8-K - SMNR - Equibles

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): April 16, 2025

DENALI CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Cayman<br> Islands	001-41351	98-1659463
(State or other jurisdiction<br><br>of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer<br><br>Identification No.)

437 Madison Avenue, 27^th^ Floor, New York, New York 10022

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant’s

telephone number, including area code: (646) 978-5180

N/A

(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:

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities<br>Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange<br>Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b)<br>under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act

**<br><br> <br>Title of each class**	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Units, each consisting of one Class A ordinary share and one redeemable warrant	DNQUF	Pink Current
Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share	DNQAF	OTCQB
Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one Class A ordinary share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share	DNQWF	OTCQB

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 ☒

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. ☒

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

As previously disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Denali Capital Acquisition Corp. (“Denali”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 5, 2024 (the “Current Report”), on August 30, 2024, Semnur Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Semnur”), a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Scilex Holding Company (“Scilex”), entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Denali, and Denali Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Denali (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub will merge with and into Semnur with Semnur surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Denali (the “Merger”). The Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are hereinafter referred to as the “Business Combination”. All capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Amendment (as defined below) and the Merger Agreement.

On April 16, 2025, Denali entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Merger Agreement with Semnur and Merger Sub (the “Amendment”).

The Amendment amends the Merger Agreement to, among other things, (i) modify certain covenants of the parties to address the de-listing of the Parent Units, Class A Shares and Parent Warrants (the “Parent Securities”) from the Nasdaq Capital Market and subsequent quotation on the OTC Markets Group, Inc. (the “OTC Markets”), (ii) require Denali to amend its organizational documents to extend the period of time within which Denali can complete a business combination to December 11, 2025 or such other date that is mutually agreed to by Semnur and Denali, and (iii) extend the Outside Date to September 30, 2025; provided that if an Extension Amendment (as defined in the Merger Agreement, as amended by the Amendment) shall be in effect, the Outside Date shall be the Extension Date.

The foregoing description of the Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amendment, a copy of which is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 2.1 hereto, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Additional Information

In connection with the Business Combination, Denali filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Denali Registration Statement”), which includes a preliminary prospectus and preliminary proxy statement. Denali will mail a definitive proxy statement/final prospectus and other relevant documents to its shareholders. This communication is not a substitute for the Denali Registration Statement, the definitive proxy statement/final prospectus or any other document that Denali will send to its shareholders in connection with the Business Combination. Investorsand security holders of Denali are advised to read the proxy statement/prospectus in connection with Denali’s solicitation of proxiesfor its extraordinary general meeting of shareholders to be held to approve the Business Combination (and related matters) because theproxy statement/prospectus contains important information about the Business Combination and the parties to the Business Combination. The definitive proxy statement/final prospectus will be mailed to shareholders of Denali as of a record date to be established for voting on the Business Combination. Shareholders will also be able to obtain copies of the proxy statement/prospectus, without charge, once available, at the SEC’s website www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: 437 Madison Avenue, 27^th^ Floor, New York, New York 10022.

Participants in the Solicitation

Denali, Semnur andtheir respective directors, executive officers, other members of management and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participantsin the solicitation of proxies of Denali’s shareholders in connection with the Business Combination. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names and interests in the Business Combination of Denali’s directors and officers in Denali’s filings with the SEC, including the Denali Registration Statement, which includes the proxy statement of Denali for the Business Combination, and such information and names of Semnur’s directors and executive officers are also included in the Denali Registration Statement, which includes the proxy statement of Denali for the Business Combination.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Report includes forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may be accompanied by words that convey projected future events or outcomes, such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook” or variations of such words or by expressions of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future events, the Business Combination between Semnur and Denali, the estimated or anticipated future results and benefits of the combined company following the Business Combination, including the likelihood and ability of the parties to successfully consummate the Business Combination, future opportunities for the combined company, and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are based on the current expectations of management of Denali and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on, by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Denali. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Denali’s businesses and the Business Combination, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic, political and business conditions; the inability of the parties to consummate the Business Combination or the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the parties following the announcement of the Business Combination; the receipt of an unsolicited offer from another party for an alternative business transaction that could interfere with the Business Combination; the risk that the approval of the stockholders of Semnur or the shareholders of Denali for the potential transaction is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, including as a result of a delay in consummating the potential transaction or difficulty in integrating the businesses of Semnur or Denali; the risk that the Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the Business Combination; the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; the amount of redemption requests made by Denali’s shareholders; the inability to obtain or maintain the listing of the post-acquisition company’s securities on Nasdaq or OTC Markets following the Business Combination; and costs related to the Business Combination. There may be additional risks that Denali presently does not know or that Denali currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements provide Denali’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Denali anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause such assessments to change. However, while Denali may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Denali specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Denali’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

Disclaimer

This communication is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase, nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, subscribe for or buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Business Combination or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit<br><br>Number	Description
2.1	Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 16, 2025, by and among Denali Capital Acquisition Corp., Denali Merger Sub Inc. and Semnur Pharmaceuticals, Inc..
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File, formatted in Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL).

SIGNATURES

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.

	DENALI CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
	By:	/s/ Lei Huang
	Name:	Lei Huang
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer
Date: April 22, 2025

Exhibit 2.1

Execution Version

AMENDMENT NO.1 TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Amendment”), dated as of April 16, 2025, is made and entered into by and among Denali Capital Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (which shall migrate to and domesticate as a Delaware corporation prior to the Closing, “Parent”), Denali Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger Sub” and together with Parent, collectively, the “Parent Parties”), and Semnur Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

WHEREAS, the Parent Parties and the Company have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 30, 2024 (the “Merger Agreement”), providing for, among other things, the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the Surviving Corporation;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 10.2(a) of the Merger Agreement, the Merger Agreement may be amended by a writing signed by each of the Parent Parties and the Company; and

WHEREAS, each of the Parent Parties and the Company desire to amend the Merger Agreement in certain respects as described in this Amendment.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, which are incorporated in this Amendment as if fully set forth below, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto accordingly agree as follows.

Definitions. Except as otherwise indicated herein or unless the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement.
Amendment to the Merger Agreement.

(a) The following definitions are hereby added to Article I of the Merger Agreement in alphabetical order:

““First Amendment” means that certain Amendment No. 1 to the Merger Agreement, dated as of April 16, 2025, by and among Parent, Merger Sub and the Company.”

““Nasdaq De-Listing” means the de-listing of the Parent Units, Class A Shares and Parent Warrants from trading on Nasdaq for any reason, including due to the failure of Parent to satisfy Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(A) and/or Listing Rule IM-5101-2(b).”

““OTC Markets” means the OTC Markets Group, Inc.”

““OTC Markets Listing Date” means the first date on which the Parent Units, Class A Shares and Parent Warrants (each of which are listed on Nasdaq as of the date of the First Amendment) commence trading on the OTC Markets.”

(b) The following definition is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

““Stock Exchange” means, (i) prior to the OTC Markets Listing Date, Nasdaq, (ii) from and after the Nasdaq De-Listing and the OTC Markets Listing Date, the OTC Markets or (iii) such other national securities exchange or automated quotation system as agreed to in writing by the Company and Parent.”

“7.10 Nasdaq Listing; OTC Markets Trading. From the date of this Agreement until the OTC Markets Listing Date, Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to ensure that the Parent Units, the Class A Shares and the Parent Warrants remain listed on Nasdaq. In the event of a Nasdaq De-Listing, Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to apply for and effect the qualification of the Parent Units, the Class A Shares and the Parent Warrants for trading on the OTC Markets, which qualification shall take effect as soon as practicable after the date of the First Amendment. From the OTC Markets Listing Date until the Closing, Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to ensure that the Parent Units, the Class A Shares and the Parent Warrants continue to be qualified to trade on the OTC Markets. From the date of this Agreement until the Closing, Parent shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any communications or correspondence from the (a) Stock Exchange on which the Parent Units, the Class A Shares and the Parent Warrants are listed or quoted from time to time or (b) SEC with respect to the listing or registration of the Parent Units, the Class A Shares and the Parent Warrants or other securities of Parent, compliance with the rules and regulations of such Stock Exchange or the SEC and any potential suspension of listing or delisting or deregistration action contemplated or threatened by such Stock Exchange or the SEC.”

(d) Section 7.14 of the Merger Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

“7.14 “Blank-Check Company”. In addition to, and not in limitation of, the restrictions set forth in Section 7.2, from the date hereof through the Effective Time, the Parent shall remain a “blank check company” as defined under the Securities Act, shall not conduct any business operations other than in connection with this Agreement and ordinary course operations to maintain its status as a special purpose acquisition company listed or quoted on the applicable Stock Exchange pending the completion of the transactions contemplated hereby.”

(e) Section 7.20(b) of the Merger Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

“(b) The Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall include proxy materials for the purpose of soliciting proxies from Parent shareholders to vote, at an extraordinary general meeting of Parent to be called and held for such purpose (the “Parent Special Meeting”), in favor of resolutions approving (i) the Domestication and Plan of Domestication, (ii) the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the Additional Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including the Merger, by the holders of Parent Ordinary Shares in accordance with Parent’s Organizational Documents, the DGCL and the rules and regulations of the SEC and the applicable Stock Exchange, (iii) adoption of the Parent Certificate of Incorporation and the Parent Bylaws in connection with the Domestication, (iv) election of the directors of Parent, (v) the adoption and approval of the issuance of the Domesticated Parent Common Shares in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as required by the applicable Stock Exchange’s listing or quotation requirements, (vi) the exchange of Company Options for Domesticated Parent Options, as contemplated by Section 4.2 (such approval, the “Option Exchange Approval”), (vii) the adoption and approval of each other proposal that the SEC or the applicable Stock Exchange (or the respective staff members thereof) indicates is necessary in its comments to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus or in correspondence related thereto, (viii) such other matters as the Company and Parent shall hereafter mutually determine to be necessary or appropriate in order to effect the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ix) approval to adjourn the Parent Special Meeting, if necessary, to permit further solicitation of proxies because there are not sufficient votes to approve and adopt any of the foregoing (the approvals described in foregoing clauses (i) through (ix), collectively, the “Parent Shareholder Approval Matters”). Without the prior written consent of the Company, the Parent Shareholder Approval Matters shall be the only matters (other than procedural matters) which Parent shall propose to be acted on by Parent’s shareholders at the Parent Special Meeting. Neither Parent’s board of directors nor any committee or agent or representative thereof shall withdraw (or modify in a manner adverse to the Company), or propose to withdraw (or modify in a manner adverse to the Company) Parent’s board of director’s recommendation that the Parent shareholders vote in favor of the adoption of the Parent Shareholder Approval Matters. The Parent Parties shall provide the Company (and its counsel) with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on and approve in writing the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto prior to filing the same with the SEC.”

(f) Section 7.23(a) of the Merger Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

“(a) (i) Parent hereby agrees to promptly (and in any event not later than March 24, 2025) prepare, file and mail, and the Company shall reasonably cooperate with Parent with respect to such preparation, filing and mailing of, a proxy statement and any other materials necessary to solicit proxies from Parent shareholders to vote, at an extraordinary general meeting of Parent to be called and held for purpose of such vote (such meeting to be held not later than April 11, 2025), in favor of (A) amending Parent’s Organizational Documents (such amendment, the “Extension Amendment”) to extend the final date in respect of which Parent must consummate a Business Combination thereunder to December 11, 2025 or such other date that is mutually agreed to by the Company and Parent in writing (the “Extension Date”) and (B) such other matters as the Company and Parent shall mutually determine to be necessary or appropriate in order to effect the Extension Amendment; and (ii) Parent and the Company agree to execute and deliver such other documents and take such other actions, as may reasonably be necessary to effectuate the Extension Amendment.”

(g) Section 8.3(h) of the Merger Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

“(h) The Domesticated Parent Common Shares and Domesticated Parent Warrants shall remain listed or quoted on the applicable Stock Exchange through the Effective Time, the listing application for the listing of the Domesticated Parent Common Shares and Domesticated Parent Warrants following the Effective Time shall have been approved by Nasdaq or other applicable Stock Exchange, and as of the Closing Date, Parent shall not have received any written notice from the applicable Stock Exchange that it has failed, or would reasonably be expected to fail to meet such Stock Exchange’s continued listing requirements as of immediately following the Closing for any reason, where such notice has not been subsequently withdrawn by such Stock Exchange or the underlying failure appropriately remedied or satisfied.”

(h) Section 9.1(d)(i) of the Merger Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

“(i) on or after 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on September 30, 2025, or such later date as agreed to in writing between the Company and the Parent (the “Outside Date”), if the Merger shall not have been consummated prior to the Outside Date; provided, however, that if an Extension Amendment shall be in effect, the Outside Date shall be the Extension Date;”

Effect of Amendment. Except as set forth herein, all other terms and provisions of the Merger Agreement remain unchanged and in full force and effect. On and after the date hereof, each reference in the Merger Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof” or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Merger Agreement as amended or otherwise modified by this Amendment. For the avoidance of doubt, references to the phrases “the date of this Agreement” or “the date hereof”, wherever used in the Merger Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, shall mean August 30, 2024.
Construction. This Amendment shall be governed by all provisions of the Merger Agreement unless context requires otherwise, including all provisions concerning construction, enforcement and governing law.
Entire Agreement. This Amendment together with the Merger Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements related thereto (whether written or oral), all of which are merged herein. In the event of a conflict between the terms of the Merger Agreement and this Amendment, the terms of this Amendment shall prevail solely as to the subject matter contained herein.
Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which shall constitute one agreement. This Amendment shall become effective upon delivery to each party of an executed counterpart or the earlier delivery to each party of original, photocopied, or electronically transmitted signature pages that together (but need not individually) bear the signatures of all other parties.

[The remainder of this page is intentionallyleft blank; signature pages to follow]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the day and year first written above.

Denali Capital Acquisition Corp.
By:	/s/ Lei Huang
	Name:	Lei Huang
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer
DENALI MERGER SUB INC.
By:	/s/ Peter Xu
	Name:	Peter Xu
	Title:	President
Semnur pharmaceuticals, inc.
By:	/s/ Jaisim Shah
	Name:	Jaisim Shah
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer