if the Superior Court of the State of Delaware does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for any state law claim for: (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our company, (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of our company to us or to our stockholders, (3) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws, (4) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws or (5) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. The choice of forum provision does not apply to any actions arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

Our certificate of incorporation also contains provisions that limit the liability of our directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Consequently, our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for:

 

•

any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

•

any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

•

unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the DGCL; or

 

•

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

Each of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provides that we are required to indemnify our directors and officers, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Our bylaws also obligate us to advance expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding, and

 

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permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of such person’s actions in that capacity regardless of whether we would otherwise be permitted to indemnify such person under Delaware law. We have entered into agreements to indemnify our directors, executive officers and other employees as determined by our board of directors. With specified exceptions, these agreements provide for indemnification for related expenses including, among other things, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any of these individuals in any action or proceeding. We believe that these bylaw provisions and indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. We also maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and officers for breach of their fiduciary duty. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and our stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damage.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

This section describes the general terms and provisions of our debt securities that we may issue from time to time. We may issue debt securities, 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 future debt securities we may offer under this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will describe the specific terms of any debt securities offered through that prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The terms of any debt securities we offer under a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may differ from the terms we describe below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the “indentures,” we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.

We will issue any senior debt securities under the senior indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the senior indenture. We will issue any subordinated debt securities under the subordinated indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the subordinated indenture. We have filed forms of these documents 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 indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. We use the term “trustee” to refer to either the trustee under the senior indenture or the trustee under the subordinated indenture, as applicable.

The following summaries of material provisions of the senior debt securities, the subordinated debt securities and the 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 supplement or free writing prospectus and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete applicable indenture that contains 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

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:

 

•

the title;

 

•

the principal amount being offered, and if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding;

 

•

any limit on the amount that may be issued;

 

•

whether or not we will issue the series of debt securities in global form, and, if so, the terms and who the depository will be;

 

•

the maturity date;

 

•

whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a United States person for tax purposes, and whether we can redeem the debt securities if we have to pay such additional amounts;

 

•

the annual interest rate, 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;

 

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•

whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;

 

•

the terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt;

 

•

the place where payments will be payable;

 

•

restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;

 

•

our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;

 

•

the date, if any, after which, the conditions upon which, and the price 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, if any, on which, and the price 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;

 

•

whether the indenture will restrict our ability to:

 

•

incur additional indebtedness;

 

•

issue additional securities;

 

•

create liens;

 

•

pay dividends or make distributions in respect of our capital stock or the capital stock;

 

•

redeem capital stock;

 

•

make investments or other restricted payments;

 

•

sell or otherwise dispose of assets;

 

•

enter into sale-leaseback transactions;

 

•

engage in transactions with stockholders or affiliates; or

 

•

effect a consolidation or merger.

 

•

whether the indenture will require us to maintain any interest coverage, fixed charge, cash flow-based, asset-based or other financial ratios;

 

•

a discussion of certain material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities;

 

•

information describing any book-entry features;

 

•

provisions for a sinking fund purchase or other analogous fund, if any;

 

•

the applicability of the provisions in the indenture on discharge;

 

•

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 denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

 

•

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; and

 

•

any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, including any additional events of default or covenants provided with respect to the debt securities, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the debt securities.

 

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Conversion or Exchange Rights

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus 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 (including securities of a third-party). We will include provisions as to 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 (including securities of a third-party) 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 or free writing prospectus applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the indentures 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 acquirer of such assets must assume all of our obligations under the indentures or the debt securities, as appropriate. If the debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities of ours or securities of other entities, the person with whom we consolidate or merge or to whom we sell all or substantially 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 or free writing prospectus applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indentures 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 at maturity, upon redemption or repurchase or otherwise, and the time for payment has not been extended;

 

•

if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the debt securities or the indentures, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive notice from the trustee or 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 or free writing prospectus 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 specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, 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.

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.

 

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Subject to the terms of the indentures, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, 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 indentures or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies 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 written request, and such holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the trustee or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense or 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 90 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, or other defaults that may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.

We will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indentures.

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 “Description of Debt Securities-Consolidation, Merger or Sale;”

 

•

to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

•

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 the indenture;

 

•

to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series as provided under “Description of Debt Securities-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 hereunder by a successor trustee;

 

17

•

to provide for uncertificated debt securities and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose;

 

•

to add to our covenants such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the benefit of the holders, 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; or

 

•

to change anything that does not materially adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series.

In addition, under the indentures, 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, subject to the terms of the indenture for any series of debt securities that we may issue or as otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus 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 stated maturity of the series of debt securities;

 

•

reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption or repurchase of any debt securities; or

 

•

reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver.

Discharge

Each indenture provides that, subject to the terms of the indenture and any limitation otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:

 

•

register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series;

 

•

replace stolen, lost or mutilated 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 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 otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, 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 or another depository named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus with respect to that series.

 

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At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, 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 indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, 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 make 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 or free writing prospectus 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 such person’s own affairs.

Subject to this provision, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indentures 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.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, 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.

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 or free writing prospectus, 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 or free writing prospectus, 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 or free writing prospectus 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.

 

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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 indentures and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.

Ranking of Debt Securities

The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. 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 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 supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and the related warrant agreements and warrant certificates. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we indicate in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any warrants offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Specific warrant agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and will be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement, which includes this prospectus.

General

We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities.

We will evidence each series of warrants by warrant certificates that we will issue under a separate warrant agreement. We will enter into the warrant agreement with a warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of the warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants, 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 agreement and the warrants;

 

•

the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;

 

•

any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

•

the periods during which, and places at which, the warrants are exercisable;

 

•

the manner in which the warrants are exercisable;

 

•

the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;

 

•

the manner in which the warrant agreement and warrants may be modified;

 

•

U.S. federal income tax consequences 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.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue units comprised of shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, debt securities and warrants in any combination. We may issue units in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we wish. This section outlines certain provisions of the units that we may issue. If we issue units, they will be issued under one or more unit agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or other financial institution, as unit agent. The information described in this section may not be complete in all respects and is qualified entirely by reference to the unit agreement with respect to the units of any particular series. The specific terms of any series of units offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If so described in a particular supplement, the specific terms of any series of units may differ from the general description of terms presented below. We urge you to read any prospectus supplement related to any series of units we may offer, as well as the complete unit agreement and unit certificate that contain the terms of the units. If we issue units, forms of unit agreements and unit certificates relating to such units will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement, which includes this prospectus.

Each unit that we may issue 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. The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:

 

•

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;

 

•

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

 

•

the applicable United States federal income tax considerations relating to the units;

 

•

any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; and

 

•

any other terms of the units and 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” and “Description of Warrants” will apply to the securities included in each unit, to the extent relevant and as may be updated in any prospectus supplements.

Issuance in Series

We may issue units in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we wish. This section summarizes terms of the units that apply generally to all series. The financial and other specific terms of a particular series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Unit Agreements

We will issue the units under one or more unit agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or other financial institution, as unit agent. We may add, replace or terminate unit agents from time to time. We will identify the unit agreement under which each series of units will be issued and the unit agent under that agreement in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The following provisions will generally apply to all unit agreements unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement:

 

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Modification without Consent

We and the applicable unit agent may amend any unit or unit agreement without the consent of any holder:

 

•

to cure any ambiguity;

 

•

to cure any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below;

 

•

to correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision; or

 

•

to make any other change that we believe is necessary or desirable and will not adversely affect the interests of the affected holders in any material respect.

We do not need any approval to make changes that affect only units to be issued after the changes take effect. We may also make changes that do not adversely affect a particular unit in any material respect, even if they adversely affect other units in a material respect. In those cases, we do not need to obtain the approval of the holder of the unaffected unit; we need only obtain any required approvals from the holders of the affected units.

Modification with Consent

We may not amend any particular unit or a unit agreement with respect to any particular unit unless we obtain the consent of the holder of that unit, if the amendment would:

 

•

impair any right of the holder to exercise or enforce any right under a security included in the unit if the terms of that security require the consent of the holder to any changes that would impair the exercise or enforcement of that right; or

 

•

reduce the percentage of outstanding units or any series or class the consent of whose holders is required to amend that series or class, or the applicable unit agreement with respect to that series or class, as described below.

Any other change to a particular unit agreement and the units issued under that agreement would require the following approval:

 

•

If the change affects only the units of a particular series issued under that agreement, the change must be approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding units of that series; or

 

•

If the change affects the units of more than one series issued under that agreement, it must be approved by the holders of a majority of all outstanding units of all series affected by the change, with the units of all the affected series voting together as one class for this purpose.

These provisions regarding changes with majority approval also apply to changes affecting any securities issued under a unit agreement, as the governing document. In each case, the required approval must be given by written consent.

Unit Agreements Will Not Be Qualified under Trust Indenture Act

No unit agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no unit agent will be required to qualify as a trustee, under the Trust Indenture Act. Therefore, holders of units issued under unit agreements will not have the protections of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to their units.

Mergers and Similar Transactions Permitted; No Restrictive Covenants or Events of Default

The unit agreements will not restrict our ability to merge or consolidate with, or sell our assets to, another corporation or other entity or to engage in any other transactions. If at any time we merge or consolidate with, or sell our assets substantially as an entirety to, another corporation or other entity, the successor entity will succeed to and assume our obligations under the unit agreements. We will then be relieved of any further obligation under these agreements.

 

23

The unit agreements will not include any restrictions on our ability to put liens on our assets, nor will they restrict our ability to sell our assets. The unit agreements also will not provide for any events of default or remedies upon the occurrence of any events of default.

Governing Law

The unit agreements and the units will be governed by New York or Delaware law.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

We will issue each unit in global (book-entry) form only. Units in book-entry form will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary, which will be the holder of all the units represented by the global security. Those who own beneficial interests in a unit will do so through participants in the depositary’s system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depositary and its participants. We will describe book-entry securities, and other terms regarding the issuance and registration of the units in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each unit and all securities comprising the unit will be issued in the same form.

If we issue any units in registered, non-global form, the following terms will apply to them:

The units will be issued in the denominations stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Holders may exchange their units for units of smaller denominations or combined into fewer units of larger denominations, as long as the total amount is not changed.

 

•

Holders may exchange or transfer their units at the office of the unit agent. Holders may also replace lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated units at that office. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves.

 

•

Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their units, but they may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange, and any replacement, will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holder’s proof of legal ownership. The transfer agent may also require an indemnity before replacing any units.

 

•

If we have the right to redeem, accelerate or settle any units before their maturity, and we exercise our right as to less than all those units or other securities, we may block the exchange or transfer of those units during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of exercise and ending on the day of that mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers of or exchange any unit selected for early settlement, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unsettled portion of any unit being partially settled. We may also block the transfer or exchange of any unit in this manner if the unit includes securities that are or may be selected for early settlement.

Only the depositary will be entitled to transfer or exchange a unit in global form, since it will be the sole holder of the unit.

Payments and Notices

In making payments and giving notices with respect to our units, we will follow the procedures as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

24

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the offered securities in and outside the United States (1) through underwriters or dealers, (2) directly to one or more purchasers, including to a limited number of institutional purchasers, to a single purchaser or to our affiliates and stockholders, (3) through agents or (4) through a combination of any of these methods.

If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including:

 

•

in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time;

 

•

in “at-the-market offerings,” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise;

 

•

through a market maker or into an existing trading market on an exchange or otherwise;

 

•

at prices related to those prevailing market prices; or

 

•

at negotiated prices.

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the following information to the extent applicable:

 

•

the terms of the offering;

 

•

the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

•

the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;

 

•

the purchase price of the securities;

 

•

the net proceeds from the sale of the securities;

 

•

any delayed delivery arrangements;

 

•

any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;

 

•

any initial public offering price;

 

•

any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

•

any commissions paid to agents.

Sale through Underwriters or Dealers

If any securities are offered through underwriters, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell them from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer and sell securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the offered securities if they purchase any of them. In connection with the sale of securities, underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and dealers may receive compensation from the underwriters in the form of discounts or concessions. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

In order to facilitate the offering of securities, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. Specifically, the underwriters may over allot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in the securities for their account. In addition, to cover

 

25

overallotments or to stabilize the price of the shares, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, shares in the open market. Finally, an underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing the securities in the offering if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed shares in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions, or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the offered securities above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities, and may discontinue any of these activities at any time.

Some or all of the securities that we offer through this prospectus may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom we sell securities for public offering and sale may make a market in those securities, but they will not be obligated to do so and they may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of the liquidity of, or continued trading markets for, any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus.

If any securities are offered through dealers, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale.

Direct Sales and Sales through Agents

We may sell the securities directly to purchasers. If the securities are sold directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities, we will describe the terms of any such sales in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may also sell the securities through agents designated from time to time. Sales may be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on Nasdaq at market prices, in block transactions and such other transactions as agreed by us and any agent. In the applicable prospectus supplement, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities, and we will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.

At-the-Market Offerings

To the extent that we make sales through one or more underwriters or agents in at-the-market offerings, we will do so pursuant to the terms of a sales agency financing agreement or other at-the-market offering arrangement between us and the underwriters or agents. If we engage in at-the-market sales pursuant to any such agreement, we will issue and sell our securities through one or more underwriters or agents, which may act on an agency basis or a principal basis. During the term of any such agreement, we may sell securities on a daily basis in exchange transactions or otherwise as we agree with the underwriters or agents. Any such agreement will provide that any securities sold will be sold at prices related to the then-prevailing market prices for our securities. Therefore, exact figures regarding proceeds that will be raised or commissions to be paid cannot be determined at this time. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we may agree to sell, and the relevant underwriters or agents may agree to solicit offers to purchase, blocks of our common stock or other securities. The terms of any such agreement will be set forth in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Remarketing Arrangements

Offered securities may also be offered and sold, if we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as our agents. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreements, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters of the offered securities under the Securities Act.

 

26

Delayed Delivery Contracts

If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase securities from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified future date. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the conditions to those contracts and the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

General Information

We may have agreements with the agents, dealers, underwriters and remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make. Agents, dealers, underwriters and remarketing firms may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.

Each underwriter, dealer and agent participating in the distribution of any of the securities that are issuable in bearer form will agree that it will not offer, sell or deliver, directly or indirectly, securities in bearer form in the United States or to United States persons, other than qualifying financial institutions, during the restricted period, as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7).

 

27

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for us by Goodwin Procter LLP, Redwood City, California. Any underwriters, dealers and agents will also be advised about the validity of the securities and other legal matters by their own counsel, which will be named in the prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 as set forth in their report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

This prospectus is part of a shelf registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement do not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. For further information with respect to us and the securities being offered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should read the registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules. Statements contained in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including documents that we have incorporated by reference, as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and, with respect to any contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or any other such document, each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the corresponding exhibit. You should review the complete contract or other document to evaluate these statements. You may obtain copies of the registration statement and its exhibits via the SEC’s EDGAR database or our website.

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other documents with the SEC under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC. You may obtain documents that we file with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

We also make these documents available on our website at https://nektar.com. Our website and the information contained or connected to our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

 

28

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

SEC rules permit us to incorporate information by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, except for information superseded by information contained in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement itself or in any subsequently filed incorporated document. This prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC, other than information in such documents that is deemed to be furnished and not filed. These documents contain important information about us and our business and financial condition.

 

•

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2025;

 

•

Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 4, 2025 and February 24, 2025; and

 

•

the description of our Common Stock, which is registered under Section  12 of the Exchange Act, contained in Exhibit 4.4 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2020, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents that we file (but not those that we furnish) pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of the initial registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus, and any previously filed documents.

Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus and such applicable prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or such applicable prospectus supplement, or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and such applicable prospectus supplement, modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus or such applicable prospectus supplement. Nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished but not filed with the SEC pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K.

Upon request, we will provide, without charge, to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus or an applicable prospectus supplement is delivered, a copy of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus or such prospectus supplement but not delivered with this prospectus or such prospectus supplement. You may request a copy of these filings, and any exhibits we have specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this prospectus or such prospectus supplement, at no cost by writing us at the following address: Nektar Therapeutics, 455 Mission Bay Boulevard South, San Francisco, CA 94158, Attention: Secretary or by telephone by calling (415) 482-5300.

 

29

 

 

 

 

$300,000,000

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Units

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

    , 2025

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

		Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT			S-1
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			S-3
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY			S-4
RISK FACTORS			S-7
USE OF PROCEEDS			S-10
DILUTION			S-11
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			S-13
LEGAL MATTERS			S-14
EXPERTS			S-14
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			S-14
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE			S-15

We are responsible for the information contained and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, in any accompanying prospectus, and in any related free writing prospectus we prepare or authorize. We have not authorized anyone to give you any other information, and we take no responsibility for any other information that others may give you. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this documentation are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this document does not extend to you.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under our base prospectus included in the shelf registration statement, we may offer shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $300,000,000. Under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, we may offer shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000 from time to time at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. The $75,000,000 of shares of our common stock that may be sold under this prospectus supplement are included in the $300,000,000 of shares of common stock that may be sold under the registration statement.

Before buying any of the common stock that we are offering pursuant to this prospectus supplement, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with the information incorporated by reference as described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference”, and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision.

This prospectus supplement describes the terms of this offering of common stock and also adds to and updates information contained in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the information contained in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement that was filed with the SEC before the date of this prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date—for example, a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement—the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

We have not, and the sales agents have not, authorized anyone to provide you with information in addition to or different from that contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurances as to the reliability of, any information not contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you. This prospectus supplement 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 assume that the information in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of such document and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of such document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of a security.

This prospectus supplement 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 supplement and the accompanying prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information”.

Unless the context otherwise indicates, references in this prospectus supplement to “Nektar”, “we”, “our”, “us” and “the company” refer, collectively, to Nektar Therapeutics.

We use various trademarks and tradenames in our business, including “Nektar” and our corporate logo. All other trademarks or trade names referred to in this prospectus supplement are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this prospectus supplement are referred to without the

 

S-1

symbols ^® and ^™, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights thereto. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trademarks and trade names to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.

 

S-2

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement, together with the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, includes and incorporates by reference “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of this prospectus supplement, including any financial projections, any statements of the plans and objectives of management for future operations, any statements related to our financial condition and future working capital needs, any statements regarding potential future financing alternatives, any statements concerning proposed drug candidates and our future research and development plans, any statements regarding the timing for the start or end of clinical trials or submission of regulatory approval filings, any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance, any statements regarding the initiation, formation, or success of our collaboration arrangements, any statements regarding future payments that may come due to us, any statements regarding our plans and objectives to initiate or continue clinical trials and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “potential” or “continue,” or the negative thereof or other comparable terminology. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, such expectations or any of the forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect and actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in the forward-looking statements. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus, and in any other documents incorporated herein or therein (including in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings we make with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act). All forward-looking statements and reasons why results may differ included in this prospectus supplement are made as of the date hereof and we do not intend to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law or applicable regulations.

 

S-3

 

S-4

 

S-5

 

S-6

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement, before making an investment decision. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected by the materialization of any of these risks. The trading price of our securities could decline due to the materialization of any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference also contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks described in the documents incorporated herein by reference, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, which is on file with SEC and is incorporated herein by reference, as updated by our subsequent annual, quarterly and other reports and documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and other documents we file with the SEC that are deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

Additional Risks Related To This Offering

We have broad discretion in the use of our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and the net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and the net proceeds from this offering, including for any of the purposes described in the section titled “Use of Proceeds,” and you will not have the opportunity as part of your investment decision to assess whether such proceeds are being used appropriately. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of our existing cash and cash equivalents and the net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. Our management might not apply our existing cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities and the net proceeds from this offering in ways that ultimately increase the value of your investment. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could harm our business. Pending the use of the net proceeds from this offering, we may invest such net proceeds in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities. These investments may not yield a favorable return to our stockholders. If we do not invest or apply the net proceeds from this offering in ways that enhance stockholder value, we may fail to achieve expected financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline.

If you purchase shares of common stock in this offering, you may experience immediate and substantial dilution.

The offering price per share in this offering may exceed the net tangible book value per share of our common stock outstanding prior to this offering. Assuming that an aggregate of 93,562,874 shares of our common stock are sold at a price of $0.8016 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, on March 26, 2025, for aggregate gross proceeds of $75,000,000, and after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, you will experience immediate dilution of $0.3250 per share, representing the difference between our as adjusted net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2024 after giving effect to this offering and the assumed offering price. The exercise of outstanding stock options, vesting of RSUs and PSUs, and exercise of outstanding pre-funded warrants to purchase common stock will result in further dilution of your investment. See the section titled “Dilution” below for a more detailed illustration of the dilution you could incur if you participate in this offering.

 

S-7

If you purchase shares of common stock in this offering, you may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.

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

Future sales or issuances of our common stock in the public markets, or the perception of such sales, could depress the trading price of our common stock.

The sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We may sell large quantities of our common stock at any time pursuant to this prospectus supplement or in one or more separate offerings. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of common stock or other equity-related securities would have on the market price of our common stock.

We do not currently intend to pay dividends on our common stock, and, consequently, investors’ ability to achieve a return on their investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our common stock.

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain all of our future earnings, if any, to finance the growth and development of our business. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be our stockholders’ sole source of gain for the foreseeable future. There is no guarantee that the price of our common stock will appreciate or remain equal to or above the price at which investors have purchased it.

The actual number of any shares we may sell under the Equity Distribution Agreement and gross proceeds resulting from those sales, at any one time or in total, is uncertain.

Subject to certain limitations in the Equity Distribution Agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver instruction to the sales agents to sell shares of our common stock at any time throughout the term of the Equity Distribution Agreement. The number of shares that are sold through the sales agents after our instruction will depend on a number of factors, including the market price of our common stock during the sales period, the limits we set with the sales agents in any instruction to sell shares, and the demand for our common stock during the sales period. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate during this offering, it is not currently possible to predict the number of shares that will be sold or the gross proceeds to be raised in connection with those sales.

The common stock offered hereby will be sold in “at the market” offerings, and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.

Investors who purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different levels of dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices and numbers of shares sold in this offering. In addition, subject to the final determination by our board of directors, there is no minimum or maximum sales price for shares to be sold in this offering. Investors may experience a decline in the value of the shares they purchase in this offering as a result of sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.

 

S-8

If our common stock does not maintain a closing bid price of $1.00 per share in order to comply with the continued listing standards of Nasdaq, our common stock may become delisted, which could adversely affect our stock price, the flexibility of our investors to sell our common stock in the secondary market and our ability to raise capital.

The closing bid price of our common stock has been below $1.00 since February 20, 2025. If our common stock does not maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive business days, we may receive a notice of failure to satisfy a continued listing rule from Nasdaq. Although we have a plan to maintain the listing of our common stock on Nasdaq, we may ultimately be unsuccessful in doing so, which could adversely affect our stock price, the flexibility of our investors to sell our common stock in the secondary market and our ability to raise capital.

 

S-9

USE OF PROCEEDS

We may issue and sell shares of our common stock having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $75,000,000 from time to time. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. There can be no assurance that we will sell any shares under or fully utilize the Equity Distribution Agreement as a source of financing.

We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include research and development and clinical development costs to support the advancement of our drug candidates, including conducting pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, as applicable, for rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-0165 and NKTR-255; working capital; capital expenditures; general and administrative expenses; and other general corporate purposes. We may also use net proceeds to fund potential acquisitions of, or investments in, complementary businesses, products, services and technologies. We have not entered into any agreements or commitments with respect to any material acquisitions or investments at this time.

Pending use of net proceeds as described above, we may temporarily invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation instruments, including high quality, investment grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government, or may hold such proceeds as cash, until they are used for their stated purpose. We have not determined the amount of net proceeds to be used specifically for such purposes. As a result, management will retain broad discretion over the allocation of net proceeds.

 

S-10

DILUTION

Purchasers of common stock offered by this prospectus supplement will suffer immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value per share of common stock. Our net tangible book value as of December 31, 2024 was $60.7 million, or $0.3269 per share of common stock. Net tangible book value per share represents the amount of total tangible assets (total assets less intangible assets) less total liabilities, divided by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2024.

Dilution in net tangible book value per share represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering. After giving effect to the assumed sale of shares of our common stock during the term of the Equity Distribution Agreement with the sales agents in the aggregate amount of $75,000,000 at an assumed offering price of $0.8016 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on March 26, 2025, and after deduction of commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2024 would have been $133.1 million, or $0.4766 per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $0.1497 per share of common stock to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $0.3250 per share of common stock to investors participating in this offering at an assumed offering price of $0.8016 per share.

The following table illustrates this per share dilution:

 

Assumed offering price per share						$	0.8016
Net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2024		$	0.3269
Increase in per share attributable to new investors attributable to this offering		$	0.1497
As adjusted net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2024, after giving effect to this offering						$	0.4766
Dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering						$	0.3250

The table above assumes for illustrative purposes that an aggregate of 93,562,874 shares of our common stock are sold at a price of $0.8016 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on March 26, 2025, for aggregate gross proceeds of $75,000,000. The shares sold in this offering, if any, will be sold from time to time at various prices. An increase of $0.40 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $0.8016 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $75,000,000 is sold at that price, would result in an increase to our adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering by $0.0598 to $0.5364 and an increase in the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering by $0.3402 to $0.6652, after deduction of commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. A decrease of $0.40 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $0.8016 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $75,000,000 is sold at that price, would result in a decrease to our adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering by $0.1193 to $0.3573 and a decrease in the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering by $0.2807 to $0.0443, after deduction of commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. This information is supplied for illustrative purposes only, and will adjust based on the actual offering prices, the actual number of shares that we offer and sell in this offering and other terms of each sale of shares in this offering.

 

S-11

The information above and in the foregoing table is based upon 185,776,681 shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2024. The information above and in the foregoing table excludes as of December 31, 2024:

 

•

33,058,913 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2024, at a weighted-average exercise price of $5.58 per share;

 

•

526,500 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options granted subsequent to December 31, 2024, at a weighted average exercise price of $0.91 per share;

 

•

1,523,262 shares of common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of RSUs or PSUs outstanding as of December 31, 2024;

 

•

Pre-funded warrants to purchase 25,000,000 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2024, with an exercise price of $0.0001 per share;

 

•

8,277,173 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our Amended and Restated 2017 Performance Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2024; and

 

•

710,754 shares of our common stock available for future issuance under our Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of December 31, 2024.

In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital in the future through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities 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 any of our outstanding options are exercised, new options are issued under our equity incentive plans or we issue additional shares of common stock or other equity or convertible debt securities in the future, there will be further dilution to investors participating in this offering.

 

S-12

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We have entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement with Piper Sandler & Co. and BTIG, LLC as our sales agents under which we may offer and sell shares of our common stock from time to time. Pursuant to this prospectus supplement, we may offer and sell shares having an aggregate gross offering price of up to $75,000,000. The sales agents will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell on our behalf all of the shares of our common stock requested to be sold by us, consistent with their normal trading and sales practices, under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Equity Distribution Agreement. We may instruct the sales agents not to sell our common stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us in any instruction. We or the sales agents may suspend the offering of our common stock upon proper notice and subject to other conditions, as further described in the Equity Distribution Agreement. A copy of the Equity Distribution Agreement is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part and is incorporated by reference therein.

The sales agents may sell our common stock by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on or through Nasdaq or on any other existing trading market for our common stock. The sales agents will provide written confirmation to us following the close of trading on Nasdaq each day in which our common stock is sold under the Equity Distribution Agreement. Each such confirmation will include the number of shares of our common stock sold on such day, the net proceeds to us and the compensation payable by us to the sales agents in connection with such sales.

We will pay the sales agents commissions for their services in acting as sales agents in the sale of our common stock. Each sales agent will be entitled to compensation in an amount equal to 3.0% of the gross sales price of all common stock sold through it as sales agent under the Equity Distribution Agreement. We have also agreed to reimburse the sales agents for the out-of-pocket reasonable fees and disbursements of its legal counsel, in an amount not to exceed $75,000, as well as certain ongoing expenses. We estimate that the total expenses for this offering, excluding compensation payable to the sales agents under the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement, will be approximately $370,000.

Settlement for sales of our common stock will occur on the first business day following the date on which any such sales are made, or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and the sales agents in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

We will report at least quarterly the number of shares of our common stock sold through the sales agents under the Equity Distribution Agreement, the net proceeds to us and the compensation paid by us to the sales agents in connection with such sales.

The sales agents and their affiliates have from time to time provided, and may in the future provide, various investment banking, commercial banking, fiduciary and advisory services for us for which they have received, and may in the future receive, customary fees and expenses. The sales agents and their affiliates may from time to time engage in other transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business.

In connection with the sale of our common stock on our behalf, the sales agents will be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation paid by us to the sales agents will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to indemnify the sales agents against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments that the sales agents may be required to make because of such liabilities.

The offering of our common stock pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of the issuance and sale of all the common stock subject to the Equity Distribution Agreement or termination of the Equity Distribution Agreement. The Equity Distribution Agreement may be terminated by the sales agents or us at any time upon specified prior written notice.

 

S-13

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters, including the legality of the securities offered, will be passed upon for us by Goodwin Procter LLP, Redwood City, California. The sales agents are being represented in connection with this offering by Lowenstein Sandler  LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 as set forth in their report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. Certain information in the registration statement has been omitted from this prospectus supplement in accordance with the rules of the SEC. We are subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These documents also may be accessed through the SEC’s electronic data gathering, analysis and retrieval system, or EDGAR, via electronic means, including the SEC’s home page on the Internet (www.sec.gov). You may also inspect the registration statement and this prospectus supplement on this website.

Our website is located at https://nektar.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and, except for the documents incorporated by reference as noted below, you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed from, our website as part of this prospectus supplement.

 

S-14

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information and reports we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to these documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement, and information that we file after the date hereof with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information already incorporated by reference. We are incorporating by reference the documents listed below, which we have already filed with the SEC, and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, except as to any portion of any future report or document that is not deemed filed under such provisions, after the date of this prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of this offering:

 

•

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2025;

 

•

Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 4, 2025 and February 24, 2025; and

 

•

the description of our Common Stock, which is registered under Section  12 of the Exchange Act, contained in Exhibit 4.4 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2020, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

Pursuant to Rule 412 under the Securities Act, any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.

Upon request, we will provide, without charge, to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus supplement is delivered, a copy of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement but not delivered with the prospectus supplement. You may request a copy of these filings, and any exhibits we have specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this prospectus supplement, at no cost by writing us at the following address: Nektar Therapeutics, 455 Mission Bay Boulevard South, San Francisco, CA 94158, Attention: Secretary or by telephone by calling (415) 482-5300. Our website is located at https://nektar.com. The reference to our website is intended to be an inactive textual reference and, except for the documents incorporated by reference as noted above, the information on, or accessible through, our website is not intended to be part of this prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus supplement or in the documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus supplement or those documents. Nothing in this prospectus supplement shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished but not filed with the SEC pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K.

We advise that there have been no material changes in our affairs that have occurred since the end of the latest fiscal period for which audited financial statements were included in the latest Form 10-K and that have not been described in a Form 10-Q or Form 8-K filed under the Exchange Act.

This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. We have incorporated exhibits into this registration statement. You should read the exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.

 

S-15

 

 

 

 

Up to $75,000,000

Common Stock

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

 

 

Piper Sandler				BTIG

    , 2025

 

 

 

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

Set forth below is an estimate (except in the case of the SEC registration fee) of the amount of fees and expenses to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the offered securities, other than underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

		Amount to be Paid
SEC registration fee		$	45,930
Legal fees and expenses			*
Accounting fees and expenses			*
Printing expenses			*
Transfer agent and trustee fees			*
Miscellaneous			*
Total		$	*

 

*	These fees and expenses are calculated based on the number of issuances and amount of securities offered and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached such director’s duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit.

Section 145 of the DGCL authorizes a corporation to indemnify its directors and officers against liabilities arising out of actions, suits and proceedings to which they are made or threatened to be made a party by reason of the fact that they have served or are currently serving as a director or officer to a corporation. The indemnity may cover expenses (including attorneys’ fees) judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the director or officer in connection with any such action, suit or proceeding. Section 145 permits corporations to pay expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by directors and officers in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding. In addition, Section 145 provides that a corporation has the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of its directors and officers against any liability asserted against them and incurred by them in their capacity as a director or officer, or arising out of their status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the director or officer against such liability under Section 145.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that limit or eliminate the personal liability of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. Consequently, a director or officer will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages or breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability for:

 

•

any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

•

any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

II-1

•

unlawful payments related to dividends or unlawful stock purchases, redemptions or other distributions as provided in Section 174 of the DGCL; or

 

•

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

These limitations of liability do not alter director liability under the federal securities laws and do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as an injunction or rescission.

In addition, our amended and restated bylaws provide that:

 

•

we will indemnify our directors, officers and, in the discretion of our board of directors, certain employees to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as it now exists or may in the future be amended; and

 

•

we will advance reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to our directors and, in the discretion of our board of directors, to our officers and certain employees, in connection with legal proceedings relating to their service for or on behalf of us, subject to limited exceptions.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and certain of our executive officers. These agreements provide that we will indemnify each of our directors, certain of our executive officers and, at times, their affiliates, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. We will advance expenses, including attorneys’ fees (but excluding judgments, fines and settlement amounts), to each indemnified director, executive officer or affiliate in connection with any proceeding in which indemnification is available and we will indemnify our directors and executive officers for any action or proceeding arising out of that person’s services as a director or officer brought on behalf of us or in furtherance of our rights. We intend to enter into indemnification agreements with any new directors and executive officers in the future.

Additionally, certain of our directors may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance provided by their affiliates, which indemnification relates to and might apply to the same proceedings arising out of such director’s services as a director referenced herein. Nonetheless, we have agreed in our indemnification agreements that our obligations to those directors are primary and any obligation of the affiliates of those directors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the expenses or liabilities incurred by those directors are secondary.

We also maintain a general liability insurance policy which covers certain liabilities of our directors and officers arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

Item 16. Exhibits

 

Exhibit Number		Exhibit Title		Form				File No.				Exhibit				Filing Date
1.1		Form(s) of Underwriting Agreement(s).			—				—				—			*
1.2+		Equity Distribution Agreement, by and among the Registrant, Piper Sandler & Co. and BTIG, LLC.			—				—				—			Filed herewith
3.1		Certificate of Incorporation of Inhale Therapeutic Systems (Delaware), Inc.			10-Q				000-24006				3.1			August 13, 1998
3.2		Certificate of Amendment of the Amended Certificate of Incorporation of Inhale Therapeutic Systems, Inc.			10-Q				000-24006				3.3			August 14, 2000

 

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3.3		Certificate of Ownership and Merger of Nektar Therapeutics.			8-K				000-24006				3.1			January 23, 2003
3.4		Certificate of Ownership and Merger of Nektar Therapeutics AL, Corporation with and into Nektar Therapeutics.			10-K				000-24006				3.6			March 3, 2010
3.5		Amended and Restated Bylaws of Nektar Therapeutics.			8-K				000-24006				3.1			December 16, 2022
4.1		Specimen Common Stock Certificate.			8-K				000-24006				4.1			January 23, 2003
4.2		Form of indenture for senior debt securities and the related form of senior debt security.			—				—				—			Filed herewith
4.3		Form of indenture for subordinated debt securities and the related form of subordinated debt security.			—				—				—			Filed herewith
4.4		Form of Certificate of Designation of Preferred Stock.			—				—				—			*
4.5		Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.			—				—				—			*
4.6		Form of Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate.			—				—				—			*
4.7		Form of Unit Agreement and Unit Certificate.			—				—				—			*
5.1		Opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP.			—				—				—			Filed herewith
5.2		Opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP relating to the sales agreement prospectus.			—				—				—			Filed herewith
23.1		Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.			—				—				—			Filed herewith
23.2		Consent of Goodwin Procter LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).			—				—				—			Filed herewith
23.3		Consent of Goodwin Procter LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2 hereto).			—				—				—			Filed herewith
24.1		Power of Attorney (included in the signature pages to this registration statement).			—				—				—			Filed herewith
25.1		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Senior Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.			—				—				—			†
25.2		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Subordinated Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.			—				—				—			†
107		Filing Fee Table.			—				—				—			Filed herewith

 

*	To be filed by amendment or as exhibit(s) to a document to be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement, including a Current Report of the Registrant on Form 8-K, as applicable.

†	To be filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as applicable.

+	Certain schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The registrant will furnish copies of any such omitted schedules or exhibits to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

 

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Item 17. Undertakings

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i)

To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

(ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;

provided, however, that subparagraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

(2)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3)

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4)

That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

 

(i)

Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

(ii)

Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will,

 

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as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

(5)

That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

(i)

Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(ii)

Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;

 

(iii)

The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

 

(iv)

Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

 

(6)

The undersigned Registrant hereby further undertakes that, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the annual report of the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(7)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(8)

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under sub section (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or the Trust Indenture Act, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of San Francisco, State of California, on March 28, 2025.

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby severally constitutes and appoints Howard W. Robin and Sandra Gardiner, and each of them singly, as such person’s true and lawful attorneys in fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in such person’s name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post effective amendments or any abbreviated or subsequent registration statement and any supplement to any prospectus included in this registration statement), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys in fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys in fact and agents, or any of them, or such person’s substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated and on the date indicated.

 

Signature		Title		Date
/s/ Howard W. Robin Howard W. Robin		Chief Executive Officer, President and Director (Principal Executive Officer)		March 28, 2025
/s/ Sandra Gardiner Sandra Gardiner		Interim Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)		March 28, 2025
/s/ Robert B. Chess Robert B. Chess		Director, Chairman of the Board of Directors		March 28, 2025
/s/ Jeffrey R. Ajer Jeffrey R. Ajer		Director		March 28, 2025
/s/ Diana M. Brainard Diana M. Brainard		Director		March 28, 2025
/s/ R. Scott Greer R. Scott Greer		Director		March 28, 2025
/s/ Roy A. Whitfield Roy A. Whitfield		Director		March 28, 2025

 

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