false
0001838163
0001838163
2026-09-21
2026-09-21
0001838163
BNAI:CommonStockParValue0.0001PerShareMember
2026-09-21
2026-09-21
0001838163
BNAI:RedeemableWarrantsEachWholeWarrantExercisableForOneShareOfCommonStockAtExercisePriceOf115.00PerShareMember
2026-09-21
2026-09-21
iso4217:USD
xbrli:shares
iso4217:USD
xbrli:shares
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): September 21, 2026
Brand
Engagement Network Inc.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware |
|
001-40130 |
|
98-1574798 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation) |
|
(Commission
File
Number) |
|
(IRS
Employer
Identification
No.) |
300
Delaware Ave, Suite 210, Wilmington, DE 19801
(Address
of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code: (307) 757-3650
Not
Applicable
(Former
name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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)) |
Securities
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 $0.0001 per share |
|
BNAI |
|
The
Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
| Redeemable
Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $115.00 per share |
|
BNAIW |
|
The
Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
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
1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On
September 21, 2026, Brand Engagement Network Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”)
with BEN Capital Fund I, LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company, and Joseph Bevash, an individual resident of Wyoming (together, the
“Purchasers”).
Pursuant
to the SPA, the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Purchasers, in a private placement, an aggregate of 123,650 shares of the Company’s
common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), at a purchase price of $8.50 per share, for total gross proceeds
of $1,051,025.00. The purchase price represents a premium of more than twenty percent (20%) to the $7.07 closing price of the Common
Stock on September 21, 2026.
The
Purchasers’ aggregate commitment is split equally. Each Purchaser subscribed for 61,825 shares of Common Stock for a subscription
amount of $525,512.50.
The
investment will be funded as follows: (i) an initial payment of $150,025.00 for 17,650 shares of Common Stock in connection with the
initial closing; and (ii) the remaining $901,000.00 in five equal monthly installments of $180,200.00 each, for 21,200 shares per installment,
payable on or about October 5, 2026, November 5, 2026, December 5, 2026, January 5, 2027, and February 5, 2027.
The
SPA includes 100% warrant coverage. In connection with each funded tranche, the Company will issue to the Purchasers common warrants
(the “Common Warrants”) to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares purchased in that tranche,
at an exercise price of $8.50 per share, with a term of six (6) months from issuance. If the SPA is funded in full, the
Common Warrants will be exercisable for up to 123,650 shares of Common Stock.
The
securities were offered and sold pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the “Securities Act”). The SPA contains customary representations, warranties, covenants, and conditions, including piggy-back
registration rights on the Company’s next registration statement on Form S-1.
The
foregoing description of the SPA does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the
Securities Purchase Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into
this Item 1.01.
Item
3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
The
information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02. The shares of
Common Stock and the Common Warrants (and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Common Warrants) were offered and
sold in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D
promulgated thereunder.
Item
7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On
September 22, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing the private placement described in Item 1.01. A copy of the press release
is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
The
information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities
of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except
as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
Item
9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)
Exhibits.
| Exhibit
No. |
|
Description |
| 10.1 |
|
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated September 21, 2026, by and among Brand Engagement Network Inc., BEN Capital Fund I, LLC and Joseph Bevash |
| 99.1 |
|
Press Release of Brand Engagement Network Inc., dated September 22, 2026 (furnished herewith) |
| 104 |
|
Cover
Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURE
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.
BRAND
ENGAGEMENT NETWORK INC.
| Date:
|
September
22, 2026 |
|
| |
|
|
| By: |
/s/
Tyler Luck |
|
| Name:
|
Tyler
Luck |
|
| Title:
|
Chief
Executive Officer |
|
Exhibit
99.1
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brand
Engagement Network Secures $1.05 Million Private
Placement
at Premium to Market
Returning
investors fund equity raise at $8.50 per share — more than 20% above the September 21 close
WILMINGTON,
Del., Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Brand Engagement Network, Inc. (Nasdaq: BNAI) (“BEN” or the “Company”),
an enterprise AI software company, today announced that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement for a $1,051,025 private
placement of common stock priced at $8.50 per share. The purchase price represents more than a 20% premium to the Company’s September
21, 2026 closing price of $7.07.
The
placement was subscribed in equal parts by returning investor BEN Capital Fund I, LLC and Joseph Bevash. The Company will issue an aggregate
123,650 shares of common stock. An initial $150,025 (17,650 shares) was funded at closing, with the remaining $901,000 to be funded in
five equal monthly installments of $180,200 through February 5, 2027.
The
transaction includes 100% warrant coverage. For each share purchased, the investors receive a six-month warrant to purchase one additional
share at the same $8.50 exercise price. If the placement is funded in full, the warrants will cover up to 123,650 shares.
This transaction continues a clear 2026 trend of
BEN securing equity commitments from sophisticated investors at significant premiums to the prevailing market. Prior private placements
this year were priced at $63.25, $39.25, and $17.82, each above the then current closing price, including placements priced
20% over the close.
“This is another above-market commitment
from investors who already know the company — after Cataneo, after Accelevate, and while we continue to deploy enterprise AI,”
said Tyler Luck, Chief Executive Officer of Brand Engagement Network. “The people writing the checks are not trading the noise.
They are funding the plan.”
Transaction
Highlights
| ●
|
$1,051,025
aggregate commitment at $8.50 per share |
| ●
|
More
than 20% premium to the September 21, 2026 close of $7.07 |
| ●
|
123,650
shares, split equally between BEN Capital Fund I, LLC and Joseph Bevash |
| ● |
$150,025
funded at initial closing; $901,000 to be funded over five months |
| ● |
1-for-1
six month warrants at the same $8.50 strike price |
| ● |
Continues
a consistent 2026 track record of premium-priced private placements |
The
securities described in this release were offered and sold in private transactions pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to
buy any securities.
About
Brand Engagement Network
Brand Engagement Network, Inc. (Nasdaq: BNAI) builds
secure, enterprise-grade artificial intelligence for the engagement layer of AI-where human intent is transformed into intelligent
interactions, automated workflows, and real-world outcomes. Powered by BEN’s proprietary Engagement Language Model (ELM), the technology
enables conversational AI interactions that connect human intent to organizational data, workflows, and real-world outcomes. BEN’s
AI operates within secure closed-loop environments using approved organizational data and built-in governance and compliance controls.
Trusted by organizations in regulated and high-impact industries, BEN helps bring AI into real operational settings where engagement
drives outcomes and accountability matters.
In
June 2026, BEN acquired Cataneo GmbH, which provides enterprise software for advertising sales, scheduling, traffic, content management,
monetization, analytics, CRM integration, and real-time reporting across linear, digital, and on-demand media.
For
more information, visit www.brandengagementnetwork.com
Forward-Looking
Statements
This
press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding
the funding of remaining installments under the securities purchase agreement, issuance and exercise of warrants, use of proceeds,
commercial execution, integration of acquired businesses, and future capital formation. Forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including the Purchasers’
performance of remaining funding obligations, Nasdaq listing and market conditions, dilution from the issuance of shares and warrant
shares, the Company’s liquidity and going-concern considerations described in its SEC reports, integration of acquired businesses,
and other risks described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual
Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement
except as required by law.
Contacts
Investor
Relations
Brand
Engagement Network Inc.
legal@beninc.ai
www.beninc.ai
SOURCE
Brand Engagement Network, Inc.