DeLong Mark Jeffrey 4
4 · Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · Filed May 14, 2026
Research Summary
AI-generated summary of this filing
Apellis (APLS) Mark DeLong Sells 537K Shares in Biogen Merger
What Happened
Mark DeLong, Apellis' Chief Business & Strategy Officer, reported a series of dispositions on May 14, 2026 tied to the Biogen transaction. The Form 4 shows a total of 536,870 shares (aggregate of common stock, converted RSUs and derivative-related awards/options) were disposed to the issuer or otherwise cashed out in connection with the merger. Tendered common stock and certain converted RSUs were exchanged under the Merger Agreement for $41.00 per share in cash (net of withholding) plus one contingent value right (CVR) per share (CVRs can pay up to $4.00 if milestones are met). Several option/derivative awards were cancelled or cash‑settled under the agreement and converted into CVRs as described in the filing.
Key Details
- Transaction date / filing date: May 14, 2026 (Effective Time of the merger; Form 4 filed same day).
- Total shares disposed (all transaction lines combined): 536,870 shares.
- Non-derivative dispositions (common stock / RSU-related): 301,134 shares.
- Derivative/option-related dispositions: 235,736 underlying shares.
- Consideration per common share: $41.00 cash plus one CVR (CVR pays up to $4.00 if milestones achieved). Option cash‑outs were treated per the Merger Agreement (cash equal to spread where applicable and/or conversion to CVRs; some options with high strike prices were cancelled without consideration).
- Converted RSUs: many RSUs were converted into cash and CVRs; some remain subject to continued service and any applicable vesting conditions described in the Merger Agreement (including preserved “double‑trigger” treatment in limited cases).
- Shares owned after the transactions: not detailed in the summary entries of the provided excerpt.
- Timeliness: filing shows transactions and report date as May 14, 2026 (same-day reporting).
Context
These transactions are merger-related actions, not ordinary open-market sales. Under the Merger Agreement with Biogen, outstanding common shares tendered in the offer were paid $41/share plus a CVR; RSUs and vested options were generally converted into cash amounts and/or CVRs in accordance with the agreement (cash-outs depend on option strike prices and award terms). For retail investors, this is a corporate‑action driven disposition (liquidation/cash‑settlement due to acquisition), not necessarily an independent signal of insider sentiment.
Insider Transaction Report
Form 4Exit
DeLong Mark Jeffrey
Chief Business & Strat Officer
Transactions
- Disposition from Tender
Common Stock
[F1][F2][F3]2026-05-14−114,591→ 0 total - Award
Common Stock
[F4][F5]2026-05-14+41,250→ 41,250 total - Disposition to Issuer
Common Stock
[F4][F5]2026-05-14−41,250→ 0 total - Award
Common Stock
[F4][F5]2026-05-14+19,006→ 19,006 total - Disposition to Issuer
Common Stock
[F4][F5]2026-05-14−19,006→ 0 total - Award
Common Stock
[F6][F7][F8]2026-05-14+36,606→ 36,606 total - Disposition to Issuer
Common Stock
[F6][F7][F8]2026-05-14−36,606→ 0 total - Award
Common Stock
[F5][F6]2026-05-14+18,303→ 18,303 total - Disposition to Issuer
Common Stock
[F5][F6]2026-05-14−18,303→ 0 total - Disposition to Issuer
Common Stock
[F9][F10]2026-05-14−36,606→ 0 total - Disposition to Issuer
Common Stock
[F9][F10]2026-05-14−4,909→ 0 total - Disposition to Issuer
Common Stock
[F9][F10]2026-05-14−8,482→ 0 total - Disposition to Issuer
Common Stock
[F9][F10]2026-05-14−21,381→ 0 total - Disposition to Issuer
Stock Option (right to buy)
[F11]2026-05-14−82,500→ 0 totalExercise: $19.39→ Common Stock (82,500 underlying) - Disposition to Issuer
Stock Option (right to buy)
[F11]2026-05-14−14,799→ 0 totalExercise: $13.85→ Common Stock (14,799 underlying) - Disposition to Issuer
Stock Option (right to buy)
[F11]2026-05-14−27,224→ 0 totalExercise: $35.46→ Common Stock (27,224 underlying) - Disposition to Issuer
Stock Option (right to buy)
[F12]2026-05-14−18,750→ 0 totalExercise: $44.33→ Common Stock (18,750 underlying) - Disposition to Issuer
Stock Option (right to buy)
[F12]2026-05-14−30,000→ 0 totalExercise: $44.90→ Common Stock (30,000 underlying) - Disposition to Issuer
Stock Option (right to buy)
[F13]2026-05-14−6,952→ 0 totalExercise: $47.12→ Common Stock (6,952 underlying) - Disposition to Issuer
Stock Option (right to buy)
[F13]2026-05-14−30,845→ 0 totalExercise: $52.66→ Common Stock (30,845 underlying) - Disposition to Issuer
Stock Option (right to buy)
[F13]2026-05-14−24,666→ 0 totalExercise: $66.30→ Common Stock (24,666 underlying)
Footnotes (13)
- [F1]Pursuant to the terms of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), by and among Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Issuer"), Biogen Inc. ("Parent") and Parent's direct wholly-owned subsidiary, Aspen Purchaser Sub, Inc. ("Purchaser"), dated as of March 31, 2026, the shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Issuer (the "Common Stock") that were tendered to Purchaser prior to the expiration time of the tender offer were exchanged for: (i) $41.00 per share of Common Stock, net to the seller in cash, without interest and subject to reduction for any applicable tax withholding (the "Cash Amount"), plus (ii) one contractual, non-transferable contingent value right per share of Common Stock (each, a "CVR"),
- [F10](continued from footnote 9) Subject to the holder's continued service through the vesting dates applicable to the Converted RSU Award under its terms as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, all payments in respect of such Converted RSU Award pursuant to the Merger Agreement will vest and become payable at the same time as the underlying Converted RSU Award would have vested and become settled pursuant to its terms and shall otherwise remain subject to the same terms and conditions (including any "double-trigger" vesting provisions applicable to the Converted RSU Award immediately prior to the Effective Time, as extended as provided by the Merger Agreement) as were applicable to the underlying RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and the terms of the CVR Agreement.
- [F11]Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, each outstanding and unexercised option to purchase shares of Common Stock that was vested pursuant to its existing terms or that vested as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (each, a "Cash-Out Option") and had an exercise price per share that was less than $41.00 (the Cash Amount) was automatically cancelled and converted into the right to receive (i) an amount of cash, without interest and less applicable tax withholding, equal to the product of (x) the total number of shares of Common Stock underlying such option, multiplied by (y) the excess of the Cash Amount over the exercise price per share of such option and (ii) one CVR for each share of Common Stock underlying such option.
- [F12]Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, each Cash-Out Option that had an exercise price per share that was equal to or greater than the Cash Amount, and less than the sum of (i) $41.00 (the Cash Amount) plus (ii) $4.00 (i.e., the maximum amount payable pursuant to a CVR assuming that the milestones are achieved) (such sum of $45.00, the "Aggregate Amount"), was automatically cancelled and converted into the right to receive one CVR for each share of Common Stock underlying such Cash-Out Option (with any payable milestone payment amounts being reduced by the excess, if any, of the applicable exercise price per share over the Cash Amount).
- [F13]Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, each vested or unvested option with an exercise price per share that was equal to or greater than $45.00 (the Aggregate Amount) was cancelled without consideration and will have no further force or effect.
- [F2](continued from footnote 1) which entitles the holder to receive potential payments of up to an aggregate of $4.00 in cash, without interest and subject to reduction for any applicable tax withholding, upon the achievement of certain specified milestones in accordance with the terms and conditions of a contingent value rights agreement (the "CVR Agreement" and the Cash Amount plus one CVR, together, the "Offer Price"). After completion of the tender offer, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Purchaser merged with and into the Issuer (the "Merger"), effective as of the filing and acceptance of the certificate of merger relating thereto on May 14, 2026 (the "Effective Time"), with the Issuer continuing as the surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation") and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. In the Merger, each share of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, subject to certain exceptions,
- [F3](continued from footnote 2) was automatically converted into the right to receive the Offer Price from Purchaser, without interest and subject to reduction for any applicable withholding taxes.
- [F4]Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, each outstanding RSU that was not a Cash-Out RSU Award (each, a "Converted RSU Award") that was subject to both a time-based and a performance-based vesting schedule (other than RSUs granted in January 2026 and for which performance-based vesting schedule was based on total shareholder return), was automatically cancelled and converted into the contingent right to receive (i) an amount of cash, without interest and less applicable tax withholding, equal to the product of (x) the total number of shares of Common Stock underlying such Converted RSU Award, as determined based on the target level of performance, multiplied by (y) the Cash Amount and (ii) one CVR for each share of Common Stock underlying such Converted RSU Award.
- [F5](continued from footnote 4) Subject to the holder's continued service through the vesting dates applicable to the Converted RSU Award under its terms as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, all payments in respect of such Converted RSU Award pursuant to the Merger Agreement will vest and become payable at the same time as the underlying Converted RSU Award would have vested and become settled pursuant to its terms and shall otherwise remain subject to the same terms and conditions (including any "double-trigger" vesting provisions applicable to the Converted RSU Award immediately prior to the Effective Time, as extended as provided by the Merger Agreement) as were applicable to the underlying RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and the terms of the CVR Agreement, provided that such payments will no longer be subject to performance-based vesting.
- [F6]Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, each Converted RSU Award that was granted in January 2026 subject to both a time-based and a performance-based vesting schedule, with the performance-based vesting schedule based on performance with respect to total shareholder return ("TSR") relative to the TSR of the group of companies in the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index ("Relative TSR"), was automatically cancelled and converted into the contingent right to receive (i) an amount of cash, without interest and less applicable tax withholding, equal to the product of (x) the total number of shares of Common Stock underlying such Converted RSU Award, as determined based on the actual performance determined by the compensation committee of the Issuer's board of directors as of May 8, 2026 (which is the latest practicable date prior to the Effective Time),
- [F7](continued from footnote 6) multiplied by (y) the Cash Amount and (ii) one CVR for each share of Common Stock underlying such Converted RSU Award. On May 11, 2026, the compensation committee certified that the Relative TSR as of May 8, 2026 was at the 93.3rd percentile, which resulted in a payout percentage of 200% of target for each such Converted RSU Award, as reported in the table above. Subject to the holder's continued service through the vesting dates applicable to the Converted RSU Award under its terms as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, all payments in respect of such Converted RSU Award pursuant to the Merger Agreement will vest and become payable at the same time as the underlying Converted RSU Award would have vested and become settled pursuant to its terms and shall otherwise remain subject to the same terms and conditions (including any "double-trigger" vesting provisions applicable to the Converted RSU Award immediately prior to the Effective Time,
- [F8](continued from footnote 7) as extended as provided by the Merger Agreement) as were applicable to the underlying RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and the terms of the CVR Agreement, provided that such payments will no longer be subject to performance-based vesting.
- [F9]Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, each Converted RSU Award that was subject solely to a time-based vesting schedule (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Converted RSU Award for which the performance period of any applicable performance metric had already ended) was automatically cancelled and converted into the contingent right to receive (i) an amount of cash, without interest and less applicable tax withholding, equal to the product of (x) the total number of shares of Common Stock underlying such Converted RSU Award multiplied by (y) the Cash Amount and (ii) one CVR for each share of Common Stock underlying such Converted RSU Award.
Signature
/s/ David Watson, attorney-in-fact for Mark DeLong|2026-05-14