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 Rule 13d-1(e), Rule 13d-1(f) or Rule 13d-1(g), check the following box. ¨
* 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).
CUSIP No. 58406B103
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13D
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Page 1 of 8 pages
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1
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Names of Reporting Persons
Ribbon Communications Inc.
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2
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Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group
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(a) ¨
(b) ¨
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3
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SEC Use Only
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4
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Source of Funds (See Instructions)
OO
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5
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Check if disclosure of legal proceedings
is required pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) ¨
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6
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Citizenship or Place of Organization
Delaware
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NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH
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7
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Sole Voting Power
17,067,075
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8
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Shared Voting Power
0
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9
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Sole Dispositive Power
17,067,075
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10
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Shared Dispositive Power
0
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11
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Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
17,067,075
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12
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Check if the Aggregate Amount
in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares ¨
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13
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Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)
19.9% (See Item 4)
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14
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Type of Reporting Person
CO
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CUSIP No. 58406B103
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13D
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Page 2 of 8 pages
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Item 1.
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Security and Issuer.
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This statement on Schedule 13D (the “Schedule
13D”) relates to the shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of American Virtual
Cloud Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), whose principal executive office is located at 1720
Peachtree Street, Suite 629, Atlanta, GA 30309.
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Item 2.
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Identity and Background.
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The Schedule 13D is being filed by Ribbon
Communications Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Reporting Person”).
The directors of the Reporting Person are
Shaul Shani, Mariano S. de Beer, R. Stewart Ewing, Jr., Bruns H. Grayson, Beatriz V. Infante, Krish A. Prabhu, Rick W. Smith, Tanya
Tamone and Bruce W. McClelland (collectively, the “Directors”). No person or entity has the right to appoint a majority
of the Reporting Person’s directors.
The executive officers of the Reporting
Person are Bruce W. McClelland, Sam Bucci, Steven Bruny, Petrena Ferguson, Miguel Lopez, Patrick Macken, Anthony Scarfo, and Fernando
Valdivielso (collectively, the “Officers” and together with the Directors, the “Related Persons”).
Each of the Related Persons is a
citizen of the United States except for: Shaul Shani, who is a citizen of Cyprus and Israel; Mariano S. de Beer, who is citizen of
Germany; Tanya Tamone, who is a citizen of Switzerland; Sam Bucci, who is a citizen of Canada; and Fernando Valdivielso, who
is a citizen of Spain.
The business address of the Reporting Person
and each of the Related Persons is c/o Ribbon Communications Inc., 4 Technology Park Drive, Westford, Massachusetts 01886. The
Reporting Person is principally engaged in the business of delivering global communications software and network solutions. The
present principal occupation of each of the Related Persons is as follows:
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·
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Shaul Shani is the chairman of Swarth Group;
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·
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Mariano S. de Beer is a former executive;
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·
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R. Stewart Ewing, Jr. is a board director at Progressive Bancorp, Inc.;
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·
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Bruns H. Grayson is a managing partner at ABS Ventures;
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·
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Beatriz V. Infante is the Chief Executive Officer of BusinessExcelleration LLC;
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·
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Krish A. Prabhu is an independent technology start-up consultant and advisor;
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·
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Rick W. Smith is head of Private Investments at JPMorgan Chase & Co.;
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·
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Tanya Tamone is the Chief Executive Officer of Sogerco S.A.;
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·
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Bruce W. McClelland is Chief Executive Officer and President of the Reporting Person;
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CUSIP No. 58406B103
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13D
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Page 3 of 8 pages
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·
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Sam Bucci is Executive Vice President and General Manager, Packet Optical Networks Business Unit of the Reporting Person;
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·
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Steven Bruny is Executive Vice President, Sales—Americas Region of the Reporting Person;
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·
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Petrena Ferguson is Senior Vice President, Human Resources of the Reporting Person;
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·
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Miguel Lopez is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Reporting Person;
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·
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Patrick Macken is Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Reporting Person;
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·
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Anthony Scarfo is Executive Vice President and General Manager, Cloud and Edge Business Unit of the Reporting Person; and
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·
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Fernando Valdivielso is Executive Vice President, Sales—EMEA and APAC of the Reporting Person.
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During the last five years, neither the
Reporting Person nor, to the best knowledge of the Reporting Persons, any Related Person (i) has been convicted in any criminal
proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (ii) was 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.
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Item 3.
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Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.
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On December 1, 2020 (the “Closing
Date”), the Issuer acquired all of the assets of a cloud-based enterprise services business, including the outstanding interests
of Kandy Communications LLC (the “Transaction”), pursuant to a purchase agreement entered into with the Reporting Person,
Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. and Ribbon Communication International Limited, dated December 1, 2020 (as amended
and restated, the “Purchase Agreement”).
The Issuer agreed to pay the Reporting Person
an aggregate purchase price of $45.0 million, subject to certain adjustments, in the form of 43,778 units of the Issuer’s
securities (the “Units”), with each Unit consisting of (i) $1,000 in principal amount of the Issuer’s Series
A-1 convertible debentures (the “Debenture”) and (ii) one warrant to purchase 100 shares of Common Stock (the “Warrant”).
Upon the conversion of the Debentures and exercise of the Warrants issued to the Reporting Person, the Reporting Person is entitled
to a total of 17,067,075 shares of Common Stock (collectively, the “Conversion Shares”).
CUSIP No. 58406B103
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13D
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Page 4 of 8 pages
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Item 4.
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Purpose of Transaction.
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Purchase Agreement
On August 5, 2020, the Reporting Person,
Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. and Ribbon Communication International Limited entered into the Purchase Agreement
with the Issuer, pursuant to which the Issuer agreed to the Transaction. On the Closing Date, the parties amended and restated
the Purchase Agreement to reflect the revised consideration payable to the Reporting Person in connection with the Transaction,
the Issuer’s obligation to continue its offering of Units (the “PIPE Equity Offering”) after the Closing Date
and the Issuer’s obligation after the Closing Date to seek stockholder approval of the issuance of the Conversion Shares.
Pursuant to the terms of the Debenture and
the Warrant, the Conversion Shares, together with shares issued pursuant to Units sold to other investors on the Closing Date,
will not exceed 19.9% of either (i) the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Closing Date or (ii) the total
voting power of the Issuer’s securities outstanding at the Closing Date that are entitled to vote on a matter being voted
on by holders of the Common Stock, unless and until the Issuer has obtained the requisite stockholder approval to permit the issuance
of the Conversion Shares.
Investor Rights Agreement
In connection with
the consummation of the Transaction, the Reporting Person entered into an investor rights agreement with Pensare Sponsor Group,
LLC and Stratos Management Systems Holdings, LLC (each, a “Significant Stockholder”) and the Issuer (the “Investor
Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Reporting Person received customary registration rights with respect to the Conversion
Shares. In addition, so long as the Reporting Person holds at least 25% of the total number of Conversion Shares (the “Minimum
Shares”), the Reporting Person will have the right to nominate one director to the Issuer’s board of directors. If
the Reporting Person holds the Minimum Shares and does not exercise its right to nominate one director, the Reporting Person will
have the right to designate a board observer. The Investor Rights Agreement also provides that each Significant Stockholder has
agreed with the Issuer to support the Issuer’s obligation to nominate the Reporting Person’s director nominee and to
vote all of their respective voting securities in favor of the election of the Reporting Person’s director nominee.
The Investor Rights
Agreement further provides that, if the Issuer consummates the sale of $50.0 million or more in Units (excluding the Units paid
to the Reporting Person as consideration for the Transaction) in the PIPE Equity Offering by May 24, 2021 (the “Termination
Date”), then the Reporting Person will be eligible to have the Issuer redeem up to the lesser of (i) 5,000 Units received
as consideration for the Transaction, and (ii) the number of Units equal to (x) the aggregate dollar amount of Units sold in the
PIPE Equity Offering by the Termination Date minus $50.0 million divided by (y) $1,000. The remaining Debentures and Warrants issued
to the Reporting Person as consideration for the Transaction may be converted and exercised, as applicable, pursuant to the terms
of the Debentures and Warrants.
CUSIP No. 58406B103
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13D
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Page 5 of 8 pages
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Voting Agreements
On
August 5, 2020, the Reporting Person entered into voting agreements with each of the Significant Stockholders (the “Voting
Agreements”). The Significant Stockholders hold an aggregate of approximately 70% of the outstanding Common Stock. On the
Closing Date, the parties amended and restated the Voting Agreements to reflect, among other things, that each Significant Stockholder
has agreed, with respect to all of the voting securities of the Issuer that such Significant Stockholder beneficially owns as of
the date thereof or thereafter, to vote in favor of the issuance of the Conversion Shares to the Reporting Person. The Voting Agreements
will terminate upon the Issuer obtaining the requisite stockholder approval to issue the Conversion Shares.
The foregoing descriptions of the Purchase
Agreement, the Investor Rights Agreement and the Voting Agreements do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety
by reference to the full text of such agreements, each of which is attached as an exhibit to the Schedule 13D and is incorporated
herein by reference.
General
The Reporting Person acquired the securities
described in this Schedule 13D in connection with the closing of the Transaction and intends to review its investments in the Issuer
on a continuing basis. Any actions the Reporting Person might undertake may be made at any time and from time to time without prior
notice and will be dependent upon the Reporting Person’s review of numerous factors, including, but not limited to: an ongoing
evaluation of the Issuer’s business, financial condition, operations and prospects; price levels of the Issuer’s securities;
general market, industry and economic conditions; the relative attractiveness of alternative business and investment opportunities;
and other future developments.
The Reporting Person may acquire additional
securities of the Issuer, or retain or sell all or a portion of the securities then held, in the open market or in privately negotiated
transactions. In addition, the Reporting Person may engage in discussions with management, the board of directors, and stockholders
of the Issuer and other relevant parties or encourage, cause or seek to cause the Issuer or such persons to consider or explore
extraordinary corporate transactions, such as: a merger, reorganization or take-private transaction that could result in the de-listing
or de-registration of the Common Stock; sales or acquisitions of assets or businesses; changes to the capitalization or dividend
policy of the Issuer; or other material changes to the Issuer’s business or corporate structure, including changes in management
or the composition of the board of directors.
Other than as described above, the Reporting
Person does not currently have any plans or proposals that relate to, or would result in, any of the matters listed in Items 4(a)–(j)
of Schedule 13D, although, depending on the factors discussed herein, the Reporting Person may change its purpose or formulate
different plans or proposals with respect thereto at any time.
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Item 5.
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Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
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(a) – (b)
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·
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Amount
beneficially owned: 17,067,075
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CUSIP No. 58406B103
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13D
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Page 6 of 8 pages
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·
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Percent
of Class: 19.9%
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·
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Number
of shares the Reporting Person has:
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○
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Sole
power to vote or direct the vote: 17,067,075
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○
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Shared
power to vote: 0
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○
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Sole
power to dispose or direct the disposition of: 17,067,075
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○
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Shared
power to dispose or direct the disposition of: 0
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The amount beneficially owned includes 12,689,275
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures and 4,377,800 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
of the Warrants.
The above percentage is based on 19,753,061
shares of Common Stock outstanding as of November 11, 2020 based on the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November
16, 2020. Pursuant to the terms of the Debenture and the Warrant, the Conversion Shares, together with shares issued pursuant to
Units sold to other investors on the Closing Date, will not exceed 19.9% of either (i) the total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding on the Closing Date or (ii) the total voting power of the Issuer’s securities outstanding at the Closing Date
that are entitled to vote on a matter being voted on by holders of the Common Stock, unless and until the Issuer has obtained the
requisite stockholder approval to permit the issuance of the Conversion Shares.
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(c)
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Except as described in Item 3 and Item 4, during the past 60 days neither the Reporting Person nor any of the Related Persons
has effected any transactions with respect to the Common Stock.
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Item 6.
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Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.
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Item 4 above summarizes certain provisions
of Purchase Agreement, the Investor Rights Agreement and the Voting Agreements and is incorporated herein by reference. A copy
of each of these agreement is attached as an exhibit to this Schedule 13D, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Except as set forth herein, neither the
Reporting Person nor any of the Related Persons has any contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal or otherwise)
with any person with respect to any securities of the Issuer, including but not limited to any contracts, arrangements, understandings
or relationships concerning the transfer or voting of such securities, finder’s fees, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements,
puts or calls, guarantees of profits, division of profits or losses, or the giving or withholding of proxies.
CUSIP No. 58406B103
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13D
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Page 7 of 8 pages
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Item 7.
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Materials to be Filed as Exhibits
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Exhibit
Number
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Description
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1
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Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement, dated December 1, 2020, among Ribbon Communications Inc., Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc., Ribbon Communications International Limited and American Virtual Cloud Technologies, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Reporting Person’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 7, 2020).
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2
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Amended and Restated Voting Agreement, dated December 1, 2020, by and among Ribbon Communications Inc., Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc., Ribbon Communications International Limited and Pensare Sponsor Group, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Reporting Person’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 7, 2020).
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3
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Amended and Restated Voting Agreement, dated December 1, 2020, by and among Ribbon Communications Inc., Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc., Ribbon Communications International Limited and Stratos Management Systems Holdings, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Reporting Person’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 7, 2020).
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4
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Investor Rights Agreement, dated December 1, 2020, by and among American Virtual Cloud Technologies, Inc., Ribbon Communications Inc., Pensare Sponsor Group, LLC and Stratos Management Systems Holdings, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Reporting Person’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 7, 2020).
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CUSIP No. 58406B103
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13D
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Page
8 of 8 pages
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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.
Date: December 11, 2020
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RIBBON COMMUNICATIONS INC.
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By:
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/s/ Patrick
Macken
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Name:
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Patrick Macken
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Title:
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Executive Vice President Chief, Legal Officer, and Secretary
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