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): March 16, 2017

 

 

 

TONIX PHARMACEUTICALS HOLDING CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada   001-36019   26-1434750

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

509 Madison Avenue, Suite 306, New York, New York 10022

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 980-9155

 

Copy of correspondence to:

 

Marc J. Ross, Esq.

James M. Turner, Esq.

Sichenzia Ross Ference Kesner LLP

61 Broadway

New York, New York 10006

Tel:  (212) 930-9700   Fax:  (212) 930-9725

 

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))

 

 

 

 

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

The Board of Directors of Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), has approved a reverse stock split of the Company’s authorized, issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), at a ratio of 1-for-10 (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The Company anticipates that the Reverse Split will be effective as of 12:01 a.m. on March 17, 2017 (the “Effective Date”).

 

Reason for the Reverse Stock Split

 

The Company is effecting the Reverse Stock Split to satisfy the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement, as set forth in Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) (the “Rule”), for continued listing on The NASDAQ Global Market. As previously disclosed, on October 18, 2016, the Company received a letter from the staff of the Listing Qualifications Department of NASDAQ indicating that for the last 30 consecutive business days, the closing bid price of the Company’s Common Stock had been below $1.00 per share, the minimum closing bid price required by the Rule. 

 

In accordance with Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company has been granted 180 calendar days, or until April 17, 2017, to regain compliance with the Rule (the “Compliance Period”). To regain compliance, the closing bid price of the Company’s Common Stock must be at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days during the Compliance Period.

 

Effects of the Reverse Stock Split

 

Effective Date; Symbol; CUSIP Number.  The Reverse Stock Split becomes effective with NASDAQ and the Common Stock will begin trading on a split-adjusted basis at the open of business on the Effective Date. In connection with the Reverse Stock Split, the CUSIP number for the Common Stock will change to 890260409.

 

Split Adjustment; Treatment of Fractional Shares . On the Effective Date, the total number of shares of Common Stock held by each stockholder of the Company will be converted automatically into the number of shares of Common Stock equal to: (i) the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock held by each such stockholder immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split divided by (ii) 10. The Company will issue one whole share of the post-Reverse Stock Split Common Stock to any stockholder who otherwise would have received a fractional share as a result of the Reverse Stock Split, determined at the beneficial owner level by share certificate. As a result, no fractional shares will be issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split and no cash or other consideration will be paid in connection with any fractional shares that would otherwise have resulted from the Reverse Stock Split. The Company intends to treat stockholders holding shares of Common Stock in “street name” (that is, held through a bank, broker or other nominee) in the same manner as stockholders of record whose shares of Common Stock are registered in their names. Banks, brokers or other nominees will be instructed to effect the Reverse Stock Split for their beneficial holders holding shares of our Common Stock in “street name;” however, these banks, brokers or other nominees may apply their own specific procedures for processing the Reverse Stock Split.

 

Also on the Effective Date, all options, warrants and other convertible securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split will be adjusted by dividing the number of shares of Common Stock into which the options, warrants and other convertible securities are exercisable or convertible by 10 and multiplying the exercise or conversion price thereof by 10, all in accordance with the terms of the plans, agreements or arrangements governing such options, warrants and other convertible securities and subject to rounding to the nearest whole share. Such proportional adjustments will also be made to the number of shares and restricted stock units issued and issuable under the Company’s equity compensation plan.

 

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Certificated and Non-Certificated Shares . Stockholders who are holding their shares in electronic form at brokerage firms do not need to take any action, as the effect of the Reverse Stock Split will automatically be reflected in their brokerage accounts.

 

Stockholders holding paper certificates may (but are not required to) send the certificates to the Company’s transfer agent and registrar, VStock Transfer, LLC (“VStock”), at the address set forth below. VStock will issue a new stock certificate reflecting the Reverse Stock Split to each requesting stockholder. VStock can be contacted at (212) 828-8436.

 

VStock Transfer, LLC

18 Lafayette Place

Woodmere, NY 11598

 

Nevada State Filing . The Company effected the Reverse Stock Split pursuant to the Company’s filing of a Certificate of Change (the “Certificate”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on March 13, 2017, in accordance with Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) Section 78.209. The Certificate will become effective at 12:01 a.m. on the Effective Date. Under Nevada law, no amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation is required in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. A copy of the Certificate is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

No Stockholder Approval Required . Under Nevada law, because the Reverse Stock Split was approved by the Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with NRS Section 78.207, no stockholder approval is required. Pursuant to NRS Section 78.207, the Company may effect the Reverse Stock Split without stockholder approval if (i) both the number of authorized shares of the Common Stock and the number of issued and outstanding shares of the Common Stock are proportionally reduced as a result of the Reverse Stock Split, (ii) the Reverse Stock Split does not adversely affect any other class of stock of the Company and (iii) the Company does not pay money or issue scrip to stockholders who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional share as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. As described herein, the Reverse Stock Split complies with such requirements.

 

Capitalization . The Company is currently authorized to issue 150,000,000 shares of Common Stock. As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, the Company will be authorized to issue 15,000,000 shares of Common Stock. As of March 16, 2017, there were 41,088,592 shares of Common Stock outstanding. As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, there will be approximately 4,108,860 shares of Common Stock outstanding (subject to adjustment due to the effect of rounding fractional shares into whole shares). The Reverse Stock Split will not have any effect on the stated par value of the Common Stock.

 

The Reverse Stock Split does not affect the Company’s authorized preferred stock. There are no outstanding shares of the Company’s preferred stock. After the Reverse Stock Split, the Company’s authorized preferred Stock of 5,000,000 shares will remain unchanged.

 

Immediately after the Reverse Stock Split, each stockholder’s percentage ownership interest in the Company and proportional voting power will remain virtually unchanged except for minor changes and adjustments that will result from rounding fractional shares into whole shares. The rights and privileges of the holders of shares of Common Stock will be substantially unaffected by the Reverse Stock Split.

 

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

The information set forth in Item 3.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03. A copy of the Certificate is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

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Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

On March 16, 2017, the Company issued a press release announcing the Reverse Stock Split.  A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

3.1 Certificate of Change of Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp., dated March 13, 2017 and effective March 17, 2017
   
99.1 Press Release, dated March 16, 2017, issued by Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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

 

  TONIX PHARMACEUTICALS HOLDING CORP.
   
Date:  March 16, 2017 By: /s/ SETH LEDERMAN
  Seth Lederman
  Chief Executive Officer

 

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Exhibit 3.1

 

 

     

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

 

Tonix Pharmaceuticals Announces

1-for-10 Reverse Stock Split

 

NEW YORK, Mar. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp . (Nasdaq:TNXP) (Tonix), a company that is developing innovative pharmaceutical products to address public health challenges, announced today that it will effect a 1-for-10 reverse stock split of its outstanding common stock. This will be effective for trading purposes as of the commencement of trading on Friday, March 17, 2017.

 

The reverse stock split is intended to increase the per share trading price of Tonix’s common stock to satisfy the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement for continued listing on The NASDAQ Global Market (Rule 5450(a)(1)). Tonix’s common stock will continue to trade on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “TNXP” and under a new CUSIP number, 890260409. As a result of the reverse stock split, every ten pre-split shares of common stock outstanding will become one share of common stock. The reverse stock split will also proportionately reduce the number of shares of authorized common stock from 150 million to 15 million shares.  The reverse split will also apply to common stock issuable upon the exercise of Tonix’s outstanding warrants and stock options.

 

Tonix’s transfer agent, VStock Transfer LLC, which is also acting as the exchange agent for the reverse split, will provide instructions to shareholders regarding the process for exchanging share certificates. Any fractional shares of common stock resulting from the reverse stock split will be rounded up to the nearest whole post-split share and no shareholders will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares.

 

The reverse stock split was previously approved by the Board of Directors of Tonix in accordance with Nevada law, under which no stockholder approval is required. Additional information about the reverse stock split can be found in Tonix’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 16, 2017, a copy of which is also available at www.sec.gov or in the Investor Relations section of Tonix’s website at www.tonixpharma.com .

 

About Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp.

 

Tonix is developing innovative pharmaceutical products to address public health challenges. TNX-102 SL is in Phase 3 development and has been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a serious condition characterized by chronic disability, inadequate treatment options especially for military-related PTSD, and an overall high utilization of healthcare services that contributes to significant economic burdens. The Protectic™ protective eutectic and Angstro-Technology™ formulation are essential elements of the proprietary TNX-102 SL composition for which a Notice of Allowance has been issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Other development efforts include TNX-601 (tianeptine oxalate), a clinical candidate at Pre-IND (Investigational New Drug) application stage, designed for daytime use for the treatment of PTSD, and TNX-801, a potential smallpox-preventing vaccine based on a live synthetic version of horsepox virus (HPXV). HPXV has protective vaccine activity in mice, using a model of lethal vaccinia infection. Vaccine manufacturing activities have been initiated to support further nonclinical testing of TNX-801.

 

This press release and further information about Tonix can be found at www.tonixpharma.com .

 

     

 

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “expect,” and “intend,” among others. These forward-looking statements are based on Tonix's current expectations and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, substantial competition; our need for additional financing; uncertainties of patent protection and litigation; uncertainties of government or third party payor reimbursement; limited research and development efforts and dependence upon third parties; and risks related to failure to obtain FDA clearances or approvals and noncompliance with FDA regulations. As with any pharmaceutical under development, there are significant risks in the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of new products. Tonix does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Investors should read the risk factors set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 3, 2016, and future periodic reports filed with the SEC on or after the date hereof. All of Tonix's forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by all such risk factors and other cautionary statements. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof.

 

Contacts

Jessica Smiley

Investor Relations

investor.relations@tonixpharma.com

(212) 980-9155 x185

 

Edison Advisors (investors)

Tirth Patel

tpatel@edisongroup.com

(646) 653-7035