Current Report Filing (8-k)

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): May 27, 2022

Statera Biopharma, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware	001-32954	20-0077155
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
	2537 Research Boulevard, Suite 201 Fort Collins, CO 80526
(Address of Principal Executive Offices and zip code)

	(888) 613-8802
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

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

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.005	STAB	NASDAQ Capital Market

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 Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On May 27, 2022, Peter Aronstam resigned as Chief Financial Officer of Statera Biopharma, Inc. (the “Company”), effective as of May 27, 2022. The Board of Directors of the Company has commenced a search for a new Chief Financial Officer. In the meantime, beginning on May 27, 2022, Christopher Zosh was appointed to act as interim principal financial officer and interim principal accounting officer.

Mr. Zosh, age 46, has served as the Company’s Vice President of Finance since January 1, 2019. He also served as interim principal executive officer, interim principal financial officer and interim principal accounting officer from December 2019 to July 2021. Prior to that, he served as Acting Finance Director from July 2017 through December 2018, and Senior Accountant from June 2014 through June 2017, where his responsibilities have included overseeing internal accounting and financial reporting functions. Since July 1, 2017, Mr. Zosh has also served on the board of directors of Panacela Labs, Inc., a joint venture between the Company and Joint Stock Company “Rusnano,” a Russian investment fund, in which the Company holds a 66.77% equity interest. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Zosh held several positions over his 15-year career with Sodexo, a facilities management and food service company to schools, universities, hospitals, senior living communities, venues and other vital industries, the most recent of which was Financial Accounting Analyst. In addition, Mr. Zosh served as an Orthopedic Specialist in the United States Army Reserves. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

The Company has agreed to pay Mr. Zosh a base salary of $254,000. In addition, he has a target bonus of 30% of his base salary, to be awarded at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

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.