S-8

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 4, 2021

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

The Securities Act of 1933

CEREVEL THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware		85-3911080
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

222 Jacobs Street, Suite 200

Cambridge, MA 02141

(844) 304-2048

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”)

Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. Amended and Restated 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2020 ESPP”)

(Full Title of the Plans)

N. Anthony Coles, M.D.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.

222 Jacobs Street, Suite 200

Cambridge, MA 02141

(844) 304-2048

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

Copies to:

Stuart M. Cable, Esq.

Arthur R. McGivern, Esq.

Goodwin Procter LLP

100 Northern Avenue

Boston, Massachusetts 02210

Tel: (617) 570-1000

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

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. ☐

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE



Title of Securities to be Registered	Amount to be Registered⁽¹⁾	Proposed Maximum Offering Price per Share	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price	Amount of Registration Fee
Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share	29,135,637 shares⁽²⁾	$16.84⁽³⁾	$490,644,127.08	$53,529.28
Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share	2,927,163 shares⁽⁴⁾	$14.31⁽⁵⁾	$41,887,702.53	$4,569.95
Total	32,062,800 shares		$532,531,829.61	$58,099.23

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement (this “Registration Statement”) shall also cover any additional shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “common stock”) of Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (the “Registrant”) which become issuable under the above-named plans by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of outstanding shares of common stock. Pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement shall also cover an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plans described herein.

(2)

Represents 24,050,679 shares of common stock initially reserved for future issuance under the 2020 Plan plus 5,084,958 additional shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2020 Plan on January 1, 2021. The 2020 Plan provides that the number of shares of common stock reserved and available for issuance under the 2020 Plan shall be cumulatively increased on January 1 of each year. The number of shares of common stock increased each year will be equal to the lesser of: (i) 4% of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31 or (ii) such lesser amount as determined by the Registrant’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).

(3)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) of the Securities Act, and based on $16.84, the average of the high and low sale prices of the common stock as reported on The Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) on December 31, 2020 (such date being within five business days of the date that this Registration Statement was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”)).

(4)

Represents 1,655,924 shares of common stock initially reserved for future issuance under the 2020 ESPP plus 1,271,239 additional shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2020 ESPP on January 1, 2021. The 2020 ESPP provides that the number of shares of common stock reserved and available for issuance under the 2020 ESPP shall be cumulatively increased on January 1 of each year. The number of shares of common stock increased each year will be equal to the lesser of: (i) 1% of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31 or (ii) such lesser amount as determined by the Board.

(5)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(a) of the Securities Act, and based on 85% of $16.84, the average of the high and low sale prices of the common stock as reported on Nasdaq on December 31, 2020 (such date being within five business days of the date that this Registration Statement was filed with the Commission). Pursuant to the 2020 ESPP, the purchase price of the shares of common stock reserved for issuance thereunder will be 85% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the first trading day of the offering period or on the exercise date, whichever is less.

Proposed sales to take place as soon after the effective date of the Registration Statement as awards are granted, exercised or distributed under the above-named plans.

Part I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item 1. Plan Information.

The documents containing the information specified in this Item 1 will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act.

Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.

The documents containing the information specified in this Item 2 will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act.

Part II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents filed with the Commission:

(a)

The prospectus filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, on December 4, 2020, relating to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333- 250964), which contains the Registrant’s audited financial statements for the latest fiscal year for which such statements have been filed;

(b)

The Registrant’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended June 30, 2020 (as filed with the Commission on August 14, 2020) and September 30, 2020 (as filed with the Commission on November 16, 2020);

(c)

The description of the Registrant’s common stock contained in the Registrant’s registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-39311), filed by the Registrant with the Commission under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on June 4, 2020, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

(d)

The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 9, 2020, June 15, 2020, July 22, 2020, July 30, 2020 (Items 1.01, 3.02 and 9.01), October 5, 2020, October 21, 2020, October 26, 2020, November 2, 2020 (as amended on November 16, 2020), November 20, 2020 and December 9, 2020.

All documents that the registrant subsequently files pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all of the shares of common stock offered have been sold or which deregisters all of such shares then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.

Under no circumstances will any information filed under current items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K be deemed incorporated herein by reference unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (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.

The Registrant has adopted provisions in the Registrant’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, which became effective in connection with the completion of the Registrant’s business combination on October 27, 2020, that limit or eliminate the personal liability of the Registrant’s directors to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. Consequently, a director will not be personally liable to the Registrant or its 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 the Registrant or its stockholders;

•

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

•

any unlawful payments related to dividends or unlawful stock purchases, redemptions or other distributions; 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, the Registrant’s bylaws provide that:

•

the Registrant will indemnify its directors, officers and, in the discretion of its 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

•

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

The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with several of its directors and executive officers. These agreements provide that the registrant will indemnify each of its directors and executive officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. The registrant will advance expenses, including attorneys’ fees (but excluding judgments, fines and settlement amounts), to each indemnified director or executive officer in connection with any proceeding in which indemnification is available and the registrant will indemnify its directors and officers for any action or proceeding arising out of that person’s services as a director or officer brought on behalf of the registrant or in furtherance of the Registrant’s rights. Additionally, certain of the Registrant’s directors may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance provided by their affiliates or other third parties, which indemnification relates to and might apply to the same proceedings arising out of such director’s services as a director referenced herein. Nonetheless, the Registrant has agreed in the indemnification agreements that the Registrant’s obligations to those same directors are primary and any obligation of such affiliates or other third parties to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the expenses or liabilities incurred by those directors are secondary.

The registrant also maintains general liability insurance which covers certain liabilities of its 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 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.		Description

4.1		Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Annex C to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus).

4.2		By-laws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Annex D to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus).

4.3		Warrant Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and ARYA Sciences Acquisition Corp II, dated June 9, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 9, 2020).

4.4		Specimen Warrant Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Commission on May 29, 2020).

4.5		Amended and Restated Registration and Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated October 27, 2020, by and among the Registrant and the stockholders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-250964), filed with the Commission on November 25, 2020).

5.1*		Opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP.

23.1*		Consent of WithumSmith+Brown, PC, independent registered public accounting firm.

23.2*		Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.

23.3*		Consent of Goodwin Procter LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1*		Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this Registration Statement).

99.1		Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Annex J to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus).

99.2		Forms of Award Agreements under the Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 2, 2020).

99.3*		Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. Amended and Restated 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

*	Filed herewith.

Item 9. Undertakings.

(a) The 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 the 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% 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 the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement.

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) herein 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 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)) that are incorporated by reference in 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 therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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

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

(c) 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.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts, on January 4, 2021.


CEREVEL THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.

By:		/s/ N. Anthony Coles
Name:		N. Anthony Coles
Title:		President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES

KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENT, that each individual whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of N. Anthony Coles, Kathy Yi and Mark Bodenrader as such person’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person in such person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Commission granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that any said attorney-in-fact and agent, or any substitute or substitutes of any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following person in the capacities and on the date indicated below.


Signature	Title	Date

/s/ N. Anthony Coles N. Anthony Coles	Chairman, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)	January 4, 2021

/s/ Kathy Yi Kathy Yi	Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)	January 4, 2021

/s/ Mark Bodenrader Mark Bodenrader	Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)	January 4, 2021

/s/ Morris Birnbaum Morris Birnbaum	Director	January 4, 2021

/s/ Marijn Dekkers Marijn Dekkers	Director	January 4, 2021

/s/ Douglas Giordano Douglas Giordano	Director	January 4, 2021


Signature	Title	Date

/s/ Christopher Gordon Christopher Gordon	Director	January 4, 2021

/s/ Adam Koppel Adam Koppel	Director	January 4, 2021

/s/ Ruth McKernan Ruth McKernan	Director	January 4, 2021

/s/ Norbert Riedel Norbert Riedel	Director	January 4, 2021

/s/ Gabrielle Sulzberger Gabrielle Sulzberger	Director	January 4, 2021