<?xml  version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!-- DFIN ActiveDisclosure(SM) Inline XBRL Document - http://www.dfinsolutions.com/ -->
<!-- Creation Date      : 2023-03-29T22:49:18.9584422+00:00 -->
<!-- Version            : 5.0.1.785 -->
<!-- Package ID         : 136f93840f204f2388ac34ae34e16b3b -->
<!-- Copyright (c) 2023 Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -->
<html xmlns:xbrli="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance" xmlns:xbrldi="http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi" xmlns:achv="http://achievelifesciences.com/20230329" xmlns:us-types="http://fasb.org/us-types/2022" xmlns:us-gaap="http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2022" xmlns:stpr="http://xbrl.sec.gov/stpr/2022" xmlns:dtr-types="http://www.xbrl.org/dtr/type/2020-01-21" xmlns:srt-types="http://fasb.org/srt-types/2022" xmlns:srt="http://fasb.org/srt/2022" xmlns:sic="http://xbrl.sec.gov/sic/2022" xmlns:naics="http://xbrl.sec.gov/naics/2022" xmlns:exch="http://xbrl.sec.gov/exch/2022" xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022" xmlns:currency="http://xbrl.sec.gov/currency/2022" xmlns:country="http://xbrl.sec.gov/country/2022" xmlns:enum2="http://xbrl.org/2020/extensible-enumerations-2.0" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:utr="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/utr" xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:iso4217="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:ix="http://www.xbrl.org/2013/inlineXBRL" xmlns:nonnum="http://www.xbrl.org/dtr/type/non-numeric" xmlns:num="http://www.xbrl.org/dtr/type/numeric" xmlns:ixt="http://www.xbrl.org/inlineXBRL/transformation/2015-02-26" xmlns:ixt-sec="http://www.sec.gov/inlineXBRL/transformation/2015-08-31" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html" />
<title>
achv-8k_20230329.htm
</title>
</head>
<!-- NG Converter v5.0.2.73 -->
<body><div style="display:none">
	<ix:header>
		<ix:hidden>
			<ix:nonNumeric id="F_000001" name="dei:AmendmentFlag" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">false</ix:nonNumeric>
			<ix:nonNumeric id="F_000004" name="dei:EntityCentralIndexKey" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">0000949858</ix:nonNumeric>
			<ix:nonNumeric id="F_000012" name="dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">BC</ix:nonNumeric>
		</ix:hidden>
		<ix:references>
			<link:schemaRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="achv-20230329.xsd" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"></link:schemaRef>
		</ix:references>
		<ix:resources>
			<xbrli:context id="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">
				<xbrli:entity>
					<xbrli:identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000949858</xbrli:identifier>
				</xbrli:entity>
				<xbrli:period>
					<xbrli:startDate>2023-03-29</xbrli:startDate>
					<xbrli:endDate>2023-03-29</xbrli:endDate>
				</xbrli:period>
			</xbrli:context>
		</ix:resources>
	</ix:header>
</div>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:4pt;">&#160;</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:1pt;">&#160;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;line-height:1pt;border-top:Solid 0.75pt #000000;padding-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:4pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:1pt;line-height:1pt;border-top:Solid 1pt;padding-top:1pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:4pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:4pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:18pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">UNITED STATES </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:18pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Washington, D.C. 20549 </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:Solid 1pt #000000;padding-bottom:1pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:18pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">FORM <ix:nonNumeric id="F_000000" name="dei:DocumentType" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">8-K</ix:nonNumeric> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:Solid 1pt #000000;padding-bottom:1pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">CURRENT REPORT </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Pursuant to Section&#160;13 or 15(d) </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): <ix:nonNumeric id="F_000002" name="dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329" format="ixt:datemonthdayyearen">March 29, 2023</ix:nonNumeric> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:Solid 1pt #000000;padding-bottom:1pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:24pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><ix:nonNumeric id="F_000003" name="dei:EntityRegistrantName" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">ACHIEVE LIFE SCIENCES, INC.</ix:nonNumeric> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:Solid 1pt #000000;padding-bottom:1pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<div>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin:auto;border-collapse:collapse; width:90.49%;">
<tr>
<td style="width:27.28%;"></td>
<td style="width:0.56%;"></td>
<td style="width:32.38%;"></td>
<td style="width:0.56%;"></td>
<td style="width:29.72%;"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:48pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><ix:nonNumeric id="F_000007" name="dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329" format="ixt-sec:stateprovnameen">Delaware</ix:nonNumeric></p></td>
<td valign="bottom">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p></td>
<td valign="top">
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:28.5pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><ix:nonNumeric id="F_000006" name="dei:EntityFileNumber" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">033-80623</ix:nonNumeric></p></td>
<td valign="bottom">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p></td>
<td valign="top">
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><ix:nonNumeric id="F_000008" name="dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">95-4343413</ix:nonNumeric></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:48pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:8pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(State or Other Jurisdiction</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:1pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:48pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:8pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">of Incorporation)</p></td>
<td valign="bottom">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p></td>
<td valign="top">
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:28.5pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:8pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(Commission</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:1pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:28.5pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:8pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">File Number)</p></td>
<td valign="bottom">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p></td>
<td valign="top">
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:8pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(IRS Employer</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:1pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:8pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Identification No.)</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" valign="middle">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p></td>
<td colspan="2" valign="middle">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" valign="top">
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;margin-right:22.78%;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><ix:nonNumeric id="F_000009" name="dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">1040 West Georgia</ix:nonNumeric>, <ix:nonNumeric id="F_000010" name="dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">Suite 1030</ix:nonNumeric></p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:1pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;margin-right:22.78%;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><ix:nonNumeric id="F_000011" name="dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">Vancouver</ix:nonNumeric>, B.C., <ix:nonNumeric id="F_000013" name="dei:EntityAddressCountry" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329" format="ixt-sec:countrynameen">Canada</ix:nonNumeric> </p></td>
<td valign="bottom">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom">
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><ix:nonNumeric id="F_000014" name="dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">V6E 4H1</ix:nonNumeric></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" valign="top">
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;margin-right:22.78%;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:8pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</p></td>
<td valign="bottom">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p></td>
<td valign="top">
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:8pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(Zip Code)</p></td>
</tr>
</table></div>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Registrant&#8217;s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (<ix:nonNumeric id="F_000015" name="dei:CityAreaCode" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">604</ix:nonNumeric>) <ix:nonNumeric id="F_000016" name="dei:LocalPhoneNumber" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">210-2217</ix:nonNumeric> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">N/A </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:8pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:Solid 1pt #000000;padding-bottom:1pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Check the appropriate box below if the Form&#160;8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below): </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<div style="align:left;">
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse; width:69.95%;">
<tr>
<td style="width:2.13%;"></td>
<td style="width:67.82%;"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:12pt;font-family:Segoe UI Symbol;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><ix:nonNumeric id="F_000017" name="dei:WrittenCommunications" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329" format="ixt-sec:boolballotbox">&#9744;</ix:nonNumeric></p></td>
<td valign="top">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Written communications pursuant to Rule&#160;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </p></td>
</tr>
</table></div>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<div style="align:left;">
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse; width:70.23%;">
<tr>
<td style="width:2.13%;"></td>
<td style="width:68.1%;"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:12pt;font-family:Segoe UI Symbol;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><ix:nonNumeric id="F_000018" name="dei:SolicitingMaterial" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329" format="ixt-sec:boolballotbox">&#9744;</ix:nonNumeric></p></td>
<td valign="top">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&#160;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </p></td>
</tr>
</table></div>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<div style="align:left;">
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse; width:86.34%;">
<tr>
<td style="width:2.13%;"></td>
<td style="width:84.21%;"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:12pt;font-family:Segoe UI Symbol;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><ix:nonNumeric id="F_000019" name="dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329" format="ixt-sec:boolballotbox">&#9744;</ix:nonNumeric></p></td>
<td valign="top">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&#160;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </p></td>
</tr>
</table></div>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<div style="align:left;">
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse; width:85.79%;">
<tr>
<td style="width:2.13%;"></td>
<td style="width:83.66%;"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:12pt;font-family:Segoe UI Symbol;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><ix:nonNumeric id="F_000020" name="dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329" format="ixt-sec:boolballotbox">&#9744;</ix:nonNumeric></p></td>
<td valign="top">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&#160;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </p></td>
</tr>
</table></div>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: </p>
<div style="align:left;">
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse; width:95.86%;">
<tr>
<td style="width:36%;"></td>
<td style="width:26.67%;"></td>
<td style="width:33.19%;"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Title of each class</span></p></td>
<td valign="top">
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Trading Symbol</span></p></td>
<td valign="top">
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Name of exchange on which registered</span></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><ix:nonNumeric id="F_000021" name="dei:Security12bTitle" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</ix:nonNumeric></p></td>
<td valign="top">
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><ix:nonNumeric id="F_000022" name="dei:TradingSymbol" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">ACHV</ix:nonNumeric></p></td>
<td valign="top">
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">The <ix:nonNumeric id="F_000023" name="dei:SecurityExchangeName" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329">NASDAQ</ix:nonNumeric> Capital Market</p></td>
</tr>
</table></div>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule&#160;405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;230.405 of this chapter) or Rule&#160;12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&#167;240.12b-2 of this chapter). </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Emerging growth company&#160;&#160;<span style="font-family:Segoe UI Symbol;"><ix:nonNumeric id="F_000005" name="dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany" contextRef="C_0000949858_20230329_20230329" format="ixt-sec:boolballotbox">&#9744;</ix:nonNumeric></span> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:6pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">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&#160;13(a) of the Exchange Act.&#160;&#160;<span style="font-family:Segoe UI Symbol;">&#9744;</span> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:4pt;line-height:1pt;border-top:Solid 0.75pt #000000;padding-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:4pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:1pt;line-height:1pt;border-top:Solid 1pt;padding-top:1pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:4pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<p style="margin-top:6pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:bold;;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;">&#160;</p>
<hr style="page-break-after:always" />
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;">&#160;</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;color:#212529;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Item 5.02<span style="color:#000000;"> Departure of Directors or Certain Officers&#59; Election of Directors&#59; Appointment of Certain Officers&#59; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">On March&#160;29, 2023, the board of directors (the &#8220;Board&#8221;) of Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;), following a recommendation from the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the &#8220;Governance Committee&#8221;), appointed each of Mr. Stuart Duty, Mr. Thomas King and Mr. Thomas Sellig (collectively, the &#8220;Incoming Directors&#8221;) to serve as a director of the Company, effective March&#160;29, 2023 (the &#8220;Effective Date&#8221;).</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">The Incoming Directors&#8217; compensation will be as provided under the Company&#8217;s non-employee director compensation program (the &#8220;Non-Employee Director Compensation Program&#8221;). In connection with their appointments as non-employee directors of the Board and consistent with the Non-Employee Director Compensation Program, each of the Incoming Directors will receive a pro rata portion of the $40,000 annual retainer for service as a non-employee director for the remaining portion of the Company&#8217;s fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. In addition, consistent with the Non-Employee Director Compensation Program, the Board granted to each of the Incoming Directors, effective as of the Effective Date (the &#8220;Grant Date&#8221;), a stock option to purchase 24,000 shares of the Company&#8217;s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the &#8220;Common Stock&#8221;), at an exercise price equal to the closing sale price of the Common Stock on the Grant Date, as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market, which will vest monthly over three years, subject to continued service as a director on the Board or employee or consultant of the Company (the &#8220;Initial Award&#8221;). Each of the Incoming Directors will also receive the customary annual equity compensation paid to non-employee directors on the date of each annual meeting of stockholders, which as currently constituted under the Non-Employee Director Compensation Program, shall consist of a stock option to purchase 23,250 shares of Common Stock, which will vest monthly over three years, subject to continued service as a director on the Board or employee or consultant of the Company (each such award, an &#8220;Annual Award&#8221;).</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">The Company has entered into its standard form of indemnification agreement with each of the Incoming Directors. The form of the indemnification agreement was previously filed by the Company as Exhibit 10.9 to the Company&#8217;s Annual Report on&#160;Form&#160;10-K&#160;filed&#160;with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;SEC&#8221;) on March&#160;16, 2023 and is incorporated by reference herein.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">The Incoming Directors were selected as members of the Board pursuant to a Cooperation Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2023, by and between the Company, Dialectic Capital Management, LP and related entities (as it may be amended from time to time, the &#8220;Cooperation Agreement&#8221;). A copy of the Cooperation Agreement was previously filed with the SEC as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company&#8217;s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March&#160;6, 2023.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">There are no family relationships between any of the Incoming Directors and any director or executive officer of the Company, nor do any of the Incoming Directors have a direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of&#160;Regulation&#160;S-K&#160;promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;).</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Additionally, on March 29, 2023, Mr. Donald Joseph, Dr. Martin Mattingly and Mr. Jay Moyes (collectively, the &#8220;Outgoing Directors&#8221;), each a member of the Board, informed the Board that they would not be standing for reelection to the Board when their terms end at the Company&#8217;s 2023 annual meeting of stockholders (the &#8220;2023 Annual Meeting&#8221;). The Outgoing Directors will continue to serve on the Board until their terms end at the 2023 Annual Meeting. The Outgoing Directors&#8217; decisions not to stand for reelection as directors was not the result of any disagreement between them and the Company on any matter relating to the Company&#8217;s operations, policies or practices.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</p>
<hr style="page-break-after:always" />
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">On March 30, 2023, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointments of the Incoming Directors to the Board and the decisions by the Outgoing Directors not to seek reelection to the Board at the 2023 Annual Meeting. A copy of this press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on&#160;Form&#160;8-K.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99. to this Current Report on Form 8-K, shall not be deemed to be &#8220;filed&#8221; for purposes of Section&#160;18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;Securities Act&#8221;). The information contained in this Item 7.01 and in the accompanying Exhibit 99.1 shall not be incorporated by reference into any other filing under the Exchange Act or under the Securities Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:10pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;color:#000000;font-size:11pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Item 9.01&#160;&#160;Financial Statements and Exhibits</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:3.33%;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(d) <span style="margin-left:36pt;">Exhibits</span></p>
<div style="align:left;">
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse; width:81.67%;">
<tr>
<td style="width:8.16%;"></td>
<td style="width:1.02%;"></td>
<td style="width:72.49%;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:29.25pt;">
<td valign="middle" style="background-color:#FFFFFF; border-bottom:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Exhibit No. </p></td>
<td valign="bottom" style="background-color:#FFFFFF; border-bottom:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:bold;;">&#160;</p></td>
<td valign="middle" style="background-color:#FFFFFF; border-bottom:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Description</p></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:14.95pt;">
<td valign="top" style="background-color:#FFFFFF; border-top:solid 0.75pt #000000;white-space:nowrap;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">99.1</p></td>
<td valign="bottom" style="background-color:#FFFFFF; border-top:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;">&#160;</p></td>
<td valign="top" style="background-color:#FFFFFF; border-top:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:11pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><a href="achv-ex101_6.htm"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Press Release, dated March 30, 2023</span></a></p></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:14.25pt;">
<td valign="top" style="background-color:#FFFFFF;white-space:nowrap;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">104</p></td>
<td valign="bottom">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;&#160;</p></td>
<td valign="top">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)</p></td>
</tr>
</table></div>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">________________________</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-right:6.67%;text-indent:0%;letter-spacing:-0.15pt;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><br /></p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</p>
<hr style="page-break-after:always" />
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;">&#160;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-right:6.67%;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-family:Times New Roman;letter-spacing:-0.15pt;font-size:11pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">SIGNATURES</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.</p>
<div>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin:auto;border-collapse:collapse; width:82.67%;">
<tr>
<td style="width:37.2%;"></td>
<td style="width:45.46%;"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;">&#160;</p></td>
<td valign="top">
<p style="line-height:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">ACHIEVE LIFE SCIENCES, INC.</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" style=" border-bottom:solid 0.75pt transparent;">
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;">&#160;</p>
<p style="line-height:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;letter-spacing:-0.15pt;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Date: March 30, 2023</p></td>
<td valign="top" style=" border-bottom:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<p style="line-height:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;">&#160;</p>
<p style="line-height:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;letter-spacing:-0.15pt;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">/s/ John Bencich</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p style="text-align:justify;line-height:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;">&#160;</p></td>
<td valign="top" style=" border-top:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<p style="line-height:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;letter-spacing:-0.15pt;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">John Bencich</p>
<p style="line-height:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive and Financial Officer)</p></td>
</tr>
</table></div>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;">&#160;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</p></body>
</html>
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "achv-8k_20230329.htm", "description": "8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 41060}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ACHIEVE LIFE SCIENCES, INC.", "cik": "0000949858", "assigned-sic": "2835", "irs-number": "954343413", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "033-80623", "film-number": "23777228"}, "business-address": {"street1": "22722 29TH DR. SE", "street2": "SUITE 100", "city": "SEATTLE", "state": "WA", "zip": "98021", "phone": "425-686-1500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "22722 29TH DR. SE", "street2": "SUITE 100", "city": "SEATTLE", "state": "WA", "zip": "98021"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "ONCOGENEX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.", "date-changed": "20080821"}, {"former-conformed-name": "SONUS PHARMACEUTICALS INC", "date-changed": "19950825"}]}
achv-8k_20230329.htm
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):
March 29, 2023
ACHIEVE LIFE SCIENCES, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
033-80623
95-4343413
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
1040 West Georgia
,
Suite 1030
Vancouver
, B.C.,
Canada
V6E 4H1
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (
604
)
210-2217
N/A
(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐
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
Name of exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
ACHV
The
NASDAQ
Capital Market
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 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On March 29, 2023, the board of directors (the "Board") of Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. (the "Company"), following a recommendation from the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the "Governance Committee"), appointed each of Mr. Stuart Duty, Mr. Thomas King and Mr. Thomas Sellig (collectively, the "Incoming Directors") to serve as a director of the Company, effective March 29, 2023 (the "Effective Date").
The Incoming Directors' compensation will be as provided under the Company's non-employee director compensation program (the "Non-Employee Director Compensation Program"). In connection with their appointments as non-employee directors of the Board and consistent with the Non-Employee Director Compensation Program, each of the Incoming Directors will receive a pro rata portion of the $40,000 annual retainer for service as a non-employee director for the remaining portion of the Company's fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. In addition, consistent with the Non-Employee Director Compensation Program, the Board granted to each of the Incoming Directors, effective as of the Effective Date (the "Grant Date"), a stock option to purchase 24,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), at an exercise price equal to the closing sale price of the Common Stock on the Grant Date, as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market, which will vest monthly over three years, subject to continued service as a director on the Board or employee or consultant of the Company (the "Initial Award"). Each of the Incoming Directors will also receive the customary annual equity compensation paid to non-employee directors on the date of each annual meeting of stockholders, which as currently constituted under the Non-Employee Director Compensation Program, shall consist of a stock option to purchase 23,250 shares of Common Stock, which will vest monthly over three years, subject to continued service as a director on the Board or employee or consultant of the Company (each such award, an "Annual Award").
The Company has entered into its standard form of indemnification agreement with each of the Incoming Directors. The form of the indemnification agreement was previously filed by the Company as Exhibit 10.9 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 16, 2023 and is incorporated by reference herein.
The Incoming Directors were selected as members of the Board pursuant to a Cooperation Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2023, by and between the Company, Dialectic Capital Management, LP and related entities (as it may be amended from time to time, the "Cooperation Agreement"). A copy of the Cooperation Agreement was previously filed with the SEC as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 6, 2023.
There are no family relationships between any of the Incoming Directors and any director or executive officer of the Company, nor do any of the Incoming Directors have a direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").
Additionally, on March 29, 2023, Mr. Donald Joseph, Dr. Martin Mattingly and Mr. Jay Moyes (collectively, the "Outgoing Directors"), each a member of the Board, informed the Board that they would not be standing for reelection to the Board when their terms end at the Company's 2023 annual meeting of stockholders (the "2023 Annual Meeting"). The Outgoing Directors will continue to serve on the Board until their terms end at the 2023 Annual Meeting. The Outgoing Directors' decisions not to stand for reelection as directors was not the result of any disagreement between them and the Company on any matter relating to the Company's operations, policies or practices.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On March 30, 2023, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointments of the Incoming Directors to the Board and the decisions by the Outgoing Directors not to seek reelection to the Board at the 2023 Annual Meeting. A copy of this press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99. to this Current Report on Form 8-K, shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The information contained in this Item 7.01 and in the accompanying Exhibit 99.1 shall not be incorporated by reference into any other filing under the Exchange Act or under the Securities Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d)
Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press Release, dated March 30, 2023
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
________________________
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ACHIEVE LIFE SCIENCES, INC.
Date: March 30, 2023
/s/ John Bencich
John Bencich
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive and Financial Officer)