Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No.: 333-282389
Prospectus Supplement
(To Prospectus dated October 3, 2024)
Up to $100,000,000 maximum aggregate offering price
Common Stock
We have entered into an equity distribution agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) with Northland Securities, Inc. (“Northland”), B. Riley Securities, Inc. and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. (collectively, the “Agents”) relating to shares of our Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), offered by this prospectus supplement (the “prospectus supplement”) and the accompanying base prospectus (together, the “prospectus”) pursuant to a continuous offering program. In accordance with the terms of the Distribution Agreement, we may offer and sell shares of our Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $100,000,000 from time to time through the Agents, acting as our sales agents, or directly to the Agents, acting as principals.
Sales of our Common Stock, if any, under this prospectus supplement will be made by any method permitted that is deemed an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), including sales made directly on or through The Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) or any other existing trading market in the United States for our Common Stock, sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange or otherwise, directly to the Agents as principal, in negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices and/or in any other method permitted by law. If we and the Agents agree on any method of distribution other than sales of shares of our Common Stock on or through Nasdaq or another existing trading market in the United States at market prices, we will file a further prospectus supplement providing all information about such offering as required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act. The Agents are not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of securities, but the Agents have agreed to use their commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal sales and trading practices, as our sales agent. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
Each Agent will be entitled to total compensation at a commission rate of 1.0% of the gross sales price per share sold, for an aggregate commission rate of 3.0% for all Agents. In connection with the sale of the Common Stock on our behalf, each Agents will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of the Agents will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to the Agents with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
Our Common Stock is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “SERV.” On November 5, 2024, the last reported sale price on Nasdaq of our Common Stock was $9.81 per share.
Investing in our Common Stock involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-4 of this prospectus supplement, Item 1A “Risk Factors” beginning on page 18 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 29, 2024, and Item IA “Risk Factors” beginning on page 32 of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 filed with the SEC on November 7, 2024, each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Northland Capital Markets | B. Riley Securities, Inc. | Ladenburg Thalmann |
The date of this prospectus supplement is November 7, 2024
Table of Contents
Page | |
About This Prospectus Supplement | S-ii |
Where You Can Find More Information | S-iii |
Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference | S-iv |
Summary | S-1 |
The Offering | S-3 |
Risk Factors | S-4 |
Forward-Looking Statements | S-8 |
Use of Proceeds | S-9 |
Dilution | S-10 |
Dividend Policy | S-11 |
Plan of Distribution | S-12 |
Legal Matters | S-13 |
Experts | S-14 |
S-i
About This Prospectus Supplement
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-282389) that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 27, 2024 using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell shares of our Common Stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights and units under the prospectus included in the registration statement from time to time at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of the offering described in the accompanying prospectus.
This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, provides more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer to this prospectus, we are referring to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus combined. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated by reference herein or therein filed prior to the date of this prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement; provided that if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date—for example, a document incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus—the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
Neither we nor the Agents have authorized any other party to provide you with different information other than the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. Neither we nor the Agents are making an offer to sell our Common Stock in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and any free writing prospectus, together with the additional information described under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.” You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus or any free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on its respective cover, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.” This prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus or any free writing prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate. We are not making offers to sell any securities described in this prospectus supplement in any jurisdiction in which an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation.
As used in this prospectus supplement, unless the context otherwise requires:
● | “Board” or “Board of Directors” means our board of directors. |
● | “Common Stock” means the shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share. |
● | “DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. |
● | “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
● | “Merger” means the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger, pursuant to which Serve Acquisition Corp. (“Merger Sub”), our wholly-owned subsidiary, was merged with and into Serve Robotics Inc. prior to such merger (“Serve”), with Serve surviving the Merger as the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, which transactions were consummated on July 31, 2023. |
● | “Merger Agreement” means that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 31, 2023, by and among the Company, Merger Sub and Serve. |
● | “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
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Where You Can Find More Information
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of the registration statement on Form S-3 we filed with the SEC under the Securities Act and do not contain all the information set forth or incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the reference may not be complete and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement or the exhibits to the reports or other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus for a copy of such contract, agreement or other document. Because we are subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Our website address is www.serverobotics.com. Through our website, we make available, free of charge, the following documents as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K; our proxy statements for our annual and special stockholder meetings; our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q; our Current Reports on Form 8-K; Forms 3, 4, and 5 and Schedules 13D with respect to our securities filed on behalf of our directors and our executive officers; and amendments to those documents. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website or any of our social media channels is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus.
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Incorporation of Documents by Reference
This registration statement incorporates by reference important business and financial information about our Company that is not included in or delivered with this document. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and the SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents instead of having to repeat the information in this prospectus. Any statement contained herein or in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in or omitted from this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference:
● | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024; |
● | our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2024, August 13, 2024 and November 7, 2024, respectively; |
● | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 3, 2024, February 7, 2024, February 23, 2024, March 7, 2024, April 9, 2024, April 18, 2024, April 23, 2024, April 24, 2024, May 15, 2024, June 3, 2024, July 23, 2024, July 24, 2024, August 13, 2024, August 28, 2024, November 7, 2024 and November 7, 2024 (in each case, except for information contained therein which is furnished rather than filed); and |
● | the description of our Common Stock contained in our registration statement on Form 10-12G/A filed with the SEC on April 9, 2021, pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, as updated by the description of our Common Stock contained in Exhibit 4.8 to the FY 2023 Form 10-K, and including any other amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus any further filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than portions of those made pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K or other information “furnished” and not filed with the SEC), including all filings filed after the date hereof and prior to the completion of an offering of securities under this prospectus.
Our filings with the SEC, including Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, are available free of charge on our website at www.serverobotics.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our social media channels and our website and the information contained on that site, or connected to that site, are not incorporated into and are not a part of this prospectus. Copies of all documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents unless such exhibits are specially incorporated by reference in this prospectus, will be provided at no cost to each person, including any beneficial owner, who receives a copy of this prospectus on the written or oral request of that person made to:
Serve Robotics Inc.
730 Broadway
Redwood City, California 94063
Attn: Brian Read, Chief Financial Officer
(818) 860-1352
S-iv
This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus supplement. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding to invest in our Common Stock. For a more complete understanding of our company and this offering, you should read and consider carefully the more detailed information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” on page S-4 of this prospectus supplement and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the “Annual Report”), filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024, and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on November 7, 2024 (the “Quarterly Report”), each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
All references to “Serve” refer to Serve Operating Co. (formerly known as Serve Robotics Inc.), a Delaware corporation and our direct, wholly-owned subsidiary. Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise indicates, references to the “Company,” “we,” “our,” “us” or similar terms refer to Serve Robotics Inc. (formerly named Patricia Acquisition Corp.) together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Serve. Serve holds all material assets and conducts all business activities and operations of Serve Robotics Inc.
Overview
We are on a mission to deliver a sustainable future by transforming how goods move among people.
We have developed an advanced, AI-powered robotics mobility platform, with last-mile delivery in cities as its first application. According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics in 2017, 45% of car trips in the United States are taken for shopping and errands, and in 2019, FedEx stated that over 60% of merchants’ customers live within three miles of a store location. By eliminating unnecessary car traffic, and by reducing the cost of last-mile transportation, we aim to reshape cities into sustainable, safe and people-friendly environments, with thriving local economies.
Our first product is a low-emissions robot that serves people in public spaces, starting with last-mile food delivery. In 2017, our core technology development began with our co-founders and a growing product and engineering team. In 2020, the team launched a fleet of sidewalk delivery robots (hereafter simply referred to as “delivery robots”) in Los Angeles performing contactless deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. By the end of that year, our robots had successfully completed over 10,000 commercial deliveries for Postmates Inc. (collectively with its affiliated entities, “Postmates”) in California, augmenting Postmates’ fleet of human couriers.
Postmates was acquired by Uber Technologies, Inc. (“Uber”) in 2020, and in February of 2021, Uber’s leadership team agreed to contribute the intellectual property developed by the team and assets relating to this project to Serve. In return for this contribution and an investment of cash into the Company, Uber acquired a minority equity interest in the business. By the end of the first quarter of 2021, the majority of the team that had worked on this project at Postmates joined us as full-time employees.
After spinning off from Uber in 2021, we established a commercial partnership with Uber, with deliveries starting in January 2022 on a small scale. In May 2022, Uber announced a pilot program with us, and by June, it executed a commercial-scale agreement with us to deploy up to 2,000 of our robots across the United States.
Our current fleet consists of over 100 robots, and we plan to expand our fleet by building and deploying hundreds of new robots in the coming years after raising additional capital. We have platform-level integrations with the Uber Eats division of Uber and 7-Eleven, Inc. Our strategic investors include NVIDIA, Uber, 7-Ventures and Delivery Hero’s corporate venture units, alongside other world-class investors.
S-1
Because we started within a food delivery company, our team comes with a depth of expertise in food delivery. Additionally, our engineering team has extensive experience in AI, automation and robotics. Our leadership team includes veterans from Uber, Postmates, Waymo, Apple Inc., Blue Origin, LLC, GoPro, Inc., GoDaddy Inc. and Anki, Inc. We believe our expertise positions us to service the ever-growing on-demand delivery market, including food delivery.
Based on our proprietary historical delivery data, approximately half of all food delivery distances in the United States are less than 2.5 miles, making these deliveries well-suited to delivery by sidewalk robots. We provide a robotic delivery experience that can delight customers, improve reliability for merchants and reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions. Moreover, at scale with full utilization and high autonomy, we believe our robots have the potential to reduce average delivery cost to under $1.00, lower than delivery cost by human couriers today, making on-demand delivery more affordable and accessible in the areas in which we operate. In fact, according to a 2024 ARK Invest report, by using automation to reduce delivery costs, the potential market for food and parcel delivery by robots and drones may grow to as much as $450 billion globally in 2030.
Additional details of our programs are contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Corporate Information
We were incorporated in the State of Delaware as Patricia Acquisition Corp. on November 9, 2020. On July 31, 2023, a wholly owned merger sub merged with and into Serve (the “Merger”). Following the Merger, Serve was the surviving entity and became our wholly-owned subsidiary, and all of the outstanding stock of Serve was converted into shares of our Common Stock. The business of Serve became our business as a result of the Merger. Following the consummation of the Merger, Serve changed its name to “Serve Operating Co.” and we changed our name to “Serve Robotics Inc.”
Prior to the Merger, Patricia Acquisition Corp. was a “shell” company registered under the Exchange Act, with no specific business plan or purpose until it began operating the business of Serve following the closing of the Merger.
Our principal executive offices are located at 730 Broadway, Redwood City, California 94063. Our telephone number is (818) 860-1352. Our website address is www.serverobotics.com. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus.
S-2
Common Stock Offered by Us | Common Stock having an aggregate gross sales price of $100,000,000. | |
Manner of offering | Sales of shares of our Common Stock under this prospectus supplement may be made by any method deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. Subject to the terms of the Distribution Agreement, the Agent will make all sales using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations and the rules of Nasdaq, on mutually agreeable terms between the Agent and us. See “Plan of Distribution.” | |
Shares of Common Stock Outstanding Prior to this Offering | 44,298,197 shares of Common Stock (as of November 5, 2024). | |
Shares of Common Stock Outstanding After this Offering | 54,491,877 shares of our Common Stock, assuming the sale of 10,193,680 shares of our Common Stock in this offering at an offering price of $9.81 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on Nasdaq on November 5, 2024. The actual number of shares of our Common Stock issued will vary depending on the sale price under this offering. | |
Use of Proceeds | We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of shares of our Common Stock for working capital and other general corporate purposes. Our management will retain broad discretion over the allocation of the net proceeds from the sale of the shares of our Common Stock offered by this prospectus supplement. See “Use of Proceeds.” | |
Risk Factors | See the section titled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and in the documents incorporated herein by reference for a discussion of certain factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in shares of our Common Stock. | |
Nasdaq symbol | Our Common Stock is currently traded on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SERV.” |
The number of shares of our Common Stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 44,298,197 shares of our Common Stock outstanding as of November 5, 2024, and excludes:
● | 1,521,585 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of September 30, 2024, at a weighted average exercise price of $0.84 per share under our 2021 Stock Plan and 2023 Equity Incentive Plan; |
● | 4,814,060 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units outstanding as of September 30, 2024 under our 2021 Stock Plan and 2023 Equity Incentive Plan; |
● | 5,547,024 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding as of September 30, 2024 at a weighted average exercise price of $5.41 per share. |
Except as otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus supplement assumes no exercise of the outstanding securities described above.
S-3
Investing in our securities involves risks. Before you make a decision to buy our securities, in addition to the risks and uncertainties discussed above under “Forward-Looking Statements,” you should carefully consider the specific risks incorporated by reference in this prospectus to our Annual Report and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in any applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus before acquiring any such securities. If any of these risks actually occur, it may materially harm our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. As a result, the market price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additionally, the risks and uncertainties incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement are not the only risks and uncertainties that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may become material and adversely affect our business.
Risks Relating to this Offering and our Common Stock
Our share price may be volatile, and you may be unable to sell your shares at or above the offering price.
The market price of our Common Stock is likely to be volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to many risk factors listed in this section, and others beyond our control, including:
● | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our financial condition and operating results, including fluctuations in our quarterly and annual results; |
● | our ability to maintain the listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq; |
● | our ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Merger, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and our ability to grow and manage growth profitably; |
● | our ability to enter into binding contracts with original equipment manufacturers or tier-one suppliers in order to execute on our business plan; |
● | our expansion plans and opportunities; |
● | our expectations regarding future expenditures; |
● | announcements of technological innovations by us or our competitors; |
S-4
● | overall conditions in our industry and the markets in which we operate; |
● | addition or loss of significant customers, or other developments with respect to significant customers; |
● | changes in laws or regulations applicable to our services; |
● | actual or anticipated changes in our growth rate relative to our competitors; |
● | announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments; |
● | additions or departures of key personnel; |
● | competition from existing products or new products that may emerge; |
● | issuance of new or updated research or reports by securities analysts; |
● | fluctuations in the valuation of companies perceived by investors to be comparable to us; |
● | disputes or other developments related to proprietary rights, including patents, litigation matters, and our ability to obtain intellectual property protection for our technologies; |
● | announcement or expectation of additional financing efforts; |
● | sales of our Common Stock by us or our stockholders; |
● | share price and volume fluctuations attributable to inconsistent trading volume levels of our shares; |
● | dilution resulting from this offering and future sales of equity; |
● | our ability to obtain sufficient funding or access capital; and |
● | general domestic and international economic and market conditions. |
Furthermore, the stock markets have experienced price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities of many companies. These fluctuations often have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations, as well as general economic, political and market conditions such as recessions, interest rate changes or international currency fluctuations, may negatively impact the market price of our Common Stock. If the market price of our Common Stock after this offering does not exceed the public offering price, you may not realize any return on your investment in us and may lose some or all of your investment. In the past, companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have been subject to securities class action litigation. We may be the target of this type of litigation in the future. Securities litigation against us could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention from other business concerns, which could seriously harm our business.
S-5
We will have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.
Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering, including for any of the purposes described in the section titled “Use of Proceeds,” as well as our existing cash and cash equivalents, and you will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding such application. Accordingly, you will have to rely upon the judgment of our management with respect to the use of the proceeds, with only limited information concerning management’s specific intentions. You will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the net proceeds are being used appropriately. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of the net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. Our management might not apply the net proceeds or our existing cash in ways that ultimately increase the value of your investment. If we do not invest or apply the net proceeds from this offering or our existing cash and cash equivalents in ways that enhance stockholder value, we may fail to achieve expected business and financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities. These investments may not yield a favorable return to our stockholders.
Sale of our Common Stock by existing stockholders, or the perception that these sales may occur, especially by our directors, executive officers or significant stockholders, may cause our stock price to decline.
If our existing stockholders, in particular our directors, executive officers or other affiliates, sell substantial amounts of our Common Stock in the public market, or are perceived by the public market as intending to sell, the trading price of our Common Stock could decline. In addition, sales of these shares of Common Stock could impair our ability to raise capital, should we wish to do so. We cannot predict the timing or amount of future sales of our Common Stock by existing stockholders, but such sales, or the perception that such sales could occur, may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Common Stock.
Purchasers in this offering will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of their investment.
The price per share of our Common Stock being offered may be higher than the net tangible book value per share of our outstanding Common Stock prior to this offering. Assuming that an aggregate of 10,193,680 shares of our Common Stock are sold at a price of $9.81 per share, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on Nasdaq on November 5, 2024, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $100,000,000, new investors in this offering would incur immediate dilution of $6.92 per share. For a more detailed discussion of the foregoing, see the section entitled “Dilution” below. To the extent outstanding stock options or warrants are exercised, there will be further dilution to new investors. In addition, to the extent we need to raise additional capital in the future and we issue shares of Common Stock or securities convertible or exchangeable for our Common Stock, our then existing stockholders may experience dilution and the new securities may have rights senior to those of our Common Stock offered in this offering.
Future sales of equity could result in dilution to our existing stockholders.
In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our Common Stock at prices that may not be the same as the price per share in this offering. We may sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is less than the price per share paid by any investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our Common Stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock, in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share paid by any investors in this offering.
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It is not possible to predict the number of shares that will be issued or the aggregate proceeds resulting from sales made under the Distribution Agreement.
Subject to certain limitations in the Distribution Agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a placement notice to the Agent at any time throughout the term of the Distribution Agreement. The number of shares that are sold through the Agent after delivering a placement notice will fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the market price of our Common Stock during the sales period, any limits we may set with the Agent in any applicable placement notice, and the demand for our Common Stock. Because the price per share of each share sold pursuant to the Distribution Agreement will fluctuate over time, it is not currently possible to predict the number of shares that will be sold or the aggregate proceeds to be raised in connection with sales under the Distribution Agreement.
The Common Stock offered hereby will be sold in “at the market offerings,” and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.
Investors who purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and accordingly may experience different levels of dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and number of shares sold in this offering. In addition, subject to the final determination by our Board of Directors or any restrictions we may place in any applicable placement notice delivered to the Agent, there is no minimum or maximum sales price for shares to be sold in this offering. Investors may experience a decline in the value of the shares they purchase in this offering as a result of sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.
Our current business plans require a significant amount of capital. If we are unable to obtain sufficient funding or do not have access to capital, we may not be able to execute our business plans and our prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
In addition to the net proceeds received under the Distribution Agreement, we expect to continue to seek other sources of funding, including by offering additional equity and/or equity-linked securities through one or more credit facilities and potentially by offering debt securities to finance a portion of our future expenditures. We have experienced operating losses, and we expect to continue to incur operating losses as we implement our business plans. We expect our capital expenditures to continue to be significant in the foreseeable future as we expand our business. We expect to expend capital with significant outlays directed both toward bringing our current vehicle programs to market as well as developing additional vehicles, along with related products and service offerings. The fact that we have a limited operating history means we have limited historical data on the demand for our services. As a result, our capital requirements are uncertain and actual capital requirements may be different from those we currently anticipate. In addition, new opportunities for growth in future services and markets may arise and may require additional capital.
The sale of additional equity or equity-linked securities could dilute our stockholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased debt service obligations and could result in operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations or our ability to pay dividends to our stockholders. Our ability to obtain the necessary additional financing to carry out our business plans is subject to a number of factors, including general market conditions and investor acceptance of our business model. These factors may make the timing, amount, terms and conditions of such financing unattractive or unavailable to us. If we are unable to raise sufficient funds on favorable terms, we may have to significantly reduce our spending, delay or cancel our planned activities or substantially change our corporate structure. We might not be able to obtain any such funding or we might not have sufficient resources to conduct our business as projected, both of which could mean that we would be forced to curtail or discontinue our operations and our prospects, financial consolidated results of operations could be materially adversely affected, in which case our investors could lose some or all of their investment.
S-7
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This prospectus supplement and any accompanying prospectus supplement, or some of the information incorporated herein by reference, contain certain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding future financial performance, business strategies, expansion plans, future results of operations, estimated revenues, losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management. These forward-looking statements are based on our management’s current expectations, estimates, projections and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events, and are not guarantees of performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “project” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement and in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus may include, for example, statements about:
● | our ability to protect and enforce our intellectual property and the scope and duration of such protection; |
● | our reliance on third parties, including suppliers, delivery platforms, brand sponsors, software providers and service providers; |
● | our ability to operate in public spaces and any errors caused by human supervisors, network connectivity or automation; |
● | our robots’ reliance on sophisticated software technology that incorporates third-party components and networks to operate and our ability to maintain licenses for this software technology; |
● | our ability to commercialize our products at a large scale; |
● | the competitive industry in which we operate which is subject to rapid technological change; |
● | our ability to raise additional capital to develop our technology and scale our operations; |
● | developments and projections relating to our competitors and our industry; |
● | our ability to adequately control the costs associated with our operations; |
● | the impact of current and future laws and regulations, especially those related to personal delivery devices; |
● | potential cybersecurity risks to our operational systems, infrastructure and integrated software by us or third-party vendors; |
● | our ability to continue as a going concern; and |
● | other factors incorporated by reference herein, including those risk factors described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” under Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report filed with the SEC on February 29, 2023, as supplemented by Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. |
The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and in any document incorporated by reference are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on our business. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting our business will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and in our periodic filings with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all such risk factors, nor can we assess the effect of all such risk factors on our business or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, forward-looking statements in this prospectus and in any document incorporated herein by reference should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
S-8
We may issue and sell shares of our Common Stock having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $100,000,000 from time to time. Because there is no minimum offering price for the shares that we may offer from time to time, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. There can be no assurance that we will sell any shares under or fully utilize the Distribution Agreement with the Agents as a source of financing.
Our management will have broad discretion over the uses of the net proceeds in this offering. We intend to use the net proceeds that we receive from this offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
We will retain broad discretion
over the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the securities by us. The net proceeds may be invested temporarily until they are used
for their stated purpose or for general corporate purposes.
S-9
If you purchase shares of our Common Stock in this offering, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share of our Common Stock and the unaudited net tangible book value per share of our Common Stock after this offering. As of September 30, 2024, our unaudited net tangible book value was $56.2 million, or $1.31 per share of Common Stock. We calculate net tangible book value per share by dividing our net tangible assets (total tangible assets less total liabilities) by the number of shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding.
After giving effect to the sale by us of our Common Stock in the aggregate amount of $100,000,000 in this offering at an assumed offering price of $9.81 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on Nasdaq on November 5, 2024, and after deducting estimated offering expenses payable by us, our unaudited pro forma adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2024 would have been approximately $153.1 million, or $2.89 per share of Common Stock. This represents an immediate increase in as adjusted unaudited pro forma net tangible book value of $1.58 per share to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $6.92 per share to new investors purchasing securities in this offering.
The following table illustrates the dilution:
Assumed public offering price per share of our Common Stock | $ | 9.81 | ||||||
Unaudited net tangible book value per share of our Common Stock as of September 30, 2024 | $ | 1.31 | ||||||
Increase per share of our Common Stock attributable to new investors in this offering | $ | 1.58 | ||||||
As adjusted unaudited pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Common Stock as of September 30, 2024, after giving effect to this offering | $ | 2.89 | ||||||
Dilution in unaudited pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Common Stock to new investors purchasing our Common Stock in this offering | $ | 6.92 |
The table above assumes, for illustrative purposes, that an aggregate of 10,193,680 shares of our Common Stock are sold at a price of $9.81, which was the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on Nasdaq on November 5, 2024, per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $100,000,000. An increase of $1 per share in the price at which the shares of our Common Stock are sold from the assumed offering price of $10.81 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of the shares of our Common Stock in the aggregate amount of $100,000,000 are sold at that price, would increase our as unaudited adjusted pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Common Stock after the offering of $2.94 per share and would result in dilution in net tangible book value per share of our Common Stock to new investors to $7.87 per share, after deducting estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us. A decrease of $1 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $8.81 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of the shares of our Common Stock in the aggregate amount of $100,000,000 are sold at that price, would increase our as unaudited adjusted pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Common Stock after the offering of $2.82 per share and would result in dilution in net tangible book value per share of our Common Stock to new investors of $5.99 per share, after deducting estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us. This information is supplied for illustrative purposes only and may differ based on the actual offering price and the actual number of shares of our Common Stock sold in this offering.
The number of shares of our Common Stock expected to be outstanding immediately after this offering included in the table above is based on 42,844,956 shares of our Common Stock, reflective of the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding as of September 30, 2024, and does not reflect issuances subsequent to September 30, 2024. As of November 5, 2024, there were 44,298,197 shares of our Common Stock outstanding, and, assuming the sale of 10,193,680 shares of our Common Stock in this offering at an offering price of $9.81 per share, there will be approximately 54,491,877 shares of our Common Stock outstanding. The actual number of shares of our Common Stock issued will vary depending on the sale price under this offering.
To the extent that other shares of our Common Stock are issued, investors purchasing shares of our Common Stock in this offering could experience further dilution. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations, even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans.
S-10
We have not paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock to date. We may retain future earnings, if any, for future operations, expansion and debt repayment and have no current plans to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of the Board and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors that the Board may deem relevant. In addition, our ability to pay dividends may be limited by covenants of any existing and future outstanding indebtedness we or our subsidiaries incur. We do not anticipate declaring any cash dividends to holders of the Common Stock in the foreseeable future.
S-11
We have entered into a Distribution Agreement with the Agents on November 7, 2024, under which we may offer and sell up to $100,000,000 of our shares of Common Stock from time to time through the Agents. Sales of our shares of Common Stock, if any, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus will be made by any method that is deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act.
Each time we wish to issue and sell our shares of Common Stock under the Distribution Agreement, we will notify the Agents of the number of shares to be issued, the dates on which such sales are anticipated to be made, any limitation on the number of shares to be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made. Once we have so instructed the Agents, unless the Agents decline to accept the terms of such notice, the Agents have agreed to use their commercially reasonable efforts consistent with normal trading and sales practices to sell such shares up to the amount specified on such terms. The obligations of the Agents under the Distribution Agreement to sell our shares of Common Stock are subject to a number of conditions that we must meet.
The settlement of sales of shares between us and the Agents is generally anticipated to occur on the first trading day following the date on which the sale was made. Sales of our shares of Common Stock as contemplated in this prospectus supplement will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and Northland may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
We will pay the Agents a commission equal to 3% of the gross offering proceeds of the shares of Common Stock sold pursuant to the Distribution Agreement. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. In addition, we have agreed in the Distribution Agreement to reimburse the Agents for the fees and disbursements of its counsel incurred in connection with the offering contemplated by the Distribution Agreement, including any review and qualification by FINRA, in an amount not to exceed $75,000 through the fourth business day following execution of the Distribution Agreement, in addition to an amount up to $10,000 for each quarterly period thereafter. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding any commissions or expense reimbursement payable to the Agents under the terms of the Sale Agreement, will be approximately $95,000. The remaining sale proceeds, after deducting any other transaction fees, will equal our net proceeds from the sale of such shares.
The Agents will provide written confirmation to us following the close of trading on Nasdaq each day in which shares of our Common Stock are sold under the Distribution Agreement setting forth (i) the amount sold on such day, (ii) the price or prices at which such shares were sold on such day, (iii) the gross offering proceeds received from such sale, (iv) the net proceeds to the Company and (v) the commission payable by the Company to the Agents with respect to such sales.
In connection with the sale of our shares of Common Stock on our behalf, the Agents will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of the Agents will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to indemnify the Agents against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We have also agreed to contribute to payments the Agents may be required to make in respect of such liabilities.
The offering of our shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Distribution Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all shares of Common Stock subject to the Distribution Agreement and (ii) the termination of the Distribution Agreement as permitted therein. We and the Agents may each terminate the Distribution Agreement at any time.
This summary of the material provisions of the Distribution Agreement does not purport to be a complete statement of its terms and conditions. A copy of the Distribution Agreement will be filed as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K filed under the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
The Agents and their affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking, commercial banking, financial advisory and other financial services for us and our affiliates, for which services they may in the future receive customary fees. In the course of their business, the Agents may actively trade our securities for its own account or for the accounts of customers, and, accordingly, the Agents may at any time hold long or short positions in such securities.
A prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in electronic format may be made available on a website maintained by the Agents, and the Agents may distribute the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus electronically.
Northland Capital Markets is the trade name for certain capital markets and investment banking divisions of Northland Securities, Inc., Member FINRA and SIPC.
S-12
The validity of the shares of Common Stock offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for the Company by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Boston, Massachusetts. Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP is acting as counsel for the Agents in connection with this offering.
S-13
dbbmckennnon, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as set forth in their report (which contains an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern, as described in Note 2 to the financial statements), which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and elsewhere in the prospectus. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on dbbmckennon’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
S-14
PROSPECTUS
$200,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Rights
Units
From time to time, we may offer and sell, in one or more offerings, in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of any such offering, common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or rights, either individually or in units, with a total value of up to $200,000,000.
This base prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities. Each time securities are sold, the specific terms and amounts of the securities being offered, and any other information relating to the specific offering will be set forth in a supplement to this base prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also supplement, update or amend information contained in this base prospectus. You should read this base prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as any documents incorporated by reference, before you invest in any of the securities being offered.
THIS BASE PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO OFFER AND SELL SECURITIES UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
Our common stock trades on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SERV.” On September 26, 2024, the last reported sale price of the common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market was $7.69 per share.
We may offer the securities from time to time in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of offering. We may offer and sell the securities directly to you, through agents we select or through underwriters and dealers we select on a continuous or delayed basis. The accompanying prospectus supplement will provide the specific terms of the plan of distribution. If we use agents, underwriters or dealers to sell the securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in the prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in the prospectus supplement.
We are an “emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” under federal securities laws and, as such, are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. See “Prospectus Summary—Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Smaller Reporting Company.”
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully read and consider the risk factors described in this base prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this base prospectus. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this base prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this base prospectus is October 3, 2024.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
We are responsible for the information contained and incorporated by reference in this base prospectus, in any accompanying prospectus supplement, and in any related free writing prospectus we prepare or authorize. We have not authorized anyone to give you any other information, and we take no responsibility for any other information that others may give you. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this documentation are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this document does not extend to you. The information contained in this document speaks only as of the date of this document, unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies. Neither the delivery of this base prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, nor any sale of securities made under these documents, will, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this base prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus we may provide you in connection with an offering or that the information contained or incorporated by reference is correct as of any time subsequent to the date of such information. You should assume that the information in this base prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as the information incorporated by reference in this base prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, is accurate only as of the date of the documents containing the information, unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
i
This base prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, issue and sell to the public any part of the securities described in this base prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $200,000,000.
This base prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell a type or series of securities under this base prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings and securities. The prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information in this base prospectus or in documents incorporated by reference in this base prospectus. To the extent that any statement that we make in a prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements made in this base prospectus or in documents incorporated by reference in this base prospectus, the statements made or incorporated by reference in this base prospectus will be deemed modified or superseded by those made in the prospectus supplement. We urge you to carefully read this base prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” before buying any of the securities being offered.
The registration statement containing this base prospectus, including exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this base prospectus. The registration statement can be read at the SEC’s website under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
This base prospectus incorporates by reference, and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may contain and incorporate by reference, market data and industry statistics and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the market and industry data and forecasts that may be included or incorporated by reference in this base prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptions and other risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this base prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this base prospectus. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.
We own various U.S. federal trademark registrations and applications and unregistered trademarks, including our corporate logo. This base prospectus and the information incorporated herein by reference contains references to trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or other companies. Solely for convenience, trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this base prospectus and the information incorporated herein, including logos, artwork, and other visual displays, may appear without the ® or ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensor to these trademarks, service marks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, service marks or trademarks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies. All trademarks, service marks and trade names included or incorporated by reference into this base prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus are the property of their respective owners.
ii
This summary description about us and our business highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this base prospectus or incorporated in this base prospectus by reference. This summary does not contain all of the information that may be important to you and your investment decision. Therefore, before making your investment decision, you should carefully read this base prospectus, including any applicable prospectus supplements and any applicable free writing prospectus, together with the additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.” All references to “Serve” refer to Serve Operating Co. (formerly known as Serve Robotics Inc.), a privately held Delaware corporation and our direct, wholly-owned subsidiary. Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise indicates, references to the “Company,” “we,” “our,” “us” or similar terms refer to Serve Robotics Inc. (formerly named Patricia Acquisition Corp.) together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Serve. Serve holds all material assets and conducts all business activities and operations of Serve Robotics Inc.
About Serve Robotics Inc.
We are on a mission to deliver a sustainable future by transforming how goods move among people.
We have developed an advanced, AI-powered robotics mobility platform, with last-mile delivery in cities as its first application. According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics in 2017, 45% of car trips in the United States are taken for shopping and errands, and in 2019, FedEx stated that over 60% of merchants’ customers live within three miles of a store location. By eliminating unnecessary car traffic, and by reducing the cost of last-mile transportation, we aim to reshape cities into sustainable, safe and people-friendly environments, with thriving local economies.
Our first product is a low-emissions robot that serves people in public spaces, starting with last-mile food delivery. In 2017, our core technology development began with our co-founders and a growing product and engineering team. In 2020, the team launched a fleet of sidewalk delivery robots (hereafter simply referred to as “delivery robots”) in Los Angeles performing contactless deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. By the end of that year, our robots had successfully completed over 10,000 commercial deliveries for Postmates Inc. (collectively with its affiliated entities, “Postmates”) in California, augmenting Postmates’ fleet of human couriers.
Postmates was acquired by Uber Technologies, Inc. (“Uber”) in 2020, and in February of 2021, Uber’s leadership team agreed to contribute the intellectual property developed by the team and assets relating to this project to Serve. In return for this contribution and an investment of cash into the Company, Uber acquired a minority equity interest in the business. By the end of the first quarter of 2021, the majority of the team that had worked on this project at Postmates joined us as full-time employees.
After spinning off from Uber in 2021, we established a commercial partnership with Uber, with deliveries starting in January 2022 on a small scale. In May 2022, Uber announced a pilot program with us, and by June, it executed a commercial-scale agreement with us to deploy up to 2,000 of our robots across the United States.
Our current fleet consists of over 100 robots, and we plan to expand our fleet by building and deploying hundreds of new robots in the coming years after raising additional capital. We have platform-level integrations with the Uber Eats division of Uber and 7-Eleven, Inc. Our strategic investors include NVIDIA, Uber, 7-Ventures and Delivery Hero’s corporate venture units, alongside other world-class investors.
Because we started within a food delivery company, our team comes with a depth of expertise in food delivery. Additionally, our engineering team has extensive experience in AI, automation and robotics. Our leadership team includes veterans from Uber, Postmates, Waymo, Apple Inc., Blue Origin, LLC, GoPro, Inc., GoDaddy Inc. and Anki, Inc. We believe our expertise positions us to service the ever-growing on-demand delivery market, including food delivery.
Based on our proprietary historical delivery data, approximately half of all food delivery distances in the United States are less than 2.5 miles, making these deliveries well-suited to delivery by sidewalk robots. We provide a robotic delivery experience that can delight customers, improve reliability for merchants and reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions. Moreover, at scale with full utilization and high autonomy, we believe our robots have the potential to reduce average delivery cost to under $1.00, lower than delivery cost by human couriers today, making on-demand delivery more affordable and accessible in the areas in which we operate. In fact, according to a 2024 ARK Invest report, by using automation to reduce delivery costs, the potential market for food and parcel delivery by robots and drones may grow to as much as $450 billion globally in 2030.
1
Additional details of our programs are contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Corporate Information
We were incorporated in the State of Delaware as Patricia Acquisition Corp. on November 9, 2020. On July 31, 2023, Serve Acquisition Corp. merged with and into Serve (the “Merger”). Following the Merger, Serve was the surviving entity and became our wholly-owned subsidiary, and all of the outstanding stock of Serve was converted into shares of our common stock. The business of Serve became our business as a result of the Merger. Following the consummation of the Merger, Serve changed its name to “Serve Operating Co.” and we changed our name to “Serve Robotics Inc.”
Prior to the Merger, Patricia Acquisition Corp. was a “shell” company registered under the Securities Exchange Act, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), with no specific business plan or purpose until it began operating the business of Serve following the closing of the Merger.
Our principal executive offices are located at 730 Broadway, Redwood City, California 94063. Our telephone number is (818) 860-1352. Our website address is http://www.serverobotics.com. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus.
Securities We May Offer
We may offer shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or rights, either individually or in units, with a total value of up to $200,000,000 from time to time under this base prospectus at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of the offering. Our common stock currently is quoted on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SERV.” Shares of common stock that may be offered in this offering will, when issued and paid for, be fully paid and non-assessable.
We refer to our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights and units in this base prospectus as “securities.” This base prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities, as described below under “Plan of Distribution.”
Use of Proceeds
We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds to us from the sale of our securities under this base prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated in one or more prospectus supplements to this base prospectus, we anticipate the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this base prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, and from the exercise price from the exercise of any convertible securities, if any, will be used for general corporate purposes; however, we do not currently have any specific uses of the net proceeds planned.
2
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Smaller Reporting Company
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended (the “JOBS Act”). An “emerging growth company” may take advantage of reduced reporting requirements that are otherwise applicable to public companies. These provisions include, but are not limited to:
● | being permitted to present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” disclosure in our periodic reports and registration statements; |
● | not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as amended (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting; |
● | reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation arrangements in our periodic reports, proxy statements and registration statements; and |
● | exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. |
We may use these provisions until December 31, 2028, which is the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the first sale of our common stock pursuant to an effective registration statement in 2023. However, if certain events occur prior to the end of such five-year period, including if we become a “large accelerated filer,” our annual gross revenues exceed $1.235 billion or we issue more than $1.00 billion of non-convertible debt in any three-year period, we will cease to be an emerging growth company prior to the end of such five-year period.
We have elected to take advantage of certain of the reduced disclosure obligations in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and may elect to take advantage of other reduced reporting requirements in future filings. As a result, the information that we provide to our stockholders may be different than you might receive from other public reporting companies in which you hold equity interests.
The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards, until those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period and, therefore, we will not be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. Our financial statements may therefore not be comparable to those of companies that comply with such new or revised accounting standards. Until the date that we are no longer an emerging growth company or affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the exemption provided by Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) upon issuance of a new or revised accounting standard that applies to our financial statements and that has a different effective date for public and private companies, we will disclose the date on which we will adopt the recently issued accounting standard.
We are also a “smaller reporting company,” meaning that the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700 million and our annual revenue is less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company if either (i) the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250 million or (ii) our annual revenue is less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700 million. If we are a smaller reporting company at the time we cease to be an emerging growth company, we may continue to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are available to smaller reporting companies. Specifically, as a smaller reporting company we may choose to present only the two most recent fiscal years of audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and, similar to emerging growth companies, smaller reporting companies have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation.
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Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before you invest in our securities, in addition to the other information, documents or reports incorporated by reference in this base prospectus and any prospectus supplement or other offering materials, you should carefully consider the risk factors in this section, the section entitled “Risk Factors” in any prospectus supplement as well as our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed subsequent to such Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are incorporated by reference into this base prospectus and any prospectus supplement in their entirety, as the same may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. Each of the risks described in these sections and documents could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
This base prospectus, each prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference in this base prospectus and each prospectus supplement contain certain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or incorporated in this base prospectus regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, projected timelines, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. We may, in some cases, use words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “should,” “could,” “potentially,” “possibility,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “project,” “expect” and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of such statements. Those statements appear in this base prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference, particularly in the sections entitled “Prospectus Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business,” and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the company and management that are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions.
This base prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference in this base prospectus and any prospectus supplement also contain statements that are based on the current expectations of the company and management. You are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.
Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the SEC, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein after we distribute this base prospectus, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise. You should also carefully consider other information set forth in reports or other documents that we file with the SEC.
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Unless otherwise indicated in one or more supplements to this base prospectus, we anticipate the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this base prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, and from the exercise price from the exercise of any convertible securities, if any, will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include research and development activities, capital expenditures, selling, general and administrative costs, facilities expansion, and to meet working capital needs. We expect from time to time to evaluate the acquisition of businesses, products and technologies for which a portion of the net proceeds may be used, although we currently are not planning or negotiating any such transactions. Pending such uses, we may invest the net proceeds in investment grade interest-bearing securities.
The amounts actually expended for each purpose may vary significantly depending upon numerous factors, including the amount and timing of the proceeds from this offering and progress with the commercial development of our products as well as our clinical development programs and product candidates. Expenditures will also depend upon the establishment of collaborative arrangements with other companies, the availability of additional financing and other factors. As a result, unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, our management will have broad discretion to allocate the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the securities offered by this base prospectus, and from the exercise price from the exercise of any convertible securities, if any, and investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the net proceeds. Investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of any sale of securities.
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The following description summarizes the most important terms of our capital stock. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all the information that may be important to you and the descriptions herein are qualified by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws. For a complete description, you should refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and to the applicable provisions of Delaware law.
We have authorized capital stock consisting of 300,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
As of September 25, 2024, we had 42,912,045 shares of common stock outstanding, and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. Unless stated otherwise, the following discussion summarizes the term and provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws.
Common Stock
Dividend Rights
Subject to applicable law and the rights and preferences, if any, of any holders of any outstanding series of preferred stock, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends if our board of directors, in its discretion, determines to issue dividends and then only at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may determine, payable either in cash, in property or in shares of capital stock.
Voting Rights
Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of common stock are not entitled to vote on any amendment to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of preferred stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of preferred stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote on such amendment pursuant to the amended and restated certificate (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of preferred stock). We have not provided for cumulative voting for the election of directors in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock will be able to elect all of our directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation establishes a classified board of directors, divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms. Only one class of directors will be elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms.
No Preemptive or Similar Rights
Our common stock is not entitled to preemptive rights and is not subject to conversion, redemption or sinking fund provisions.
Right to Receive Liquidation Distributions
Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up and after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to any holders of preferred stock having liquidation preferences, if any, the assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders would be distributable ratably among the holders of our common stock.
Transfer Agent and Registrar for Common Stock
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is VStock Transfer, LLC. The transfer agent’s address is 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, NY 11598, and its telephone number is (212) 828-8436.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series, and to fix the designation, vesting, powers (including voting powers), preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations or restrictions, in each case without further vote or action by our stockholders.
Our board of directors can also increase or decrease the number of shares of any series of preferred stock, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding or above the total number of authorized shares of the class, without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors may, without stockholder approval, authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or other rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock and could have anti-takeover effects. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control or the removal of existing management and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING OUR CAPITAL STOCK
Anti-Takeover Provisions
The provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and our amended and restated bylaws following the Merger could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another person from acquiring control of our Company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, or to remove incumbent officers and directors. These provisions, which are summarized below, are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and encourage persons seeking to acquire control of our Company to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging a proposal to acquire us because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms. However, these provisions may delay, deter or prevent a merger or acquisition of us that a stockholder might consider is in their best interest or in our best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium over the prevailing market price of our common stock.
Section 203 of the DGCL
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL regulating corporate takeovers. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that this stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner as summarized below. Under Section 203, a business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder is prohibited unless it satisfies one of the following conditions:
● | before the stockholder became interested, our board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; |
● | upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans in some instances, but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder; or |
● | at or after the time the stockholder became interested, the business combination was approved by our board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
● | any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; |
● | any sale, transfer, lease, pledge, or other disposition involving the interested stockholder of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation; |
● | subject to exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance of transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; |
● | subject to exceptions, any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; and |
● | the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation. |
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In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by the entity or person.
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaw Provisions
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws include a number of provisions that may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers, or delaying or preventing changes in control of our management team or changes in our board of directors or our governance or policy, including the following:
● | Board Vacancies. Our amended and restated bylaws and certificate of incorporation provide, subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors, that any vacancy on the board of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and not by the stockholders, unless (a) the board of directors determines by resolution that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by the stockholders or (b) as otherwise provided by law. Any director chosen to fill a vacancy will hold office until the expiration of the term of the class for which he or she was elected and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. In addition, the number of directors constituting the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships (the “Whole Board”) is permitted to be set only by a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board. These provisions prevent a stockholder from increasing the size of our board of directors and gaining control of our board of directors by filling the resulting vacancies with its own nominees. This makes it more difficult to change the composition of the board of directors, but promotes continuity of management. |
● | Classified Board. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that our board of directors is classified into three classes of directors. The existence of a classified board of directors could delay a successful tender offeror from obtaining majority control of our board of directors, and the prospect of that delay might deter a potential offeror. See the section titled “Classified Board of Directors” for additional information. |
● | Directors Removed Only for Cause. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provide that stockholders may remove directors only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. |
● | Supermajority Requirements for Amendments of Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation further provide that the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, will be required to amend certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, including provisions relating to the classified board, the size of the board of directors, removal of directors, special meetings, actions by written consent, and designation of our preferred stock. The affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, required to amend or repeal our amended and restated bylaws, although our amended and restated bylaws may be amended by the approval of a majority of the Whole Board. |
● | Securityholder Action; Special Meetings of Stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provide that our stockholders may not take action by written consent but may only take action at annual or special meetings of our stockholders. As a result, holders of our capital stock would not be able to amend our amended and restated bylaws or remove directors without holding a meeting of our stockholders called in accordance with our amended and restated bylaws. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by the chairperson of the board of directors, our chief executive officer or the board of directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, thus prohibiting a stockholder from calling a special meeting. These provisions might delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or for stockholders to take any action, including the removal of directors. |
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● | Advance Notice Requirements for Securityholder Proposals and Director Nominations. Our amended and restated bylaws provide advance notice procedures for stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders. Our amended and restated bylaws also specify certain requirements regarding the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions may preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of stockholders. We expect that these provisions might also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our Company. |
● | No Cumulative Voting. The DGCL provides that stockholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws do not provide for cumulative voting. |
● | Issuance of Undesignated Preferred Stock. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our board has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock with rights and preferences, including voting rights, designated from time to time by our board of directors. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock enables our board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. |
● | Choice of Forum. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum and to the fullest extent permitted by law, that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any state court located within the State of Delaware or, if and only if all such state courts lack subject matter jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) and any appellate court therefrom, will be the sole and exclusive forum for: (a) any derivative action, suit or proceeding brought on behalf of us; (b) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, employee, or agent of ours; (c) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim against us or any current or former director, officer or employee of ours arising out of or pursuant to, or seeking to enforce any right, obligation or remedy under, or to interpret, apply or determine the validity of, any provision of the DGCL, the amended and restated certificate of incorporation or the amended and restated bylaws (as each may be amended from time to time); (d) any action, suit or proceeding as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or (e) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim against us or any current or former director, officer or employee of ours governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in all cases subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. However, such forum selection provisions will not apply to actions, suits or proceedings brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts of the United States have exclusive jurisdiction. The amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. |
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Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all claims brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. As noted above, the amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the federal district courts of the United States will have exclusive jurisdiction over any action asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. Accordingly, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provision. Our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all claims brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. As noted above, the amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the choice of forum provision does not apply to suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act. Accordingly, actions by our stockholders to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder must be brought in federal court. Our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum selection provisions in the amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
The choice of forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and other employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provisions contained in the amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
The amended and restated bylaws provide that our directors and officers will be indemnified and advanced expenses by us to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by the DGCL as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, the amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors and officers will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors or officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it now exists or may in the future be amended.
The amended and restated bylaws also permit us to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or agent of ours for any liability arising out of his or her status as such, regardless of whether the DGCL would permit indemnification.
These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against our directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this base prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indenture, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.
We will issue the debt securities under one or more separate indentures that we will enter into with the trustee named in the indenture. The indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. We have filed a form of indenture under which debt securities may be issued from time to time as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this base prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this base prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.
The following summary of material provisions of the debt securities and the indenture is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this base prospectus, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities.
The debt securities will represent unsecured general obligations of the Company, unless otherwise provided in the applicable offering material.
General
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. The prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus with respect to any debt securities will set forth the following terms of the debt securities offered pursuant thereto as applicable:
● | the title and series of such debt securities; |
● | the principal amount being offered; |
● | the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding as of the most recent practicable date; |
● | any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of such debt securities of such series; |
● | whether such debt securities will be in global or other form; the date or dates and method or methods by which principal and any premium on such debt securities is payable; |
● | the interest rate or rates (or method by which such rate will be determined), if any; |
● | the dates on which any such interest will start accruing, become payable, record dates for interest payments and the method of payment; |
● | whether and under what circumstances any additional amounts are payable with respect to such debt securities; |
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● | the notice, if any, to holders of such debt securities regarding the determination of interest on a floating rate debt security; |
● | the basis upon which interest on such debt securities shall be calculated, if other than that of a 360 day year of twelve 30-day months; |
● | the place or places where the principal of and interest or additional amounts, if any, on such debt securities will be payable; |
● | any redemption or sinking fund provisions, or the terms of any repurchase at the option of the holder of the debt securities; the denominations of such debt securities, if other than $1,000 and integral multiples thereof; |
● | any rights of the holders of such debt securities to convert the debt securities into and/or exchange the debt securities for, other securities, cash or other property; |
● | the terms, if any, on which payment of principal or any premium, interest or additional amounts on such debt securities will be payable in a currency other than U.S. dollars; |
● | the terms, if any, by which the amount of payments of principal or any premium, interest or additional amounts on such debt securities may be determined by reference to an index, formula, financial or economic measure or other methods; |
● | if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or the method by which such portion is to be determined; |
● | any events of default or covenants in addition to or in lieu of those described herein and remedies therefor; |
● | whether such debt securities will be subject to defeasance or covenant defeasance; |
● | the terms, if any, upon which such debt securities are to be issuable upon the exercise of warrants, units or rights; |
● | name of any trustees and any authenticating or paying agents or registrars or depositaries or any other agents with respect to such debt securities; whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination; |
● | whether such debt securities will be guaranteed and the terms thereof; |
● | whether such debt securities will be secured by collateral and the terms of such security; and |
● | any other specific terms of such debt securities and any other deletions from or additions to or modifications of the indenture with respect to such debt securities. |
Debt securities may be presented for exchange, conversion or transfer in the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions set forth in the debt securities and the applicable offering material. Such services will be provided without charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith, but subject to the limitations provided in the indenture.
The indenture does not contain any covenant or other specific provision affording protection to holders of the debt securities in the event of a highly leveraged transaction or a change in control of the Company, except to the limited extent described below under “- Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets.”
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Modification and Waiver
The indenture provides that supplements to the indenture may be made by the Company and the trustee for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of debt securities of a series under the indenture or the debt securities of such series, with the consent of the holders of a majority (or such greater amount as is provided for a particular series of debt securities) in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities issued under such indenture that are affected by the supplemental indenture, voting as a single class; provided that no such supplemental indenture may, without the consent of the holder of each such debt security affected thereby, among other things:
(a) | change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any premium, interest or additional amounts on, such debt securities, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest or any additional amounts thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof or otherwise, or change the obligation to pay additional amounts pursuant to the indenture, or reduce the amount of the principal of debt securities issued with original issue discount that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity thereof or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy, or change the redemption provisions or adversely affect the right of repayment at the option of the holder, or change the place of payment or currency in which the principal of, or any premium, interest or additional amounts with respect to any debt security is payable, or impair the right of any holder of debt securities to institute suit for the payment after such payment is due (or, in the case of redemption, on or after such redemption date or, in the case of repayment at the option of the holder, on or after such payment is due); |
(b) | reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of the holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver provided for in the indenture, or reduce the requirements for quorum or voting; |
(c) | modify any of the provisions of the sections of such indenture relating to supplemental indentures with the consent of the holders, waivers of past or existing defaults or waivers of certain covenants, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of such indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of each holder affected thereby; or |
(d) | make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any security into or for common stock or other securities, cash or other property in accordance with the terms of the applicable debt security. |
The indenture provides that a supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the indenture that has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of debt securities, or that modifies the rights of the holders of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under the indenture of the holders of debt securities of any other series.
The indenture provides that the Company and the trustee may, without the consent of the holders of any series of debt securities issued thereunder, enter into additional supplemental indentures for one of the following purposes:
(a) | to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company in such indenture and in the debt securities issued thereunder; |
(b) | to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the holders of any series of debt securities issued thereunder or to surrender any right or power conferred on the Company pursuant to the indenture; |
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(c) | to establish the form and terms of debt securities issued thereunder; |
(d) | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of an appointment of a successor trustee under such indenture with respect to one or more series of debt securities issued thereunder and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts under such indenture by more than one trustee pursuant to the indenture; |
(e) | to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision in the indenture that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of the indenture or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under such indenture; provided that no such action pursuant to this clause (e) shall adversely affect the interests of the holders of any series of outstanding debt securities issued thereunder in any material respect; |
(f) | to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of securities under the indenture; |
(g) | to add any additional events of default with respect to all or any series of debt securities (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture); |
(h) | to supplement any of the provisions of the indenture as may be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities, provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of an outstanding debt security of such series or any other security in any material respect; |
(i) | to make provisions with respect to the conversion or exchange rights of holders of debt securities of any series; |
(j) | to add guarantees in respect of the debt securities of one or more series and to provide for the terms and conditions of release thereof; |
(k) | to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge to the trustee as security for the debt securities of any series any property or assets; |
(l) | to change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture, provided that any such change or elimination become effective only when there is no security of any series outstanding created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; |
(m) | to provide for certificated securities in addition to or in place of global securities; |
(n) | to qualify such indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; |
(o) | with respect to the debt securities of any series, to conform the text of the indenture or the debt securities of such series to any provision of the description thereof in the Company’s offering memorandum or prospectus relating to the initial offering of such debt securities, to the extent that such provision, in the good faith judgment of the Company, was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the indenture or such securities; or |
(p) | to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of holders of any series of debt securities issued thereunder in any material respect. |
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Events of Default
Unless otherwise provided in any applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, the following will be events of default under the indenture with respect to each series of debt securities issued thereunder:
(a) | default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or any additional amount in respect of, any series of debt securities; |
(b) | default in the payment of principal of or any premium on any series of the debt securities outstanding under the indenture when due and payable; |
(c) | default in the deposit, if any, of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of any debt security of such series, subject to any cure period that may be specified in any debt security of such series; |
(d) | failure by the Company for 60 days after receipt by written notice from the trustee upon instruction from holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the debt securities outstanding of such series to observe or perform any of the other covenants or agreements in the indenture and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” pursuant to the indenture; provided, that if such failure cannot be cured within such 60-day period, such period shall be automatically extended by another 60 days so long as (i) such failure is subject to cure and (ii) the Company is using commercially reasonable efforts to cure such failure; and provided, further, that a failure to comply with any such other agreement in the indenture that results from a change in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles shall not be deemed to be an event of default; |
(e) | certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar action of the Company; and |
(f) | any other event of default provided in the indenture with respect to a particular series of debt securities, provided that any such event of default that results from a change in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles shall not be deemed to be an event of default. |
In case an event of default specified in clause (a) or (b) above shall occur and be continuing with respect to any series of debt securities, holders of at least 25%, and in case an event of default specified in any clause other than clause (a), (b) or (e) above shall occur and be continuing with respect to any series of debt securities, holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding may declare the principal (or, in the case of discounted debt securities, the amount specified in the terms thereof) of such series to be due and payable. If an event of default described in (e) above shall occur and be continuing then the principal amount (or, in the case of discounted debt securities, the amount specified in the terms thereof) of all the debt securities outstanding shall be and become due and payable immediately, without notice or other action by any holder or the trustee, to the full extent permitted by law. Any past or existing default or event of default with respect to particular series of debt securities under such indenture may be waived by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, except in each case a continuing default (1) in the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, any debt security of such series, or (2) in respect of a covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each holder affected thereby.
The indenture provides that the Company must periodically furnish the trustee with a written statement as to the Company’s compliance with the covenants contained in the indenture and as to the absence of default under the indenture terms.
The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any default with respect to any series of debt securities (except in payment of principal of or interest or premium on, or sinking fund payment in respect of, the debt securities) if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors of the trustee and/or responsible officers of the trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the best interest of the holders of securities of such series.
The indenture contains a provision entitling the trustee to be indemnified by the holders before proceeding to exercise any trust or power under the indenture at the request of such holders. The indenture provides that the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series; provided, however, that the trustee may decline to follow any such direction if, among other reasons, the trustee determines in good faith that the actions or proceedings as directed may not lawfully be taken or would be unduly prejudicial to the holders of the debt securities of such series not joining in such direction. The right of a holder to institute a proceeding with respect to a series of debt securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent including, without limitation, that in case of an event of default specified in clause (a), (b) or (e) of the first paragraph above under “- Events of Default,” holders of at least 25%, or in case of an event of default other than specified in clause (a), (b) or (e) of the first paragraph above under “- Events of Default”, holders of at least a majority, in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding make a written request upon the trustee to exercise its powers under such indenture, indemnify the trustee and afford the trustee reasonable opportunity to act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder has an absolute right to receipt of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest when due on the debt securities, to require conversion of debt securities if such indenture provides for convertibility at the option of the holder and to institute suit for the enforcement thereof.
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Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
The indenture provides that the Company may not directly or indirectly consolidate with or merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets and properties and the assets and properties of its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to another person in one or more related transactions unless the successor person is a person organized under the laws of any domestic jurisdiction and assumes the Company’s obligations on the debt securities issued thereunder, and under the indenture, and after giving effect thereto no event of default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing, and that certain other conditions are met.
Certain Covenants
Payment of Principal, any Premium, Interest or Additional Amounts. The Company will duly and punctually pay the principal of, and premium and interest on or any additional amounts payable with respect to, any debt securities of any series in accordance with their terms.
Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will be required to maintain an office or agency in each place of payment for each series of debt securities for notice and demand purposes and for the purposes of presenting or surrendering debt securities for payment, registration of transfer, or exchange.
Reports. So long as any debt securities of a particular series are outstanding under the indenture, the Company will file with the trustee, within 30 days after the Company has filed the same with the SEC, unless such reports are available on the SEC’s EDGAR filing system (or any successor thereto), copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with the trustee and the SEC, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations.
Additional Covenants. Any additional covenants of the Company with respect to any series of debt securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus relating thereto.
Conversion Rights
The terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities are convertible into common stock or preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus relating thereto. Such terms will include the conversion price (or manner of calculation thereof), the conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion will be at the option of the holders or the Company, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion in the event of redemption of such debt securities and any restrictions on conversion.
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Redemption; Repurchase at the Option of the Holder; Sinking Fund
The terms and conditions, if any, upon which (a) the debt securities are redeemable at the option of the Company, (b) the holder of debt securities may cause the Company to repurchase such debt securities or (c) the debt securities are subject to any sinking fund will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus relating thereto.
Repurchases on the Open Market
The Company or any affiliate of the Company may at any time or from time to time repurchase any debt security in the open market or otherwise. Such debt securities may, at the option of the Company or the relevant affiliate of the Company, be held, resold or surrendered to the trustee for cancellation.
Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The indenture provides, with respect to each series of debt securities issued thereunder, that the Company may satisfy and discharge its obligations under such debt securities of a series and such indenture with respect to debt securities of such series if:
(a) | all debt securities of such series previously authenticated and delivered, with certain exceptions, have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or |
(b) |
i. | the debt securities of such series have become due and payable, or mature within one year, or all of them are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for giving the notice of redemption and the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the trustee, as trust funds solely for the benefit of the holders of such debt securities, for that purpose, money or governmental obligations or a combination thereof sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the trustee) to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the debt securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and pays all other sums payable by it under such indenture; and |
ii. | the Company delivers to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent provided for in such indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of such indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series have been complied with. |
Notwithstanding such satisfaction and discharge, the obligations of the Company to compensate and indemnify the trustee, to pay additional amounts, if any, in respect of debt securities in certain circumstances and to convert or exchange debt securities pursuant to the terms thereof and the obligations of the Company and the trustee to hold funds in trust and to apply such funds pursuant to the terms of the indenture, with respect to issuing temporary debt securities, with respect to the registration, transfer and exchange of debt securities, with respect to the replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities and with respect to the maintenance of an office or agency for payment, shall in each case survive such satisfaction and discharge.
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Unless inapplicable to debt securities of a series pursuant to the terms thereof, the indenture provides that (i) the Company will be deemed to have paid and will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities issued thereunder of any series, and the provisions of such indenture will, except as noted below, no longer be in effect with respect to the debt securities of such series (“defeasance”) and (ii) (1) the Company may omit to comply with the covenant under “- Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets” and any other additional covenants established pursuant to the terms of such series, and such omission shall be deemed not to be an event of default under clause (d) or (f) of the first paragraph of “- Events of Default” and (2) the occurrence of any event described in clause (f) of the first paragraph of “- Events of Default” shall not be deemed to be an event of default, in each case with respect to the outstanding debt securities of such series ((1) and (2) of this clause (ii), “covenant defeasance”); provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied with respect to such series:
(a) | the Company has irrevocably deposited in trust with the trustee as trust funds solely for the benefit of the holders of the debt securities of such series, for payment of the principal of and interest of the debt securities of such series, money or government obligations or a combination thereof sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the trustee) without consideration of any reinvestment to pay and discharge the principal of and accrued interest on the outstanding debt securities of such series to maturity or earlier redemption, as the case may be; |
(b) | such defeasance or covenant defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, such indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound; |
(c) | no event of default or event which with notice or lapse of time would become an event of default with respect to such debt securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit; |
(d) | the Company shall have delivered to such trustee an opinion of counsel as described in the indenture to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the Company’s exercise of its option under this provision of such indenture and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred; |
(e) | the Company has delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent provided for in such indenture relating to the defeasance contemplated have been complied with; |
(f) | if the debt securities are to be redeemed prior to their maturity, notice of such redemption shall have been duly given or in another manner satisfactory to the trustee; and |
(g) | any such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall comply with any additional or substitute terms provided for by the terms of such debt securities of such series. |
Notwithstanding a defeasance or covenant defeasance, the Company’s obligations with respect to the following in respect of debt securities of such series will survive with respect to such securities until otherwise terminated or discharged under the terms of the indenture or no debt securities of such series are outstanding:
(a) | the rights of holders of outstanding debt securities of such series to receive payments in respect of the principal of, interest on or premium or additional amounts, if any, payable in respect of, such debt securities when such payments are due from the trust referred in clause (a) in the preceding paragraph, and any rights of such holder to convert or exchange such debt securities into common stock or other securities, cash or other property; |
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(b) | the issuance of temporary debt securities, the registration, transfer and exchange of debt securities, the replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and holding payments in trust, and the Company’s obligations with respect to the payment of additional amounts, if any, on such securities, and with respect to any rights to convert or exchange such securities into common stock or other securities, cash or other property; |
(c) | the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee, and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith; and |
(d) | the defeasance or covenant defeasance provisions of the indenture. |
Information Concerning the Trustee
The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under the indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the indenture. Upon an event of default under the indenture, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision and certain other limitations, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.
Applicable Law
The indenture provides that the debt securities and the indenture will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.
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The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this base prospectus and the related warrant agreements and warrant certificates. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any warrants offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.
The following summary description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the form of warrant agreement and form of warrant certificate relating to each series of warrants that will be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this base prospectus or as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K if we offer warrants.
General
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants, including:
● | the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered; |
● | the currency for which the warrants may be purchased; |
● | if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security; |
● | if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable; |
● | in the case of warrants to purchase common stock, the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise; |
● | the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreements and the warrants; |
● | the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants, including whether the right to convert or purchase the securities may be forfeited unless exercised before the date specified in a notice of the redemption or call; |
● | kinds, frequency and timing of notice of the redemption or call, including the cities or newspapers where notice will be published; |
● | any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; |
● | the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire; |
● | the manner in which the warrant agreements and warrants may be modified; |
● | federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants; |
● | the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; |
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● | provisions for the warrants to be held in book entry form; and |
● | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants. |
Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive dividends, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any.
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the warrant agent in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent.
Upon receipt of the required payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, then we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants
Any warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.
Outstanding Warrants
As of September 25, 2024, there were warrants outstanding to purchase up to a total of 5,547,024 shares of our common stock.
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The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the rights that we may offer under this prospectus, which consist of rights to purchase our common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series. Rights may be offered independently or together with our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and/or warrants offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from those securities. While the terms we have summarized below will generally apply to any future rights we may offer pursuant to this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any rights that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplements. The terms of any rights we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below.
General
The applicable prospectus supplements relating to any rights that we offer will include specific terms of any offering of rights for which this prospectus is being delivered, including the following, to the extent applicable:
● | the date for determining the persons entitled to participate in the rights distribution; |
● | the price, if any, per right; |
● | the exercise price payable for each share of common stock, share of preferred stock or debt security upon the exercise of the rights; |
● | the number of rights issued or to be issued to each holder; |
● | the number and terms of the shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or debt securities that may be purchased per each right; |
● | the extent to which the rights are transferable; |
● | any other terms of the rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the rights; |
● | the respective dates on which the holder’s ability to exercise the rights will commence and will expire; |
● | the number of rights outstanding, if any; |
● | a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the rights; |
● | the extent to which the rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; and |
● | if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of such rights. |
The description in the applicable prospectus supplements of any rights that we may offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable rights agreement and/or rights certificate, which will be filed with the SEC in connection therewith.
Outstanding Rights
We have no outstanding rights.
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The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the units that we may offer under this base prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any units that we may offer under this base prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of units in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any units offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.
The following summary description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements, does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the form of unit agreement and form of unit certificate relating to each series of units that will be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this base prospectus or as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K if we offer units.
General
We may issue units comprised of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, warrants, rights or any combination thereof. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of units, including:
● | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
● | any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and |
● | any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units. |
The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Capital Stock,” “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Warrants” and “Description of Rights” will apply to each unit and to any common stock, preferred stock, debt security, warrants or rights included in each unit, respectively.
Issuance in Series
We may issue units in such amounts and in such numerous distinct series as we determine.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units
Any unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more than one series of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a unit may, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.
Title
We, any unit agents and any of their agents may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of the units evidenced by that certificate for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested, despite any notice to the contrary.
Outstanding Units
We have no outstanding units.
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We may sell the securities being offered by this base prospectus separately or together through any of the following methods:
● | to or through one or more underwriters or dealers in a public offering and sale by them; |
● | directly to investors; |
● | on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale; |
● | in the over-the-counter market; |
● | in transactions other than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market; |
● | through agents; |
● | through block trades in which the broker or dealer engaged to handle the block trade will attempt to sell the securities as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
● | in “at the market offerings,” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act; |
● | through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; |
● | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
● | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
● | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
● | through any combination of these methods of sale; or |
● | in any manner, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
We may distribute securities from time to time in one or more transactions:
● | at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
● | at market prices prevailing at the times of sale; |
● | at prices related to such prevailing market prices; |
● | at varying prices determined at the time of sale; or |
● | at negotiated prices. |
We will describe the method of distribution of the securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may also determine the price or other terms of the securities offered under this base prospectus by use of an electronic auction. We will describe how any auction will determine the price or any other terms, how potential investors may participate in the auction and the nature of the obligations of the underwriter, dealer or agent in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each class or series of securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than our common stock, which is traded on The Nasdaq Capital Market. We may elect to list any other class or series of securities on any exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a class or series of securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot give any assurance as to whether an active trading market will develop for the offered securities or the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities. We have no current plans for listing of the preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights or units on any securities exchange or quotation system. Any such listing with respect to any particular preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights or units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, as the case may be.
Underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from us or our purchasers (as their agents in connection with the sale of the securities). In addition, underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they act as agent. These underwriters, dealers or agents may be considered to be underwriters under the Securities Act. As a result, discounts, commissions, or profits on resale received by the underwriters, dealers or agents may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions. The prospectus supplement will identify any such underwriter, dealer or agent, and describe any compensation received by them from us as well as any other offering expenses. Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
We may sell the securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments made by the underwriters, dealers or agents, under agreements between us and the underwriters, dealers and agents.
Any person participating in the distribution of common stock registered under the registration statement that includes this base prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of our common stock by any such person. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock. These restrictions may affect the marketability of our common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock.
We may grant underwriters who participate in the distribution of the securities an option to purchase additional securities to cover overallotments, if any, in connection with the distribution. Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the offered securities. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the common stock in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the common stock originally sold by the dealer is purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the common stock to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time. If any such activities will occur, they will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Underwriters or agents and their associates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business and any such relationships will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If more than 10% of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this base prospectus will be received by FINRA members participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA members, the offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Conduct Rule 5121.
To the extent required, this base prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.
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Unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, the validity of the securities being offered by this base prospectus will be passed upon by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Boston, Massachusetts. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in an applicable prospectus supplement.
dbbmckennnon, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as set forth in their report (which contains an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern, as described in Note 2 to the financial statements), which is incorporated by reference in this base prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on dbbmckennon’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding companies that file electronically with the SEC. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available free of charge to the public at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. We also maintain a website at investors.serverobotics.com where you can access our SEC filings free of charge.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the securities covered by this base prospectus. This base prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. Other documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement or documents incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this base prospectus to a contract or other document of ours, the reference is only a summary and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided above.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC and applicable law allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information from other documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents instead of having to repeat the information in this base prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this base prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings (including those made after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this base prospectus is a part and prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement) we will make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act until the termination of the registration statement of which this base prospectus is a part (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules):
● | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024; |
● | our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024 filed with the SEC on May 15, 2024 and August 13, 2024, respectively; |
● | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 3, 2024, February 7, 2024, February 23, 2024, March 7, 2024, April 9, 2024, April 18, 2024, April 23, 2024, April 24, 2024, May 15, 2024, June 3, 2024, July 23, 2024, July 24, 2024, August 13, 2024 and August 28, 2024 (in each case, except for information contained therein which is furnished rather than filed); and |
● | the description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 10-12G/A filed with the SEC on April 9, 2021, pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, as updated by the description of our common stock contained in Exhibit 4.8 to the FY 2023 Form 10-K, and including any other amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
Any statement contained in this base prospectus, or in a document all or a portion of which is incorporated by reference, shall be modified or superseded for purposes of this base prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this base prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus or any document incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not, except as so modified or superseded, constitute a part of this base prospectus.
Upon written or oral request, we will provide, without charge, to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this base prospectus is delivered, a copy of the documents incorporated by reference into this base prospectus but not delivered with this base prospectus. You may request a copy of these filings, and any exhibits we have specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this base prospectus, at no cost to you by writing or telephoning us at the following:
Serve Robotics Inc.
730 Broadway
Redwood City, California 94063
Attn: Brian Read, Chief Financial Officer
(818) 860-1352
You may also access these documents, free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or on our website at investors.serverobotics.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this base prospectus, and you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed from, our website as part of this base prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
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Up to $100,000,000 maximum aggregate offering price
Common Stock
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
November 7, 2024
Northland Capital Markets | B. Riley Securities, Inc. | Ladenburg Thalmann
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