Form: 8-K

Current report filing

February 2, 2024

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 31, 2024

 

AKERNA CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   001-39096   83-2242651
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

1550 Larimer Street, #246, Denver, Colorado   80202 
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (888) 932-6537

 

 
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share   KERN   NASDAQ Capital Market
Warrants to purchase Common Stock   KERNW   NASDAQ Capital Market

 

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 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

As previously disclosed, on January 27, 2023, Akerna Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Akerna”), entered into the Agreement and Plan of Merger with Gryphon Digital Mining, Inc., a Delware corporation (“Gryphon”) and Akerna Merger Co., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Akerna (the “Merger Agreement”).

 

On January 31, 2024, Gryphon entered into binding purchase agreements related to a private placement offering, pursuant to which Gryphon sold 132,172 shares of common stock of Gryphon for net proceeds of $645,000 at a price per share of $4.88. The individuals who participated in the private placement offering included private investors who participated in previous funding rounds of Gryphon.

 

In relation to the private placement, Exhibit 99.1 hereto contains unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of Akerna giving effect to the Merger and other related transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and otherwise assumed to have occurred in advance of the Merger and with information showing the impact of the the private placement on the balance sheet of the combined company following the closing of the merger under the Merger Agreement.

 

The information in this Item 7.01, and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
99.1   Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information of Akerna Corp.
     
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

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; (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 of outstanding securities of Akerna at closing; (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; and (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. 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 under the heading “Risk Factors” in the proxy statement/prospectus included in the Form S-4 and the 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 September 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. 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: February 1, 2024 AKERNA CORP.  
   
  By:  /s/ Jessica Billingsley
    Name:  Jessica Billingsley
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

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