As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 2020
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
SONNET BIOTHERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 20-2932652 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
100 Overlook Center, Suite 102
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
(609) 375-2227
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Pankaj Mohan, Ph.D.
CEO and Chairman
Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.
100 Overlook Center, Suite 102
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Tel: (609) 375-2227
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies of all communications, including communications sent to the agent for service, to:
Steven M. Skolnick, Esq.
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
1251 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020
Tel: (212) 262-6700
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: [ ]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer: | [ ] | Accelerated filer: | [ ] |
Non-accelerated filer: | [X] | Smaller reporting company: | [X] |
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 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act [ ]
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of each class of securities to be registered(1) | Amount to be registered | Proposed maximum offering price per share | Proposed maximum aggregate offering price | Amount of registration fee | ||||||||||||
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share | 29,487,330 | (1)(2) | $ | 5.66 | (3) | $ | 166,898,288 | (3) | $ | 21,663.40 |
(1) | All 29,487,330 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants are to be offered by certain of the selling stockholders named herein, which warrants were issued on April 16, 2020 to such selling stockholders pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2020, by and among the Registrant, Sonnet BioTherapeutics, Inc., a New Jersey Corporation and the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached thereto. |
(2) | Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, this registration statement covers an indeterminate number of shares that may be issued upon stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. |
(3) | Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee, based on the average of the high and low prices of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on April 20, 2020, a date within five business days prior to the initial filing of this registration statement on April 22, 2020. |
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and does not solicit an offer to buy these securities in any state or other jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to completion, preliminary prospectus dated April 22, 2020
SONNET BIOTHERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
29,487,330 Shares of Common Stock
This prospectus of Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as Chanticleer Holdings, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Sonnet”), relates solely to the resale by the investors listed in the section of this prospectus entitled “Selling Stockholders” (the “Selling Stockholders”) of up to 29,487,330 shares of our common stock (“Common Stock”), par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Shares”). The 29,487,330 Common Shares consist solely of Common Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase Common Shares (the “Warrants”) issued by us on April 16, 2020, pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2020, by and among Sonnet, Sonnet BioTherapeutics, Inc., a New Jersey corporation) (“Sonnet Sub”), and the investors named therein (the “Investors”), as amended (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”). The Warrants are comprised of two series of warrants, the Series A Warrants to purchase Common Stock (the “Series A Warrants”) and the Series B Warrants to Purchase Common Stock (the “Series B Warrants”).
The Series A Warrants have an exercise price of $5.3976, were exercisable upon issuance and have a term of five years from the date of issuance. The Series B Warrants have an exercise price of $0.0001, were exercisable upon issuance and will expire on the day following the later to occur of (i) the 45th trading day immediately following the earlier to occur of (x) the date a holder can sell all underlying securities pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act (“Rule 144”) without restriction or limitation and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) of the Securities Act and (y) April 16, 2021, and (ii) the date on which the Series B Warrants have been exercised in full (without giving effect to any limitation on exercise contained therein) and no shares remain issuable thereunder . We are registering the resale of the Common Shares underlying the Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”) as required by the Registration Rights Agreement we entered into with the Selling Stockholders on February 7, 2020 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). Currently, 3,300,066 Common Shares are issuable under the Series A Warrants, and 2,247,726 Common Shares are issuable under the Series B Warrants. The additional Common Shares included in this prospectus are being registered for resale pursuant to the terms of the Warrants and the Registration Rights Agreement to cover additional Common Shares that may be issuable under the reset provision contained in the Warrants and described herein under “Selling Stockholders” and “Description of Capital Stock—Outstanding Warrants.”
Our registration of the Warrant Shares covered by this prospectus does not mean that the Selling Stockholders will offer or sell any of the Warrant Shares. The Selling Stockholders may sell the Warrant Shares covered by this prospectus in a number of different ways and at varying prices. For additional information on the possible methods of sale that may be used by the Selling Stockholders, you should refer to the section of this prospectus entitled “Plan of Distribution” of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the Warrant Shares sold by the Selling Stockholders, other than any proceeds from any cash exercise of the Warrants.
No underwriter or other person has been engaged to facilitate the sale of the Warrant Shares in this offering. The Selling Stockholders may, individually but not severally, be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, of the Warrant Shares that they are offering pursuant to this prospectus. We will bear all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the Warrant Shares. The Selling Stockholders will bear all commissions and discounts, if any, attributable to their respective sales of the Warrant Shares.
You should read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus carefully before you invest. Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “SONN”. On April 20, 2020, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The NASDAQ Capital Market was $5.59 per share.
Investing in our securities involves risk. You should carefully consider the risks that we have described under the section captioned “Risk Factors” in this prospectus on page 6 before buying our Securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries are referred to herein as “Sonnet,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our,” unless the context indicates otherwise.
You may only rely on the information contained in this prospectus or that we have referred you to. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus and any future prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. Neither the delivery of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus or such prospectus supplement or that the information contained by reference to this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is correct as of any time after its date.
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Some of the statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus may include forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to our research and development activities, business strategy, business plan, financial performance and other future events. These statements include forward-looking statements both with respect to us, specifically, and the biotechnology sector, in general. We make these statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “will” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements for purposes of the federal securities laws or otherwise.
All forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, all of which you should review carefully. Please consider our forward-looking statements in light of those risks as you read this prospectus supplement. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materializes, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from what we anticipate. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or individuals acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this Note. Before purchasing any of our securities, you should consider carefully all of the factors set forth or referred to in this prospectus that could cause actual results to differ.
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The following summary highlights some information from this prospectus. It is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before making an investment decision. You should read this entire prospectus, including the “Risk Factors” section on page 6, the financial statements and related notes and the other more detailed information appearing elsewhere or incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
The Company
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a proprietary technology for developing novel biologic medicines we refer to as FHAB™ (Fully Human Albumin Binding). FHAB utilizes a fully human single chain antibody fragment (scFv) linked to either one or two therapeutic molecules capable of affecting single- or bi-specific mechanisms of action. The FHAB construct contains a domain that is designed to bind to and “hitch hike” on human serum albumin (HSA) for transport to tumors and sites of inflammation. This design potentiates drug accumulation in target tissues and extension of the duration of therapeutic activity in the body. FHAB development candidates are produced in a mammalian cell culture, which enables glycosylation, thereby reducing the risk of immunogenicity. Our pipeline includes cytokine-based immuno-oncology products and we believe our FHAB technology is well suited for future drug development across a range of human disease areas, including autoimmune, inflammatory, and hematological conditions.
Our current internal pipeline development activities are focused on cytokines, a class of cell signaling peptides that, among other important functions, serve as immunomodulatory agents with potent anti-cancer properties. Working both independently and synergistically, specific cytokines – interleukins - have shown the ability to modulate the activation and maturation of immune cells that fight cancer. However, because they do not preferentially accumulate at tumor sites and are quickly eliminated from the body, the conventional approach to achieving a treatment effect with cytokine therapy typically requires the administration of high and frequent doses. This results in low therapeutic efficacy accompanied by the potential for systemic toxicity, which poses challenges to the therapeutic application of this class of drugs in the cancer setting. We believe our FHAB technology offers a potential solution to this problem based on an in vivo study in a mouse melanoma model where FHAB significantly improved efficacy versus interleukin by itself due to targeted tumor accumulation and an enhanced therapeutic half-life.
We have a pipeline of therapeutic compounds focused on oncology indications of high unmet medical need.
● SON-080, our lead product candidate, is a fully human version of low dose Interleukin-6 (IL-6) that has successfully completed Phase I clinical trials and, during 2020, we expect to advance to a pilot efficacy Phase II study in patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a common side effect of antineoplastic cancer regimens. We will also explore the development of low-dose IL-6 in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) through our SON-081 program, which will include a Phase Ib clinical trial as a next step.
● SON-1010 (IL12- FHAB), our most advanced FHAB-derived compound, utilizes a fully human version of Interleukin-12 (IL-12) linked to FHAB. This compound is being developed for undisclosed solid tumor indications and is expected to enter a Phase I clinical trial in late 2020 or early 2021.
● SON-1210 (IL15- FHAB-IL12), our first bi-specific construct, combines FHAB with IL-12 and fully human Interleukin-15 (IL-15). This compound is also being developed for undisclosed solid tumor indications and is expected to enter a Phase I clinical trial in 2021.
In our discovery pipeline, we are investigating:
● SON-2014 (GMcSF- FHAB-IL18), a bi-specific combination of Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) and Interleukin-18 (IL-18) for undisclosed cancers; and
● SON-3015 (anti-IL6- FHAB-anti-TGFβ), a bi-specific combination of anti-IL6 and anti-Tumor Growth Factor Beta for tumor and bone metastases.
The Merger, Reverse Stock Split and Name Change
On April 1, 2020, Sonnet (formerly known as Chanticleer Holdings, Inc.), completed its business combination with Sonnet BioTherapeutics, Inc. (“Sonnet Sub”), in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 10, 2019, as amended, by and among Sonnet, Sonnet Sub and Biosub Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sonnet (“Merger Sub”) (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which Merger Sub merged with and into Sonnet Sub, with Sonnet Sub surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonnet (the “Merger”).
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In connection with, and immediately prior to the completion of, the Merger, Sonnet effected a reverse stock split of the Common Shares, at a ratio of 1-for-26 (the “Reverse Stock Split”). Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, after taking into account the Reverse Stock Split, Sonnet issued Common Shares to Sonnet Sub’s stockholders at an exchange rate of 0.106572 Common Shares for each share of Sonnet Sub common stock outstanding immediately prior to the Merger. In connection with the Merger, Sonnet changed its name from “Chanticleer Holdings, Inc.” to “Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.,” and the business conducted by Sonnet became the business conducted by Sonnet Sub.
Private Placement of Common Shares and Warrants
On April 1, 2020, Sonnet and Sonnet Sub completed a private placement transaction (the “Pre-Merger Financing”) with certain accredited investors (the “Investors”) pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) dated February 7, 2020 by and among the Company, Sonnet Sub and the Investors for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $19.0 million (comprised of (I) a $4 million credit from Sonnet Sub and the Company to Chardan Capital Markets, LLC (“Chardan”), in lieu of certain transaction fees otherwise owed to Chardan, and (II) $15 million in cash from the other Investors (the “Purchase Price”).
Pursuant to the Pre-Merger Financing, (i) Sonnet Sub issued and sold to the Investors shares of Sonnet Sub’s common stock (the “Initial Shares”) which converted pursuant to the exchange ratio in the Merger into an aggregate of approximately 1,076,000 shares (the “Converted Initial Shares”) of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”), (ii) Sonnet Sub deposited into escrow, for the benefit of the Investors, additional shares of Sonnet Sub’s common stock (the “Additional Shares”) which converted pursuant to the exchange ratio in the Merger into an aggregate of approximately 1,076,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Converted Additional Shares”), which Converted Additional Shares were delivered (or became deliverable) to the Investors on April 16, 2020, and (iii) the Company agreed to issue to each Investor on the tenth trading day following the consummation of the Merger Series A Warrants representing the right to acquire shares of Common Stock equal to 75% of the sum of (a) the Converted Initial Shares purchased by the Investor, (b) the Converted Additional Shares delivered or deliverable to the Investor, without giving effect to any limitation on delivery contained in the Securities Purchase Agreement and (c) the number of shares of Common Stock, if any, underlying the Series B Warrants issued to the Investor (the “Series A Warrants”) and additional Series B warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock (the “Series B Warrants” and together with the Series A Warrants, the “Warrants”).
On April 16, 2020 (the “Warrant Closing Date”), pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company issued the Series A Warrants and the Series B Warrants. For a description of the Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants, see “Description of Capital Stock—Outstanding Warrants.”
Corporate Information
Our principal offices are located at 100 Overlook Center, Suite 102, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, and our telephone number is (609) 375-2227. Our website address is www.sonnetbio.com. Our website and the information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in, and are not considered part of, this prospectus. You should not rely on any such information in making your decision whether to purchase our common stock.
This Offering
We are registering for resale by the Selling Stockholders named herein the 29,487,330 Warrant Shares as described below.
Securities being offered: | 29,487,330 shares of our common stock. Currently, 3,300,066 Common Shares are issuable under the Series A Warrants, and 2,247,726 Common Shares are issuable under the Series B Warrants. The additional Common Shares included in this prospectus are being registered for resale pursuant to the terms of the Warrants and the Registration Rights Agreement to cover additional Common Shares that may be issuable under the reset provision contained in the Warrants and described herein under “Selling Stockholders” and “Description of Capital Stock—Outstanding Warrants.” | |
Use of proceeds: | We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of shares of our Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders. | |
Market for Common Stock: | Our Common Stock is listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “SONN.” On April 20, 2020, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on The NASDAQ Capital Market was $5.59 per share. | |
Risk factors: | See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6 for risks you should consider before investing in our shares. |
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Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-235301) filed with the SEC on November 27, 2019 (as amended by Form S-4/A on February 7, 2020), and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented and updated by subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K that we have filed or will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and in other documents which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as well as the risk factors and other information contained in or incorporated by reference into any accompanying prospectus supplement before investing in any of our securities. Our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The risks and uncertainties described in the documents incorporated by reference herein are not the only risks and uncertainties that you may face.
For more information about our SEC filings, please see “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”
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We will receive no proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders.
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The shares of Common Stock being offered by the Selling Stockholders are those issuable to the Selling Stockholders, upon exercise of the Warrants. For additional information regarding the issuances of those shares of Common Stock and the Warrants, see “Private Placement of Common Shares and Warrants” above. We are registering the Common Stock in order to permit the Selling Stockholders to offer the shares for resale from time to time. Except for the ownership of the shares of Common Stock and the Warrants, the Selling Stockholders have not had any material relationship with us within the past three years.
The table below lists the Selling Stockholders and other information regarding the beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock by each of the Selling Stockholders. The second column lists the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each Selling Stockholder, based on its ownership of the shares of Common Stock and the Warrants, as of April 16, 2020, assuming exercise of the Warrants held by the Selling Stockholders on that date, without regard to any limitations on exercises. The third column lists the shares of Common Stock being offered by this prospectus by the Selling Stockholders.
In accordance with the terms of a Registration Rights Agreement with the Selling Stockholders, this prospectus generally covers the resale of the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the related Warrants, determined as if the outstanding Warrants were exercised in full as of the trading day immediately preceding the date this registration statement was initially filed with the SEC, each as of the trading day immediately preceding the applicable date of determination and all subject to adjustment as provided in the registration right agreement, without regard to any limitations on the exercise of the warrants and until the Reservation Date, this registration statement registers a number of shares of Common Stock issued and issuable pursuant to the Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants equal to the sum of (x) the number of shares of Common Stock issued and issuable pursuant to the Series A Warrants determined in accordance with Section 2(d) of the Series A Warrants assuming a Reset Price (as defined in the Series A Warrants) equal to the Reset Floor Price (as defined in the warrants) without giving effect to any limitation on exercise set forth therein, (y) the shares of Common Stock issued and issuable pursuant to the Series B Warrants assuming that the Maximum Eligibility Number (as defined in the Series B Warrant) is determined based on a Reset Price (as defined in the Series B Warrants) equal to the Reset Floor Price without giving effect to any limitation on exercise set forth therein and (B) thereafter, 100% of the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Series A Warrants and the Series B Warrants as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of all of the Warrants then outstanding without giving effect to any limitation on exercise set forth in the Warrants. The fourth column assumes the sale of all of the shares offered by the Selling Stockholders pursuant to this prospectus, and is based on 9,201,619 shares of Common Stock outstanding on April 16, 2020.
Under the terms of the Warrants, a Selling Stockholder may not exercise the warrants to the extent such exercise would cause such Selling Stockholder, together with its affiliates, to beneficially own a number of shares of Common Stock which would exceed 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of our then outstanding Common Stock following such exercise, excluding for purposes of such determination Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants which have not been exercised. The number of shares in the second column does not reflect this limitation. The Selling Stockholders may sell all, some or none of their shares in this offering. See “Plan of Distribution.”
Name of Selling Securityholder | Number of Shares of Common Stock Owned Prior to Offering (1) | Maximum Number of Shares of Common Stock to be Sold Pursuant to this Prospectus | Number of Shares of Common Stock Owned After Offering | Percentage of Shares of Common Stock Owned After Offering if Greater than 1% | ||||||||||||
Empery Asset Master, Ltd. (2) | 126,004 | 589,753 | 15,048 | * | % | |||||||||||
Empery Tax Efficient, LP (3) | 31,502 | 147,442 | 3,762 | * | % | |||||||||||
Empery Debt Opportunity Fund, LP (4) | 2,992,533 | 14,006,470 | 357,333 | * | % | |||||||||||
Altium Growth Fund, LP (5) | 3,111,986 | 14,743,665 | 338,090 | * | % |
* | Represents less than 1%
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(1) | Beneficial ownership includes shares of Common Stock as to which a person or group has sole or shared voting power or dispositive power. Shares of Common Stock registered hereunder, as well as shares of Common Stock subject to options, warrants or convertible preferred stock that are exercisable or convertible within 60 days of April 16, 2020, are deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the number of shares beneficially owned and percentage ownership of the person or group holding such shares of Common Stock, options, warrants or convertible securities, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person. |
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(2) |
The number of shares consists of (i) 15,048 Common Shares held directly by the Selling Stockholder and (ii) 110,956 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, without giving effect to the blocker provision described above. Empery Asset Management LP, the authorized agent of Empery Asset Master Ltd (“EAM”), has discretionary authority to vote and dispose of the shares held by EAM and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares. Martin Hoe and Ryan Lane, in their capacity as investment managers of Empery Asset Management LP, may also be deemed to have investment discretion and voting power over the shares held by EAM. EAM, Mr. Hoe and Mr. Lane each disclaim any beneficial ownership of these shares.
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(3) |
The number of shares consists of (i) 3,762 Common Shares held directly by the Selling Stockholder and (ii) 27,740 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, without giving effect to the blocker provision described above. Empery Asset Management LP, the authorized agent of Empery Tax Efficient, LP (“ETE”), has discretionary authority to vote and dispose of the shares held by ETE and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares. Martin Hoe and Ryan Lane, in their capacity as investment managers of Empery Asset Management LP, may also be deemed to have investment discretion and voting power over the shares held by ETE. ETE, Mr. Hoe and Mr. Lane each disclaim any beneficial ownership of these shares.
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(4) |
The number of shares consists of (i) 357,333 Common Shares held directly by the Selling Stockholder and (ii) 2,635,200 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, without giving effect to the blocker provision described above. Empery Asset Management LP, the authorized agent of Empery Debt Opportunity Fund, LP (“EDOF”), has discretionary authority to vote and dispose of the shares held by EDOF and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares. Martin Hoe and Ryan Lane, in their capacity as investment managers of Empery Asset Management LP, may also be deemed to have investment discretion and voting power over the shares held by EDOF. EDOF, Mr. Hoe and Mr. Lane each disclaim any beneficial ownership of these shares.
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(5) | The number of shares consists of (i) 338,090 Common Shares held directly by the Selling Stockholder and (ii) 2,773,896 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, without giving effect to the blocker provision described above. Altium Capital Management, LP, the investment manager of Altium Growth Fund, LP, has voting and investment power over these securities. Jacob Gottlieb is the managing member of Altium Capital Growth GP, LLC, which is the general partner of Altium Growth Fund, LP. Each of Altium Growth Fund, LP and Jacob Gottlieb disclaims beneficial ownership over these shares. |
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We are registering the shares of Common Stock issued and issuable upon exercise of the Warrants to permit the resale of these shares of Common Stock by the holders of the Warrants from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the Selling Stockholders of the shares of Common Stock. We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the shares of Common Stock
The Selling Stockholders may sell all or a portion of the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the shares of Common Stock are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the Selling Stockholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent’s commissions. The shares of Common Stock may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions,
● | on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may | |
● | be listed or quoted at the time of sale; | |
● | in the over-the-counter market; | |
● | in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market; | |
● | through the writing of options, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise; | |
● | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; | |
● | block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; | |
● | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; | |
● | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; | |
● | privately negotiated transactions; | |
● | short sales; | |
● | sales pursuant to Rule 144; | |
● | broker-dealers may agree with the selling securityholders to sell a specified number of | |
● | such shares at a stipulated price per share; | |
● | a combination of any such methods of sale; and | |
● | any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
If the Selling Stockholders effect such transactions by selling shares of Common Stock to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the Selling Stockholders or commissions from purchasers of the shares of Common Stock for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions as to particular underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved). In connection with sales of the shares of Common Stock or otherwise, the Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the shares of Common Stock in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares of Common Stock short and deliver shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus to close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales. The Selling Stockholders may also loan or pledge shares of Common Stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares. The Selling Stockholders may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the warrants or shares of Common Stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of Common Stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or any amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, amending, if necessary, the list of Selling Stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as Selling Stockholders under this prospectus. The Selling Stockholders also may transfer and donate the shares of Common Stock in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.
The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution of the shares of Common Stock may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of the shares of Common Stock is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of shares of Common Stock being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation from the Selling Stockholders and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to broker-dealers.
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Under the securities laws of some states, the shares of Common Stock may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the shares of Common Stock may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with. There can be no assurance that any Selling Stockholder will sell any or all of the shares of Common Stock registered pursuant to the registration statement, of which this prospectus form is a part.
The Selling Stockholders and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares of Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders and any other participating person. Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of Common Stock to engage in marketmaking activities with respect to the shares of Common Stock. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares of Common Stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of Common Stock. We will pay all expenses of the registration of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to the registration rights agreement, estimated to be $60,000 in total, including, without limitation, Securities and Exchange Commission filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws; provided, however, that a Selling Stockholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any. We will indemnify the Selling Stockholders against liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with the registration rights agreements, or the Selling Stockholders will be entitled to contribution. We may be indemnified by the Selling Stockholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the Selling Stockholder specifically for use in this prospectus, in accordance with the related registration rights agreement, or we may be entitled to contribution. Once sold under the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, the shares of Common Stock will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.
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DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE
The prices at which the shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus may actually be sold will be determined by the prevailing public market price for shares of Common Stock, by negotiations between the Selling Stockholders and buyers of our Common Stock in private transactions or as otherwise described in “Plan of Distribution.”
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General
We are authorized to issue up to 130,000,000 shares of capital stock, including 125,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value. As of April 16, 2020, we had 9,201,619 shares of Common Stock and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.
The additional shares of our authorized stock available for issuance may be issued at times and under circumstances so as to have a dilutive effect on earnings per share and on the equity ownership of the holders of our Common Stock. The ability of our board of directors to issue additional shares of stock could enhance the board’s ability to negotiate on behalf of the stockholders in a takeover situation but could also be used by the board to make a change-in-control more difficult, thereby denying stockholders the potential to sell their shares at a premium and entrenching current management. The following description is a summary of the material provisions of our capital stock. You should refer to our certificate of incorporation, as amended and bylaws, both of which are on file with the SEC as exhibits to previous SEC filings, for additional information. The summary below is qualified by provisions of applicable law.
Common Stock
Holders of our Common Stock are each entitled to cast one vote for each share held of record on all matters presented to stockholders. Cumulative voting is not allowed; the holders of a majority of our outstanding shares of Common Stock may elect all directors. Holders of our Common Stock are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared by our board out of funds legally available and, in the event of liquidation, to share pro rata in any distribution of our assets after payment of liabilities. Our directors are not obligated to declare a dividend. It is not anticipated that we will pau dividends in the foreseeable future. Holders of our do not have preemptive rights to subscribe to any additional shares we may issue in the future. There are no conversion, redemption, sinking fund or similar provisions regarding the Common Stock. All outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and nonassessable.
The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of Common Stock are subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Preferred Stock
We may issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value, in one or more series. Our board of directors is hereby expressly authorized to provide, out of the unissued shares of preferred stock, for one or more series of preferred stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting such series and the designation of such series, the voting powers, if any, of the shares of such series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of preferred stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.
The issuance of preferred stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to the holders of Common Stock or adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of the holders of Common Stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of Sonnet, which could depress the market price of our Common Stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and Bylaws, as amended contain provisions that could have the effect of discouraging potential acquisition proposals or tender offers or delaying or preventing a change of control. These provisions are as follows:
● | they provide that special meetings of stockholders may be called by the President, the board of directors or at the request by stockholders of record owning at least thirty-three and one-third (33 1/3%) percent of the issued and outstanding voting shares of our Common Stock; |
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● | they do not include a provision for cumulative voting in the election of directors. Under cumulative voting, a minority stockholder holding a sufficient number of shares may be able to ensure the election of one or more directors. The absence of cumulative voting may have the effect of limiting the ability of minority stockholders to effect changes in our board of directors; and | |
● | they allow us to issue, without stockholder approval, up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock that could adversely affect the rights and powers of the holders of our Common Stock. |
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, an anti-takeover law. Subject to certain exceptions, the statute prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder unless:
● | prior to such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; | |
● | upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least eighty-five percent 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned (1) by persons who are directors and also officers and (2) by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or | |
● | on or after such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Generally, for purposes of Section 203, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, within three (3) years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, owned fifteen percent (15%) or more of a corporation’s outstanding voting securities.
Potential Effects of Authorized but Unissued Stock
We have shares of Common Stock and preferred stock available for future issuance without stockholder approval. We may utilize these additional shares for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, to facilitate corporate acquisitions or payment as a dividend on the capital stock.
The existence of unissued and unreserved Common Stock and preferred stock may enable our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management or to issue preferred stock with terms that could render more difficult or discourage a third-party attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, thereby protecting the continuity of our management. In addition, the board of directors has the discretion to determine designations, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences of each series of preferred stock, all to the fullest extent permissible under the DGCL and subject to any limitations set forth in our Certificate of Incorporation. The purpose of authorizing the board of directors to issue preferred stock and to determine the rights and preferences applicable to such preferred stock is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing desirable flexibility in connection with possible financings, acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third-party to acquire, or could discourage a third-party from acquiring, a majority of our outstanding voting stock.
Warrants
Series A Warrants
The Series A Warrants were issued on April 16, 2020 at an initial exercise price of $5.3976 per share, were immediately exercisable upon issuance and have a term of five years from the date of issuance. The Series A Warrants were exercisable for an aggregate of 3,300,066 shares of Common Stock as of April 16, 2020.
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The Series A Warrants provide that if Sonnet issues or sells, enters into a definitive, binding agreement pursuant to which Sonnet is required to issue or sell or is deemed, pursuant to the provisions of the Series A Warrants, to have issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock for a price per share lower than the exercise price then in effect (a “Dilutive Issuance”), subject to certain limited exceptions, then the exercise price of the Series A Warrants shall be reduced to such lower price per share. In addition, the exercise price and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Series A Warrants are subject to adjustment in connection with stock splits, dividends or distributions or other similar transactions. Further, on each Reset Date (as defined below) the Series A Warrants will be adjusted downward (but not increased) such that the exercise price thereof becomes 125% of the Reset Price (as defined below), and the number of shares underlying the Series A Warrants will be increased (but not decreased) to the quotient of (a) (i) the exercise price in effect prior to the Reset (as defined below) multiplied by (ii) the number of shares underlying the Series A Warrants prior to the Reset divided by (b) the exercise price resulting from the Reset.
Pursuant to the Series A Warrants, Sonnet has agreed not to enter into, allow or be party to certain fundamental transactions, generally including any merger with or into another entity, sale of all or substantially all of Sonnet’s assets, tender offer or exchange offer, or reclassification of the Common Shares (a “Fundamental Transaction”) until the 45th trading day immediately following the earlier to occur of (i) the date a holder can sell all underlying securities pursuant to Rule 144 without restriction or limitation and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) of the Securities Act and (ii) April 16, 2021 (the “Reservation Date”). Thereafter, upon any exercise of a Series A Warrant, the holder shall have the right to receive, for each warrant share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of a Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the holder (without regard to any limitation on the exercise of the Series A Warrant), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of Sonnet, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which the Series A Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation on the exercise of the Series A Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the exercise price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and Sonnet shall apportion the exercise price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of the Series A Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. Sonnet shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which Sonnet is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of Sonnet under the Series A Warrants, upon which the Series A Warrants shall become exercisable for shares of Common Stock, shares of the common stock of the Successor Entity or the consideration that would have been issuable to the holders had they exercised the Series A Warrants prior to such Fundamental Transaction, at the holders’ election.
Additionally, at the request of a holder delivered before the 90th day after the consummation of a Fundamental Transaction, Sonnet or the successor entity must purchase such holder’s warrant for the value calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model as of the day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, or, if the Fundamental Transaction is not publicly announced, the date the Fundamental Transaction is consummated.
The Series A Warrants also contain a “cashless exercise” feature that allows the holders to exercise the Series A Warrants without making a cash payment in the event that there is no effective registration statement registering the shares issuable upon exercise of the Series A Warrants. The Series A Warrants are subject to a blocker provision which restricts the exercise of the Series A Warrants if, as a result of such exercise, the holder, together with its affiliates and any other person whose beneficial ownership of Common Shares would be aggregated with the holder’s for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99% of the outstanding Common Shares (including the Common Shares issuable upon such exercise), as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Series A Warrants.
If Sonnet fails to issue to a holder of Series A Warrants the number of Common Shares to which such holder is entitled upon such holder’s exercise of the Series A Warrants, then Sonnet shall be obligated to pay the holder on each day while such failure is continuing an amount equal to 1.5% of the market value of the undelivered shares determined using any trading price of the Common Shares selected by the holder while the failure is continuing and if the holder purchases Common Shares in connection with such failure (“Series A Buy-In Shares”), then Sonnet must, at the holder’s discretion, reimburse the holder for the cost of such Series A Buy-In Shares or deliver the owed shares and reimburse the holder for the difference between the price such holder paid for the Series A Buy-In Shares and the market price of such shares, measured at any time of the holder’s choosing while the delivery failure was continuing.
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Further, in the event that Sonnet does not have sufficient authorized shares to deliver in satisfaction of an exercise of a Series A Warrant, then unless the holder elects to void such attempted exercise, the holder may require Sonnet to pay an amount equal to the product of (i) the number of shares that Sonnet is unable to deliver and (ii) the highest volume-weighted average price of a share of Common Stock as quoted on Nasdaq during the period beginning on the date of such attempted exercise and ending on the date that Sonnet makes the applicable payment.
Series B Warrants
The Series B Warrants have an exercise price of $0.0001, were exercisable upon issuance and will expire on the day following the later to occur of (i) the Reservation Date, and (ii) the date on which the Series B Warrants have been exercised in full (without giving effect to any limitation on exercise contained therein) and no shares remain issuable thereunder. Upon their issuance on April 16, 2020, the Series B Warrants were exercisable for 2,247,726 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate.
Additionally, every ninth trading day up to and including the 45th trading day (each, a “Reset Date”) following (i) 15th trading day immediately following the issuance date of the Series B Warrants and (ii) every 15th trading day thereafter (each such date provided in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), an “End Reset Measuring Date”) (except if on such date (1) the holder cannot freely sell any Registrable Securities (as defined below) pursuant to a resale registration statement and (2) the holder cannot sell any Registrable Securities without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144, and provided that no date following the occurrence of a Satisfaction Event (as defined below) will be deemed an End Reset Measuring Date, and provided further that no such date will be deemed an End Reset Measuring Date if an End Reset Measuring Date has previously occurred and either (1) if the holder was able to then freely sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to a resale registration statement in accordance with such prior End Reset Measuring Date, such ability continued uninterrupted through and including the applicable date of determination or (2) if the holder was able to freely sell any Registrable Securities without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 in accordance with such prior End Reset Measuring Date, such ability continued uninterrupted through and including the applicable date of determination) (such 45 trading day period, the “Reset Period” and each such 45th trading day after (i) or (ii), the “End Reset Date”), the number of shares issuable upon exercise of each Investor’s Series B Warrants shall be increased (a “Reset”) to the number (if positive) obtained by subtracting (i) the sum of (a) the number of Converted Initial Shares issued to the Investor and (b) the number of Converted Additional Shares delivered or deliverable to the Investor as of the Warrant Closing Date, from (ii) the quotient determined by dividing (a) the pro rata portion of the Purchase Price paid by the Investor, by (b) the greater of (x) the arithmetic average of the five lowest dollar volume-weighted average prices of a share of Common Stock on Nasdaq during the applicable Reset Period immediately preceding the applicable Reset Date to date and (y) provided that the Common Stock is then traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market, a floor price per share (the “Floor Price”) calculated based on a pre-money valuation (of the combined company, assuming for this purpose the pre-money issuance of the Converted Initial Shares and Converted Additional Shares) of $10 million (such number resulting in this clause (b), the “Reset Price”). “Satisfaction Event” means (1) all Registrable Securities are able to be freely sold without any restriction or limitation by the holder at all times during the 45 trading day period beginning on, and including, any End Reset Measuring Date either (a) pursuant to a resale registration statement or (b) pursuant to Rule 144; or (2) the Reservation Date has occurred.
Pursuant to the Series B Warrants, Sonnet has agreed not to enter into, allow or be party to a Fundamental Transaction until the Reservation Date. Thereafter, upon any exercise of a Series B Warrant, the holder shall have the right to receive, for each warrant share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of a Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the holder (without regard to any limitation on the exercise of the Series B Warrant), the number of shares of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of Sonnet, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which the Series B Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation on the exercise of the Series B Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the exercise price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and Sonnet shall apportion the exercise price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of the Series B Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. Sonnet shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which Sonnet is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of Sonnet under the Series B Warrants, upon which the Series B Warrants shall become exercisable for shares of Common Stock, shares of the common stock of the Successor Entity or the consideration that would have been issuable to the holders had they exercised the Series B Warrants prior to such Fundamental Transaction, at the holders’ election.
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The Series B Warrants also contain a “cashless exercise” feature that allows the holders to exercise the Series B Warrants without making a cash payment. The Series B Warrants are subject to a blocker provision which restricts the exercise of the Series B Warrants if, as a result of such exercise, the holder, together with its affiliates and any other person whose beneficial ownership of Common Stock would be aggregated with the holder’s for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99% of the outstanding Common Stock (including the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise), as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Series B Warrants.
If Sonnet fails to issue to a holder of Series B Warrants the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder is entitled upon such holder’s exercise of the Series B Warrants, then Sonnet shall be obligated to pay the holder on each day while such failure is continuing an amount equal to 1.5% of the market value of the undelivered shares determined using a trading price of Common Stock selected by the holder while the failure is continuing and if the holder purchases shares of Common Stock in connection with such failure (“Series B Buy-In Shares”), then Sonnet must, at the holder’s discretion, reimburse the holder for the cost of such Series B Buy-In Shares or deliver the owed shares and reimburse the holder for the difference between the price such holder paid for the Series B Buy-In Shares and the market price of such shares, measured at any time of the holder’s choosing while the delivery failure was continuing.
Further, the Series B Warrants will provide that, in the event that Sonnet does not have sufficient authorized shares to deliver in satisfaction of an exercise of a Series B Warrant, then unless the holder elects to void such attempted exercise, the holder may require Sonnet to pay an amount equal to the product of (i) the number of shares that Sonnet is unable to deliver and (ii) the highest volume-weighted average price of a share of Common Stock as quoted on Nasdaq during the period beginning on the date of such attempted exercise and ending on the date that Sonnet makes the applicable payment.
Registration Rights
In connection with the Pre-Merger Financing, Sonnet entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Investors (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, Sonnet is required to file an initial resale registration statement with respect to shares of Common Stock held by or issuable to the Investors pursuant to the Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants (the “Registrable Securities”), within 15 trading days after the closing of the Pre-Merger Financing, or April 23, 2020. Additionally, Sonnet is required to file additional resale registration statements with respect to the Registrable Securities within 15 days of each End Reset Date, to the extent that such Registrable Securities are not already registered for resale on a prior registration statement. Sonnet will be required to use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of these registration statements until the earlier of (i) the date as of which the Investors may sell all of the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable registration statement(s) without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) (or any successor thereto) or (ii) the date on which the Investors have sold all of the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable registration statement(s).
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our Common Stock is Securities Transfer Corporation. The transfer agent address is Securities Transfer Corporation, 2901 N Dallas Parkway, Suite 380, Plano, TX 75093, (469) 633-0101.
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Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Lowenstein Sandler LLP, New York, New York. If the validity of the securities offered hereby in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel for the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, such counsel will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering.
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Chanticleer Holdings, Inc. (Effective April 1, 2020 now Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.)
The consolidated financial statements of Chanticleer Holdings, Inc. (effective April 1, 2020 now Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.) as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 have been audited by Cherry Bekaert LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report incorporated by reference herein, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon such report and upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
Sonnet BioTherapeutics, Inc.
The financial statements of Sonnet BioTherapeutics, Inc. as of September 30, 2019 and 2018 and for the years then ended have been incorporated by reference herein and in the prospectus in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The report dated November 27, 2019 contains an explanatory paragraph that states that Sonnet BioTherapeutics, Inc. has incurred recurring losses and negative cash flows from operations from inception, has a stockholders’ deficit of $2,845,487 as of September 30, 2019, and will require substantial additional financing to continue to fund its research and development activities that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Relief Therapeutics SA
The financial statements of Relief Therapeutics SA as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 incorporated in this prospectus by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Sonnet Biotherapeutics Holdings, Inc. have been audited by Mazars SA, an independent public accounting firm, as stated in its report dated March 20, 2020, incorporated by reference herein, and have been so included in reliance upon such report and upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The report on the financial statements of Relief Therapeutics SA includes an explanatory paragraph about the existence of substantial doubt concerning its ability to continue as a going concern.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the SEC relating to the securities being offered hereby. This prospectus does not contain all of the information in the registration statement and its exhibits. The registration statement, its exhibits and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and their exhibits, all contain information that is material to the offering of the securities hereby. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to any of our contracts or other documents, the reference may not be complete. You should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement in order to review a copy of the contract or documents. The registration statement and the exhibits are available at the SEC’s Public Reference Room or through its Website.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at its Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at its regional offices, a list of which is available on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov/contact/addresses.htm. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, such as us, that file electronically with the SEC. Additionally, you may access our filings with the SEC through our website at http://www.sonnetbio.com. The information on our website is not part of this prospectus.
We will provide you without charge, upon your oral or written request, with a copy of any or all reports, proxy statements and other documents we file with the SEC, as well as any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the registration statement (other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents). Requests for such copies should be directed to:
Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.
Attn: Pankaj Mohan, Ph.D., CEO and Chairman
100 Overlook Center, Suite 102
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
(609) 375-2227
You should rely only on the information in this prospectus and the additional information described above and under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” below. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely upon it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus was accurate on the date of the front cover of this prospectus only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC:
● | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 18, 2020 (as amended by Form 10-K/A on April 22, 2020); | |
● | our Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 6, 2020, February 7, 2020, February 18, 2020, March 9, 2020, March 19, 2020, March 26, 2020, March 27, 2020, April 3, 2020 and April 20, 2020; | |
● | our Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-235301) filed with the SEC on November 27, 2019 (as amended by Form S-4/A on February 7, 2020); and | |
● | the description of our Common Stock contained in the prospectus, constituting part of our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-230857) filed with the SEC on April 15, 2019, and subsequently amended on May 28, 2019 and June 7, 2019. |
All reports and other documents that we file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement and after the date of this prospectus but before the termination of the offering of the securities hereunder will also be considered to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus from the date of the filing of these reports and documents, and will supersede the information herein; provided, however, that all reports, exhibits and other information that we “furnish” to the SEC will not be considered incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We undertake to provide without charge to each person (including any beneficial owner) who receives a copy of this prospectus, upon written or oral request, a copy of all of the preceding documents that are incorporated by reference (other than exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into these documents). You may request a copy of these materials in the manner set forth under the heading “Additional Information,” above.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered. All amounts are estimates except the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registration fee.
SEC Registration Fee | $ | 21,663 | ||
Legal Fees and Expenses | 25,000 | * | ||
Accounting Fees and Expenses | 5,000 | * | ||
Printing | 5,000 | * | ||
Miscellaneous | 3,337 | * | ||
Total | $ | 60,000 |
* | Estimated. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) provides, in general, that a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, as we are, may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than a derivative action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. In the case of a derivative action, a Delaware corporation may indemnify any such person against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification will be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person will have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other court in which such action was brought determines such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses.
Article X of our certificate of incorporation, as amended, states that to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, a director of the corporation shall not be liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.
Under Article XI of our bylaws, any person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is in any way involved in any threatened, pending or completed action suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including any appeal therefrom, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of ours or was serving at our request as a director or officer of another entity or enterprise (including any subsidiary), may be indemnified and held harmless by us, and we may advance all expenses incurred by such person in defense of any such proceeding prior to its final determination, if this person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in and not opposed to our best interest, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, the indemnified party had no reason to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The indemnification provided in our bylaws is not exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may otherwise be entitled.
We maintain a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of directors and officers of our corporation arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
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Item 16. Exhibits
The Index to Exhibits listing the exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K is located on the page immediately following the signature page to this registration statement.
Item 17. Undertakings
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
(a) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, | |
(b) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement, | |
(c) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. |
Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(a), (1)(b) and (1)(c) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
(4) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser: |
(a) | If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B: |
(i) | Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and | |
(ii) | Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date. |
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(b) | If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be a part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use. |
(5) | That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
(a) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; | |
(b) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the registrant or used or referred to by the registrant; | |
(c) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the registrant; and | |
(d) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by a registrant to the purchaser. |
(6) | That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(9) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the forgoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
* | Filed herewith |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this amendment to the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Princeton, New Jersey as of April 22, 2020.
SONNET BIOTHERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Pankaj Mohan | |
Pankaj Mohan, Ph.D | ||
Chief Executive Officer |
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Pankaj Mohan, Ph.D and Jay Cross, and each of them, each with full power to act without the other, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this registration statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this registration statement, including post-effective amendments or registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming that each of said such attorneys-in-fact and agents or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Pankaj Mohan |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman |
April 22, 2020 | ||
Pankaj Mohan, Ph.D | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
/s/ Jay Cross |
Chief Financial Officer |
April 22, 2020 | ||
Jay Cross | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||
/s/ Albert Dyrness |
Director | April 22, 2020 | ||
Albert Dyrness | ||||
/s/ Nailesh Bhatt |
Director | April 22, 2020 | ||
Nailesh Bhatt | ||||
/s/ Raghu Rao |
Director | April 22, 2020 | ||
Raghu Rao | ||||
/s/ Donald Griffith |
Director | April 22, 2020 | ||
Donald Griffith |
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