13D Filing: Armistice Capital and Cerecor Inc (CERC)

CUSIP No.

15671L109

1.

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

Armistice 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 ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)

[_]

6.

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

7.

SOLE VOTING POWER

0

8.

SHARED VOTING POWER

3,360,000

9.

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

10.

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

3,360,000

11.

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

3,360,000

12.

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

[_]

13.

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

23.9%

14.

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

IA, OO

CUSIP No.

15671L109

1.

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

Armistice Capital Master Fund, Ltd.

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 ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)

[_]

6.

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Cayman Islands

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

7.

SOLE VOTING POWER

0

8.

SHARED VOTING POWER

3,360,000

9.

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

10.

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

3,360,000

11.

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

3,360,000

12.

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

[_]

13.

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

23.9%

14.

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

CO

CUSIP No.

15671L109

1.

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

Steven Boyd

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 ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)

[_]

6.

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

United States of America

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

7.

SOLE VOTING POWER

0

8.

SHARED VOTING POWER

3,360,000

9.

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

10.

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

3,360,000

11.

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

3,360,000

12.

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

[_]

13.

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

23.9%

14.

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

IN, HC

CUSIP No.

15671L109

Item 1.

Security and Issuer.

The name of the issuer is Cerecor Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”).  The address of the Issuer’s principal executive offices is 400 E. Pratt Street, Suite 606, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.  This Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13D relates to the Issuer’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value (the “Shares”).

Item 2.

Identity and Background.

(a), (f)

The persons filing this statement are Armistice Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Armistice Capital”), Armistice Capital Master Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands corporation (the “Master Fund”), and Steven Boyd, a United States citizen (“Mr. Boyd”, and collectively with Armistice Capital and the Master Fund, the “Reporting Persons”).

(b), (c)

Armistice Capital is an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that is principally engaged in the business of providing investment management services to private investment vehicles, including the Master Fund. The principal business address of Armistice Capital is 510 Madison Avenue, 22^nd Floor, New York, New York 10022.

The Master Fund is principally engaged in the business of investing in securities.  The principal business address of the Master Fund is c/o dms Corporate Services Ltd., 20 Genesis Close, P.O. Box 314, Grand Cayman KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.  The board of directors of the Master Fund consists of Steven Boyd, Kevin A. Phillip and Gregory S. Bennett.

Steven Boyd is the managing member of Armistice Capital and a director of the Master Fund.  Mr. Boyd’s business address is 510 Madison Avenue, 22^nd Floor, New York, New York 10022.

(d)

None of the Reporting Persons have, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

(e)

None of the Reporting Persons have, during the last five years, 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.

Item 3.

Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

The funds for the purchase of the 3,360,000 Shares beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons came from working capital of the Master Fund, which is the direct owner of the Shares.  The net investment costs (including commissions, if any) of the Shares beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons is approximately $5,535,792; provided, however, that such amount includes the acquisition of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and warrants of the Issuer that are not yet beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons since their conversion and exercise into Shares is subject to shareholder approval (as discussed in Item 4 below).  No borrowed funds were used to purchase the Shares, other than any borrowed funds used for working capital purposes (including certain leverage arrangements) in the ordinary course of business.

Item 4.

Purpose of Transaction.

On April 27, 2017, the Issuer and the Master Fund entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Master Fund agreed to purchase $5 million of the Issuer’s securities, consisting of (i) 2,345,714 Shares at a purchase price of $0.35 per share, (ii) 4,179 shares of the Issuer’s newly-created Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, which are convertible into 11,940,000 Shares, and (iii) warrants to purchase up to 14,285,714 Shares at an exercise price of $0.40 per share.  The Securities Purchase Agreement also provides the Master Fund with certain participation rights in respect of future financings conducted by the Issuer.  Pursuant to NASDAQ Capital Market rules and regulations, the Series A Preferred Stock will only be convertible into Shares, and the warrants will only become exercisable, upon the shareholders of the Issuer voting to approve the private placement.  The Master Fund will not be entitled to vote the Shares issued pursuant to Securities Purchase Agreement.

In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Issuer’s Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Certificate”), (i) as long as the Master Fund maintains beneficial ownership of at least 13% of the Shares, the Master Fund exclusively and as a separate class, will be entitled to elect two directors to the Issuer’s board of directors (the “Board of Directors”), and (ii) as long as the Master Fund maintains beneficial ownership of at least 10% of the Shares, the Master Fund exclusively and as a separate class, will be entitled to elect one director to the Board of Directors.  In this regard, on May 15, 2017, the Issuer issued a press release to announce that Mr. Boyd and Peter Greenleaf, an individual recommended by Mr. Boyd that is not affiliated with the Reporting Persons, were appointed to the Board of Directors.

In connection with the private placement, the Issuer and the Master Fund also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement on April 27, 2017 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Issuer has agreed to file one or more registration statements registering for resale the Shares sold in the private placement and the Shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock.

On April 28, 2017, the Issuer issued a press release (the “Press Release”) to announce the closing of the $5 million private placement.  Among other things, the Press Release summarizes the material terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, sets forth how the proceeds of the transaction are anticipated to be used, and announces the rescheduling of the Issuer’s annual meeting of shareholders to June 30, 2017.

The foregoing was a summary of the Press Release and certain material terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Certificate, and the Registration Rights Agreement.  The foregoing descriptions are not, and do not purport to be, complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of those documents, which have been filed as Exhibits C, D, E and F, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

The Reporting Persons intend to review their investment in the Issuer on a continuing basis.  Depending on various factors including, without limitation, the Issuer’s financial position, the price levels of the Shares, conditions in the securities markets and general economic and industry conditions, the Reporting Persons may in the future take such actions with respect to their investment in the Issuer as they deem appropriate including, without limitation, participating on the Board of Directors, engaging in discussions with stockholders of the Issuer and others about the Issuer and the Reporting Persons’ investment, proposing changes to the Issuer’s development plans for CERC-501, CERC-301 and CERC-611, reshaping the Issuer’s corporate strategy, recommending business development transactions, proposing changes to management, operations and the structure of the Board of Directors (including the composition of the Board of Directors), purchasing additional Shares, selling some or all of their Shares, engaging in short selling of or any hedging or similar transaction with respect to the Shares, or changing their intention with respect to any and all matters referred to in subparagraphs (a) – (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.

Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Reporting Persons do not have any present plans or proposals which would relate to, or result in, the matters set forth in subparagraphs (a) – (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.  However, subject to market conditions and in compliance with applicable securities laws, the Reporting Persons reserve the right, at a later date, to affect one or more of such changes.  The Reporting Persons may change the number of Shares they may be deemed to beneficially own in open-market transactions or privately negotiated transactions.  The Reporting Persons may also communicate with the Issuer’s management, Board of Directors and other holders of Shares from time to time.

Item 5.

Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

(a) – (d)

As of the date hereof, each of the Reporting Persons may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 3,360,000 Shares, constituting 23.9% of the Shares, based upon 14,081,453 Shares outstanding as of the date hereof.  Each of the Reporting Persons has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of 0 Shares and the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 3,360,000 Shares.  Each of the Reporting Persons has the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 0 Shares and the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 3,360,000 Shares.  Other than the Shares acquired pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement (as summarized in Item 4 above), all Shares beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons were purchased in open market transactions.

The transactions in the Shares by the Reporting Persons during the past sixty days are set forth on Exhibit B.

(e)

N/A

Item 6.

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

The information set forth in Item 4 above is incorporated by reference in its entirety in this Item 6. The Reporting Persons do not have any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship with any person with respect to securities of the Issuer that is not described in Item 4 above and/or incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.

Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

May 16, 2017

(Date)

Armistice Capital, LLC*

By:  /s/ Steven Boyd

Name: Steven Boyd

Title: Managing Member

Armistice Capital Master Fund, Ltd.

By:  /s/ Steven Boyd

Name: Steven Boyd

Title: Director

Steven Boyd*

May 16, 2017

(Date)

Armistice Capital, LLC

By:  /s/ Steven Boyd

Name: Steven Boyd

Title: Managing Member

Armistice Capital Master Fund, Ltd.

By:  /s/ Steven Boyd

Name: Steven Boyd

Title: Director

Steven Boyd

Trade Date

Purchase/Sale

Quantity

Price

5/09/2017

Purchase

36,059

$0.66

5/10/2017

Purchase

27,819

$0.79

5/11/2017

Purchase

86,122

$0.74