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): October 4, 2022
SONNET BIOTHERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-35570 | 20-2932652 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
100 Overlook Center, Suite 102
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (609) 375-2227
N/A
(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:
☐ | 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, $0.0001 Par Value | SONN | 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 8.01. Other Events.
On October 4, 2022, Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc. (the “Company,” “we” or “us”) issued a press release announcing that on October 3, 2022, the Company received a letter from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) stating that because the Company’s shares had a closing bid price at or above $1.00 per share for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days, the Company’s stock had regained compliance with the minimum bid price requirement of $1.00 per share for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, as set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), and that the matter is now closed. A copy of the Company’s press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
As previously reported, on August 22, 2022, the Company received notice (the “Notice”) from Nasdaq advising the Company that it is not in compliance with the minimum stockholders’ equity requirement for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market. Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) requires companies listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market to maintain stockholders’ equity of at least $2,500,000 (the “Stockholders’ Equity Requirement”). In the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, the Company reported stockholders’ equity of $764,205, which is below the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement for continued listing. Additionally, the Company did not meet either of the alternative Nasdaq continued listing standards under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, market value of listed securities of at least $35 million, or net income of $500,000 from continuing operations in the most recently completed fiscal year, or in two of the three most recently completed fiscal years.
The Notice had no immediate effect on the listing of the Company’s common stock and the Company’s common stock continues to trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SONN,” subject to the Company’s compliance with the other continued listing requirements.
Pursuant to the Notice, Nasdaq has given the Company 45 calendar days, or until October 6, 2022, to submit to Nasdaq a plan to regain compliance. If the Company’s plan is accepted, Nasdaq may grant an extension of up to 180 calendar days from the date of the Notice to evidence compliance.
The Company is currently evaluating various courses of action to regain compliance and plans to timely submit its plan to Nasdaq to regain compliance with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement. There can be no assurance that the Company’s plan will be accepted or that if it is, the Company will be able to regain compliance. If the Company’s plan to regain compliance is not accepted, or if it is and the Company does not regain compliance within 180 days from the date of Nasdaq’s letter, or if the Company fails to satisfy another Nasdaq requirement for continued listing, Nasdaq could provide notice that the Company’s common stock will become subject to delisting. In such event, Nasdaq rules would permit the Company to appeal the decision to reject the Company’s proposed compliance plan or any delisting determination to a Nasdaq Hearings Panel. The hearing request would stay any suspension or delisting action pending the conclusion of the hearing process and the expiration of any additional extension period granted by the panel following the hearing.
We are not currently in compliance with the continued listing requirements for the Nasdaq Capital Market. If we do not regain compliance and continue to meet the continued listing requirements, our common stock may be delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market, which could affect the market price and liquidity for our common stock and reduce our ability to raise additional capital.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. In order to maintain that listing, we must satisfy minimum financial and other requirements including, without limitation, the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement.
The Company intends to monitor its stockholders’ equity and may, if appropriate, consider implementing available options to regain compliance with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement. There can be no assurance that we will be able to regain compliance with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement or maintain compliance even if we implement an option that regains our compliance.
If we fail to regain compliance with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement or to meet the other applicable continued listing requirements for the Nasdaq Capital Market in the future and Nasdaq determines to delist our common stock, the delisting could adversely affect the market price and liquidity of our common stock and reduce our ability to raise additional capital. In addition, if our common stock is delisted from Nasdaq and the trading price remains below $5.00 per share, trading in our common stock might also become subject to the requirements of certain rules promulgated under the Exchange Act, which require additional disclosure by broker-dealers in connection with any trade involving a stock defined as a “penny stock” (generally, any equity security not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on Nasdaq that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions).
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this communication may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including statements containing the words “predicts,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “goal,” “target,” “estimate,” “potential,” “may,” “might,” “could,” “see,” “seek,” “forecast,” and similar words. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current plans and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties which are, in many instances, beyond the Company’s control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in or contemplated or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the Company’s plans to regain compliance with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement, uncertainties and factors detailed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including in the Company’s Annual Report for the year ended September 30, 2021 on Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC. As a result of such risks, uncertainties and factors, the Company’s actual results may differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements discussed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. The Company is providing the information in this communication as of this date and assumes no obligations to update the information included in this communication or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. | Exhibit | |
99.1 | Press Release dated October 4, 2022 | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
SIGNATURE
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.
Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc. | ||
a Delaware corporation | ||
(Registrant) | ||
Date: October 4, 2022 | By: | /s/ Pankaj Mohan, Ph.D. |
Name: | Pankaj Mohan, Ph.D. | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 99.1
Sonnet BioTherapeutics Regains Compliance with Nasdaq Minimum Bid Price Requirement
PRINCETON, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / October 4, 2022/ Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:SONN) (the “Company” or “Sonnet BioTherapeutics”), a clinical-stage company developing targeted immunotherapeutic drugs, announced today that it received notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq) on October 3, 2022 informing Sonnet that it has regained compliance with the minimum bid price requirement under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Rule”) for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market. In order to regain compliance with the Rule, the Company’s common stock was required to maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 or more for at least 10 consecutive trading days. That requirement was met on September 30, 2022.
Stockholders’ Equity Deficiency
As previously reported, on August 22, 2022, the Company received notice from Nasdaq advising the Company that it is not in compliance with the minimum stockholders’ equity requirement for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market. Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) requires companies listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market to maintain stockholders’ equity of at least $2,500,000 (the “Stockholders’ Equity Requirement”). The notice had no immediate effect on the listing of the Company’s common stock and the Company’s common stock continues to trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SONN,” subject to the Company’s compliance with the other continued listing requirements. Pursuant to the notice, Nasdaq has given the Company 45 calendar days, or until October 6, 2022, to submit to Nasdaq a plan to regain compliance. If the Company’s plan is accepted, Nasdaq may grant an extension of up to 180 calendar days from the date of the Notice to evidence compliance. The Company is currently evaluating various courses of action to regain compliance and plans to timely submit its plan to Nasdaq to regain compliance with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement.
There can be no assurance that the Company’s plan will be accepted or that if it is, the Company will be able to regain compliance. If the Company’s plan to regain compliance is not accepted, or if it is and the Company does not regain compliance within 180 days from the date of Nasdaq’s letter, or if the Company fails to satisfy another Nasdaq requirement for continued listing, Nasdaq could provide notice that the Company’s common stock will become subject to delisting. In such event, Nasdaq rules would permit the Company to appeal the decision to reject the Company’s proposed compliance plan or any delisting determination to a Nasdaq Hearings Panel. The hearing request would stay any suspension or delisting action pending the conclusion of the hearing process and the expiration of any additional extension period granted by the panel following the hearing.
About Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.
Sonnet BioTherapeutics is an oncology-focused biotechnology company with a proprietary platform for innovating biologic drugs of single or bispecific action. Known as FHAB (Fully Human Albumin Binding), the technology utilizes a fully human single chain antibody fragment (scFv) that binds to and “hitch-hikes” on human serum albumin (HSA) for transport to target tissues. Sonnet’s FHAB was designed to specifically target tumor and lymphatic tissue, with an improved therapeutic window for optimizing the safety and efficacy of immune modulating biologic drugs. FHAB is the foundation of a modular, plug-and-play construct for potentiating a range of large molecule therapeutic classes, including cytokines, peptides, antibodies, and vaccines.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, as amended, including those relating to the Company’s product development, clinical and regulatory timelines, market opportunity, competitive position, possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, potential growth opportunities and other statements that are predictive in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate and management’s current beliefs and assumptions.
These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking expressions, including, but not limited to, “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “potential, “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These statements relate to future events or our financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include those set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Sonnet BioTherapeutics Investor Contact
Michael V. Morabito, Ph.D.
Solebury Strategic Communications
917-936-8430
mmorabito@soleburystrat.com
SOURCE: Sonnet BioTherapeutics, Inc.