# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001657719
**File Stem:** 0000899243-23-005782
**Filing Date:** 2023-2
**Character Count:** 7892
**Document Hash:** e14a165a89bc29979155cb7e6fcca3e6
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0000899243-23-005782.hdr.sgml**: 20230222

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0000899243-23-005782

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 4

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 1

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20230221

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20230222

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20230222

**REPORTING-OWNER**: 

**OWNER DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Watson David O.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001657719

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 4
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-38276
- **FILM NUMBER:** 23650482

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 6400 WESTWIND WAY
- **STREET 2:** SUITE A
- **CITY:** CRESTWOOD
- **STATE:** KY
- **ZIP:** 40014
**ISSUER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001492422
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
- **IRS NUMBER:** 271537290
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** DE
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 100 FIFTH AVENUE
- **CITY:** WALTHAM
- **STATE:** MA
- **ZIP:** 02451
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 617-977-5700

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 100 FIFTH AVENUE
- **CITY:** WALTHAM
- **STATE:** MA
- **ZIP:** 02451

### UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
**Washington, D.C. 20549**

## FORM 4

### STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

[ ] Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **1. Name and Address of Reporting Person**<sup>*</sup><br>Watson David O.<br><sub>(Last) (First) (Middle)</sub><br>C/O APELLIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.<br>100 FIFTH AVENUE.<br><sub>(Street)</sub><br>WALTHAM, MA 02451<br><sub>(City) (State) (Zip)</sub> | **3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)**<br>2023-02-21 | **5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer**<br>(Check all applicable)<br>[ ] Director [ ] 10% Owner<br>[X] Officer (give title below) [ ] Other (specify below)<br>_General Counsel_ |
| **2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol**<br>Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. [ APLS ] | **4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)**<br>  | **6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)**<br>[X] Form filed by One Reporting Person<br>[ ] Form filed by More than One Reporting Person |

---

## Table I - Non-Derivative Securities

---

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Security | 2. Transaction Date | 2A. Deemed Execution Date | 3. Transaction Code (V) | 3. Transaction Code (V) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned | 6. Ownership Form | 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| 1. Title of Security | 2. Transaction Date | 2A. Deemed Execution Date | Code | V | Amount | (A) or (D) | Price | 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned | 6. Ownership Form | 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| Common Stock | 2023-02-21 |  | A |  | 9886<sup>(1)</sup> | A | $0.00 | 175793 | D |  |
| Common Stock | 2023-02-21 |  | F |  | 825<sup>(2)</sup> | D | $58.50 | 174968 | D |  |
| Common Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3333 | I<sup>(3)</sup> | Indirect Owner (Custodial Account for Son) |
| Common Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6667 | I<sup>(4)</sup> | Indirect Owner (The Watson Education Trust) |

---

## Table II - Derivative Securities

---

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | 2. Conversion or Exercise Price | 3. Transaction Date | 3A. Deemed Execution Date | 4. Transaction Code (V) | 4. Transaction Code (V) | 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date | 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date | 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 8. Price of Derivative Security | 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned | 10. Ownership Form | 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | 2. Conversion or Exercise Price | 3. Transaction Date | 3A. Deemed Execution Date | Code | V | (A) | (D) | Date Exercisable | Expiration Date | Title | Amount or Number of Shares | 8. Price of Derivative Security | 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned | 10. Ownership Form | 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| Stock Option (Right to Buy) | $35.46 | 2023-02-21 |  | A |  | 14023 |  | <sup>(5)</sup> | 2032-01-20 | Common Stock | 14023 | $0.00 | 14023 | D |  |

---

### Footnotes:

(1) The Reporting Person was granted performance-based restricted stock units ("PRSUs") on January 21, 2022, the vesting of which was subject to the attainment of each of the following events: (i) the submission of a new drug application ("NDA") for intravitreal pegcetacoplan with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for the treatment of geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration in the second quarter of 2022; (ii) the acceptance of such NDA with priority review by the FDA; and (iii) receipt of approval of the NDA by the FDA by March 15, 2023 (collectively, the "2022 Performance Condition"). On February 21, 2023, the Compensation Committee determined that the 2022 Performance Condition had been achieved, resulting in the vesting of 2,471 shares of common stock, representing 25% of the shares underlying the PRSUs.  The remaining shares underlying the PRSUs vest as to 25% on each anniversary of the grant date thereafter, subject to continued service.

(2) Represents shares withheld by the Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of PRSUs.

(3) This represents a custodial account held by the reporting person for the sole benefit of his minor son.

(4) The securities are held by The Watson Education Trust (the "Trust"), for which the reporting person serves as trustee. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership over the shares held by the Trust except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

(5) The Reporting Person was granted performance-based stock options on January 21, 2022, the vesting of which was subject to the attainment of the 2022 Performance Condition. On February 21, 2023, the Compensation Committee determined that the 2022 Performance Condition had been achieved, resulting in the vesting of 25% of the shares underlying the option. The remaining shares underlying the option vest in equal monthly installments thereafter through the fourth anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued service.

**Signature:** /s/ David Watson  
**Date:** 2023-02-21

### Remarks:

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

**Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.**