Axcella Health (AXLA) 8-KAmendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws

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): September 18, 2023

AXCELLA HEALTH INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (857) 320-2200

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):

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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. ¨

On September 18, 2023, Axcella Health Inc. (the “Company”) filed an amendment (the “Certificate of Amendment”) to its Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effectuate a reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value of $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”).

As previously disclosed, at its annual meeting of stockholders held on September 11, 2023 (the “Annual Meeting”), the stockholders of the Company approved a proposal to authorize the Company’s Board of Directors, in its discretion following the Annual Meeting to amend the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), to effect a reverse stock split of all of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock, at a ratio ranging from any whole number between 1-for-2 and 1-for-25, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors in its discretion. On September 11, 2023, following the Annual Meeting, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock at a ratio of 1-for-25. Effective as of at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time on September 18, 2023, the Company filed the Certificate of Amendment and effected a 1-for-25 reverse stock split of its shares of common stock (the “Reverse Stock Split”).

As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, every twenty-five shares of the Company’s common stock issued or outstanding were automatically reclassified into one validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable share new share of common stock, subject to the treatment of fractional shares as described below, without any action on the part of the holders. Proportionate adjustments will be made to the exercise prices and the number of shares underlying the Company’s outstanding equity awards, as applicable, and certain existing agreements. The common stock issued pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split remain fully paid and non-assessable. The Reverse Stock Split did not affect the number of authorized shares of common stock or the par value of the common stock.

No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Stockholders who would otherwise be entitled to receive fractional shares as a result of the Reverse Stock Split will be entitled to a cash payment in lieu thereof at a price equal to the fraction to which the stockholder would otherwise be entitled multiplied by the closing sales price per share of the common stock (as adjusted for the Reverse Stock Split) on The Nasdaq Global Market on September 18, 2023, the last trading day immediately preceding the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split.

Trading of the Company’s common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market is expected to commence on a split-adjusted basis when the market opens on September 19, 2023, under the existing trading symbol “AXLA.” The new CUSIP number for the Company’s common stock following the Reverse Stock Split is 05454B204.

The foregoing description of the Certificate of Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Certificate of Amendment, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the new form of stock certificate for the Company’s post-reverse stock split shares of common stock is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Forward Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements, including within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Reverse Stock Split and related timing. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2023, and our other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K.

(d) Exhibits.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.