SEC Form SC 13D/A filed by Vivani Medical Inc. (Amendment)

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

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 10)*

Vivani Medical, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, no par value

(Title of Class of Securities)

92854B 109

(CUSIP Number)

5858 Horton Street, Suite 280
Emeryville, CA 94608

(818) 833-5000

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

April 27, 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 §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-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 §240.13d-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 (“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).

This Amendment No. 10 (this “Amendment”) amends and supplements the Schedule 13D filed by the Reporting Persons on September 11, 2017, as amended, (the “Schedule 13D” or “Statement”) relating to the shares of common stock, no par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of Vivani Medical, Inc., a California corporation (the “Issuer”). Except as specifically provided herein, this Amendment does not modify any of the information previously reported in the Schedule 13D. 

Item 1. Security and Issuer.

The class of equity securities to which this Schedule 13D (this “Schedule 13D”) relates is the shares of common stock, no par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of Vivani Medical, Inc., a California corporation (the “Issuer”). The principal executive office of the Issuer as of the filing date of this Schedule 13D is 5858 Horton Street, Suite 280 Emeryville, CA 94608.

Item 2. Identity and Background.

(a), (f) This statement is being filed by:

(i) Gregg Williams, an individual;

(ii) Gregg G. Williams 2006 Trust, a trust administered under the laws of Michigan (“GW Trust”);

(iii) Sam Williams Family Investments LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (“Williams LLC”);

(iv) Williams International Co. LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (“Williams International”); and

(v) Sam B. Williams 1995 Generation-Skipping Trust, a trust administered under the laws of Ohio (“GST” and together with Mr. Williams, GW Trust, Williams LLC, and Williams International, the “Reporting Persons”)

(b) The address of the principal business and principal office of each of the Reporting Persons is 5858 Horton Street, Suite 280 Emeryville, CA 94608.

(c) Mr. Williams has been the Chief Executive Officer at Williams International, a leading developer and manufacturer of small gas turbine engines, since April 2005, and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Issuer since June 2009.

(d), (e) During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons (i) has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (ii) was 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 violations with respect to such laws.

(f) Mr. Williams is a citizen of the United States.

Item 3. Source or Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

 The Shares were acquired with the personal funds of the Reporting Persons.

Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.

The Reporting Persons, directly or indirectly through certain affiliates, acquired the shares of the Issuer for investment purposes. Nevertheless, as a result of his appointment in March 2018 as the non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and his beneficial share ownership of approximately 38.9% of the Common Stock, Mr. Williams is deemed to control the Issuer. Mr. Williams has at all times from immediately prior to and since the initial public offering of the Common Stock in November 2014 been a principal shareholder and director of the Issuer and is a member of the family which co-founded the Issuer.

The Reporting Persons will continue to evaluate their ownership, investment and voting position in the Issuer and they currently expect to continue holding Issuer’s securities for investment. Moreover, they may acquire additional securities of the Issuer, upon terms which they consider to be favorable, in open market and in privately-negotiated transactions.

Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

(a)(i) Gregg Williams is the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 23,597,129 or 38.9% of the Issuer’s outstanding shares of Common Stock, which includes currently exercisable warrants to purchase 9,247,170 shares of common stock and 672,651 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. Williams upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of April 27, 2023.

(ii) GW Trust is the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 19,359,961 or 33.0% of the Issuer’s shares, including currently exercisable warrants to purchase 7,808,405 shares of Common Stock.

(iii) Williams LLC is the beneficial owner of an aggregate 181,587 or 0.4% of the Issuer’s shares.

(iv) Williams International is the beneficial owner of an aggregate 2,363,868 or 4.6% of the Issuer’s shares, including currently exercisable warrants to purchase 1,151,012 shares of Common Stock.

(v) GST is the beneficial owner of an aggregate 1,019,062 or 2.0% of the Issuer’s shares, including currently exercisable warrants to purchase 287,753 shares of Common Stock.

(b) Mr. Williams has power to vote or direct the vote and sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of the shares and warrants owned by the Reporting Persons.

 (c) On April 27, 2023, GW Trust purchased from a private party 408,164 shares of Common Stock at a purchase price of $0.98 per share. On April 28, 2023, GW Trust purchased from a private party 1,632,330 shares of Common Stock at a purchase price of $1.10 per share. Except as reported in this Item 5(c), none of the Reporting Persons have effected any transactions in the Common Stock of the Issuer during the 60 days preceding this Statement.

Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

 None

Item 7. Material to Be Filed as Exhibits.

None

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this Statement is true, complete and correct.