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): October 24, 2024
NKGen Biotech, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | | 001-40427 | | 86-2191918 |
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) | | (Commission File Number) | | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
3001 Daimler Street
Santa Ana, CA, 92705
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (949) 396-6830
Not Applicable
(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, $0.0001 par value per share | | NKGN | | Nasdaq Global Market |
| | | | | |
| Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share | | NKGNW | | 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). ☒
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 8.01 Other Events
On October 24, 2024, NKGen Biotech, Inc. (the “Company”) as part of the Company’s greater cost-reduction efforts, the Company placed 19 employees on furlough, effective October 27, 2024. During the furlough, impacted employees will not be allowed to work on Company matters and will not receive salary or wages. The Company will continue certain benefits for affected employees. The Company plans for the furlough to last from October 27, 2024 through November 9, 2024.
Additionally, the Company’s inability to pay its payroll obligations may result in employees terminating their relationship with the Company and/or pursuing legal remedies. Since the Company’s business is dependent on the efforts and talents of its employees to implement its products, a material loss of its employee base may result in the inability of the Company to operate its technology and meet its production obligations.
Forward Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K contain “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K and the Press Release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K and the Press Release may be identified by the use of words such as “ensure,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will”, “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words.
Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which are, in some cases, beyond the Company’s control and which could materially affect results. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on April 16, 2024, as amended by the Form 10-K/A thereto filed April 29, 2024 and the Company’s other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. | | Description |
| 104 | | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| | NKGEN BIOTECH, INC. |
| | | |
| Date: October 30, 2024 | /s/ Paul Y. Song |
| | Name: | Paul Y. Song |
| | Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
| | | (Principal Executive Officer) |
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