SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
SCHEDULE 13G
 
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )*
 

Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)
 

Common Stock $0.01 par value per share

(Title of Class of Securities)
 

77313F106

(CUSIP Number)
 

January 8, 2019

(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)
ý Rule 13d-1(c)
¨ Rule 13d-1(d)
 
(Page 1 of 11 Pages)

 

______________________________

*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).

 

 

 

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 77313F10613GPage 2 of 11 Pages

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

Adage Capital Partners, L.P.

2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ¨

(b) ¨

3 SEC USE ONLY
4

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Delaware

NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH:
5

SOLE VOTING POWER

0

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

2,400,000

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

2,400,000

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

2,400,000

10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ¨
11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

5.35%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

PN

         

 

 

CUSIP No. 77313F10613GPage 3 of 11 Pages

 

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

Adage Capital Partners GP, L.L.C.

2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ¨

(b) ¨

3 SEC USE ONLY
4

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Delaware

NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH:
5

SOLE VOTING POWER

0

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

2,400,000

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

2,400,000

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

2,400,000

10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ¨
11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

5.35%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

OO

         

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 77313F10613GPage 4 of 11 Pages

 

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

Adage Capital Advisors, L.L.C.

2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ¨

(b) ¨

3 SEC USE ONLY
4

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Delaware

NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH:
5

SOLE VOTING POWER

0

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

2,400,000

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

2,400,000

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

2,400,000

10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ¨
11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

5.35%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

OO

         

 

 

CUSIP No. 77313F10613GPage 5 of 11 Pages

 

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

Robert Atchinson

2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(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

0

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

2,400,000

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

2,400,000

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

2,400,000

10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ¨
11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

5.35%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

IN

         

 

 

CUSIP No. 77313F10613GPage 6 of 11 Pages

 

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

Phillip Gross

2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(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

0

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

2,400,000

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

2,400,000

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

2,400,000

10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ¨
11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

5.35%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

IN

         

 

 

CUSIP No. 77313F10613GPage 7 of 11 Pages

 

Item 1(a). NAME OF ISSUER
  The name of the issuer is Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company").
   
Item 1(b). ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES
  The Company's principal executive offices are located at 350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 7530, New York, NY 10118.
   
Item 2(a). NAME OF PERSON FILING
  This statement is filed by:
   
  (i) Adage Capital Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("ACP") with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by it;
   
  (ii) Adage Capital Partners GP, L.L.C., a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware ("ACPGP"), as general partner of ACP with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by ACP;
   
  (iii) Adage Capital Advisors, L.L.C., a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware ("ACA"), as managing member of ACPGP, general partner of ACP, with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by ACP;
   
  (iv) Robert Atchinson ("Mr. Atchinson"), as managing member of ACA, managing member of ACPGP, general partner of ACP with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by ACP; and
   
  (v) Phillip Gross ("Mr. Gross"), as managing member of ACA, managing member of ACPGP, general partner of ACP with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by ACP.
   
  The foregoing persons are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the "Reporting Persons."  Any disclosures herein with respect to persons other than the Reporting Persons are made on information and belief after making inquiry to the appropriate party.
   
  The filing of this statement should not be construed in and of itself as an admission by any Reporting Person as to beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein.
   
Item 2(b). ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE, RESIDENCE
  The address of the business office of each of the Reporting Persons is 200 Clarendon Street, 52nd floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.
   
Item 2(c). CITIZENSHIP
  ACP is a limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.  ACPGP and ACA are limited liability companies organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.  Messrs. Gross and Atchinson are citizens of the United States.
   
Item 2(d). TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES
  Common Stock $0.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock").
       

 

 

CUSIP No. 77313F10613GPage 8 of 11 Pages

 

Item 2(e). CUSIP NUMBER
  77313F106

 

Item 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO Rules 13d-1(b), OR 13d-2(b) OR (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:
  (a) ¨ Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act;
  (b) ¨ Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act;
  (c) ¨ Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act;
  (d) ¨ Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940;
  (e) ¨ An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
  (f) ¨

An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

 

  (g) ¨ A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
  (h) ¨

A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act;

 

  (i) ¨

A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act;

 

  (j) ¨ A non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J);
  (k) ¨ Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).

 

  If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please
  specify the type of institution: Not applicable.  

 

Item 4. OWNERSHIP
  A. Adage Capital Partners, L.P., Adage Capital Partners GP, L.L.C. and Adage Capital Advisors, L.L.C.
      (a) Amount beneficially owned: 2,400,000
      (b) Percent of class: 5.35%. The percentages set forth in this Schedule 13G are calculated based upon 44,885,742 shares of Common Stock reported to be issued and outstanding in the Company’s Prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 29, 2018, after giving effect to the completion of the offering and the full exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option, as described therein and in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 29, 2018.
      (c) (i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote:  0
        (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 2,400,000
        (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition:  0
        (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of: 2,400,000

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 77313F10613GPage 9 of 11 Pages

 

ACP has the power to dispose of and the power to vote the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by it, which power may be exercised by its general partner, ACPGP.  ACA, as managing member of ACPGP, directs ACPGP's operations. Neither ACPGP nor ACA directly own any shares of Common Stock.  By reason of the provisions of Rule 13d-3 of the Act, ACPGP and ACA may be deemed to beneficially own the shares owned by ACP.

 

  B. Robert Atchinson and Phillip Gross
      (a) Amount beneficially owned:  2,400,000
      (b) Percent of class:  5.35%
      (c) (i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote:  0
        (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote:  2,400,000
        (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition:  0
        (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:  2,400,000

  

Messrs. Atchinson and Gross, as managing members of ACA, have shared power to vote the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by ACP.  Neither Mr. Atchinson nor Mr. Gross directly own any shares of Common Stock.  By reason of the provisions of Rule 13d-3 of the Act, each may be deemed to beneficially own the shares beneficially owned by ACP.

 

Item 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS
  Not applicable.

 

Item 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON
  Not applicable.

 

Item 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY OR CONTROL PERSON
  Not applicable.

 

Item 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
  Not applicable.

 

Item 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP
  Not applicable.

 

Item 10. CERTIFICATION
  Each of the Reporting Persons hereby makes the following certification:
   
  By signing below each Reporting Person certifies that, to the best of his or 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.

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 77313F10613GPage 10 of 11 Pages

SIGNATURES

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

DATE: January 17, 2019

 

ADAGE CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.  
By:  Adage Capital Partners GP, L.L.C.,  
its general partner  
   
By:  Adage Capital Advisors, L.L.C.,  
its managing member  
   
/s/ Robert Atchinson  
Name:  Robert Atchinson  
Title: Managing Member  
   
ADAGE CAPITAL PARTNERS GP, L.L.C.  
By:  Adage Capital Advisors, L.L.C.,  
its managing member  
   
/s/ Robert Atchinson  
Name:  Robert Atchinson  
Title: Managing Member  
   
ADAGE CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.L.C.  
   
/s/ Robert Atchinson  
Name:  Robert Atchinson  
Title: Managing Member  
   
ROBERT ATCHINSON  
   
/s/ Robert Atchinson  
ROBERT ATCHINSON, individually  
   
PHILLIP GROSS  
   
/s/ Phillip Gross  
PHILLIP GROSS, individually  

 

 

CUSIP No. 77313F10613GPage 11 of 11 Pages

 

EXHIBIT 1

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1(k)

The undersigned acknowledge and agree that the foregoing statement on Schedule 13G is filed on behalf of each of the undersigned and that all subsequent amendments to this statement on Schedule 13G shall be filed on behalf of each of the undersigned without the necessity of filing additional joint filing agreements. The undersigned acknowledge that each shall be responsible for the timely filing of such amendments, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning him or it contained herein and therein, but shall not be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning the others, except to the extent that he or it knows or has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate.

 

DATE: January 17, 2019

 

ADAGE CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.  
By:  Adage Capital Partners GP, L.L.C.,  
its general partner  
   
By:  Adage Capital Advisors, L.L.C.,  
its managing member  
   
/s/ Robert Atchinson  
Name:  Robert Atchinson  
Title: Managing Member  
   
ADAGE CAPITAL PARTNERS GP, L.L.C.  
By:  Adage Capital Advisors, L.L.C.,  
its managing member  
   
/s/ Robert Atchinson  
Name:  Robert Atchinson  
Title: Managing Member  
   
ADAGE CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.L.C.  
   
/s/ Robert Atchinson  
Name:  Robert Atchinson  
Title: Managing Member  
   
/s/ Robert Atchinson  
ROBERT ATCHINSON, individually  
   
/s/ Phillip Gross  
PHILLIP GROSS, individually