SC 13G

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value Per Share

(Title of Class of Securities)

98973P101

(CUSIP Number)

November 11, 2018

(Date of Event which Requires Filing

of this Statement)

 

 

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

☐ Rule 13d-1(b)

☒ Rule 13d-1(c)

☐ Rule 13d-1(d)

 

*

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 the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in 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).

Continued on the following page(s)

Page 1 of 13 Pages

Exhibit Index: Page 12

 

 

 


CUSIP No. 98973P101    Page 2 of 11 Pages

 

  1       

  Names of Reporting Persons

  I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

 

  WHITE ROCK CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.

  2      

  Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

  a.  ☐        b.  ☒

 

  3      

  SEC Use Only

 

  4      

  Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

  TEXAS

Number of

Shares

  Beneficially  

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

      5       

  Sole Voting Power

 

  0

  6       

  Shared Voting Power

 

  8,187,879

  7       

  Sole Dispositive Power

 

  0

  8       

  Shared Dispositive Power

 

  8,187,879

  9       

  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

  8,187,879

10      

  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

  ☐

11      

  Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (9)

 

  5.1%

12      

  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

  PN; IA


CUSIP No. 98973P101    Page 3 of 11 Pages

 

  1       

  Names of Reporting Persons

  I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

 

  WHITE ROCK CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.

  2      

  Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

  a.  ☐        b.  ☒

 

  3      

  SEC Use Only

 

  4      

  Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

  TEXAS

Number of

Shares

  Beneficially  

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

      5       

  Sole Voting Power

 

  0

  6       

  Shared Voting Power

 

  8,187,879

  7       

  Sole Dispositive Power

 

  0

  8       

  Shared Dispositive Power

 

  8,187,879

  9       

  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

  8,187,879

10      

  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

  ☐

11      

  Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (9)

 

  5.1%

12      

  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

  PN


CUSIP No. 98973P101    Page 4 of 11 Pages

 

  1       

  Names of Reporting Persons

  I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

 

  WHITE ROCK CAPITAL (TX), INC.

  2      

  Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

  a.  ☐        b.  ☒

 

  3      

  SEC Use Only

 

  4      

  Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

  TEXAS

Number of

Shares

  Beneficially  

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

      5       

  Sole Voting Power

 

  0

  6       

  Shared Voting Power

 

  8,187,879

  7       

  Sole Dispositive Power

 

  0

  8       

  Shared Dispositive Power

 

  8,187,879

  9       

  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

  8,187,879

10      

  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

  ☐

11      

  Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (9)

 

  5.1%

12      

  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

  CO; HC


CUSIP No. 98973P101    Page 5 of 11 Pages

 

  1       

  Names of Reporting Persons

  I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

 

  THOMAS U. BARTON

  2      

  Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

  a.  ☐        b.  ☒

 

  3      

  SEC Use Only

 

  4      

  Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

  UNITED STATES

Number of

Shares

  Beneficially  

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

      5       

  Sole Voting Power

 

  6,089

  6       

  Shared Voting Power

 

  8,193,879

  7       

  Sole Dispositive Power

 

  6,089

  8       

  Shared Dispositive Power

 

  8,193,879

  9       

  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

  8,199,968

10      

  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

  ☐

11      

  Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (9)

 

  5.1%

12      

  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

  IN; HC


CUSIP No. 98973P101    Page 6 of 11 Pages

 

  1       

  Names of Reporting Persons

  I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

 

  JOSEPH U. BARTON

  2      

  Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

  a.  ☐        b.  ☒

 

  3      

  SEC Use Only

 

  4      

  Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

  UNITED STATES

Number of

Shares

  Beneficially  

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

      5       

  Sole Voting Power

 

  30,662

  6       

  Shared Voting Power

 

  8,193,879

  7       

  Sole Dispositive Power

 

  30,662

  8       

  Shared Dispositive Power

 

  8,193,879

  9       

  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

  8,224,541

10      

  Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

  ☐

11      

  Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (9)

 

  5.1%

12      

  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

  IN; HC


Page 7 of 11 Pages

 

Item 1(a)

Name of Issuer:

ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. (the “Issuer”).

 

Item 1(b)

Address of the Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices:

One First Avenue, Parris Building 34, Navy Yard Plaza

Boston, MA 02129

 

Item 2(a)

Name of Person Filing:

This statement is filed on behalf of each of the following persons (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”):

 

  (i)

White Rock Capital Management, L.P., a Texas limited partnership (“White Rock Management”),

 

  (ii)

White Rock Capital Partners, L.P., a Texas limited partnership (“White Rock Partners”),

 

  (iii)

White Rock Capital (TX), Inc., a Texas corporation (“White Rock, Inc.”),

 

  (iv)

Thomas U. Barton and

 

  (v)

Joseph U. Barton.

This statement relates to shares of common stock, par value $ 0.001 per share (the “Shares”), of the Issuer held for the account of White Rock Partners. White Rock Management may be deemed to exercise voting and/or dispositive power over the Shares held for the account of White Rock Partners. The general partner of White Rock Partners is White Rock Management, the general partner of which is White Rock, Inc. Thomas U. Barton and Joseph U. Barton are the shareholders of White Rock, Inc. In such capacities, each of Thomas U. Barton and Joseph U. Barton may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the Shares held for the account of White Rock Partners.

 

Item 2(b)

Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence:

The address and principal business office of each of White Rock Management, White Rock, Inc., White Rock Partners, Thomas U. Barton and Joseph U. Barton is 3131 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Suite 800, Dallas, Texas 75219.


Page 8 of 11 Pages

 

Item 2(c)

Citizenship:

 

  (i)

White Rock Management is a Texas limited partnership;

 

  (ii)

White Rock Partners is a Texas limited partnership;

 

  (iii)

White Rock, Inc. is a Texas corporation;

 

  (iv)

Thomas U. Barton is a United States citizen and

 

  (v)

Joseph U. Barton is a United States citizen.

 

Item 2(d)

Title of Class of Securities:

Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share.

 

Item 2(e)

CUSIP Number:

98973P101

 

Item 3.

If this statement is filed pursuant to §§ 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

This Item 3 is not applicable.

 

Item

4. Ownership:

 

Item 4(a)

Amount Beneficially Owned:

As of November 27, 2018, each of the Reporting Persons may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the following number of Shares:

 

  (i)

Each of White Rock Management, White Rock Partners and White Rock, Inc., may be deemed the beneficial owner of 8,187,879 Shares.

 

  (ii)

Thomas U. Barton may be deemed the beneficial owner of 8,199,986 Shares.

 

  (iii)

Joseph U. Barton may be deemed the beneficial owner of 8,224,541 Shares.

 

Item 4(b)

Percent of Class:

The number of Shares of which each of White Rock Management, White Rock, Inc., White Rock Partners and Messrs. Barton may be deemed to be the beneficial owner constitutes approximately 5.1% of the total number of Shares outstanding based upon the 142,379,770 shares of the Issuer’s common stock outstanding as of October 31, 2018, as reported in the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“the SEC”) on November 9, 2018 and 18,939,394 shares of the Issuer’s common stock issued in a private placement on November 11, 2018, as reported in the Issuer’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 13, 2018.


Page 9 of 11 Pages

 

Item 4(c)

Number of shares as to which the person has:

White Rock Management

 

(i)    Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:      0  
(ii)    Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:      8,187,879  
(iii)    Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:      0  
(iv)    Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:      8,187,879  

White Rock Partners

  
(i)    Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:      0  
(ii)    Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:      8,187,879  
(iii)    Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:      0  
(iv)    Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:      8,187,879  

White Rock, Inc.

  
(i)    Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:      0  
(ii)    Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:      8,187,879  
(iii)    Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:      0  
(iv)    Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:      8,187,879  

Thomas U. Barton

  
(i)    Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:      6,089  
(ii)    Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:      8,193,879  
(iii)    Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:      6,089  
(iv)    Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:      8,193,879  

Joseph U. Barton

  
(i)    Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:      30,662  
(ii)    Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:      8,193,879  
(iii)    Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:      30,662  
(iv)    Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:      8,193,879  

 

Item 5.

Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:

This Item 5 is not applicable.

 

Item 6.

Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:

This Item 6 is not applicable.


Page 10 of 11 Pages

 

Item 7.

Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company:

This Item 7 is not applicable.

 

Item 8.

Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:

This Item 8 is not applicable.

 

Item 9.

Notice of Dissolution of Group:

This Item 9 is not applicable.

 

Item 10.

Certification:

By signing below each signatory certifies that, to the best of his/its knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the Issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.


Page 11 of 11 Pages

 

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

Date: November 27, 2018              WHITE ROCK CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.
    By:    White Rock Capital (TX), Inc.
       Its General Partner
       By:   

/s/ Thomas U. Barton

          Thomas U. Barton
Date: November 27, 2018     WHITE ROCK CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.
    By:    White Rock Capital Management, L.P.
       Its General Partner
       By:    White Rock Capital (TX), Inc.
          Its General Partner
          By:   

/s/ Thomas U. Barton

             Thomas U. Barton
Date: November 27, 2018     WHITE ROCK CAPITAL (TX), INC.
    By:   

/s/ Thomas U. Barton

       Thomas U. Barton
Date: November 27, 2018     THOMAS U. BARTON
    By:   

/s/ Thomas U. Barton

       Thomas U. Barton
Date: November 27, 2018     JOSEPH U. BARTON
    By:   

/s/ Joseph U. Barton

       Joseph U. Barton


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

         Page No.  

A.

  Joint Filing Agreement, dated as of November 27, 2018, by and among White Rock Capital Management, L.P., White Rock Capital Partners, L.P., White Rock Capital (TX), Inc., Thomas U. Barton and Joseph U. Barton      13