false 0001419041 0001419041 2023-06-26 2023-06-26

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 26, 2023

 

 

FORTE BIOSCIENCES, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-38052   26-1243872

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

3060 Pegasus Park Dr.

Building 6

Dallas, Texas

    75247
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)     (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (310) 618-6994

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value   FBRX   The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 


Item 1.01.

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

As previously disclosed, on July 11, 2022, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Forte Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one right (each, a “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company to stockholders of record as of the close of business on July 21, 2022 (the “Record Date”). In connection with the distribution of the Rights, the Company entered into a Preferred Stock Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”), dated as of July 12, 2022, between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent.

The Board adopted the Rights Agreement to protect stockholders from coercive or otherwise unfair takeover tactics. In general terms, it works by imposing a significant penalty upon any person or group that acquires 10 percent or more (or 20 percent or more in the case of certain institutional investors who report their holdings on Schedule 13G) of the Common Stock without the approval of the Board. As a result, the overall effect of the Rights Agreement and the issuance of the Rights may be to render more difficult or discourage a merger, tender or exchange offer or other business combination involving the Company that is not approved by the Board. However, neither the Rights Agreement nor the Rights should interfere with any merger, tender or exchange offer or other business combination approved by the Board.

On June 26, 2023, the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Rights Agreement between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent (the “Amendment”), which amends the Rights Agreement. The Amendment extends the expiration of the Rights to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 12, 2024, unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement. All other terms and conditions of the Rights Agreement remain unchanged.

The Rights are in all respects subject to and governed by the provisions of the Rights Agreement, as amended by the Amendment. The description of the Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Rights Agreement, a copy of which has been previously filed by the Company. The description of the Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amendment, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.03.

Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders.

The information set forth under the caption “Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement” is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.08. Shareholder Director Nominations.

On June 26, 2023, the Company announced that the Board has scheduled the Company’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2023 Annual Meeting”) for September 19, 2023.

In accordance with Rule 14a-5(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Company has determined that proposals to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act must be received by the Company at its principal executive offices before the close of business on July 6, 2023. In addition, in order for a stockholder proposal made outside of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or the nomination of a candidate for director to be considered “timely” within the meaning of Rule 14a-4(c) under the Exchange Act in respect of the 2023Annual Meeting, such proposal or nomination must be received by the Company at its principal executive offices before the close of business on July 6, 2023, and be in compliance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws and, if applicable, Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act. Proposals and nominations should be directed to the attention of the Corporate Secretary at the Company’s principal executive offices: 3060 Pegasus Park Drive, Building 6, Dallas, Texas 75247.

Item 8.01. Other Events.

The information set forth under the captions “Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement” and “Item 5.08. Shareholder Director Nominations” is incorporated by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit   

Description

4.1    Amendment No. 1 to Preferred Stock Rights Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2023, by and between Forte Biosciences, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent.
104    The cover page of this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in inline XBRL

 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    FORTE BIOSCIENCES, INC.
Date: June 26, 2023     By:  

/s/ Antony Riley

     

Antony Riley

Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 4.1

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO

PREFERRED STOCK RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO PREFERRED STOCK RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is dated as of June 26, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), and amends that certain Preferred Stock Rights Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2022 (the “Rights Agreement”), by and between Forte Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, as rights agent (the “Rights Agent”). Capitalized terms used in this Amendment and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Rights Agreement.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 27 of the Rights Agreement, for so long as the Rights are redeemable, the Company may in its sole discretion supplement or amend the Rights Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of Rights Certificates, Preferred Stock or Common Stock, and the Rights Agent must, if the Company so directs, execute such supplement or amendment;

WHEREAS, the Rights are currently redeemable;    

WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company has determined that this Amendment is advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders;

WHEREAS, the Company has delivered to the Rights Agent a certificate stating that this Amendment complies with Section 27 of the Rights Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Rights Agent is directed to join in this Amendment.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1. Amendment of the Rights Agreement.

(a) Section 1(z) of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

““Final Expiration Date” means July 12, 2024.”

(b) Exhibits B and C to the Rights Agreement shall be deemed amended in a manner consistent with this Amendment.

2. No Other Amendment; Effect of Amendment. Except as and to the extent expressly modified by this Amendment, the Rights Agreement and the exhibits thereto remain in full force and effect in all respects without any modification. This Amendment will be deemed an amendment to the Rights Agreement and will become effective on the Effective Date. All references to the Rights Agreement shall, from and after the Effective Date, be deemed to be references to the Rights Agreement as amended hereby. In the event of a conflict or an inconsistency between this Amendment and the Rights Agreement and the exhibits thereto, the provisions of this Amendment will govern.


3. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts will for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts will together constitute one and the same instrument, it being understood that all parties hereto need not sign the same counterpart. A signature to this Amendment executed and/or transmitted electronically (including by fax and .pdf) will have the same authority, effect, and enforceability as an original signature. No party hereto may raise the use of such electronic transmission to deliver a signature, or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through such electronic transmission, as a defense to the formation of a contract, and each party hereto forever waives any such defense, except to the extent that such defense relates to lack of authenticity.

4. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Amendment is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Amendment will remain in full force and effect and will in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated; provided, however, that if any such excluded term, provision, covenant or restriction adversely affects the rights, immunities, duties or obligations of the Rights Agent, then the Rights Agent shall be entitled to resign immediately.

5. Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings of the several sections of this Amendment are inserted for convenience only and will not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.

6. Further Assurances. Each of the parties to this Amendment will reasonably cooperate and take such action as may be reasonably requested by the other party in order to carry out the provisions and purposes of this Amendment, the Rights Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder.

7. Governing Law. This Amendment, and all claims or causes of action (whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, or whether at law (including at common law or by statute) or in equity) that may be based on, arise out of or relate to this Amendment, or the negotiation, execution, performance or subject matter of this Amendment, will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

[Signature page follows.]

 

-2-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the day and year first written above.

 

FORTE BIOSCIENCES, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Paul A. Wagner

Name:

 

Paul A. Wagner, Ph.D.

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

By:

 

/s/ Kathy Heagerty

Name:

 

Kathy Heagerty

Title:

 

Manager, Client Management

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Preferred Stock Rights Agreement]