SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE TO
(Rule 14d-100)

TENDER OFFER STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 14(D)(1) OR 13(E)(1) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934

ARQULE, INC.
(Name of Subject Company (Issuer))

Argon Merger Sub, Inc.
a wholly-owned subsidiary of

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
(Names of Filing Persons (Offerors))

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
(Title of Class of Securities)

04269E107
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities (Underlying Common Stock))

Geralyn S. Ritter
Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary Merck & Co., Inc.
2000 Galloping Hill Road Kenilworth, NJ 07033
(908) 740-4000
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Filing Persons)

Copies to:

Catherine J. Dargan, Esq.
Michael J. Riella, Esq.
Covington & Burling LLP
One CityCenter
850 Tenth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001-4956
+1 (202) 662 6000

Calculation of Filing Fee

Transaction Valuation*	Amount of Filing Fee**
$2,774,378,700.00	$360,114.36

*Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the filing fee. This calculation is based on the offer to purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of ArQule, Inc. (“ArQule”), at a purchase price of $20.00 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest and less any applicable tax withholding. As of December 11, 2019 (the most recent practicable date): (i) 120,873,271 shares of ArQule common stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of ArQule common stock were held by ArQule in its treasury, (iii) 12,469,512 shares of ArQule common stock were subject to outstanding ArQule stock options, (iv) no shares of ArQule common stock were subject to outstanding ArQule restricted stock unit awards, (v) warrants to purchase an aggregate of 5,361,556 shares of ArQule common stock were outstanding, and (vi) rights to purchase a maximum of 14,596 shares of ArQule common stock during the final offering period were outstanding under ArQule’s 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

**The filing fee was calculated in accordance with Rule 0-11 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Fee Rate Advisory No. 1 for Fiscal Year 2020, issued August 23, 2019, by multiplying the transaction value by 0.0001298.

Check the box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

Amount Previously Paid: N/A	Filing Party: N/A
Form or Registration No.: N/A	Date Filed: N/A

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

Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the statement relates:

☒

Third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1.

Issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4.

Going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3.

Amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2.

Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender offer: o

If applicable, check the appropriate box(es) below to designate the appropriate rule provision(s) relied upon:

Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer)

Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer)

This Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (together with any amendments and supplements hereto, this “Schedule TO”) is filed by Argon Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Purchaser”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a New Jersey corporation (“Parent”) and Parent. This Schedule TO relates to the offer by Purchaser to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value, $0.01 per share (the “Shares”), of ArQule, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ArQule”), at a purchase price of $20.00 per Share (the “Offer Price”), net to the seller in cash, without interest and less any applicable tax withholding, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and in the related Letter of Transmittal, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits (a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(B), respectively.

All information contained in the Offer to Purchase (including Schedule I to the Offer to Purchase) and the accompanying Letter of Transmittal is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in response to Items 1 through 9 and Item 11 of this Schedule TO.

The Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 6, 2019 (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among ArQule, Parent and Purchaser, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit (d)(1) hereto, the First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 17, 2019, by and among ArQule, Parent and Purchaser, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit (d)(4) hereto, and the Form of Support Agreement, among Parent, Purchaser and certain stockholders of ArQule, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit (d)(2) hereto, are incorporated herein by reference with respect to Items 4, 5, 6 and 11 of this Schedule TO.

Item 1.

Summary Term Sheet.

The information set forth in the “Summary Term Sheet” of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2.

Subject Company Information.

(a)

The name of the subject company and the issuer of the securities to which this Schedule TO relates is ArQule, Inc., a Delaware corporation. ArQule’s principal executive offices are located at One Wall Street, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803. ArQule’s telephone number is (781) 994-0300.

(b)

This Schedule TO relates to the outstanding Shares. ArQule has advised Purchaser and Parent that, as of December 11, 2019 (the most recent practicable date): (i) 120,873,271 shares of ArQule common stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of ArQule common stock were held by ArQule in its treasury, (iii) 12,469,512 shares of ArQule common stock were subject to outstanding ArQule stock options, (iv) no shares of ArQule common stock were subject to outstanding ArQule restricted stock unit awards, (v) warrants to purchase an aggregate of 5,361,556 shares of ArQule common stock were outstanding, and (vi) rights to purchase a maximum of 14,596 shares of ArQule common stock during the final offering period were outstanding under ArQule’s 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

(c)

The information set forth in Section 6 (entitled “Price Range of Shares; Dividends on the Shares”) of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 3.

Identity and Background of the Filing Person.

(a) – (c) This Schedule TO is filed by Purchaser and Parent. The information set forth in Section 8 (entitled “Certain Information Concerning Parent and Purchaser”) of the Offer to Purchase and Schedule I to the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 4.

Terms of the Transaction.

(a)(1)(i) – (viii), (xii), (a)(2)(i) – (iv), (vii) The information set forth in the following sections of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference:

•

the “Introduction”

•

the “Summary Term Sheet”

•

Section 1 – “Terms of the Offer”

•

Section 2 – “Acceptance for Payment and Payment for Shares”

•

Section 3 – “Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares”

•

Section 4 – “Withdrawal Rights”

•

Section 5 – “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences”

•

Section 11 – “The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements”

•

Section 12 – “Purpose of the Offer; Plans for ArQule”

•

Section 13 – “Certain Effects of the Offer”

•

Section 15 – “Conditions of the Offer”

•

Section 16 – “Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals”

•

Section 17 – “Appraisal Rights”

•

Section 19 – “Miscellaneous”

(a)(1)(ix) – (xi), (a)(2)(v) – (vi) Not applicable.

Item 5.

Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements.

(a), (b) The information set forth in the following sections of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference:

•

the “Introduction”

•

the “Summary Term Sheet”

•

Section 8 – “Certain Information Concerning Parent and Purchaser”

•

Section 10 – “Background of the Offer; Past Contacts or Negotiations with ArQule”

•

Section 11 – “The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements”

•

Section 12 – “Purpose of the Offer; Plans for ArQule”

•

Schedule I

Item 6.

Purposes of the Transaction and Plans or Proposals.

(a), (c)(1) – (7) The information set forth in the following sections of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference:

•

the “Introduction”

•

the “Summary Term Sheet”

•

Section 10 – “Background of the Offer; Past Contacts or Negotiations with ArQule”

•

Section 11 – “The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements”

•

Section 12 – “Purpose of the Offer; Plans for ArQule”

•

Section 13 – “Certain Effects of the Offer”

•

Section 14 – “Dividends and Distributions”

•

Schedule I

Item 7.

Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

(a), (d) The information set forth in the following sections of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference:

•

the “Summary Term Sheet”

•

Section 9 – “Source and Amount of Funds”

(b) Not applicable.

Item 8.

Interest in Securities of the Subject Company.

(a) The information set forth in the following sections of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference:

•

the “Summary Term Sheet”

•

Section 8 – “Certain Information Concerning Parent and Purchaser”

•

Section 11 – “The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements”

•

Section 12 – “Purpose of the Offer; Plans for ArQule”

•

Schedule I

(b) The information set forth in the following sections of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference:

•

Section 8 – “Certain Information Concerning Parent and Purchaser”

•

Schedule I

Item 9.

Persons/Assets, Retained, Employed, Compensated or Used.

(a) The information set forth in the following sections of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference:

•

the “Summary Term Sheet”

•

Section 3 – “Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares”

•

Section 10 – “Background of the Offer; Past Contacts or Negotiations with ArQule”

•

Section 18 – “Fees and Expenses”

Item 10.

Financial Statements.

Not applicable.

Item 11.

Additional Information.

(a)(1) The information set forth in the following sections of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference:

•

Section 8 – “Certain Information Concerning Parent and Purchaser”

•

Section 10 – “Background of the Offer; Past Contacts or Negotiations with ArQule”

•

Section 11 – “The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements”

•

Section 12 – “Purpose of the Offer; Plans for ArQule”

(a)(2) The information set forth in the following sections of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference:

•

Section 12 – “Purpose of the Offer; Plans for ArQule”

•

Section 15 – “Conditions of the Offer”

•

Section 16 – “Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals”

(a)(3) The information set forth in the following sections of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference:

•

Section 15 – “Conditions of the Offer”

•

Section 16 – “Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals”

(a)(4) The information set forth in the following sections of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference:

•

Section 13 – “Certain Effects of the Offer”

(a)(5) The information set forth in the following sections of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference:

•

Section 16 – “Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals”

Item 12.

Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
(a)(1)(A)	Offer to Purchase, dated December 17, 2019.*
(a)(1)(B)	Form of Letter of Transmittal (including Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on IRS Form W-9).*
(a)(1)(C)	Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees.*
(a)(1)(D)	Form of Letter to Clients for use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees.*
(a)(1)(E)	Joint press release issued by Merck & Co, Inc. and ArQule, Inc., dated December 9, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Schedule TO-C filed by Parent with the SEC on December 9, 2019).
(a)(1)(F)	Summary Advertisement, dated December 17, 2019.*
(a)(1)(G)	Press release issued by Merck & Co., Inc., dated December 17, 2019.*
(b)	Not applicable.
(d)(1)	Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 6, 2019, among ArQule, Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. and Argon Merger Sub, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by ArQule on December 9, 2019).
(d)(2)	Form of Support Agreement, dated as of December 6, 2019, among Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Argon Merger Sub, Inc. and certain stockholders of ArQule, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by ArQule on December 9, 2019).
(d)(3)	Amended and Restated Mutual Confidential Disclosure Agreement, effective as of November 25, 2019, between ArQule, Inc. and Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Schedule 13D filed by Merck & Co., Inc. on December 16, 2019).
(d)(4)	First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 17, 2019, among ArQule, Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. and Argon Merger Sub, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by ArQule on December 17, 2019).
(g)	Not applicable.
(h)	Not applicable.

Filed herewith.

Item 13.

Information Required by Schedule 13E-3.

Not applicable.

SIGNATURES

After due inquiry and to the best knowledge and belief of the undersigned, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Argon Merger Sub, Inc.

By:	/s/ Faye C. Brown
	Name:	Faye C. Brown
	Title:	Assistant Secretary

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.

By:	/s/ Sunil A. Patel
	Name:	Sunil A. Patel
	Title:	Senior Vice President, Corporate Development

Date: December 17, 2019