UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 13D

 

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

(Amendment No. 15)*

 

Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

 

Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

816212302

(CUSIP Number)

 

Michael K. Bradshaw, Jr.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

101 Constitution Avenue NW, Suite 900

Washington, DC 20001

Tel: (202) 689-2800

Fax: (202) 689-2860

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

 

September 25, 2024

(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 sent. 

 

*	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.		Names of Reporting Persons. Timothy A. Springer
2.		Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) ☐ (b) ☐
3.		SEC Use Only
4.		Source of Funds (See Instructions) PF, WC
5.		Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)
6.		Citizenship or Place of Organization United States

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With		7.		Sole Voting Power 8,841,756 shares
		8.		Shared Voting Power 0 shares
		9.		Sole Dispositive Power 8,841,756 shares
		10.		Shared Dispositive Power 0 shares

11.		Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 8,841,756 shares
12.		Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)
13.		Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) 36.7%
14.		Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) IN, OO

 

 

1.		Names of Reporting Persons. TAS Partners LLC
2.		Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) ☐ (b) ☐
3.		SEC Use Only
4.		Source of Funds (See Instructions) OO
5.		Check 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 With		7.		Sole Voting Power 2,816,031 shares
		8.		Shared Voting Power 0 shares
		9.		Sole Dispositive Power 2,816,031 shares
		10.		Shared Dispositive Power 0 shares

11.		Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 2,816,031 shares
12.		Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)
13.		Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) 11.7%
14.		Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) OO

 

 

1.		Names of Reporting Persons. Chafen Lu
2.		Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) ☐ (b) ☐
3.		SEC Use Only
4.		Source of Funds (See Instructions) PF
5.		Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)
6.		Citizenship or Place of Organization United States

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With		7.		Sole Voting Power 12,816 shares
		8.		Shared Voting Power 0 shares
		9.		Sole Dispositive Power 12,816 shares
		10.		Shared Dispositive Power 0 shares

11.		Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 12,816 shares
12.		Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)
13.		Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) 0.1%
14.		Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) IN, OO

 

 

This Amendment No. 15 to the statement on Schedule 13D (this “Statement”) with respect to the shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Shares”), of Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly known as Selecta Biosciences, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), originally filed by Timothy A. Springer (“Dr. Springer”), TAS Partners LLC (“TAS”), Chafen Lu (“Dr. Lu” and, collectively with Dr. Springer and TAS, the “Reporting Persons”) and Leukon Investments, LP (“Leukon”) filed on March 27, 2019, as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed on August 23, 2019, Amendment No. 2 filed on September 16, 2019, Amendment No. 3 filed on December 17, 2019, Amendment No. 4 filed on January 2, 2020, Amendment No. 5 filed on October 15, 2020, Amendment No. 6 filed on October 23, 2020, Amendment No. 7 filed on May 27, 2021, Amendment No. 8 filed on December 15, 2021, Amendment No. 9 filed on December 27, 2021, Amendment No. 10 filed on September 25, 2023, Amendment No. 11 filed on November 17, 2023, Amendment No. 12 filed on March 28, 2024, Amendment No. 13 filed on April 12, 2024 and Amendment No. 14 filed on July 5, 2024 (such statement and amendments, as further amended herein, the “Schedule 13D”), amends the Schedule 13D as set forth below.

 

All capitalized terms contained herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Schedule 13D. Except as specifically amended by this Amendment No. 15, items in the Schedule 13D are unchanged.

 

Item 3.

Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

 

Item 3 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended to be supplemented by the following:

 

In open market purchases on August 12, 2024, Dr. Lu acquired an aggregate of 8,016 Shares at prices ranging from $12.48 to $13.05 per share for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $101,968. Dr. Lu used personal funds for such acquisitions.

 

On September 20, 2024, the Issuer held a special meeting of Stockholders (the “Special Meeting”). At the Special Meeting, the stockholders of the Issuer approved the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock, subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations described in the Issuer’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Automatic Conversion (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) of the Series B Preferred Stock occurred on September 25, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series B Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designation”) of the Series B Preferred Stock. At the time of the Automatic Conversion, all of the Reporting Persons’ shares of Series B Preferred Stock converted into shares of Common Stock.

 

 

Item 5.

Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

 

Item 5 of Schedule 13D is hereby amended and restated in full as follows:

 

The information set forth under Item 3 and the cover page of the Schedule 13D is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 5.

 

(a) The percentages of beneficial ownership reported in this Item 5, and on each Reporting Person’s cover page to this Statement, are based on a total of 23,893,525 Shares issued and outstanding as of September 25, 2024, as reported on the Issuer’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated September 26, 2024, plus 167,040 Shares issuable upon the conversion of shares of Series B Preferred Stock. All of the Share numbers reported below, and on each Reporting Person’s cover page to this Statement, are as of September 25, 2024.

 

The Reporting Persons, in the aggregate, beneficially own 8,841,756 Shares, representing approximately 36.7% of such class of securities.

 

Dr. Springer is the beneficial owner of a total of 8,841,756 Shares, representing approximately 36.7% of the outstanding Shares and consisting of (i) 6,010,798 Shares held directly, (ii) 2,111 Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options exercisable within 60 days of September 25, 2024, (iii) 2,648,991 Shares held by TAS, (iv) 167,040 Shares underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days of September 25, 2024 held by TAS and (v) 12,816 Shares held by Dr. Lu.

 

TAS is the beneficial owner of a total of 2,816,031 Shares, representing approximately 11.7% of the outstanding Shares and consisting of (i) 2,648,991 Shares and (ii) 167,040 Shares underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days of September 25, 2024. TAS holds all such Shares directly. Dr. Springer is the sole managing member of TAS.

 

Dr. Lu is the beneficial owner of a total of 12,816 Shares, representing approximately 0.1% of the outstanding Shares and consisting of 12,816 Shares held directly. Dr. Lu is the spouse of Dr. Springer.

 

(b) Dr. Springer exercises sole voting and dispositive power over the Shares held by him directly and the Shares held by TAS. Dr. Springer disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares held by TAS, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Dr. Lu exercises sole voting and dispositive power over the Shares held by her directly.

 

(c) The Reporting Persons have not engaged in any transactions with respect to the Shares during the 60 days before the date of this filing, except as described herein and in Item 3 of Schedule 13D.

 

(d) No person other than the Reporting Persons is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the Shares.

 

(e) Not applicable.

 

[signature page follows]

 

 

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: September 27, 2024

 

	/s/ Timothy A. Springer
	Timothy A. Springer
	/s/ Chafen Lu
	Chafen Lu

 

	TAS Partners LLC
	By:	/s/ Timothy A. Springer
	Name:	Timothy A. Springer
	Title:	Manager