UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

(Rule 13d-101)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO § 240.13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO

§ 240.13d-2(a)

(Amendment No. 1)¹

MEI Pharma, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, $0.00000002 par value

(Title of Class of Securities)

55279B202

(CUSIP Number)

JACOB MA-WEAVER CABLE CAR CAPITAL LLC 601 California Street, Suite 1151 San Francisco, California 94108 (415) 857-1965

BRUCE R. WINSON ANSON FUNDS MANAGEMENT LP 16000 Dallas Parkway, Suite 800 Dallas, Texas 75248 (214) 866-0202

 

ANDREW FREEDMAN, ESQ.

OLSHAN FROME WOLOSKY LLP

1325 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

(212) 451-2300

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person

Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

 

July 17, 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.

 

 

1              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).

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Funicular Funds, LP
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				WC
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				Delaware
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							326,400
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							326,400
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				326,400
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				4.9%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				PN

  

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Cable Car Capital LLC
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				AF
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				California
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							326,400
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							326,400
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				326,400
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				4.9%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				IA, OO

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Jacob Ma-Weaver
	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
				USA
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							326,400
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							326,400
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				326,400
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				4.9%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				IN

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Anson Funds Management LP
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				AF
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				Texas
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							662,528
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							662,528
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				662,528
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				9.9%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				IA, PN

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Anson Management GP LLC
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				AF
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				Texas
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							662,528
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							662,528
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				662,528
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				9.9%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				HC, OO

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Bruce R. Winson
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				AF
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				USA
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							662,528
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							662,528
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				662,528
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				9.9%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				HC, IN

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Anson Advisors Inc.
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				WC
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				Ontario, Canada
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							662,528
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							662,528
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				662,528
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				9.9%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				FI, CO

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Amin Nathoo
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				AF
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				Canada
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							662,528
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							662,528
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				662,528
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				9.9%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				HC, IN

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Moez Kassam
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				AF
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				Canada
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							662,528
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							662,528
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				662,528
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				9.9%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				HC, IN

  

The following constitutes Amendment No. 1 to the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (“Amendment No. 1”). This Amendment No. 1 amends the Schedule 13D as specifically set forth herein. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Schedule 13D.

Item 4.

Purpose of Transaction

Item 4 is hereby amended to add the following:

On July 17, 2023, the Reporting Persons delivered a letter to the Issuer providing notice of the Reporting Persons’ intent to solicit the written consent of stockholders (the “Consent Solicitation”) to, among other things, remove without cause all of the directors, Charles V. Baltic III, Frederick W. Driscoll, Nick Glover, Daniel P. Gold, Tamar Howson, Sujay Kango, Thomas C. Reynolds and David M. Urso, currently serving on the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Issuer, and any person nominated, elected or appointed to the Board to fill any vacancy on the Board or any newly-created directorships on or after July 17, 2023 and prior to the time that any of the actions proposed to be taken by the Consent Solicitation become effective.

Additionally, the Reporting Persons filed a preliminary consent solicitation statement on Schedule 14A with the SEC in connection with the Consent Solicitation.

On July 17, 2023, the Reporting Persons issued a press release (the “Press Release”) announcing that the Reporting Persons are undertaking the Consent Solicitation because they believe the Board needs to be held accountable for its poor judgment and value-destructive initiatives. The full text of the Press Release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.

Material to Be Filed as Exhibits

Item 7 is hereby amended to add the following exhibit:

99.1

Press Release, dated July 17, 2023.

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.

Dated: July 17, 2023

	CABLE CAR CAPITAL LLC
	By:	/s/ Jacob Ma-Weaver
		Name:	Jacob Ma-Weaver
		Title:	Managing Member

 

 

	FUNICULAR FUNDS, LP
	By:	/s/ Jacob Ma-Weaver
		Name:	Jacob Ma-Weaver
		Title:	Managing Member of the General Partner

 

 

	ANSON FUNDS MANAGEMENT LP
	By:	/s/ Bruce R. Winson
		Name:	Bruce R. Winson
		Title:	Manager

 

 

	ANSON MANAGEMENT GP LLC
	By:	/s/ Bruce R. Winson
		Name:	Bruce R. Winson
		Title:	Manager

 

 

	ANSON ADVISORS INC.
	By:	/s/ Amin Nathoo
		Name:	Amin Nathoo
		Title:	Director
	By:	/s/ Moez Kassam
		Name:	Moez Kassam
		Title:	Director

 

 

	/s/ Amin Nathoo
	Amin Nathoo

 

 

	/s/ Moez Kassam
	Moez Kassam

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Anson and Cable Car FILE PRELIMINARY CONSENT MATERIALS TO REMOVE ENTIRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT MEI Pharma, Inc.

 

Believe the Board Needs to be Held Accountable for its Poor Judgment and Value-Destructive Initiatives

Reiterate their Concern that the Board is Not Acting in the Best Interest of Stockholders

Believe Immediate Action Must be Taken to Prevent the Further Destruction of Value

 

TORONTO and SAN FRANCISCO, CA., July 17, 2023 — Anson Funds (“Anson”) and Cable Car Capital LLC (“Cable Car” and, together with Anson, “we” or “us”), which collectively beneficially own approximately 14.8% of the outstanding common stock of MEI Pharma, Inc. (the “Company” or “MEIP”; NasdaqCM: MEIP), today announced that they have filed preliminary consent materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding their solicitation of written consents from stockholders in lieu of a stockholder meeting to remove the entire Board of Directors (the “Board”) of MEIP and issued the following statement:

 

“In our view, the current Board has not operated with stockholders in mind and needs to be held accountable. We believe the Board has repeatedly exhibited poor judgment and has failed to listen to stockholders, as evidenced by its decision to pursue a value-destructive and speculative transaction with Infinity Pharmaceuticals and its apparent refusal to accept that the transaction has seemingly failed to garner support from stockholders, the true owners of the Company.

 

We are launching this consent solicitation because we believe immediate action must be taken to prevent the further destruction of value. Removing the current directors is an important first step in reconstituting the Board and creating meaningful change at the Company.

 

The Board’s unwillingness to return capital to stockholders and refusal to engage with us regarding our all-cash acquisition proposal, in our view, evinces its fundamental misunderstanding of its role as steward of stockholder resources. We believe the stockholders of MEIP deserve a well-functioning Board that understands its role and will prioritize the best interest of stockholders.

 

We look forward to continuing to engage with our fellow stockholders over the coming weeks and invite you to review our preliminary consent statement, which explains further why we believe urgent change on the Board is needed.”

About Anson

Anson Funds is a privately held alternative asset manager with $1.6B in assets. The firm was founded in 2007 with offices in Toronto and Dallas.

 

About Cable Car

Cable Car Capital LLC is a registered investment adviser based in San Francisco and the general partner of Funicular Funds, LP, an investment partnership.

 

Media and Investor Contacts

Anson Funds

Taheer Datoo

Portfolio Manager

(416) 447-8874

tdatoo@ansonfunds.com

 

Cable Car Capital LLC

Steve Zelinger

General Counsel

(650) 438-3434

Steve@CableCarCapital.com

 

InvestorCom LLC

John Glenn Grau

(203) 295-7841

 

CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PARTICIPANTS

 

Cable Car Capital LLC (“Cable Car Capital” and, together with its affiliates, “Cable Car”), Anson Advisors Inc. (“Anson Advisors”, and, together with its affiliates, “Anson”) and the other participants named herein (collectively, the “Participating Stockholders”), has filed a preliminary consent statement and accompanying WHITE consent card with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to be used to solicit consents for the removal of all members of the board of directors (the “Board”) of MEI Pharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

 

CABLE CAR AND ANSON STRONGLY ADVISE ALL STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY TO READ THE CONSENT STATEMENT AND OTHER CONSENT MATERIALS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. SUCH CONSENT MATERIALS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC'S WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV. IN ADDITION, THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS CONSENT SOLICITATION WILL PROVIDE COPIES OF THE CONSENT STATEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE, WHEN AVAILABLE, UPON REQUEST. REQUESTS FOR COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE PARTICIPANTS’ CONSENT SOLICITOR.

 

The participants in this consent solicitation are Funicular Funds, LP (“Funicular”), Cable Car Capital, Jacob Ma-Weaver, Anson Funds Management LP (“Anson Management”), Anson Management GP LLC (“Anson GP”), Bruce R. Winson, Anson Advisors, Amin Nathoo, and Moez Kassam.

 

As of the date hereof, the Participating Stockholders beneficially own, in the aggregate, 988,928 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.00000002 per share (the “Common Stock”). As of the date hereof, Funicular beneficially owns directly 326,400 shares of Common Stock. Cable Car, as the general partner of Funicular, may be deemed to beneficially own the 326,400 shares of Common Stock owned by Funicular. Mr. Ma-Weaver, as the Managing Member of Cable Car, may be deemed to beneficially own the 326,400 shares of Common Stock owned directly by Funicular. As of the date hereof, Anson Management and Anson Advisors, each of which serve as the co-investment advisors to certain private funds (the “Anson Funds”), may be deemed to beneficially own the 662,528 shares of Common Stock owned directly by the Anson Funds. Anson GP, as the General Partner of Anson Management, may be deemed to beneficially own the 662,528 shares of Common Stock owned directly by the Anson Funds. Mr. Winson, as the principal of Anson Management and Anson GP, may be deemed to beneficially own the 662,528 shares of Common Stock owned directly by the Anson Funds. Mr. Nathoo and Mr. Kassam, each as directors of Anson Advisors, may be deemed to beneficially own the 662,528 shares of Common Stock owned directly by the Anson Funds.