Note 11 – Subsequent Events.

Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization

On November 11, 2020, the Company, XYZ Merger Sub Inc., a Florida corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), and MYMD Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held Florida corporation (“MYMD”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into MYMD, with MYMD being the surviving corporation and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). The Merger is intended to qualify for federal income tax purposes as a tax-free reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In addition, in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Akers agreed to advance a bridge loan of up to $3,000,000 to MYMD pursuant to a Secured Promissory Note.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), (i) each outstanding share of common stock of MYMD (“MYMD common stock”), will be converted into the right to receive the number of shares of the common stock of Akers (the “Akers common stock”) equal to the exchange ratio described below; and (ii) each outstanding stock option of MYMD (collectively, “MYMD options”) that has not previously been exercised prior to the Effective Time, whether or not vested, will be assumed by the Company subject to certain terms contained in the Merger Agreement (including, but not limited to, the amendment of such stock option to extend the term of such stock option for a period expiring on the second-year anniversary of the Effective Time). In connection with the Merger, each holder of options is required to enter into a Lock-Up Agreement/Leak-Out Agreement with respect to the shares of Akers common stock issued upon the exercise of such option. Also, not later than 30 days after the second-year anniversary of the Effective Date, the Company will pay stockholders of MYMD on a pro rata basis an amount in cash equal to the aggregate cash proceeds received by Akers from the exercise of any MYMD options assumed by the Company prior to the second-year anniversary of the Effective Time; provided, however, the amount of such payment will not exceed the maximum amount of cash consideration that may be received by stockholders of MYMD without affecting the intended tax consequences of the Merger. 

Additionally, under the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Company has agreed to pay contingent consideration to MYMD stockholders in the form of milestone payments payable in shares of Akers common stock (collectively, the “Milestone Payments”). The Milestone Payments are payable in the dollar amounts set forth in the chart below upon the achievement of the milestone events set forth opposite such dollar amount during the 36-month period immediately following the Effective Date (the “Milestone Period”) as follows:

Each milestone payment will be payable in shares of common stock of Akers (the “Milestone Shares”), with the number of Milestone Shares to be issued determined by dividing the applicable Milestone Payment amount by the volume-weighted average price of a share of Akers’ common stock during the 10 trading days immediately preceding the achievement of the milestone event; provided, however, that in no event shall the price of a share of Akers common stock used to determine the number of Milestone Shares to be issued be deemed to be less than $5.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reverse stock splits, and the like occurring after the Closing Date).

Notwithstanding the above, the number of Milestone Shares payable by Akers shall not exceed the number of shares of Akers common stock to be issued to MyMD stockholders at the Effective Time in connection with the Merger (as described in the following paragraph).

Under the exchange ratio formula in the Merger Agreement, upon the closing of the Merger, the former MYMD securityholders are expected to own approximately 80% of the aggregate number of shares of Akers common stock issued and outstanding immediately following the consummation of the Merger (the “Post-Closing Shares”), and the stockholders of the Company as of immediately prior to the Merger are expected to own approximately 20% of the aggregate number of Post-Closing Shares.

Immediately prior to the Effective Time, the name of the Company will be changed from “Akers Biosciences, Inc.” to “MyMD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.” At the Effective Time, the Merger Agreement contemplates that the board of directors of the Company will consist of seven directors, with (i) Akers having the right to designate up to four members and (ii) MYMD having the right to designate up to three members. The officers of the Company immediately after the Effective Time will be elected by the board of directors of Akers.

The Merger Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants made by the Company and MYMD, including covenants relating to obtaining the requisite approvals of the stockholders of the Company and MYMD, indemnification of directors and officers, and the Company’s and MYMD’s conduct of their respective businesses between the date of signing the Merger Agreement and the closing of the Merger. Consummation of the Merger is subject to certain closing conditions, including, among other things, approval by the stockholders of Akers and MYMD.

The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for both the Company and MYMD, including, among other things, (a) Akers may, upon written notice, extend the originally scheduled End Date (defined in the Merger Agreement as April 15, 2021) to May 15, 2021 (the “Extended Date”) so long as (i) Akers and Merger Sub are not then in material breach of any provision of the Merger Agreement and (ii) within three calendar days of the written request by MYMD, Akers makes an additional loan to MYMD of up to $600,000, which will have the same terms and conditions of the Note (as defined below and such additional note “Second Note”) and (b) Akers may, upon written notice, extend the Extended Date to June 30, 2021, so long as (i) Akers and Merger Sub are not then in material breach of any provision of the Merger Agreement, (ii) on the effective date of such extension, the loan amount evidenced by the Note and the Second Note may, at the sole option of MYMD upon written notice to Akers, be converted into shares of MYMD common stock at a conversion price of $2.00 per share, subject to certain adjustments and (iii) Akers will, at MYMD’s request, either (at the option of MYMD); (A) subscribe for 300,000 shares of MYMD common stock at a subscription price of $2.00 per share, subject to certain adjustments as set forth in the Merger Agreement, or (B) makes an additional loan to MYMD of up to $600,000, which will have the same terms and conditions of the Note (the “Third Note,” and all amounts outstanding under the Note, the Second Note and the Third Note, the “Loan Amount”). In addition, if Akers terminates the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances specified therein, the Loan Amount, if any, at the sole discretion of MYMD, will be convertible into shares of common stock of MYMD at a conversion price of $2.00 per share upon delivery of written notice by MYMD to Akers within 30 calendar days after the effective date of termination of the Merger Agreement.

The Merger Agreement also contemplates that the Company will seek approval from its stockholders to effect a reverse stock split, if applicable, at a reverse stock split ratio mutually agreed to by the Company and MYMD and within the range approved by the Company’s stockholders immediately prior to the Effective Time, which range shall be sufficient to cause the price of Akers common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market following such reverse stock split and the Effective Time to be no less than $5.00 per share. In addition, under the Merger Agreement, Akers may, in its discretion, consummate a spin-off of all or a part of its pre-closing assets and liabilities (the “Spin-Off”).

In connection with the Merger, the Company will seek the approval of its stockholders of (a) the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement, including the issuance of Akers common stock pursuant to the Merger and (b) the amendment of its certificate of incorporation, including for purposes of (i) effectuating a reverse split of Akers common stock at a ratio to be determined by a split ratio to be mutually agreed to by Akers and MYMD within the range approved by the Company’s stockholders immediately prior to the Effective Time and on certain terms as specifically described herein, (ii) change Akers’ name to “MyMD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,” and (c) to the extent necessary, the Spin-Off.

In accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, (i) the officers and directors of Akers have each entered into a voting agreement with MYMD (the “Akers Voting Agreements”), and (ii) the officers, directors and certain affiliated stockholders of MYMD have each entered into a voting agreement with Akers (the “MYMD Voting Agreements,” together with the Akers Voting Agreements, the “Voting Agreements”). The Voting Agreements place certain restrictions on the transfer of the shares of Akers and MYMD held by the respective signatories thereto and include covenants as to the voting of such shares in favor of approving the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and against any actions that could adversely affect the consummation of the Merger.

Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement or prior to the Closing, the officers and directors of Akers, and the officers, directors and certain stockholders of MYMD, each entered into lock-up/leak-out agreements (the “Lock-Up/Leak-Out Agreements”) pursuant to which they have agreed, among other things, not to sell or dispose of (subject to certain exceptions specified therein) any shares of Akers common stock which are or will be beneficially owned by them at the Effective Time or which are acquired thereafter, with such shares being released from such restrictions 180 days after the Effective Time. After the expiration of such initial 180-day period, such stockholders will be subject to a 180-day leak-out period during which they may not sell shares in excess of the amount permitted by the Rule 144 volume limitations (even if such stockholder is not currently subject to such provisions of Rule 144), which leak- out period shall be extended for an additional 180 days for any shares of Akers common stock issued upon the exercise of existing options or warrants.

Secured Promissory Note

As set forth above, in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Akers will advance a bridge loan to MYMD in an amount of up to $3,000,000 pursuant to a Secured Promissory Note (the “Note”). Advances under the Note will be made in accordance with MYMD’s cash needs pursuant to a pre-agreed operating budget for MYMD. The Note accrues interest on the outstanding principal amount at the rate of 5% per annum and matures on the earliest of (i) April 15, 2022, (ii) upon demand of Akers in the event the Merger is consummated, or (iii) the date on which MYMD’s obligations under the Note are accelerated in accordance with the terms of the Note. As set forth above, in the event the Merger Agreement is terminated by MYMD upon a change in Akers’ board of directors’ recommendations to the Akers stockholders in connection with the Merger Agreement and certain other circumstances specified in the Merger Agreement, the principal amount of the Note, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall be converted into shares of MYMD common stock at a conversion price of $2.00 per share. MYMD may prepay the Note in whole or in part at any time or from time to time at its sole discretion. Under the terms of the Note, if, at any time after the termination or expiration of the Merger Agreement, MYMD (i) incurs any debt other than Permitted Debt (as defined in the Note), (ii) issues any equity interests, or (iii) consummates any Asset Sale or Recovery Event (each as defined in the Note) then, in each case, no later than two business days after MYMD receives the net cash proceeds of such incurrence, issuance or other action, then MYMD shall be required to prepay an amount under the Note equal to the net cash proceeds received, up to the total amount of the advances made under the Note at such time, including all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, of the Note. The payment and performance of all obligations under the Note are secured by a first priority security interest in all of MYMD’s right, title and interest in and to its assets as collateral.

Securities Purchase Agreement

Concurrently with the Merger Agreement, on November 11, 2020, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain institutional and accredited investors (the “Purchasers”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Purchasers in a private placement (the “Private Placement”) (i) an aggregate of 9,765,933 shares of Akers common stock, at an offering price of $1.85 per share or, at the election of each investor, pre-funded warrants (“Pre-Funded Warrants”), and (ii) for each share of Akers common stock (or for each Pre-Funded Warrant, as applicable) purchased in the Private Placement, a common warrant (the “Investor Warrants” and together with the Pre-Funded Warrants, the “Warrants”) to purchase one share of Akers common stock, for gross proceeds of approximately $18.1 million before the deduction of placement agent fees and expenses and estimated offering expenses.

In the Private Placement, the Company will issue up to an aggregate of 9,765,933 shares of Akers common stock (the “Shares”) and Pre-Funded Warrants. The Pre-Funded Warrants will be immediately exercisable, will have an exercise price of $0.01 and may be exercised at any time after their original issuance until such Pre-funded Warrants are exercised in full. The Investor Warrants are exercisable immediately upon issuance and terminate five and a half years following issuance. The Investor Warrants have an exercise price of $2.06 per share and represent the right to purchase an aggregate of up to 9,765,933 shares of Akers common stock. A holder of a Warrant will not have the right to exercise any portion of its Warrants if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or 9.99% at the election of the holder prior to the date of issuance) of the number of shares of Akers common stock issued and outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”); provided, however, that upon 61 days’ prior notice to the Company, the holder may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, but in no event shall the Beneficial Ownership Limitation exceed 9.99%.

In the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed not to (i) issue, enter into any agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of, any shares of the Company’s common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of the Company’s common stock at an effective price less than the exercise price of the Investor Warrants or (ii) file any registration statement or any amendment or supplement thereto, other than as contemplated under the Purchase Agreement, for a period of 90 days following the later of (x) the date the Registration Statement (as defined below) is declared effective by the SEC and (y) the record date for the Company’s stockholder meeting called to approve the Merger. In addition, the Company agreed not to effect or enter into an agreement to effect any issuance of the Company’s common stock or common stock equivalents involving a variable rate transaction (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) from the date of the Purchase Agreement until such time as no Purchaser holds any of the Investor Warrants, subject to certain exceptions (including the issuance of any of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement).

The Purchase Agreement provides that (i) within 10 days following the date that the Company first files a proxy statement with the SEC in connection with the Merger (including by means of a registration statement on Form S-4), the Company shall file a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) for the resale of all of the Shares and the shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”) by the Purchasers and (ii) the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective within 60 days of the filing thereof (or 90 days in the event of a full review); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to register any Shares or Warrant Shares that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (assuming cashless exercise of the Warrants).

The closing of the Private Placement is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement and is expected to occur on or around November 16, 2020.

On October 31, 2020, the Company entered into an engagement letter (the “Engagement Letter”) with Katalyst Securities LLC (the “Placement Agent”), pursuant to which the Placement Agent agreed to serve as the non-exclusive placement agent for the Company, on a reasonable best efforts basis, in connection with the Private Placement. The Company has agreed to pay the Placement Agent an aggregate cash fee equal to 6.5% of the gross proceeds received in the Private Placement and reimburse the Placement Agent’s expenses in the Private Placement up to $25,000. In addition, the Company has agreed to grant to the Placement Agent warrants to purchase up to 390,368 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.85 (the “Placement Agent Warrants”). The Placement Agent Warrants will be exercisable at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, following the date of issuance and for a term of five years from the closing of the Merger.

The gross proceeds to the Company from the Private Placement, before deducting the Placement Agent’s fees and expenses and estimated offering expenses, and excluding the proceeds, if any, from the exercise of the Warrants, are expected to be approximately $18.1 million. The Company currently intends to use the proceeds from the Private Placement in order to satisfy the closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement that requires the Company to have at least $25 million on the closing date of the Merger, and for general working capital purposes. In addition, the Company will pay approximately $1.8 million of the proceeds from the Private Placement to the former members of Cystron pursuant to the MIPA.

The Shares, the Pre-Funded Warrants, the Investor Warrants, the Placement Agent Warrants and the shares of Akers common stock issuable upon the exercise of such warrants are not being registered under the Securities Act, are not being offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, and are being offered pursuant to the exemption from registration provided in Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) promulgated thereunder.

To induce the Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, on November 11, 2020, the Company entered into a Lock-Up and Support Agreement (the “Support Agreement”) with certain of its stockholders named therein, pursuant to which, from the date of the Support Agreement until May 31, 2021, such stockholders agreed to vote their respective shares of Akers common stock in favor of each matter proposed and recommended for approval by the Company’s board of directors or management at every stockholders’ meeting.

Executive Chairman Cash Bonus

On November 11, 2020, the Board approved a special cash bonus of $150,000 to Christopher C. Schreiber, the Company’s Executive Chairman and President for his service in year-to-date 2020.