UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Item 3.01. Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.
On November 20, 2023, Akerna Corp. (the “Company”) received a notice (the “Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) stating that the resignation of Barry Fishman from the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) (as described in Item 5.02 below) resulted in noncompliance with the board of directors independence requirements set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(b)(1) and the requirement in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(c)(2)(A) to have an audit committee of at least three independent directors.
More specifically, when the Notice was issued, the Board did not have a majority of directors who would be considered “independent directors,” as that term is defined in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) and the audit committee of the Board has only two independent directors. The Notice states that, consistent with Nasdaq Listing Rules 5605(b)(1)(A) and Rule 5605(c)(4), Nasdaq will provide the Company a cure period in order to regain compliance (i) until the earlier of the Company’s next annual shareholders’ meeting or November 15, 2024, or (ii) if the next annual shareholders’ meeting is held before May 13, 2024, then the Company must evidence compliance no later than May 13, 2024.
The Notice has no immediate effect on the listing of the Company’s common stock or warrants on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On November 15, 2023, Mr. Barry Fishman resigned as a director of the Company. Mr. Fishman did not resign as a result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies, or practices.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:
| Exhibit Number |
Description | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
| * | Certain schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule and/or exhibit will be furnished to the SEC upon request. |
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Additional Information and Where to Find It
This Current Report on Form 8-K may be deemed to be solicitation material with respect to the proposed transactions between Akerna and Gryphon Digital Mining, Inc. (‘Gryphon”) and between Akerna and MJ Acquisition Corp. In connection with the proposed transactions, Akerna has filed relevant materials with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, including a registration statement on Form S-4 that contains a prospectus and a proxy statement. Akerna will mail the proxy statement/prospectus to the Akerna stockholders, and the securities may not be sold or exchanged until the registration statement becomes effective. Investors and securityholders of Akerna and Gryphon are urged to read these materials because they will contain important information about Akerna, Gryphon and the proposed transactions. This Current Report on Form 8-K is not a substitute for the registration statement, definitive proxy statement/prospectus or any other documents that Akerna may file with the SEC or send to securityholders in connection with the proposed transactions. Investors and securityholders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC on Akerna’s website at www.akerna.com, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to Akerna’s Investor Relations at (516) 419-9915.
This Current Report on Form 8-K is not a proxy statement or a solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed transactions, and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Participants in the Solicitation
Each of Akerna, Gryphon, MJ Acquisition Corp. and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Akerna in connection with the proposed transactions. Information about the executive officers and directors of Akerna are set forth in Akerna’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A relating to the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 19, 2022. Other information regarding the interests of such individuals, who may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies for the stockholders of Akerna, is set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus included in Akerna’s registration statement on Form S-4 as filed with the SEC on May 12, 2023, as last amended on September 7, 2023. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described above.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements based upon the current expectations of Gryphon and Akerna. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation: (i) the risk that the conditions to the closing of the proposed transactions are not satisfied, including the failure to timely obtain stockholder approval for the transactions, if at all; (ii) uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the proposed transactions and the ability of each of Akerna, Gryphon and MJ Acquisition Co. to consummate the proposed merger or asset sale, as applicable; (iii) risks related to Akerna’s ability to manage its operating expenses and its expenses associated with the proposed transactions pending closing; (iv) risks related to the failure or delay in obtaining required approvals from any governmental or quasi-governmental entity necessary to consummate the proposed transactions; (v) the risk that as a result of adjustments to the exchange ratio, Akerna stockholders and Gryphon stockholders could own more or less of the combined company than is currently anticipated; (vi) risks related to the market price of Akerna’s common stock relative to the exchange ratio; (vii) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from either or both of the proposed transactions; (viii) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed transactions; (ix) risks related to the inability of the combined company to obtain sufficient additional capital to continue to advance its business plan; (x) risks associated with the possible failure to realize certain anticipated benefits of the proposed transactions, including with respect to future financial and operating results and (xi) risks related to the Panel not granting additional time for Akerna to regain compliance with the listing rules and Akerna being suspended and delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. These and other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in periodic filings with the SEC, including the factors described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in Akerna’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, each filed with the SEC, and in other filings that Akerna makes and will make with the SEC in connection with the proposed transactions, including the proxy statement/prospectus described under “Additional Information and Where to Find It.” You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date hereof or as of the dates indicated in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Akerna and Gryphon expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
| Dated: November 20, 2023 | AKERNA CORP. | ||
| By: | /s/ Jessica Billingsley | ||
| Name: | Jessica Billingsley | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
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