Form 8-K - Current report

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): March 11, 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).

Emerging growth company x

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 3.01. Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing

On March 11, 2024, NKGen Biotech, Inc. (the “Company”) received written notice (the “Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Staff (the “Staff”) of the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company that for the last 30 consecutive business days prior to the date of the Notice, the Company’s Market Value of Listed Securities (as defined under Nasdaq rules) was below the minimum of $50 million required for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(A) (the “MVLS Requirement”). In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(C), Nasdaq has provided the Company with 180 calendar days, or until September 9, 2024, to regain compliance with the MVLS Requirement. If, at any time before September 9, 2024, the market value of the Company’s common stock (calculated in accordance with Nasdaq rules) closes at $50 million or more for a minimum of ten consecutive business days, Nasdaq will provide written confirmation to the Company and close the matter.

The Notice does not result in the delisting of the Company’s common stock from the Nasdaq Global Market. However, in the event the Company does not regain compliance with the MVLS Requirement prior to September 9, 2024, the Company will receive written notification that its common stock will be subject to delisting. At that time, the Company may appeal the Staff’s delisting determination to a Nasdaq Hearing Panel.

In recent weeks, the Company’s share price has rebounded from its previous lows, and the Company’s market capitalization exceeded $50 million at close on March 11, 2024, following receipt of the Notice. The Company is evaluating potential actions to regain compliance with the MVLS Requirement and intends to actively monitor the market value of its common stock. There can be no assurance that the Company will regain compliance with the MVLS Requirement by the compliance date, September 9, 2024. The Company may also, if appropriate, apply to transfer to the Nasdaq Capital Market, subject to the requirements of such market.

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: March 15, 2024	/s/ Paul Y. Song
	Name:	Paul Y. Song
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer
		(Principal Executive Officer)

Cover	Mar. 11, 2024
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 11, 2024
Entity File Number	001-40427
Entity Registrant Name	NKGen Biotech, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001845459
Entity Tax Identification Number	86-2191918
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	3001 Daimler Street
Entity Address, City or Town	Santa Ana
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	92705
City Area Code	949
Local Phone Number	396-6830
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Elected Not To Use the Extended Transition Period	false
Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share
Trading Symbol	NKGN
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Warrant [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share
Trading Symbol	NKGNW
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ