SC 13D

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.    )

 

 

Cibus, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

17166A 101

(CUSIP Number)

Jean-Pierre J. Lehmann

c/o Cibus, Inc.

6455 Nancy Ridge Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

(858) 450-0008

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

May 31, 2023

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box.  ☐

 

 

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

 

 

 

*

The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Exchange Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Exchange Act (however, see the Notes).

 

 

 


CUSIP: 17166A 101

Page: Page 2 of 7

 

  1    

  NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

 

  Jean-Pierre J. Lehmann

  2  

  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

  (a)  ☐        (b)  ☐

 

  3  

  SEC USE ONLY

 

  4  

  SOURCE OF FUNDS

 

  OO

  5  

  CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) OR 2(E)

 

  ☐

  6  

  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

  Switzerland

NUMBER OF

SHARES

 BENEFICIALLY 

OWNED BY

EACH

REPORTING

PERSON

WITH

 

     7    

  SOLE VOTING POWER

 

  1,687,071

     8  

  SHARED VOTING POWER

 

  0

     9  

  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

  1,687,071

   10  

  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

  0

11    

  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

  1,687,071

12  

  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

 

  ☐

13  

  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

 

  9.6%(1)

14  

  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

  IN

 

(1)

Calculated using 17,601,881 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), of Cibus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), outstanding as of May 31, 2023, as set forth in the Issuer’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 1, 2023.

 

- 2 -


CUSIP: 17166A 101

Page: Page 3 of 7

 

  1    

  NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

 

  JPL Investments SA

  2  

  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

  (a)  ☐        (b)  ☐

 

  3  

  SEC USE ONLY

 

  4  

  SOURCE OF FUNDS

 

  OO

  5  

  CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) OR 2(E)

 

  ☐

  6  

  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

  Switzerland

NUMBER OF

SHARES

 BENEFICIALLY 

OWNED BY

EACH

REPORTING

PERSON

WITH

 

     7    

  SOLE VOTING POWER

 

  1,687,071

     8  

  SHARED VOTING POWER

 

  0

     9  

  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

  1,687,071

   10  

  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

  0

11    

  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

  1,687,071

12  

  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

 

  ☐

13  

  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

 

  9.6%(1)

14  

  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

  CO

 

(1)

Calculated using 17,601,881 shares of Class A Common Stock of the Issuer outstanding as of May 31, 2023, as set forth in the Issuer’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 1, 2023.

 

- 3 -


CUSIP: 17166A 101

Page: Page 4 of 7

 

Item 1.

Security and Issuer.

The title and the class of equity securities to which this statement on Schedule 13D (“Schedule 13D”) relates are the shares of Class A Common Stock of the Issuer, whose principal executive offices are located at 6455 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, CA 92121.

 

Item 2.

Identity and Background.

(a) This Schedule 13D is filed jointly by (i) Jean-Pierre J. Lehmann and (ii) JPL Investments SA, a Swiss corporation (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”). Mr. Lehmann and Clarisse Garman serve on the board of directors of JPL Investments SA.

(b) The principal business address of Jean-Pierre J. Lehmann is c/o Cibus, Inc. 6455 Nancy Ridge Drive San Diego, CA 92121. The principal business address of JPL Investments SA is 21 Alpinastrasse, CH 3780 Gstaad, Switzerland. The principal business address of Clarisse Garman is c/o Green Granges Again LTD, 360 Madison Avenue 9F, New York, NY 10017.

(c) Jean-Pierre J. Lehmann is retired. The principal business of JPL Investments SA is investments in securities. Clarisse Garman is a consultant at Green Granges Again LTD, located at 360 Madison Avenue 9F, New York, NY 10017.

(d) During the last five years, neither the Reporting Persons nor, in the case of JPL Investments SA, any of its directors has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

(e) During the last five years, neither the Reporting Persons nor, in the case of JPL Investments SA, any of its directors has been party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding were or are subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

(f) Jean-Pierre J. Lehmann and Clarisse Garman are citizens of Switzerland. JPL Investments SA is a Swiss corporation.

 

Item 3.

Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

On May 31, 2023, the Issuer (formerly Calyxt, Inc.) (prior to the completion of the business combination, “Calyxt”) completed its business combination in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 13, 2023, as amended by the First Amendment thereto, dated as of April 14, 2023 (as amended, the “Merger Agreement,” and the transactions contemplated thereby, the “Transactions”), by and among Calyxt, Calypso Merger Subsidiary, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Calyxt (“Merger Subsidiary”), Cibus Global, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Cibus Global”), and certain blocker entities party thereto.

Upon closing of the Transactions, Calyxt was renamed “Cibus, Inc.”, the Issuer’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was amended such that the Issuer had two classes of common stock (Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock), and Calyxt’s existing common stock remained as Class A Common Stock.

The Reporting Persons were equity holders of Cibus Global prior to the closing of the Transactions and acquired 1,687,071 shares of Class A Common Stock on May 31, 2023 as merger consideration in connection with the Transactions.

The foregoing references to and descriptions of the Merger Agreement and Transactions do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, the full text of the Merger Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibits 1.01 and 1.02.

 

Item 4.

Purpose of Transaction.

The information set forth in Item 3 is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Item 4.

Mr. Lehmann serves as a member of the board of directors of the Issuer and, in such capacity, has influence over the corporate activities of the Issuer, including activities which may relate to items described in subparagraphs (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.

 

- 4 -


CUSIP: 17166A 101

Page: Page 5 of 7

 

As described in Item 3 above, the Reporting Persons acquired the shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the Transactions. The Reporting Persons presently consider the shares of Class A Common Stock as an investment and intend to review their investment on an ongoing basis, taking into account a number of factors, including, without limitation, general market and economic conditions. Such continuing review may result in the Reporting Persons acquiring additional shares of Class A Common Stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, maintaining their holdings at current levels or selling all or a portion of holdings in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Any transactions conducted by the Reporting Persons will be subject to the Lock-Up Agreement described in Item 6 of this Schedule 13D and the Issuer’s Insider Trading Policy.

Except as set forth above, the Reporting Persons have no present plans or intentions which would result in or relate to any of the transactions described in subparagraphs (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.

 

Item 5.

Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

(a) As a result of the Transactions, the Reporting Persons beneficially own 1,687,071 shares of Class A Common Stock, representing approximately 9.6% of the 17,601,881 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding as of May 31, 2023, giving effect to the 1-for-5 reverse stock split of Calyxt’s common stock on May 31, 2023 and immediately following the closing of the Transactions, as set forth in the Issuer’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 1, 2023.

(b) The number of shares of Class A Common Stock as to which the Reporting Persons have sole voting power, shared voting power, sole dispositive power and shared dispositive power is set forth in boxes (7), (8), (9) and (10), respectively, on the cover pages to this Schedule 13D, and such information is incorporated herein by reference. Mr. Lehmann is the President of JPL Investments SA and beneficially owns the shares of Class A Common Stock held by JPL Investments SA.

(c) Except as described in this Schedule 13D, during the past 60 days the Reporting Persons have not effected any transactions in the shares of Class A Common Stock.

(d) Except as disclosed in this Schedule 13D, to the knowledge of the Reporting Persons, no one other than the Reporting Persons has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the securities of the Issuer reported as beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons herein.

(e) Not applicable.

 

Item 6.

Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

Cibus Global Support Agreement

Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement and as a condition to Calyxt entering into the Merger Agreement, Calyxt entered into support agreements (the “Cibus Global Support Agreements”) with certain of Cibus Global’s equity holders, directors and officers (the “Cibus Global Supporting Unitholders”) who, collectively and in the aggregate as of January 13, 2023, held voting power of approximately 54.3% of the outstanding Cibus Global membership units (the “Subject Units”). Pursuant to the terms of the Cibus Global Support Agreements, the Cibus Global Supporting Unitholders agreed to take certain actions to support the Transactions, including not transferring the Subject Units during the term of the Cibus Global Support Agreements except under specified circumstances and voting (or acting by written consent) all of its Subject Units in favor of the Mergers and the other Transactions, against any alternative acquisition proposals and to convert all outstanding pre-closing Cibus Global preferred units into pre-closing Cibus Global voting common units on a one-for-one basis.

The Cibus Global Support Agreements also contained customary termination provisions, including termination with respect to a given Cibus Global Supporting Unitholder in the event of any modification or amendment to the Merger Agreement in a manner that reduced the amount or changed the form of merger consideration payable to such Cibus Global Supporting Unitholder or otherwise adversely affected the Cibus Global Supporting Unitholder in any material respect without his, her or its prior written approval.

The foregoing summary of the Cibus Global Support Agreements is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the form of Cibus Global Support Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 1.03 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

- 5 -


CUSIP: 17166A 101

Page: Page 6 of 7

 

Lock-Up Agreement

On June 1, 2023, the newly appointed directors and certain officers of the Issuer entered into lock-up agreements pursuant to which they agreed, for a period of six months, not to transfer 90% of the shares of Class A Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable for shares of Class A Common Stock they held immediately after the closing of the Transactions, subject to customary exemptions (the “Lock-Up Agreements”).

The foregoing summary of the Lock-Up Agreements is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the form of Lock-Up Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 1.04 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7.

Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

 

1.01    Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated January 13, 2023, by and among Calyxt, Inc., Calypso Merger Subsidiary, LLC, Cibus Global, LLC and the other parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Issuer’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 17, 2023).
1.02    First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 14, 2023, by and among Calyxt, Inc. and Cibus Global, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Issuer’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 14, 2023).
1.03    Form of Cibus Global Support Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Issuer’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 17, 2023).
1.04    Form of Lock-Up Agreement (filed herewith).

 

- 6 -


CUSIP: 17166A 101

Page: Page 7 of 7

 

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Date: June 12, 2023

 

/s/ Jean-Pierre J. Lehmann
Jean-Pierre J. Lehmann

 

JPL INVESTMENTS SA
By:   /s/ Jean-Pierre J. Lehmann
  Name: Jean-Pierre J. Lehmann
  Title: President

 

- 7 -

EX-99.1(04)

Exhibit 1.04

Cibus, Inc.

Lock-Up Agreement

June 1, 2023

Cibus, Inc.

6455 Nancy Ridge Drive

San Diego, CA

 

  Re:

Cibus, Inc. - Lock-Up Agreement

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This Lock-Up Agreement (this “Agreement”) is being entered into in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 13, 2023, as amended by the First Amendment thereto dated as of April 14, 2023 (as amended, the “Merger Agreement”) by and among Cibus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (formerly known as Calyxt, Inc.) (the “Company”); Calypso Merger Subsidiary, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Calyxt; Cibus Global, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; and the blocker entities party thereto, following which the Company’s Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the ticker symbol “CBUS”.

For good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees that, during the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to and including the date six months after the date hereof (the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned shall not, and shall not cause or direct any of its affiliates to, (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, lend or otherwise dispose of any shares of Class A Common Stock, or any options or warrants to purchase any shares of Class A Common Stock, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive shares of Class A Common Stock (such options, warrants or other securities, collectively, “Derivative Instruments”), including without limitation any such shares or Derivative Instruments now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned, (ii) engage in any hedging or other transaction or arrangement (including, without limitation, any short sale or the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward, swap or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined) which is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in a sale, loan, pledge or other disposition (whether by the undersigned or someone other than the undersigned), or transfer of any of the economic consequences of ownership, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, of any shares of Class A Common Stock or Derivative Instruments, whether any such transaction or arrangement (or instrument provided for thereunder) would be settled by delivery of shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise (any such sale, loan, pledge or other disposition, or transfer of economic consequences, a “Transfer”) or (iii) otherwise publicly announce any intention to engage in or cause any action or activity described in clause (i) above or transaction or arrangement described in clause (ii) above; provided that nothing herein shall restrict any rights to which the undersigned is entitled pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement entered into by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. The undersigned represents and warrants that the undersigned is not, and has not caused or directed any of its affiliates to be or become, currently a party to any agreement or arrangement that provides for, is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in any Transfer during the Lock-Up Period.


Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may Transfer the undersigned’s shares of Class A Common Stock and Derivative Instruments:

 

  (i)

as a bona fide gift or gifts or for bona fide estate planning purposes, provided the donee or donees thereof agree to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein;

 

  (ii)

to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, provided that the trustee of the trust agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value;

 

  (iii)

in connection with the sale or other Transfer of the undersigned’s shares of Class A Common Stock acquired in open market transactions after the date of this Agreement;

 

  (iv)

in connection with the sale or other Transfer of up to 10% of the undersigned shares of Class A Common Stock and securities convertible into or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock, in each case, held by the undersigned immediately after the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;

 

  (v)

to the Company in connection with the exercise or settlement of options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares of Class A Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable for shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with their terms (including the settlement of restricted stock units, or similar equity incentive shares, and including, in each case, by way of net exercise and/or to cover withholding tax obligations in connection with such exercise) pursuant to the Company’s 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan or Equity Incentive Plan (2014 Plan), provided that any such shares issued upon exercise of such option, warrant or other right shall be subject to the restrictions set forth herein;

 

  (vi)

by will or intestacy, provided that the legatee, heir or other transferee, as the case may be, agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein;

 

  (vii)

to any immediate family member, provided that such family member agrees to be bound by the restrictions set forth herein;

 

  (viii)

to a partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which the undersigned and the immediate family members of the undersigned are the legal and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding equity securities or similar interests;

 

  (ix)

pursuant to a court order or settlement agreement related to the distribution of assets in connection with the dissolution of a marriage or civil union;

 

  (x)

to the Company pursuant to agreements under which the Company has the option to repurchase such shares of Class A Common Stock or Derivative Instruments or a right of first refusal with respect to transfers of such shares of Class A Common Stock or Derivative Instruments upon termination of service of the undersigned;

 

  (xi)

as part of a distribution, transfer or disposition without consideration by the undersigned to its limited or general partners, members, stockholders or affiliates (as defined under Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), provided that the transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein;


  (xii)

pursuant to a bona fide third-party merger, consolidation, tender offer or other similar transaction involving a Change of Control (defined below) of the Company that is approved by the Company’s board of directors and made to all holders of the Company’s capital stock, provided that, in the event that such Change of Control is not completed, the undersigned’s shares of Class A Common Stock and Derivate Instruments shall remain subject to the restrictions contained in this Lock-Up Agreement and title to the undersigned’s shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company shall remain with the undersigned; or

 

  (xiii)

with the prior written consent of the Company.

For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity, the undersigned may transfer the undersigned’s shares of Class A Common Stock and Derivative Instruments by transfer to any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the undersigned; provided, however, that in any such case, it shall be a condition to the transfer that the transferee execute an agreement stating that the transferee is receiving and holding such shares of Class A Common Stock or Derivative Instruments, as the case may be, subject to the provisions of this Agreement and there shall be no further transfer of such shares of Class A Common Stock or Derivative Instruments, as the case may be, except in accordance with this Agreement, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the case of clauses (i) through (viii) above, no filing under the Exchange Act or any other public filing or disclosure of such transfer by or on behalf of the undersigned shall be required or voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period (other than a filing on a Form 5 and other than a required filing on Schedule 13D, Schedule 13D/A, Schedule 13G, Schedule 13G/A or Form 13F). For the purposes of clause (xii), “Change of Control” shall mean the transfer (whether by tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons (other than pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement), of the Company’s voting securities if, after such transfer, such person or group of affiliated persons would hold more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (or the surviving entity).

The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s shares of Class A Common Stock except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may establish a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, provided, that (i) no public report or filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be required during the Lock-Up Period with respect to such trading plan, (ii) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding the establishment of such plan during the Lock-Up Period and (iii) no sales are made during the Lock-Up Period pursuant to such plan.

The undersigned understands that this Lock-Up Agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns. This Lock-Up Agreement may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com or www.echosign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.


The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the Company has not made any recommendation or provided any investment advice to the undersigned with respect to this Lock-Up Agreement or the subject matter hereof, and the undersigned has consulted its own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors with respect to this Lock-Up Agreement and the subject matter hereof to the extent the undersigned has deemed appropriate.

[Signature Page Follows]


Very truly yours,
 
Name of Security Holder (Print exact name)
By:    
  Signature
If not signing in an individual capacity:
 
Name of Authorized Signatory (Print)
 
Title of Authorized Signatory (Print)
(indicate capacity of person signing if signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf of an entity))