Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-252049
PROSPECTUS
Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.
11,329,463 Shares of Common Stock
This prospectus of Sonnet BioTherapeutics 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 11,329,463 shares of our common stock (“Common Stock”), par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Shares”). The 11,329,463 Common Shares consist solely of Common Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase Common Shares (the “Series C Warrants”) issued by us pursuant to those certain Warrant Exercise and Omnibus Amendment Agreements (the “Exercise Agreements”), dated as of August 3, 2020, between the Company and the investors party thereto (the “Investors”).
The Series C Warrants have an exercise price of $3.19, are not exercisable until the date that is six months from the date of issuance and expire on October 16, 2025. We are registering the resale of the Common Shares underlying the Series C Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”) as contemplated by the Exercise Agreements.
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” on page 7 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 Series C 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 January 11, 2021, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The NASDAQ Capital Market was $2.50 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 5 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 January 21, 2021
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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This prospectus, including the documents that we incorporate by reference, contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the federal securities laws. The events described in forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, including the documents that we incorporate by reference, may not occur. Generally, these statements relate to our business plans or strategies, projected or anticipated benefits or other consequences of our plans or strategies, financing plans, projected or anticipated benefits from acquisitions that we may make, or projections involving anticipated revenues, earnings or other aspects of our operating results or financial position, and the outcome of any contingencies. Any such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections of management. We intend for these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions for forward-looking statements. Words such as “may,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” and “continue,” and their opposites and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and are subject to a number of uncertainties, risks and other influences, many of which are beyond our control that may influence the accuracy of the statements and the projections upon which the statements are based. Factors that may affect our results include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in the “Risk Factors” section on page 5 of this prospectus, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 or in other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Any one or more of these uncertainties, risks and other influences could materially affect our results of operations and whether forward-looking statements made by us ultimately prove to be accurate. Our actual results, performance and achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether from new information, future events or otherwise.
You should rely only on the information in this prospectus. 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.
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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 5 and the disclosures to which that section refers you, the financial statements and related notes and the other more detailed information appearing elsewhere or incorporated by reference into this prospectus before investing in any of the securities described in this prospectus.
Overview
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 bispecific 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 targets such as solid tumors or to the lymphatic system . We designed the construct to improve drug accumulation in specific tissues, as well as to extend the duration of activity in the body. FHAB development candidates are produced in a mammalian cell culture, which enables glycosylation, thereby reducing the risk of immunogenicity. We believe our FHAB technology is well suited for future drug development across a range of human disease areas, including in oncology, autoimmune, pathogenic, 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 potent immunomodulatory agents. Working both independently and synergistically, specific cytokines have shown the ability to modulate the activation and maturation of immune cells that fight cancer and pathogens. However, because they do not preferentially accumulate in specific tissues 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 can result in a reduced treatment effect accompanied by the potential for systemic toxicity, which poses challenges to the therapeutic application of this class of drugs.
Warrant Exercise and Omnibus Amendment Agreements
On August 3, 2020, we entered into the Exercise Agreements with the Investors. Pursuant to the Exercise Agreements, we agreed to reduce the exercise price of the previously-issued Series A Warrants to purchase Common Shares (the “Series A Warrants”) from $5.3976 to $3.19 per share, which was the at-the-market price of the Common Stock at the time of execution under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, and the Investors agreed to exercise all of their Series A Warrants with respect to an aggregate of 3,300,066 shares of Common Stock, all of the shares of Common Stock underlying such Series A Warrants. In addition, the Exercise Agreements also provided for the issuance to the Investors Series C Warrants to purchase an aggregate of 11,329,463 shares of Common Stock. The Series C Warrants have an exercise price of $3.19, are not exercisable until the date that is six months from the date of issuance and expire on October 16, 2025.
Corporate Information
We were organized on October 21, 1999, under the name Tulvine Systems, Inc., under the laws of the State of Delaware. On April 25, 2005, Tulvine Systems, Inc. formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Chanticleer Holdings, Inc., and on May 2, 2005, Tulvine Systems, Inc. merged with, and changed its name to, Chanticleer Holdings, Inc. On April 1, 2020, we completed our business combination with Sonnet BioTherapeutics, Inc. (“Sonnet”), in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 10, 2019, as amended, by and among us, Sonnet and Biosub Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which Merger Sub merged with and into Sonnet, with Sonnet surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of us (the “Merger”). In connection with, and immediately prior to the completion of, the Merger, we effected a reverse stock split of our common stock, at a ratio of 1-for-26. In connection with the Merger, we changed our name from “Chanticleer Holdings, Inc.” to “Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.,” and the business conducted by us became the business conducted by Sonnet.
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 securities.
This Offering
We are registering for resale by the Selling Stockholders named herein the 11,329,463 Warrant Shares as described below.
Securities being offered: | 11,329,463 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Series C 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 January 8, 2021, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on The NASDAQ Capital Market was $2.42 per share. | |
Risk factors: | See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 for risks you should consider before investing in our shares. |
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Before purchasing any of the securities you should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference in this prospectus from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 and any subsequent updates described in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as the risks, uncertainties and additional information set forth in our SEC reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and in the other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. For a description of these reports and documents, and information about where you can find them, see “Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information By Reference.” Additional risks not presently known or that we presently consider to be immaterial could subsequently materially and adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, business and prospects.
For more information about our SEC filings, please see “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”
We will receive no proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Series C Warrants 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 Series C Warrants. For additional information regarding the issuances of those shares of Common Stock and the Series C Warrants, see “Warrant Exercise and Omnibus Amendment Agreements” above. We are registering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Series C Warrants 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, the Series A Warrants, the Series B Warrants and the Series C 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 as of January 8, 2021, 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.
This prospectus covers 11,329,463 shares of Common Stock currently underlying the Series C 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 17,175,729 shares of Common Stock outstanding on January 8, 2020.
Under the terms of the Series C 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 | 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% (1) | ||||||||||||
Empery Asset Master, Ltd. (2) | 228,289 | 226,594 | 1,695 | * | % | |||||||||||
Empery Tax Efficient, LP (3) | 57,075 | 56,651 | 424 | * | % | |||||||||||
Empery Debt Opportunity Fund, LP (4) | 5,421,743 | 5,381,489 | 40,254 | * | % | |||||||||||
Altium Growth Fund, LP (5) | 5,664,729 | 5,664,729 | - | - |
* | Represents less than 1% |
(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 January 8, 2021, 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. |
(2) | The number of shares consists of 228,289 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, without giving effect to any limits on exercise. 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. |
(3) | The number of shares consists of 57,075 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, without giving effect to any limits on exercise. 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 5,421,743 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, without giving effect to any limits on exercise. 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 5,664,729 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, without giving effect to any limits on exercise. 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 Series C Warrants to permit the resale of these shares of Common Stock by the holders of the Series C 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. |
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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 Series C 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.
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.”
Our authorized capital stock consists of:
● | 125,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; and | |
● | 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of which, as of the date of this prospectus, none of which shares have been designated. |
As of close of business on January 8, 2020, 17,175,729 shares of Common Stock were issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock were 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 are authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, all of which are undesignated. Our board of directors has the authority to issue preferred stock in one or more classes or series and to fix the designations, powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion right, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any class or series, without further vote or action by the stockholders. Although we have no present plans to issue any other shares of preferred stock, the issuance of shares of preferred stock, or the issuance of rights to purchase such shares, could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to the holders of common stock, could adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of the common stock, and could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change of control of us or an unsolicited acquisition proposal. The preferred stock may provide for an adjustment of the conversion price in the event of an issuance or deemed issuance at a price less than the applicable conversion price, subject to certain exceptions.
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If we offer a specific series of preferred stock under this prospectus, we will describe the terms of the preferred stock in the prospectus supplement for such offering and will file a copy of the certificate establishing the terms of the preferred stock with the SEC. To the extent required, this description will include:
● | the title and stated value; | |
● | the number of shares offered, the liquidation preference per share and the purchase price; | |
● | the dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s), or method(s) of calculation for such dividends; | |
● | whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate; | |
● | the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any; | |
● | the provisions for a sinking fund, if any; | |
● | the provisions for redemption, if applicable; | |
● | any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market; | |
● | whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, and, if applicable, the conversion price (or how it will be calculated) and conversion period; | |
● | whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange price (or how it will be calculated) and exchange period; | |
● | voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock; | |
● | a discussion of any material and/or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock; | |
● | the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs; and | |
● | any material limitations on issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs. |
Anti-takeover Effects 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; | |
● | 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 |
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● | 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 C Warrants
The Series C Warrants were issued in August 2020 at an exercise price of $3.19 per share, are exercisable on the sixth month anniversary of the date of issuance and have a term of five years from the date of issuance. The Series C Warrants are exercisable for an aggregate of 11,329,463 shares of Common Stock.
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Pursuant to the Series C Warrants, upon any exercise of a Series C 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 C 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 C Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation on the exercise of the Series C 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 C 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 C Warrants, upon which the Series C 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 C 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 C Warrants also contain a “cashless exercise” feature that allows the holders to exercise the Series C 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 C Warrants. The Series C Warrants are subject to a blocker provision which restricts the exercise of the Series C 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 C Warrants.
If Sonnet fails to issue to a holder of Series C Warrants the number of Common Shares to which such holder is entitled upon such holder’s exercise of the Series C 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 C Buy-In Shares”), then Sonnet must, at the holder’s discretion, reimburse the holder for the cost of such Series C Buy-In Shares or deliver the owed shares and reimburse the holder for the difference between the price such holder paid for the Series C 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, in the event that Sonnet does not have sufficient authorized shares to deliver in satisfaction of an exercise of a Series C 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.
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.
The consolidated financial statements of Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc. as of September 30, 2020 and 2019 and for the years then ended have been incorporated by reference herein 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 audit report covering the September 30, 2020 consolidated financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph that states that Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc. has incurred recurring losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception 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 consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustment that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
The financial statements of Relief Therapeutics SA as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 incorporated herein 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 September 30, 2020, filed with the SEC on December 17, 2020; | |
● | our Current Reports on April 3, 2020 (as amended by Form 8-K/A on June 26, 2020) and May 18, 2020 (other than any portions thereof deemed furnished and not filed); 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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