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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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.
On August 23, 2023, Apexigen, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Apexigen”), completed the previously announced strategic combination contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 23, 2023 (the “Merger Agreement”), with Pyxis Oncology, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pyxis Oncology”), and Ascent Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Pyxis Oncology (“Merger Sub”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into Apexigen, with Apexigen surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Pyxis Oncology (the “Merger”).
At the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”):
Pyxis Oncology issued approximately 4,344,497 shares of Pyxis Oncology Common Stock as a result of the transaction. The issuance of Pyxis Oncology Common Stock was registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-272510) filed by Pyxis Oncology with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and declared effective on June 30, 2023 (the “Registration Statement”). The proxy statement/prospectus included in the Registration Statement contains additional information about the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby.
The foregoing is a general description of the Merger and Merger Agreement; it does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to Apexigen’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 24, 2023 and is incorporated herein by reference.
The Merger Agreement has been filed by Apexigen with the SEC and has been described above to provide investors and Apexigen stockholders with information regarding the terms of the Merger Agreement and is not intended to modify or supplement any factual disclosures about Pyxis Oncology, Merger Sub or Apexigen or any of their respective affiliates. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement were made only for the purposes of the Merger Agreement, were made as of specific dates, were made solely for the benefit of the parties to the Merger Agreement and may not have been intended to be statements of fact, but rather, as a method of allocating risk and governing the contractual rights and relationships among the parties to the Merger Agreement. In addition, such representations, warranties and covenants may have been qualified by certain disclosures not reflected in the text of the Merger Agreement and may apply standards of materiality and other qualifications and limitations in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material by Pyxis Oncology’s stockholders or Apexigen’s stockholders. In reviewing the representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement or any descriptions thereof in this summary, it is important to bear in mind that such representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions were not intended by the parties to the Merger Agreement to be characterizations of the actual state of facts or conditions of Pyxis Oncology, Merger Sub or Apexigen or any of their respective affiliates. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations and warranties may have
changed after the date of the Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in public disclosures. For the foregoing reasons, the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions of those provisions should not be read alone and should instead be read in conjunction with the other information contained in the reports, statements and filings that Pyxis Oncology and Apexigen publicly file with the SEC.
Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.
The information set forth in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.01.
In connection with the consummation of the Merger, Apexigen notified the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) and requested that it suspend trading of Apexigen Common Stock and Apexigen Warrants and remove Apexigen Common Stock and Apexigen Warrants from listing on Nasdaq, in each case, prior to the opening of the market on August 23, 2023. Apexigen also requested that Nasdaq file with the SEC a Form 25 Notification of Removal from Listing and/or Registration to delist Apexigen Common Stock and Apexigen Warrants from Nasdaq and deregister Apexigen Common Stock and Apexigen Warrants under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Apexigen also intends to file with the SEC a Form 15 with respect to Apexigen Common Stock and Apexigen Warrants, requesting that Apexigen Common Stock and Apexigen Warrants be deregistered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and that its reporting obligations under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act be suspended.
Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
The information set forth in Items 2.01, 3.01, 5.01 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.01 Changes in Control of Registrant.
As a result of the Merger, a change in control of Apexigen occurred, and Apexigen is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Pyxis Oncology. The information set forth in Items 2.01, 3.01, 5.02 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
As of the Effective Time: (i) Apexigen’s directors and executive officers ceased serving in such capacities and (ii) Jakob Dupont, M.D., a former director of Apexigen, was appointed to the board of directors of Pyxis Oncology.
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
The information set forth in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.
In connection with the completion of the Merger, Apexigen’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation was further amended and restated in its entirety to read as the certificate of incorporation set forth as Exhibit B to the Merger Agreement. Apexigen’s new amended and restated certificate of incorporation is filed as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. Also, in connection with the completion of the Merger, Apexigen’s amended and restated bylaws were further amended and restated to be the same as the bylaws of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that all references to the name of Merger Sub were changed to refer to the name of Apexigen. Apexigen’s new amended and restated bylaws are filed as Exhibit 3.2 and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits |
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Exhibit No. |
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Description |
2.1* |
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3.1 |
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Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Apexigen. |
3.2 |
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104 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
* Exhibits and/or schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. Apexigen hereby undertakes to furnish supplementally copies of any of the omitted exhibits and schedules upon request by the SEC; provided, however, that Apexigen may request confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2of the Exchange Act for any exhibits or schedules so furnished
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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Apexigen, Inc. |
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Date: |
August 23, 2023 |
By: |
/s/ Pam Connealy |
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Pam Connealy |
EXHIBIT 3.1
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
APEXIGEN, INC.
August 23, 2023
FIRST: The name of the corporation is Apexigen, Inc. (the “Corporation”).
SECOND: The Corporation shall have the authority to issue one class of shares to be designated Common Stock. The total number of shares of Common Stock the Corporation has authority to issue is 1,000 with par value of $0.001 per share.
THIRD: The registered office of the Corporation shall be at 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801. The registered agent of the Corporation at such address shall be The Corporation Trust Company.
FOURTH: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
FIFTH: In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation, but the stockholders may make additional bylaws and may alter, amend or repeal any Bylaws of the Corporation whether adopted by them or otherwise.
SIXTH: The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by, or in the manner provided in, the Bylaws of the Corporation. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation so provide.
SEVENTH: A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as so amended. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article Seventh by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect the elimination or limitation of liability or alleged liability pursuant hereto of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to any alleged act or omission of the director occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
EIGHTH: The Corporation shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any director or officer of the Corporation who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending
or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefits plans, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, losses, fines and amounts paid in settlement (collectively, “Losses”) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such 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. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a person in connection with a Proceeding commenced by such person only if the commencement of such Proceeding was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors.
The Corporation shall have the power to indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was an 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 corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefits plans, against Losses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such 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.
Given that certain jointly indemnifiable claims (as defined below) may arise due to indemnification provided by certain indemnitee-related entities (as defined below) to the indemnified parties pursuant to this Article Eighth (the “Indemnified Parties”), the Corporation shall be fully and primarily responsible for the payment to the Indemnified Parties in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses in connection with any such jointly indemnifiable claims, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Article Eighth, irrespective of any right of recovery the Indemnified Parties may have from the indemnitee-related entities. Under no circumstance shall the Corporation be entitled to any right of subrogation or contribution by the indemnitee-related entities, and no right of advancement or recovery the Indemnified Parties may have from the indemnitee-related entities shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of the Indemnified Parties or the obligations of the Corporation hereunder. In the event that any of the indemnitee-related entities shall make any payment to any of the Indemnified Parties in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to any jointly indemnifiable claim, the indemnitee-related entity making such payment shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of such Indemnified Parties against the Corporation, and the Indemnified Parties shall execute all documents reasonably required and shall do all things that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as may be necessary to enable the indemnitee-related entities effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. Each of the indemnitee-related entities shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to this Article Eighth, entitled to enforce this Article Eighth.
A right to indemnification arising under this Certificate of Incorporation shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the Proceeding for which indemnification is sought.
For purposes of this Article Eighth, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
NINTH: Except as provided in Article Seventh and Article Eighth above, the Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.
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EXHIBIT 3.2
BYLAWS
OF
PYXIS ONCOLOGY ACQUISITION CORP.,
A DELAWARE CORPORATION
BYLAWS
OF
PYXIS ONCOLOGY ACQUISITION CORP.
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS
The Corporation shall have the power to indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was an 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 corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefits plans, against Losses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such 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.
For purposes of this Section 6.04, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) The term “indemnitee-related entities” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (other than the Corporation) from whom an Indemnified Party may be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses on account of Proceedings or Losses with respect to which, in whole or in part, the Corporation may also have an indemnification or advancement obligation.
(2) The term “jointly indemnifiable claims” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, Proceeding for which any of the Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses from both (i) the Corporation, on the one hand, and (ii) any indemnitee-related entity pursuant to any other agreement between any indemnitee-related entity and the Indemnified Party pursuant to which such Indemnified Party is indemnified, the laws of the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of any indemnitee-related entity and/or the certificate of incorporation, certificate of organization, bylaws, partnership agreement, operating
agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or other organizational documents or governing of any indemnitee-related entity, on the other hand.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
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