SEC Form SC 13D filed by Akari Therapeutics plc

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION,
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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 §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box. ☐

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 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

ITEM 1. SECURITY AND ISSUER.

This statement on Schedule 13D relates to the ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”) of Akari Therapeutics, Plc, a public limited company formed under the laws of England and Wales (the “Issuer”). The address of the Issuer’s principal executive offices is 22 Boston Wharf Road, FL 7, Boston, Massachusetts, 02210.

ITEM 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND.

(a) Name;

Samir R. Patel (the “Reporting Person”).

(b) Residence or business address;

c/o Akari Therapeutics, Plc., 22 Boston Wharf Road, FL 7, Boston, Massachusetts, 02210.

(c) Present principal occupation or employment;

Interim Chief Executive Officer, and director of the Issuer.

(d) Criminal Convictions:

During the past five years, the Reporting Person has not been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

(e) Civil Proceedings:

During the past five years, the Reporting Person has not been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and, as a result of such proceeding, was or is 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) Citizenship/State of Incorporation/Organization:

United States.

ITEM 3. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION.

Prior to the closing of the May 2024 Private Placement (as defined below), the Reporting Person purchased an aggregate of 2,085,237,500 Ordinary Shares (represented as American Depositary Shares), 96,774,000 Prefunded Warrants and 425,000,000 Ordinary Share Warrants, in various transactions, and was issued an option to purchase up to 5,000,000 Ordinary Shares. Such transactions were reported pursuant to Schedule 13G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Section 16 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

On May 31, 2024, the Issuer closed a private placement of the Issuer’s securities (the “May 2024 Private Placement”). The Reporting Person acquired 1,326,258,000 Ordinary Shares (represented by American Depositary Shares) and 1,326,258,000 Ordinary Share Warrants in the May 2024 Private Placement. The funds used by the Reporting Person to acquire the securities in the May 2024 Private Placement were from his personal funds.

ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION.

On May 31, 2024, the Reporting Person purchased the securities described in the May 2024 Private Placement as described in Item 3 above.

Prior to the closing of the May 2024 Private Placement, the Reporting Person was the owner of the securities as set forth in Item 3 above.

ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

The Reporting Person, either in his individual capacity or as sole manager and member of PranaBio Investments LLC, beneficially owns an aggregate of 3,413,162,167 Ordinary Shares (represented by Ordinary Shares or American Depositary Shares), including an aggregate of 1,666,667 options to purchase Ordinary Shares, which represents approximately 14.5% of the Issuer’s Ordinary Shares. The Reporting Person holds sole voting and dispositive power over all securities held by PranaBio Investments LLC.

As set forth above, the Reporting Person’s aggregate beneficial ownership percentage of the Issuer’s Ordinary Shares excludes (i) 1,654,484,000 Ordinary Share Warrants and (ii) 96,774,000 Prefunded Warrants. All Warrants held by the Reporting Person are subject to a 9.99% beneficial ownership limitation. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the Warrants and securities issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.

The percentage of the Reporting Person’s aggregate beneficial ownership is based on 23,482,497,523 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding as of June 7, 2024, as per information provided to the Reporting Person by the Issuer.

ITEM 6. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

(a), (b)

The responses of the Reporting Person with respect to Rows 7 through 13 of the cover page of the Reporting Person to this Schedule 13D are incorporated herein by reference.

The percentage of the Reporting Person’s beneficial ownership is based on 23,482,497,523 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding as of June 7, 2024, as per information provided to the Reporting Person by the Issuer.

(c)

As described elsewhere in this Form 13D, in May 2024, the Reporting Person acquired 1,326,258,000 Ordinary Shares (represented by American Depositary Shares) and 1,326,258,000 Ordinary Share Warrants in the May 2024 Private Placement.

(d)

Not applicable.

(e)

Not applicable.

ITEM 7. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.

Not applicable.

SIGNATURE

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.

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