Ernst-Günter Afting, Ph.D., M.D. (Name of Person(S) Filing Proxy Statement, If Other Than the Registrant)
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SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION (Rule 14a-101) PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (Amendment No. ) Filed by the Registrant [ ] Filed by a party other than the Registrant [X] Check the appropriate box: [ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) [ ] Definitive Proxy Statement [ ] Definitive Additional Materials [X] Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) Ernst-Günter Afting, Ph.D., M.D. (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other Than the Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): [X] No fee required. [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11. (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: (5) Total fee paid: [ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: (3) Filing Party: (4) Date Filed: On August 8, 2012, Ernst-Günter Afting (“Afting”) delivered a notice (the “Nomination Letter”) to the Corporate Secretary of Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (“Sorrento”, or the “Company”) of his intent to nominate a new slate of directors for election to the board of directors of the Company at the Company’s 2012 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2012 Annual Meeting”) to be held on September 6, 2012, or any adjournment or postponement thereof. The Nomination Letter is incorporated herein and attached hereto as Exhibit 1. SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES BY AFTING FROM THE STOCKHOLDERS OF SORRENTO FOR USE AT ITS 2012 ANNUAL MEETING WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING INFORMATION RELATING TO THE PARTICIPANT IN SUCH PROXY SOLICITATION. WHEN COMPLETED, A DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND A FORM OF PROXY WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE AT THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION’S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV. IN ADDITION, THE PARTICIPANT IN THIS PROXY SOLICITATION WILL PROVIDE COPIES OF THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT (IF AND WHEN AVAILABLE) WITHOUT CHARGE UPON REQUEST. INFORMATION RELATING TO THE PARTICIPANT IN A POTENTIAL PROXY SOLICITATION IS CONTAINED IN EXHIBIT 1 HERETO AND IS INCORPORATED HEREIN. EXHIBIT 1 Ernst-Günter Afting, Ph.D., M.D. Meisenweg 21 D-82152 Krailling Germany BY OVERNIGHT MAIL AND FACSIMILE (858-210-3759) August 8, 2012 Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. 6042 Cornerstone Ct. West, Suite B San Diego, California 92121 Attention: Corporate Secretary Stockholder Nomination of Directors Dear Sir or Madam: I, Ernst-Günter Afting, am the owner of record of 925,430 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), and the beneficial owner of an additional 40,000 shares of Common Stock, of Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). In accordance with Section 1(2)(c) of Article I of the Company’s Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), I hereby nominate the following persons to stand for election to be directors of the Company at the Company’s next annual meeting of its stockholders (the “2012 Annual Meeting”): Henry Ji, Kim D. Janda, M. Scott Salka, David Webb, Cam Gallagher, Richard Vincent and Ernst-Günter Afting (collectively, the “Nominees”). Based on the Company’s proxy materials filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on July 31, 2012, the 2012 Annual Meeting is scheduled to take place on September 6, 2012. According to the Bylaws, nominations for director candidates may be submitted to the Company’s secretary not later than the close of business on August 10, 2012 for voting/consideration at the 2012 Annual Meeting. Capitalized terms used without definition herein shall have the meanings provided in the Bylaws. Dr. Henry Ji is the beneficial owner of 58,404,032 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Dr. Kim Janda is the beneficial owner of 197,500 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Mr. M. Scott Salka has no beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock. Dr. David Webb is the beneficial owner of 12,500 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Mr. Cam Gallagher has no beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock. Mr. Richard Vincent is the beneficial owner of 225,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Each of the above nominees and I have consented to be nominated (Henry Ji, Kim D. Janda, M. Scott Salka, David Webb, Cam Gallagher, Richard Vincent and I are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the “Group”). Ernst- Günter Afting, as the “nominating person”, is the “Record Stockholder” as defined in the Bylaws and is solely proposing the Nominees. Except as set forth in this letter, there are no “affiliates” or “associates” of the Nominating Person or the Nominees. 1 It is my firmly held belief that the Company is in need of new leadership and a fresh perspective on the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). The election of Henry Ji, Ph.D., Kim D. Janda, Ph.D., M. Scott Salka, David Webb, Ph.D., Cam Gallagher, Richard Vincent and Ernst-Günter Afting, all experienced, individually or collectively, with deep antibody and industry expertise, broad understanding of the operational, pre-clinical and clinical development, financial and strategic issues facing public and private companies both domestically and internationally, should significantly improve the oversight function of the Board. This letter provides the information required by Section 1(4) of Article I of the Bylaws (“Section 1(4)”). While I am complying with Section 1(4) of the Bylaws, I expressly reserve the right to challenge the validity and lawfulness of certain purported requirements set forth therein, and nothing herein shall constitute a waiver of such rights or claims. Please note that due to the extensive disclosure requirements set forth in Section 1(4) of the Bylaws, many of which are duplicative or redundant, the information provided herein and in the attachments to this letter shall be deemed responsive to all relevant provisions of the Bylaws notwithstanding any specific reference to a particular section or sections of the Bylaws. As provided in Section 1(4), subject to reserving my rights to challenge the legality or appropriateness of certain provisions of Section 1(4), I will provide any updates or supplements to this notice in the times and in the forms required by Section 1(4). Solicitation Statement I will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Company reasonably believed by me to be sufficient to elect the nominees proposed to be nominated by me. Information Required by Section 1(4)(c) of the Bylaws Stockholder Information: Dr. Henry Ji (“Ji”), age 48, PO Box 3531, 6099 Rancho Diegueno, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 (residential) and 6042 Cornerstone Court, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92121 (business). Shares of Common Stock held of record by Ji: 43,154,032. Shares of Common Stock directly or indirectly beneficially owned by Ji, as defined in Section 1(4)(c) of the Bylaws (which number includes the shares owned of record): 58,404,032, comprised of 75,000 shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of August 7, 2012, 6,250,000 deemed to be beneficially owned by Dr. Ji in his capacity as one of three controlling persons in the Hongye SD Group, LLC and 52,154,032 shares of common stock held in family trusts, of which Dr. Ji is a co-trustee with his wife Vivian Q. Zhang. Each of Dr. Ji and Vivian Q. Zhang, while acting as co-trustees, have the power to act alone and have those actions binding on both trustees and the trusts’ assets, including voting and dispositive power over the shares of common stock held by the family trusts. Dr. Kim Janda (“Janda”), age 54, 5787 La Jolla Corona Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037 (residential) and 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, 8CC-582, La Jolla, CA 92037 (business). Shares of Common Stock held of record by Janda: 0. Shares of Common Stock directly or indirectly beneficially 2 owned by Janda, as defined in Section 1(4)(c) of the Bylaws: 197,500, comprised of Common Stock issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of August 7, 2012. M. Scott Salka (“Salka”), age 50, PO Box 3577, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 (residential and business). Shares of Common Stock held of record by Salka and shares of Common Stock directly or indirectly beneficially owned by Salka, as defined in Section 1(4) (c) of the Bylaws: 0. Dr. David Webb (“Webb”), age 67, 2747 Llama Court, Carlsbad, CA 92009 (residential and business). Shares of Common Stock held of record by Webb: 0. Shares of Common Stock directly or indirectly beneficially owned by Webb, as defined in Section 1(4) (c) of the Bylaws: 12,500, comprised of Common Stock issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of August 7, 2012.