Sec Form 4 Filing - Adcock Richard @ NantKwest, Inc. - 2021-02-05

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

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Adcock Richard 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol NantKwest, Inc. [ NK] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Chief Executive Officer (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O NANTKWEST, INC., 3530 JOHN HOPKINS COURT 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 02/05/2021 (Street) SAN DIEGO, CA92121 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock ( 1 ) 02/05/2021 M 150,000 A $ 0 150,000 D Common Stock 02/05/2021 F 68,171 D $ 23.72 81,829 D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Stock Option (right to buy) $ 23.72 02/05/2021 A 750,000 ( 2 ) 02/05/2031 Common Stock 750,000 $ 0 750,000 D Restricted Stock Units ( 1 ) 02/05/2021 A 250,000 ( 3 ) ( 3 ) Common Stock 250,000 $ 0 250,000 D Restricted Stock Units ( 1 ) 02/05/2021 A 150,000 ( 4 ) ( 4 ) Common Stock 150,000 $ 0 150,000 D Restricted Stock Units ( 1 ) 02/05/2021 M 150,000 ( 4 ) ( 4 ) Common Stock 150,000 $ 0 0 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Adcock Richard C/O NANTKWEST, INC. 3530 JOHN HOPKINS COURT SAN DIEGO, CA92121 Chief Executive Officer Signatures /s/ Sonja Nelson, as Attorney-in-Fact 02/09/2021 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Each restricted stock unit ("RSU") represents a contingent right to receive one share of NantKwest, Inc. common stock. ( 2 )Subject to the reporting person's continuing to be a Service Provider (as defined in the Amended and Restated 2015 Equity Incentive Plan) through each applicable vesting date, one-third (1/3rd) of the shares subject to the option shall vest in equal annual installments on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the vesting commencement date, such that all shares shall be fully vested on the third anniversary of the vesting commencement date. The vesting commencement date for this option is February 5, 2021. ( 3 )Subject to the reporting person's continuing to be a Service Provider (as defined in the Amended and Restated 2015 Equity Incentive Plan) through each applicable vesting date, 83,333 of the shares subject to the RSU award shall vest in equal annual installments on each of the first and second anniversaries of the vesting commencement date and 83,334 of the shares shall vest on the third anniversary of the vesting commencement date, such that all shares shall be fully vested on the third anniversary of the vesting commencement date. The vesting commencement date for this RSU award is February 5, 2021. ( 4 )One hundred percent (100%) of the shares subject to the RSU award shall vest on the date of grant.

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).

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