As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 2025
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
SUNation Energy, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 41-0957999 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
171 Remington Boulevard
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
(631) 750-9454
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Scott Maskin, Chief Executive Officer
SUNation Energy, Inc.
171 Remington Boulevard
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
(631) 750-9454
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With copies to:
Theodore Ghorra
Rimon, P.C.
400 Madison Ave, Suite 11D
New York, NY 10017
(212) 515-9979
Approximate date of commencement of proposed
sale to the public:
From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ |
Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED April 22, 2025
PROSPECTUS
SUNation Energy, Inc.
$100,000,000
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Debt Securities
Stock Purchase Contracts
Warrants
Rights
Units
We may offer and sell, from time to time in one or more offerings, up to $100,000,000 in the aggregate of preferred stock, common stock, debt securities, stock purchase contracts, warrants, rights and units, in any combination.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered. Each time either we offer and sell securities using this prospectus, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering, as well as the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.
We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.
Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 of this prospectus and any similar section contained in the applicable prospectus supplement concerning factors you should consider before investing in our securities.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SUNE.” On April 21, 2025, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $2.75 per share. All common stock shares and share-related prices included in this prospectus are on a split-adjusted basis per our amended certificate of incorporation.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is April 22, 2025.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell securities described in this prospectus from time to time and in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $100,000,000.
Each time that we offer and sell securities using this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and sold and the specific 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. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the 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 this prospectus or any prospectus supplement - the statement in the later-dated document modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
The rules of the SEC allow us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC, to the extent incorporated by reference, will automatically update and supersede this information. See “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” on page 9 of this prospectus. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 8 of this prospectus.
We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus is accurate 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 incorporates by reference, and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may contain and incorporate by reference, certain market and industry data obtained from independent market research, industry publications and surveys, governmental agencies and publicly available information. Industry surveys, publications and forecasts generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, although they do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. We believe the data from such third-party sources to be reliable. However, we have not independently verified any of such data and cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Similarly, internal market research and industry forecasts, which we believe to be reliable based upon our management’s knowledge of the market and the industry, have not been verified by any independent sources. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding the market or industry data presented herein, our estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors.
References in this prospectus to “SUNation”, “we”, “our”, “us” and the “Company” refer to SUNation Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries.
ii
This summary highlights certain information about us and selected information contained elsewhere in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This summary is not complete and 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, we encourage you to read and consider carefully the more detailed information in this prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and the information under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, beginning on page 4, before making an investment decision.
Overview
Our vision is to provide exemplary client service while powering the energy transition through grass-root, community-centric growth of solar electricity paired with battery storage. Our portfolio of brands (SUNation, Hawaii Energy Connection, E-Gear) provide homeowners and businesses of all sizes with an end-to-end product offering spanning solar, battery storage, and grid services. SUNation Energy, Inc.’s markets are New York, Florida, and Hawaii, and the company operates proudly within three (3) U.S. states.
Our primary customers are residential homeowners. We also provide solar energy systems to commercial owners and other municipal customers. Today, through our regional business entities, we actively develop and install photovoltaic (PV) arrays and other renewable energy solutions for commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities across both the New York and Hawaii markets. Projects span a wide range of property types—including office buildings, warehouses, schools, and non-profit organizations—and are tailored to meet customer needs through various system configurations, including rooftop installations, ground-mounted arrays, and solar carports.
Corporate Information
We are currently a Delaware corporation, initially organized in 1969, that operates directly and through our subsidiaries located in the United States (“U.S.”). On November 4, 2024, we held a special meeting of our stockholders, at which our stockholders voted on three proposals: a proposal to re-domesticate the Company from Minnesota to Delaware, to change our Company name to SUNation Energy, Inc. and on an adjournment proposal, each of which was approved by our stockholders pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. On November 14, 2024, we filed articles of conversion with the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota and filed a certificate of conversion with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware changing the Company’s jurisdiction of incorporation from Minnesota to Delaware (the “Reincorporation”), as well as having filed a Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on this same date. In addition to the Reincorporation, the Company also effectuated a change to its name from Pineapple Energy Inc. to SUNation Energy, Inc. (the “Name Change”), as reflected on the certificate of incorporation and bylaws, the forms of which are included as exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, to our form 8-K filed with the Commission and effective on November 19, 2024. Additionally, in conjunction with the Reincorporation and Name Change, we also changed our ticker stock symbol on the Nasdaq Capital Market from “PEGY” to “SUNE,” effective November 19, 2024.
As a result of the Reincorporation, pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), the Company has continued its existence under the DGCL as a corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware. The business, assets and liabilities of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as well as its fiscal year, were the same immediately after the Reincorporation as they were immediately prior to the Reincorporation. In addition, the directors and executive officers of the Company immediately after the Reincorporation were the same individuals who were directors and executive officers, respectively, of the Company immediately prior to the Reincorporation.
Effective April 16, 2025, the Company amended its Certificate of Incorporation to implement a one-for-two hundred reverse stock split. As a result of the reverse stock split, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on April 21, 2025, every 200 shares of common stock then issued and outstanding automatically were combined into one share of common stock, with no change in par value per share. No fractional shares were outstanding following the reverse stock split, and any fractional shares that would have resulted from the reverse stock split were rounded up to the nearest whole share. The Company was assigned a new CUSIP number (72303P503) in connection with the reverse stock split. All options, warrants and other convertible securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to the reverse stock split and the related exercise or conversion prices, were adjusted for the reverse stock split in accordance with the terms of the plans, agreements or arrangements governing such options, warrants and other convertible securities, subject to rounding to the nearest whole share.
1
On April 3, 2025, the Company’s stockholders approved a reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock at a ratio within a range of 1-for-2 and 1-for-200 and granted the Company’s board of directors the discretion to determine the timing and ratio of the split within such range. Additionally, the shareholders also approved an increase in authorized shares to 1,000,000,000 shares. On April 9, 2025, the Company’s board of directors determined to effect the reverse stock split of the common stock at a 1-for-200 ratio and approved an amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation. Effective April 16, 2025, the Company amended its Certificate of Incorporation to implement a one-for-two hundred reverse stock split. As a result of the reverse stock split, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on April 21, 2025, every 200 shares of common stock then issued and outstanding automatically were combined into one share of common stock, with no change in par value per share. No fractional shares were outstanding following the reverse stock split, and any fractional shares that would have resulted from the reverse stock split were rounded up to the nearest whole share.
We have not restated any prior financial statements or financial information incorporated by reference in this prospectus to reflect the reverse stock split. The following selected financial data is based on common stock and per share data from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 as retrospectively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split.
Year Ended December 31 | ||||||||
2024 | 2023 | |||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted | 2,714 | 67 | ||||||
Loss per share from continuing operations - basic and diluted | $ | (10,110.93 | ) | $ | (103,916.17 | ) | ||
Loss per share from discontinued operations - basic and diluted | $ | - | $ | (17,852.82 | ) |
2
Securities that may be Offered
Issuer | SUNation Energy, Inc. | |
Common warrants we are offering |
We may offer up to $100,000,000 of:
● common stock;
● preferred stock;
● debt securities;
● stock purchase contracts;
● warrants;
● rights; and
● units.
We may also offer securities of the types listed above that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into one or more of the securities listed above. | |
Nasdaq Capital Market symbol | SUNE is the trading symbol for our common stock; there is no established public trading market, however, for any of our other securities, and we do not intend to list these securities on any national securities exchange or trading system. | |
Use of proceeds | We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of any securities offered by us for working capital and general corporate purposes unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. See “Use of Proceeds” on page 13 of this prospectus. | |
Risk factors | See “Risk Factors” on page 4 and the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and the accompanying prospectus for a discussion of certain factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock. |
3
Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and such subsequent applicable prospectus supplement related to this registration statement involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, including our annual report on Form 10-K and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and the risk factors and other information contained therein and in the applicable prospectus supplement before acquiring any of such securities. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that are currently not believed to be significant to our business may also affect our actual results and could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.
Risks Related to This Offering and Our Common Stock
The market price for our common stock has experienced significant price and volume volatility and is likely to continue to experience significant volatility in the future, which may cause the value of any investment in our common stock to decline.
Our stock price and the stock prices of companies similar to us have been highly volatile. In addition, stock markets generally have recently experienced volatility. Our stock price has experienced significant price and volume volatility, and our stock price is likely to experience significant volatility in the future. The price of our common stock may decline and the value of any investment in our common stock may be reduced regardless of our performance. Further, the daily trading volume of our common stock has historically been relatively low. As a result of the low volume, our shareholders may be unable to sell significant quantities of common stock in the public trading markets without a significant reduction in the price of our common shares. The trading price of our common stock may be influenced by factors beyond our control, such as the volatility of the financial markets in general, including in reaction to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainty surrounding the U.S. economy, conditions and trends in the markets we serve, changes in the estimation of the future size and growth rate of our markets, publication of research reports and recommendations by financial analysts relating to our business, the business of our competitors or the retail industry, changes in market valuation or earnings of our competitors or other small capitalization companies, sales of our common stock by our principal shareholders, and the trading volume of our common stock. The historical market prices of our common stock may not be indicative of future market prices and we may be unable to sustain or increase the value of our common stock. Further, we have historically used equity incentive compensation as part of our overall compensation arrangements. The effectiveness of equity incentive compensation in retaining key employees may be adversely impacted by volatility in our stock price. Significant declines in our stock price may also interfere with our ability, if needed, to raise additional funds through equity financing or to finance strategic transactions with our stock.
Any inability or perceived inability of investors to realize a gain on an investment in our common stock could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations by potentially limiting our ability to attract and retain qualified employees and to raise capital. In addition, there may be increased risk of securities litigation following periods of fluctuations in our stock price. Securities class action lawsuits are often brought against companies after periods of volatility in the market price of their securities. These and other consequences of volatility in our stock price which could be exacerbated by macroeconomic conditions that affect the market generally, or our industries in particular, could have the effect of diverting management’s attention and could materially harm our business.
Management will have broad discretion as to the use of the proceeds from an offering, and we may not use the proceeds effectively.
You will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of net proceeds from an offering, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from an offering and could spend the proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock. Our failure to apply these funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business and cause the price of our common stock to decline.
4
Stockholders may be diluted if additional capital stock is issued to raise capital, including to finance acquisitions, repay debt or in connection with strategic transactions.
We intend to seek to raise additional funds for our operations, to finance acquisitions, repay existing debt or to develop strategic relationships by issuing equity or convertible debt securities, which would reduce the percentage ownership of our existing stockholders. Our board of directors has the authority, without action or vote of the stockholders, to issue all or any part of our authorized but unissued shares of common or preferred stock. Following our recent shareholder approval, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue up to 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock and 3,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Future issuances of common or preferred stock would reduce your influence over matters on which stockholders vote and would be dilutive to earnings per share. In addition, any newly issued preferred stock could have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of the common stock. Those rights, preferences and privileges could include, among other things, the establishment of dividends that must be paid prior to declaring or paying dividends or other distributions to holders of our common stock or providing for preferential liquidation rights. These rights, preferences and privileges could negatively affect the rights of holders of our common stock, and the right to convert such preferred stock into shares of our common stock at a rate or price that would have a dilutive effect on the outstanding shares of our common stock.
We may issue additional common stock resulting in stock ownership dilution.
As of April 21, 2025, we had 3,364,000 shares of common stock outstanding (excluding exercise of any remaining outstanding warrants) and there were one additional share reserved for issuance upon the settlement of outstanding restricted stock units, 62 shares available for grant under the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan, and two shares available for issuance under the 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Additionally, our Series A Warrants contain exercise price adjustments, which, if triggered, may cause substantial dilution. If the market price is less than the exercise price of the Series A Warrants, then the exercise price of the warrants will be reduced to the market price and the number of shares issuable upon exercise will be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate price will remain unchanged, provided, however, the adjusted exercise price shall not be less than the Nasdaq compliant floor price set forth therein. In addition, if, while the common warrants are outstanding, we issue or sell, or are deemed to have issued or sold, any common stock and/or common stock equivalents other than in connection with certain exempt issuances, at a purchase price per share less than the exercise price of the common warrants in effect immediately prior to such issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale, then simultaneously with the consummation (or, if earlier, the announcement) of each such issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale, the exercise price of the common warrants then in effect will be reduced to an amount equal to the new issuance price, and the number of shares issuable upon exercise will be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate price will remain unchanged, provided that, the adjusted exercise price shall not be less than twenty percent of the “Minimum Price” under Nasdaq rules (subject to adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, recapitalizations and similar transactions following the Issue Date). As of April 21, 2025, we had 652,174 shares of the common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, all of which are fully exercisable.
Resales of our common stock in the public market during an offering by our stockholders may cause the market price of our common stock to fall.
We may issue common or preferred stock from time to time in connection with an offering. The issuance from time to time of these new shares, or our ability to issue these shares, could result in resales of our by our current stockholders concerned about the potential dilution of their holdings. In turn, these resales could have the effect of depressing the market price for our common stock.
5
Our shares will be subject to potential delisting if we do not maintain the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market.
The shares of our common stock are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq. Nasdaq has rules for continued listing, including, without limitation, minimum market capitalization and other requirements. Failure to maintain our listing, or de-listing from Nasdaq, would make it more difficult for shareholders to dispose of our common stock and more difficult to obtain accurate price quotations on our common stock. This could have an adverse effect on the price of our common stock. Our ability to issue additional securities for financing or other purposes, or otherwise to arrange for any financing we may need in the future, may also be materially and adversely affected if our common stock is not traded on a national securities exchange. On April 11, 2025, we received a new non-compliance notice notifying the Company that, for the 30 consecutive business day period immediately preceding deficiency letter, the Company’s common stock had not maintained a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 per share (the “Minimum Bid Price Requirement”) and, as a result, does not comply with Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Rule”). Normally, a company would be afforded a 180-calendar day period (“Cure Period”) to demonstrate compliance with such deficiency; however, pursuant to Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A)(iv), the Company is not eligible for a customary Cure Period specified in Rule 5810(c)(3)(A) due to the fact that the Company has effected a reverse stock split over the prior one-year period or has effected one or more reverse stock splits over the prior two-year period with a cumulative ratio of 250 shares or more to one.. Instead, the Company is offered an opportunity to appeal any deficiency related to a delisting determination to Nasdaq within seven days from receipt of the non-compliance notice. Accordingly, unless the Company timely requests a hearing before a Hearings Panel, the Company’s securities would be subject to suspension/delisting. The Company intends to timely request a hearing before the Hearing Panel. While the hearing request will automatically stay any suspension or delisting action pending the hearing and the expiration of any additional extension period if granted by the Panel following the hearing, there can be no assurance that the Panel will grant the Company an additional extension period or that the Company will ultimately regain compliance with all applicable requirements for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market. Additionally, to this end, the stockholders of the Company had approved a share consolidation on April 3, 2025 that has been effectuated within the discretion of the board of directors of the Company and, if such action ultimately resolves the above noted Nasdaq listing compliance deficiency prior to such hearing date, then we may be mooted out of the hearing; however, there can be no assurance that this action by us will result in regaining compliance with the deficiency for a sufficiently long period, or that the we may be delisted despite taking all such remedial actions to avoid such a negative result.
Our substantial level of indebtedness and our current liquidity constraints could adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to service our indebtedness, which could negatively impact your ability to recover your investment in the common stock.
We have a substantial amount of indebtedness, which requires significant interest payments. Our substantial level of indebtedness and the current constraints on our liquidity could have important consequences, including the following:
● | we must use a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to pay interest and principal on our indebtedness, which reduces or will reduce funds available to us for other purposes such as working capital, capital expenditures, other general corporate purposes and potential acquisitions; | |
● | our ability to refinance such indebtedness or to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or general corporate purposes may be impaired; |
● | our leverage may be greater than that of some of our competitors, which may put us at a competitive disadvantage and reduce our flexibility in responding to current and changing industry and financial market conditions; and |
● | we may be more vulnerable to economic downturn and adverse developments in our business. |
We and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, subject to the restrictions contained in the agreements governing our indebtedness. To the extent new indebtedness is added to our debt levels, including as a result of satisfying interest payment obligations on certain of our indebtedness with payments-in-kind, the related risks that we now face could intensify. If we are unable to comply with our covenants under our indebtedness, our liquidity may be further adversely affected.
Although we intend to pay off or down a significant portion of our existing debt obligations from the net proceeds generated by an offering, our ability to meet our expenses, to remain in compliance with our covenants under our debt instruments and to make future principal and interest payments in respect of our debt depends on, among other factors, our operating performance, competitive developments and financial market conditions, all of which are significantly affected by financial, business, economic and other factors. We are not able to control many of these factors. Given current industry and economic conditions, our cash flow may not be sufficient to allow us to pay principal and interest on our debt and meet our other obligations.
6
The agreements governing our indebtedness contain covenants that may limit our ability to take advantage of certain business opportunities advantageous to us.
Agreements governing our existing or future indebtedness may contain various covenants that limit our ability to, among other things:
● | pay dividends or make other distributions to our stockholders; |
● | make restricted payments; |
● | incur liens; |
● | engage in transactions with affiliates; |
● | modify certain material contracts; and |
● | enter into business combinations without consent and/or approval. |
Such restrictions could limit our ability to obtain future financing, make acquisitions, fund needed capital expenditures, withstand economic downturns in our business or the economy in general, conduct operations or otherwise take advantage of business opportunities that may arise. At the same time, the covenants in the instruments governing our indebtedness may not provide investors with protections against transactions they may deem undesirable.
If our cash flows or the net proceeds from an offering prove inadequate to eliminate and/or service our debt and provide for our other obligations, we may be required to refinance all or a portion of our existing debt or future debt at terms unfavorable to us. Our ability to make payments on and refinance our debt and other financial obligations and to fund our capital expenditures and acquisitions will depend on our ability to generate substantial operating cash flow. This will depend on our future performance, which will be subject to prevailing economic conditions and to financial, business and other factors beyond our control.
In addition, our debt obligations may require us to repay or refinance our obligations when they come due. If our cash flows were to prove inadequate to meet our debt service, rental and other obligations in the future, we may be required to refinance all or a portion of our existing or future debt, on or before maturity, to sell assets or to obtain additional financing. We cannot give assurance that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness, sell any such assets, or obtain additional financing on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
We are not currently paying dividends and will likely continue not paying cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future.
We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. Investors should not rely on an investment in us if they require income generated from dividends paid on our capital stock. Any income derived from our common stock may only come from a rise in the market price of our common stock, which is uncertain and unpredictable.
7
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the information reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and, in accordance with these requirements, we are required to file periodic reports and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet website at www.sec.gov that contains our filed reports, proxy and information statements, and other information we file electronically with the SEC.
Additionally, we make our SEC filings available, free of charge, on our website at https://www.sunation.com/ as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish them to, the SEC. The information on our website, other than the filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus, is not, and should not be, considered part of this prospectus, is not incorporated by reference into this document, and should not be relied upon in connection with making any investment decision with respect to the securities.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
We “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus certain information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Some information contained in this prospectus updates the information incorporated by reference, and information that we file subsequently with the SEC will automatically update this prospectus as well as our other filings with the SEC. In other words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information set forth in this prospectus and information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (i) following the date of the registration statement that contains this prospectus but prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement or (ii) after the date of this prospectus and prior to the time that all the securities offered by this prospectus are sold (in each case, other than any portions of any such documents that are not deemed “filed” under the Exchange Act in accordance with the Exchange Act and applicable SEC rules):
● | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on April 15, 2025; | |
● | our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 7, 2025, January 8 2025, February 27, 2025, February 27, 2025, February 28, 2025, March 7, 2025, March 14, 2025, March 17, 2025, April 4, 2025, April 7, 2025 and April 17, 2025 (other than any portions thereof deemed furnished and not filed); | |
● | our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on March 10, 2025; and | |
● | the description of our common stock contained in our Form 8-A filed with the SEC on December 30, 2009. |
All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the completion or termination of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents. You may request a copy of these filings, other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing, at no cost, by writing to or telephoning us at the following:
SUNation Energy, Inc.
171 Remington Blvd.
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Telephone (631) 750 9454
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or presented in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement. Neither we nor any underwriters or agents have authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the dates on the front of those documents.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, including the documents that we incorporate by reference, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. The forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements related to present facts or current conditions or of historical facts, contained in this prospectus, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, and projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. Accordingly, these statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in them. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed throughout our SEC reports, and in particular those factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 of this prospectus and in the other documents incorporated herein by reference, as the same may be updated from time to time by our future filings under the Exchange Act.
You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and any document incorporated herein by reference is accurate as of its date only. Because the risk factors referred to above could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which factors will arise. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor 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. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf made after the date of this prospectus are expressly qualified in their entirety by the risk factors and cautionary statements contained in and incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Unless legally required, we do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:
● | our growth strategy depends on the continued origination of solar installation agreements; |
● | if we fail to manage our operations and growth effectively, we may be unable to execute our business plan, maintain high levels of customer service or adequately address competitive challenges; |
● | we need to raise additional capital to fund our operations and repay our obligations, which funding may not be available on favorable terms or at all and may lead to substantial dilution to our existing stockholders. Further, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, which conditions may adversely affect our stock price and our ability to raise capital; |
● | our common stock may be delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market if we cannot increase the share price within the time period and for the duration as required by The Nasdaq Capital Market, and meet other compliance requirements to which we are subject; |
● | we may face claims for monetary damages, penalties, and other significant items pursuant to existing contractual arrangements, as well as litigation or threatened litigations, which, if material, may strain our cashflow and operations, as well as take away substantial time and attention from management that is necessary to for business operations and potential growth opportunities; |
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● | we depend on a limited number of suppliers of solar energy system components and technologies to adequately meet demand for our solar energy systems; |
● | increases in the cost of our solar energy systems due to tariffs and other trade restrictions imposed by the U.S. government could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations; |
● | our operating results and our ability to grow may fluctuate from quarter to quarter and year to year, which could make our future performance difficult to predict and could cause our operating results for a particular period to fall below expectations; |
● | we may have difficulty integrating any new businesses we may acquire with our existing operations or otherwise obtaining the strategic benefits of the acquisition; |
● | if we are unable to make acquisitions on economically acceptable terms, our future growth would be limited, and any acquisitions we may make could reduce, rather than increase, our cash flows; |
● | product liability and property damage claims against us or accidents could result in adverse publicity and potentially significant monetary damages; |
● | we will not be able to insure against all potential risks and we may become subject to higher insurance premiums, cost of materials and equipment, higher interest rates, and cost of labor, among other cost factors that may prove materially harmful to our business, operations and margins; |
● | damage to our brand and reputation or change or loss of use of our brand could harm our business and results of operations; |
● | the loss of one or more members of our senior management or key employees may adversely affect our ability to implement our strategy; |
● | our inability to protect our intellectual property could adversely affect our business. We may also be subject to intellectual property rights claims by third parties, which are extremely costly to defend, could require us to pay significant damages and could limit our ability to use certain technologies; |
● | we may be subject to interruptions or failures in our information technology systems; |
● | our information technology systems may be exposed to various cybersecurity risks and other disruptions that could impair our ability to operate, adversely affect our business, and damage our brand and reputation; |
● | our failure to hire and retain a sufficient number of key employees, such as installers and electricians, would constrain our growth and our ability to timely complete projects; |
● | our business is concentrated in certain markets, putting us at risk of region-specific disruptions; |
● | if sufficient additional demand for residential solar energy systems does not develop or takes longer to develop than we anticipate, our ability to originate solar installation agreements may decrease; |
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● | our business prospects are dependent in part on a continuing decline in the cost of solar energy system components and our business may be adversely affected to the extent the cost of these components stabilize or increase in the future; |
● | we face competition from centralized electric utilities, retail electric providers, independent power producers and renewable energy companies; |
● | developments in technology or improvements in distributed solar energy generation and related technologies or components may materially adversely affect demand for our offerings; |
● | a material reduction in the retail price of electricity charged by electric utilities or other retail electricity providers could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations; |
● | terrorist or cyberattacks against centralized utilities could adversely affect our business; |
● | climate change may have long-term impacts on our business, industry, and the global economy; |
● | increases in the cost of our solar energy systems due to global trade wars, conflicts, interruptions in supply chains or tariffs imposed by the U.S. and foreign governments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations; |
● | we are not currently regulated as an electric public utility under applicable law, but may be subject to regulation as an electric utility in the future; |
● | electric utility policies and regulations, including those affecting electric rates, may present regulatory and economic barriers to the purchase and use of solar energy systems that may significantly reduce demand for our solar energy systems and adversely impact our ability to originate new solar installation agreements; |
● | we rely on net metering and related policies to sell solar systems to our customers in most of our current markets, and changes to policies governing net metering may significantly reduce demand for electricity from residential solar energy systems and thus for our installation services; |
● | a customer’s decision to procure installation services from us depends in part on the availability of rebates, tax credits and other financial incentives. The expiration, elimination or reduction of these rebates, credits or incentives or our ability to monetize them could adversely impact our business; |
● | technical and regulatory limitations regarding the interconnection of solar energy systems to the electrical grid may significantly delay interconnections and customer in-service dates, harming our growth rate and customer satisfaction; |
● | the value of Bitcoin could decrease following our announcement to invest a portion of available capital moving forward into Bitcoin, or Bitcoin does not become as useful a tool to our business in becoming accepted as a form of payment by us or to us, in either case making this strategy less valuable, or potentially costly; and |
● | compliance with occupational safety and health requirements and best practices can be costly, and noncompliance with such requirements may result in potentially significant monetary penalties, operational delays and adverse publicity. |
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We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of any securities for general corporate purposes unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. General corporate purposes may include the repayment of outstanding indebtedness, working capital, general and administrative expenses, capital expenditures and acquisitions. We have not yet determined the amount of net proceeds to be used specifically for any of the foregoing purposes. Accordingly, our management will have significant discretion and flexibility in applying the net proceeds from the sale of these securities.
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The following summary of the general terms and provisions of our capital stock does not purport to be complete. We encourage you to read our certificate of incorporation, bylaws, and the DGCL for additional information.
Authorized Shares of Capital Stock
As of the date hereof, our authorized shares of capital stock is 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.05 per share and 3,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $1.00 par value per share. We currently have no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding
As of April 21, 2025, we had 3,364,000 shares of common stock outstanding (excluding exercise of any remaining outstanding warrants).
Authorized but Unissued Preferred Stock
Unless required by law or by any stock exchange on which our common stock may be listed, the authorized shares of preferred stock will be available for issuance without further action by our stockholders. Delaware law does not require stockholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares. However, under applicable Nasdaq Listing Rules, a company must not, subject to specified exceptions, without the approval of its stockholders, issue or agree to issue, any equity securities, or other securities with rights to convert into equity at a price that is less than the Minimum Price (as defined in Nasdaq Rule 5636(d)(1)) if the number of those securities exceeds 19.99% of the number of shares issued and outstanding at the commencement of such offering.
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to provide, out of the unissued shares of preferred stock, for one or more series of preferred stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting such series and the designation of such series, the voting powers, if any, of the shares of such series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series.
The existence of unissued and unreserved common stock or preferred stock may enable our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and could thereby protect the continuity of our management and possibly deprive stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of common stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.
Common Stock
Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters voted upon by our stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. All matters including the election of directors will be determined by a majority of the votes cast in person or represented by proxy, except to the minimum extent otherwise required by the DGCL. However, except as otherwise required by law, holders of common stock are not entitled to vote on any amendment to our certificate of incorporation that that relates solely to the terms of our preferred stock if the holders of the preferred stock are entitled to vote separately thereon by law or pursuant to this certificate of incorporation.
Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL or our certificate of incorporation and subject to the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs, holders of common stock will be entitled to share ratably in our assets that are remaining after payment of all liabilities and liquidation preference on any outstanding preferred stock.
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Our certificate of incorporation does not entitle holders of our common stock to preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.
All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equiniti Trust Company, 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, South St. Paul, Minnesota 55120-4100.
Our common stock is currently listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the trading symbol “SUNE.”
Quorum
Unless otherwise required by law or our certificate of incorporation, at any meeting of stockholders, one-third of our outstanding stock exclusive of treasury stock shall constitute a quorum at meetings of the stockholders.
Exclusive Jurisdiction of Certain Actions
Our bylaws provide that the sole and exclusive venues for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty or other duty owed to our company by any director, officer, stockholder, employee or agent, and (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our certificate of incorporation, or our bylaws (as each of same may be amended from time to time) will be the Delaware Court of Chancery and the federal and state courts located in the City, County and State of New York, and the respective procedural laws of such courts shall govern all such actions and proceedings. In addition, our bylaws provide that the sole and exclusive venue for any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the securities laws of the United States including without limitation the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and/or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction will be the federal courts located in the City, County and State of New York, and the procedural laws of such courts shall govern all such actions and proceedings.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law, the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws
Certain provisions of Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws could make the acquisition of our company more difficult and could delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or other takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider to be in its best interest, including takeover attempts that might result in the payment of a premium to stockholders over the market price for their shares. These provisions also may promote the continuity of our management by making it more difficult for a person to remove or change the incumbent members of our board of directors.
Authorized but Unissued Shares. The authorized but unissued shares of our common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval except as required by law or by any stock exchange on which our common stock may be listed. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock or preferred stock may enable 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.
Board Classification. Our certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors, with the classes to be as nearly equal in number as possible, and with the directors serving three-year terms. As a result, approximately one-third of our board of directors is elected each year. The classification of directors has the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our board of directors.
No Cumulative Voting. Holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.
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Special Meetings of Stockholders. Our bylaws provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called at any time only by our board of directors or our CEO together with our COO or CFO.
Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Pursuant to Section 228 of the DGCL, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of our stock entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, unless our certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our bylaws preclude stockholder action by written consent.
Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Nomination of Directors. Our bylaws require stockholders seeking to bring business before an annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate individuals for election as directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, to provide timely notice in writing. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to and received by the secretary at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day, prior to the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. However, in the event no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the meeting was made, whichever occurs first. Our bylaws also specify requirements as to 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 meetings of stockholders. These provisions may also discourage or deter a potential acquiror from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the potential acquiror’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company.
Removal of Directors; Vacancies. Under the DGCL, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, directors serving on a classified board may be removed by the stockholders only for cause. Our certificate of incorporation provides that directors may only be removed from office only for cause by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of our company entitled to vote in any annual election of directors or class of directors, voting together as a single class. In addition, our certificate of incorporation provides that any newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on our board of directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause will be filled exclusively by a majority vote of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and not by stockholders.
Supermajority Provisions. Our certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal our bylaws without a stockholder vote through the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the board of directors. In addition, our bylaws may be adopted, amended or repealed by a majority of the stockholders in attendance at any meeting of stockholders that has been duly called for such purpose.
The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, , provided, however that certain actions in this regard may require a greater or lesser percentage of the voting shareholders as provided in the DGCL, including under Section 242 thereof.
Meetings of Stockholders
No action that is required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders may be taken without a meeting, and the power of stockholders to consent in writing, without a meeting, to the taking of any action is specifically denied. A special meeting of stockholders may be called at any time only by our board of directors or our CEO together with our COO or CFO for any purpose or purposes prescribed in a notice of such special meeting.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
This section describes the general terms and provisions of our debt securities, which could be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. A prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the debt securities offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those debt securities.
The senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture, referred to herein as the “senior indenture,” between us and the trustee named in the applicable prospectus supplement. The subordinated debt securities will be issued under an indenture, referred to herein as the “subordinated indenture,” between us and the trustee named in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We have summarized the anticipated material terms and provisions of the senior and subordinated indentures in this section. We have also filed the forms of the indentures summarized in this section as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the applicable indenture for additional information before you buy any debt securities. The summary that follows includes references to section numbers of the indentures so that you can more easily locate these provisions.
General
The debt securities will be our direct unsecured obligations. Neither of the indentures limits the amount of debt securities that we may issue. Both indentures permit us to issue debt securities from time to time and debt securities issued under an indenture will be issued as part of a series that has been established by us under such indenture.
The senior debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally with all of our other subordinated debt securities and, together with such other subordinated debt securities, will be subordinated to all of our existing and future Senior Debt (as defined below). See “- Subordination” below.
The debt securities are our unsecured senior or subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, but our assets include equity in our subsidiaries. As a result, our ability to make payments on our debt securities may depend in part on our receipt of dividends, loan payments and other funds from our subsidiaries. In addition, if any of our subsidiaries becomes insolvent, the direct creditors of that subsidiary will have a prior claim on its assets. Our rights and the rights of our creditors, including your rights as an owner of our debt securities, will be subject to that prior claim, unless we are also a direct creditor of that subsidiary. This subordination of creditors of a parent company to prior claims of creditors of its subsidiaries is commonly referred to as structural subordination.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may, without the consent of the holders of a series of debt securities, issue additional debt securities of that series having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity date and other terms (except for the price to public and issue date) as such debt securities. Any such additional debt securities, together with the initial debt securities, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the applicable indenture. No additional debt securities of a series may be issued if an event of default under the applicable indenture has occurred and is continuing with respect to that series of debt securities.
A prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:
● | the title and type of the debt securities; |
● | any limit on the total principal amount of the debt securities of that series; |
● | the price at which the debt securities will be issued; |
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● | the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on the debt securities will be payable; |
● | the maturity date or dates of the debt securities or the method by which those dates can be determined; |
● | if the debt securities will bear interest: |
● | the interest rate on the debt securities or the method by which the interest rate may be determined; |
● | the date from which interest will accrue; |
● | the record and interest payment dates for the debt securities; and |
● | the first interest payment date; |
● | the place or places where: |
● | we can make payments on the debt securities; |
● | the debt securities can be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange; and |
● | notices and demands can be given to us relating to the debt securities and under the applicable indenture; |
● | any optional redemption provisions that would permit us to elect redemption of the debt securities, or the holders of the debt securities to elect repayment of the debt securities, before their final maturity; |
● | any sinking fund provisions that would obligate us to redeem the debt securities before their final maturity; |
● | whether the debt securities will be convertible and, if so, the terms and conditions of any such conversion; |
● | if the debt securities will be issued in bearer form, the terms and provisions contained in the bearer securities and in the applicable indenture specifically relating to the bearer securities; |
● | whether all or part of the debt securities will not be issued as permanent global securities and the extent to which the description of the book-entry procedures described below under “- Book- Entry, Delivery and Form” will not apply to such global securities - a “global security” is a debt security that we issue in accordance with the applicable indenture to represent all or part of a series of debt securities; |
● | whether all or part of the debt securities will be issued in whole or in part as temporary global securities and, if so, the depositary for those temporary global securities and any special provisions dealing with the payment of interest and any terms relating to the ability to exchange interests in a temporary global security for interests in a permanent global security or for definitive debt securities; |
● | whether any additional amounts will be payable; |
● | the denominations of the debt securities, if other than $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof for registered securities, and $5,000 for bearer securities; |
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● | any portion of the principal amount of debt securities that shall be payable upon acceleration; |
● | the currency or currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated and payable, if other than U.S. dollars and, if a composite currency, any special provisions relating thereto; |
● | any circumstances under which the debt securities may be paid in a currency other than the currency in which the debt securities are denominated and the manner in which the exchange rate shall be determined; |
● | whether the provisions described below under the heading “- Defeasance” will not apply to the debt securities; |
● | any events of default that will apply to the debt securities in addition to those contained in the applicable indenture; |
● | any additions or changes to the covenants contained in the applicable indenture and the ability, if any, of the holders to waive our compliance with those additional or changed covenants; |
● | the identity of the trustee, security registrar and paying agent for the debt securities; |
● | any material tax implications of the debt securities; |
● | any special provisions relating to the payment of any additional amounts on the debt securities; and |
● | any other terms of the debt securities. |
When we use the term “holder” in this prospectus with respect to a registered debt security, we mean the person in whose name such debt security is registered in the security register.
Exchange and Transfer
At the option of the holder, any debt securities of a series can be exchanged for other debt securities of that series so long as the other debt securities are denominated in authorized denominations and have the same aggregate principal amount and same terms as the debt securities that were surrendered for exchange, subject to limitations with respect to bearer securities in global form. The debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a satisfactory written instrument of transfer, at the office or agency maintained by us for that purpose in any place of payment that we may designate. However, holders of global securities may transfer and exchange global securities only in the manner and to the extent set forth under “- Book-Entry, Delivery and Form” below. There will be no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require holders to pay any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange of the debt securities. If the applicable prospectus supplement refers to any office or agency, in addition to the security registrar, initially designated by us where holders can surrender the debt securities for registration of transfer or exchange, we may at any time rescind the designation of any such office or agency or approve a change in the location. However, we will be required to maintain an office or agency in each place of payment for that series.
We will not be required to:
● | issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities to be redeemed for a period of 15 calendar days preceding the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption; or |
● | register the transfer of or exchange any registered debt security selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed or unpaid portion of that registered debt security being redeemed in part. |
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Interest and Principal Payments
Payments. Holders may present debt securities for payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, register the transfer of the debt securities and exchange the debt securities at the agency maintained by us for such purpose and identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. We refer to the applicable trustee acting in the capacity of a paying agent for the debt securities as the “paying agent.”
Any money that we pay to the paying agent for the purpose of making payments on the debt securities and that remains unclaimed two years after the payments were due will, at our request, be returned to us and after that time any holder of a debt security can only look to us for the payments on the debt security.
Recipients of Payments. The paying agent will pay interest to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the applicable record date. However, upon maturity, redemption or repayment, the paying agent will pay any interest due to the person to whom it pays the principal of the debt security. The paying agent will make the payment on the date of maturity, redemption or repayment, whether or not that date is an interest payment date. An “interest payment date” for any debt security means a date on which, under the terms of that debt security, regularly scheduled interest is payable.
Book-Entry Debt Securities. The paying agent will make payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, to the account of The Depository Trust Company, referred to herein as “DTC,” or other depositary specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, as holder of book-entry debt securities, by wire transfer of immediately available funds. The “depositary” means the depositary for global securities issued under the applicable indenture and, unless provided otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, means DTC. We expect that the depositary, upon receipt of any payment, will immediately credit its participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the book-entry debt securities as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by the depositary’s participants to owners of beneficial interests in the book-entry debt securities will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of those participants.
Certificated Debt Securities. Except as indicated below for payments of interest at maturity, redemption or repayment, the paying agent will make payments of interest either:
● | by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to payment as shown on the security register; or |
● | by wire transfer to an account designated by a holder, if the holder has given written notice not later than 10 calendar days prior to the applicable interest payment date. |
Redemption and Repayment of Debt Securities
Optional Redemption by Us. If applicable, the prospectus supplement will indicate the terms of our option to redeem the debt securities. We will mail a notice of redemption to each holder which, in the case of global securities, will be the depositary, as holder of the global securities, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, or within the redemption notice period designated in the applicable prospectus supplement, to the address of each holder as that address appears upon the books maintained by the security registrar.
A partial redemption of the debt securities may be effected by such method as required by us, the registrar or the trustee, and may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of debt securities held by a holder equal to an authorized denomination. If we redeem less than all of the debt securities and the debt securities are then held in book-entry form, the redemption will be made in accordance with the depositary’s customary procedures. We have been advised that it is DTC’s practice to determine by the lot the amount of each participant in the debt securities to be redeemed.
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Unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the debt securities called for redemption.
Repayment at Option of Holder. If applicable, the prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will indicate that the holder has the option to have us repay a debt security of that series on a date or dates specified prior to its stated maturity date. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the repayment price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the debt security, together with accrued interest to the date of repayment.
Each holder desiring to exercise such holder’s option for repayment shall surrender the debt security to be repaid, together with written notice of the exercise, at least 30 days but not more than 45 days prior to the repayment date, at any of our offices or agencies in a place of payment, setting forth the principal amount of the debt security, the principal amount of the debt security to be repaid, and in the case of partial repayment, shall specify the denomination or denominations of the debt securities of the same series and the portion of the principal amount which is not to be repaid.
Exercise of the repayment option by the holder of a debt security will be irrevocable. The holder may exercise the repayment option for less than the entire principal amount of the debt security but, in that event, the principal amount of the debt security remaining outstanding after repayment must be an authorized denomination.
If a debt security is represented by a global security, the depositary or the depositary’s nominee will be the holder of the debt security and therefore will be the only entity that can exercise a right to repayment. In order to ensure that the depositary’s nominee will timely exercise a right to repayment of a particular debt security, the beneficial owner of the debt security must instruct the broker or other direct or indirect participant through which it holds an interest in the debt security to notify the depositary of its desire to exercise a right to repayment. Different firms have different cut-off times for accepting instructions from their customers and, accordingly, each beneficial owner should consult the broker or other direct or indirect participant through which it holds an interest in a debt security in order to ascertain the cut-off time by which an instruction must be given in order for timely notice to be delivered to the depositary.
We may purchase debt securities at any price in the open market or otherwise. Debt securities so purchased by us may, at our discretion, be held or resold or surrendered to the applicable trustee for cancellation.
Denominations
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities may be issued in registered form in denominations of $1,000 each and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, or in bearer form in denominations of $5,000.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
Each of the indentures permits a consolidation or merger between us and another entity, subject to certain conditions. They also permit the sale or transfer by us of all or substantially all of our property and assets. These transactions are permitted if:
● | the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than us, is organized and existing under the laws of a domestic jurisdiction and assumes all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the applicable indenture, including the payment of all amounts due on the debt securities and performance of the covenants in the applicable indenture; and |
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● | immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default under the applicable indenture exists. |
If we consolidate or merge with or into any other entity or sell or lease all or substantially all of our assets according to the terms and conditions of the indentures, the resulting or acquiring entity will be substituted for us in the indentures with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the indentures. As a result, such successor entity may exercise our rights and powers under the indentures, in our name and, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of our properties, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the indentures and under the debt securities.
Modification and Waiver
Under each of the indentures, certain of our rights and obligations and certain of the rights of holders of the debt securities may be modified or amended with the consent of the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series of debt securities affected by the modification or amendment, acting as one class. However, the following modifications and amendments will not be effective against any holder without its consent:
● | a change in the stated maturity date of any payment of principal or interest; |
● | a reduction in payments due on the debt securities; |
● | a change in the place of payment or currency in which any payment on the debt securities is payable; |
● | a limitation of a holder’s right to sue us for the enforcement of payments due on the debt securities; |
● | a reduction in the percentage of outstanding debt securities required to consent to a modification or amendment of the applicable indenture or required to consent to a waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the applicable indenture or certain defaults under the applicable indenture; |
● | a reduction in the requirements contained in the applicable indenture for quorum or voting; |
● | a limitation of a holder’s right, if any, to repayment of debt securities at the holder’s option; and |
● | a modification of any of the foregoing requirements contained in the applicable indenture. |
Under each of the indentures, the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series of debt securities affected by a particular covenant or condition, acting as one class, may, on behalf of all holders of such series of debt securities, waive compliance by us with any covenant or condition contained in the applicable indenture unless we specify that such covenant or condition cannot be so waived at the time we establish the series.
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In addition, under each of the indentures, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series of debt securities may, on behalf of all holders of that series, waive any past default under the applicable indenture, except:
● | a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities of that series; or |
● | a default under any provision of the applicable indenture which itself cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holders of each outstanding debt security of that series. |
Events of Default
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, an “event of default,” when used in the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture with respect to any series of debt securities issued thereunder, means any of the following:
● | failure to pay interest on any debt security of that series for 30 days after the payment is due; |
● | failure to pay the principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series when due; |
● | failure to deposit any sinking fund payment on debt securities of that series when due; |
● | failure to perform any other covenant in the applicable indenture that applies to debt securities of that series for 90 days after we have received written notice of the failure to perform in the manner specified in the applicable indenture; |
● | certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; or |
● | any other event of default that may be specified for the debt securities of that series when that series is created. |
If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and continues, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series may declare the entire principal of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If such a declaration occurs, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series can, subject to conditions, rescind the declaration.
Each of the indentures requires us to file an officers’ certificate with the applicable trustee each year that states, to the knowledge of the certifying officers, whether or not any defaults exist under the terms of the applicable indenture. The applicable trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except defaults in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any sinking fund installment, if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the interest of the holders. For purposes of this paragraph, “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default under the applicable indenture with respect to the debt securities of the applicable series.
Other than its duties in the case of a default, a trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the applicable indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer that trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee. If satisfactory indemnification is provided, then, subject to other rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, with respect to the debt securities of that series, direct the time, method and place of:
● | conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee; or |
● | exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee. |
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The holder of a debt security of any series will have the right to begin any proceeding with respect to the applicable indenture or for any remedy only if:
● | the holder has previously given the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to that series; |
● | the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made a written request of, and offered reasonable indemnification to, the trustee to begin such proceeding; |
● | the trustee has not started such proceeding within 60 days after receiving the request; and |
● | the trustee has not received directions inconsistent with such request from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series during those 60 days. |
However, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute right to receive payment of principal of and any premium and interest on the debt security when due and to institute suit to enforce this payment, subject to limitations with respect to subordinated debt securities.
Defeasance
Defeasance and Discharge. At the time that we establish a series of debt securities under the applicable indenture, we can provide that the debt securities of that series are subject to the defeasance and discharge provisions of that indenture. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities offered thereby will be subject to the defeasance and discharge provisions of the applicable indenture, and we will be discharged from our obligations on the debt securities of that series if:
● | we deposit with the applicable trustee, in trust, sufficient money or, if the debt securities of that series are denominated and payable in U.S. dollars only, Eligible Instruments, to pay the principal, any interest, any premium and any other sums due on the debt securities of that series, such as sinking fund payments, on the dates the payments are due under the applicable indenture and the terms of the debt securities; |
● | we deliver to the applicable trustee an opinion of counsel that states that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if no deposit, defeasance and discharge had been made; and |
● | if the debt securities of that series are listed on any domestic or foreign securities exchange, the debt securities will not be delisted as a result of the deposit. |
When we use the term “Eligible Instruments” in this section, we mean monetary assets, money market instruments and securities that are payable in U.S. dollars only and essentially risk free as to collection of principal and interest, including:
● | monetary assets, money market instruments and securities that are payable in U.S. dollars only and essentially risk free as to collection of principal and interest; or |
● | direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States if the timely payment of the obligation is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States. |
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In the event that we deposit money and/or Eligible Instruments in trust and discharge our obligations under a series of debt securities as described above, then:
● | the applicable indenture, including, in the case of subordinated debt securities, the subordination provisions contained in the subordinated indenture, will no longer apply to the debt securities of that series; however, certain obligations to compensate, reimburse and indemnify the trustee, to register the transfer and exchange of debt securities, to replace lost, stolen or mutilated debt securities, to maintain paying agencies and the trust funds and to pay additional amounts, if any, required as a result of U.S. withholding taxes imposed on payments to non-U.S. persons will continue to apply; and |
● | holders of debt securities of that series can only look to the trust fund for payment of principal, any premium and any interest on the debt securities of that series. |
Defeasance of Certain Covenants and Certain Events of Default. At the time that we establish a series of debt securities under the applicable indenture, we can provide that the debt securities of that series are subject to the covenant defeasance provisions of that indenture. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities offered thereby will be subject to the covenant defeasance provisions of the applicable indenture, and if we make the deposit and deliver the opinion of counsel described above in this section under the heading “- Defeasance and Discharge,” we will not have to comply with any covenant we designate when we establish the series of debt securities. In the event of a covenant defeasance, our obligations under the applicable indenture and the debt securities, other than with respect to the covenants specifically designated upon establishing the debt securities, will remain in effect.
If we exercise our option not to comply with certain covenants as described above and the debt securities of the series become immediately due and payable because an event of default has occurred, other than as a result of an event of default specifically relating to any of such covenants, the amount of money and/or Eligible Instruments on deposit with the applicable trustee will be sufficient to pay the principal, any interest, any premium and any other sums, due on the debt securities of that series, such as sinking fund payments, on the date the payments are due under the applicable indenture and the terms of the debt securities, but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due at the time of acceleration. However, we would remain liable for the balance of the payments.
Subordination
The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate to all of our existing and future Senior Debt, as defined below. Our “Senior Debt” includes the senior debt securities and means the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, rent under, and any other amounts payable on or in or in respect of any of our indebtedness (including, without limitation, any obligations in respect of such indebtedness and any interest accruing after the filing of a petition by or against us under any bankruptcy law, whether or not allowed as a claim after such filing in any proceeding under such bankruptcy law), whether outstanding on the date of the senior indenture or thereafter created, incurred, assumed, guaranteed or in effect guaranteed by us (including all deferrals, renewals, extensions, refinancings or refundings of, or amendments, modifications or supplements to the foregoing). However, Senior Debt does not include:
● | any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by us; |
● | our indebtedness to any of our subsidiaries; |
● | our trade payables and accrued expenses (including, without limitation, accrued compensation) for goods, services or materials purchased or provided in the ordinary course of business; and |
● | any particular indebtedness in which the instrument creating or evidencing the same expressly provides that such indebtedness shall not be senior in right of payment to, or is pari passu with, or is subordinated or junior to, the subordinated debt securities. |
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If certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur, we will first pay all Senior Debt, including any interest accrued after the events occur, in full before we make any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, on account of the principal of or interest on the subordinated debt securities. In such an event, we will pay or deliver directly to the holders of Senior Debt any payment or distribution otherwise payable or deliverable to holders of the subordinated debt securities. We will make the payments to the holders of Senior Debt according to priorities existing among those holders until we have paid all Senior Debt, including accrued interest, in full. Notwithstanding the subordination provisions discussed in this paragraph, we may make payments or distributions on the subordinated debt securities so long as:
● | the payments or distributions consist of securities issued by us or another company in connection with a plan of dissolution, reorganization, readjustment or winding up; and |
● | payment on those securities is subordinate to outstanding Senior Debt and any securities issued with respect to Senior Debt under such plan of dissolution, reorganization, readjustment or winding up at least to the same extent provided in the subordination provisions of the subordinated debt securities. |
If such events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur, after we have paid in full all amounts owed on Senior Debt:
● | the holders of subordinated debt securities, |
● | together with the holders of any of our other obligations ranking equal with those subordinated debt securities, |
will be entitled to receive from our remaining assets any principal, premium or interest due at that time on the subordinated debt securities and such other obligations before we make any payment or other distribution on account of any of our capital stock or obligations ranking junior to those subordinated debt securities.
If we violate the subordinated indenture by making a payment or distribution to holders of the subordinated debt securities before we have paid all of the Senior Debt in full, then such holders of the subordinated debt securities will be deemed to have received the payments or distributions in trust for the benefit of, and will have to pay or transfer the payments or distributions to, the holders of the Senior Debt outstanding at the time. The payment or transfer to the holders of the Senior Debt will be made according to the priorities existing among those holders. Notwithstanding the subordination provisions discussed in this paragraph, holders of subordinated debt securities will not be required to pay, or transfer payments or distributions to, holders of Senior Debt so long as:
● | the payments or distributions consist of securities issued by us or another company in connection with a plan of reorganization or readjustment; and |
● | payment on those securities is subordinated to outstanding Senior Debt and any securities issued with respect to Senior Debt under such plan of reorganization or readjustment at least to the same extent provided in the subordination provisions of those subordinated debt securities. |
● | Because of the subordination, if we become insolvent, holders of Senior Debt may receive more, ratably, and holders of the subordinated debt securities having a claim pursuant to those securities may receive less, ratably, than our other creditors. |
We may modify or amend the subordinated indenture as provided under “- Modification and Waiver” above. However, the modification or amendment may not, without the consent of the holders of all Senior Debt outstanding, modify any of the provisions of the subordinated indenture relating to the subordination of the subordinated debt securities in a manner that would adversely affect the holders of Senior Debt.
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Payment of Additional Amounts
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not pay any additional amounts on the debt securities offered thereby to compensate any beneficial owner for any United States tax withheld from payments on such debt securities.
Book-Entry, Delivery and Form
We have obtained the information in this section concerning DTC, Clearstream Banking S.A., or “Clearstream,” and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, or “Euroclear,” and the book-entry system and procedures from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information. This information could change at any time. In addition, we have no control over DTC, Clearstream or Euroclear, or any of their participants, and therefore we take no responsibility for their activities.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued as fully registered global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC and registered, at the request of DTC, in the name of Cede & Co. Beneficial interests in the global securities will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct or indirect participants in DTC. The direct and indirect participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers. Investors may elect to hold their interests in the global securities through either DTC (in the United States) or (in Europe) through Clearstream or through Euroclear. Investors may hold their interests in the global securities directly if they are participants of such systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in these systems. Interests held through Clearstream and Euroclear will be recorded on DTC’s books as being held by the U.S. Depositary for each of Clearstream and Euroclear (the “U.S. Depositaries”), which U.S. Depositaries will, in turn, hold interests on behalf of their participants’ customers’ securities accounts. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, beneficial interests in the global securities will be held in denominations of $1,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Except as set forth below, the global securities may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee.
Debt securities represented by a global security can be exchanged for definitive securities in registered form only if:
● | DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint a qualified successor depositary within 90 days after receiving that notice; |
● | at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days after becoming aware that DTC has ceased to be registered as a clearing agency; |
● | we in our sole discretion determine that such global security will be exchangeable for definitive securities in registered form or elect to terminate the book-entry system through DTC and notify the applicable trustee of our decision; or |
● | an event of default with respect to the debt securities represented by that global security has occurred and is continuing. |
A global security that can be exchanged as described in the preceding sentence will be exchanged for definitive securities issued in authorized denominations in registered form for the same aggregate amount. The definitive securities will be registered in the names of the owners of the beneficial interests in the global security as directed by DTC.
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We will make principal and interest payments on all debt securities represented by a global security to the paying agent which in turn will make payment to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole holder of the debt securities represented by a global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Accordingly, we, the applicable trustee and any paying agent will have no responsibility or liability for:
● | any aspect of DTC’s records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in a debt security represented by a global security; |
● | any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and its participants or the relationship between those participants and the owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through those participants; or |
● | the maintenance, supervision or review of any of DTC’s records relating to those beneficial ownership interests. |
We understand that DTC’s current practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts on each payment date with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such global security as shown on DTC’s records, upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information. The underwriters or agents for the debt securities represented by a global security will initially designate the accounts to be credited. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for customer accounts registered in “street name,” and will be the sole responsibility of those participants, and not of DTC or its nominee, the trustee, any agent of ours, or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements. Book-entry notes may be more difficult to pledge because of the lack of a physical note.
DTC
So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a global security, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and holder of the debt securities represented by that global security for all purposes of the debt securities. Owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities will not be entitled to have debt securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered owners or holders of debt securities under the applicable indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that person is not a DTC participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder of debt securities. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in certificated form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial owners may experience delays in receiving distributions on their debt securities since distributions will initially be made to DTC and must then be transferred through the chain of intermediaries to the beneficial owner’s account.
We understand that, under existing industry practices, if we request holders to take any action, or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security desires to take any action which a holder is entitled to take under the applicable indenture, then DTC would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to take that action and those participants would authorize the beneficial owners owning through such participants to take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.
Beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and transfers of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants for that global security. The conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to its participants and by its participants to owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect.
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We understand that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries.
DTC holds the securities of its participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants. The electronic book-entry system eliminates the need for physical certificates. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of which, and/or their representatives, own DTCC. Banks, brokers, dealers, trust companies and others that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly, also have access to DTC’s book-entry system. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.
The above information with respect to DTC has been provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a representation, warranty or contract modification of any kind.
Clearstream
We understand that Clearstream was incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as an international clearing system. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations, or “Clearstream Participants,” and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to Clearstream Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic securities markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier). Clearstream Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Clearstream’s U.S. Participants are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant either directly or indirectly.
Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Clearstream.
Euroclear
We understand that Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear, or “Euroclear Participants,” and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear performs various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interacts with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., or the “Euroclear Operator,” under contract with Euroclear plc, a U.K. corporation. All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not Euroclear plc. Euroclear plc establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks, including central banks, securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly. Euroclear is an indirect participant in DTC.
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The Euroclear Operator is a Belgian bank. As such it is regulated by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission and the National Bank of Belgium.
Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law, which we will refer to herein as the “Terms and Conditions.” The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.
Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the Euroclear Operator.
We further understand that investors that acquire, hold and transfer interests in the debt securities by book-entry through accounts with the Euroclear Operator or any other securities intermediary are subject to the laws and contractual provisions governing their relationship with their intermediary, as well as the laws and contractual provisions governing the relationship between such an intermediary and each other intermediary, if any, standing between themselves and the global securities.
Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, initial settlement for the debt securities will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading between Clearstream Participants and/or Euroclear Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in immediately available funds.
Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants, on the other, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. Depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. Depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving debt securities through DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same- day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. Depositaries.
Because of time-zone differences, credits of debt securities received through Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in such debt securities settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear Participants or Clearstream Participants on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of debt securities by or through a Clearstream Participant or a Euroclear Participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.
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If the debt securities are cleared only through Euroclear and Clearstream (and not DTC), you will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices, and other transactions involving any securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers, and other institutions are open for business in the United States. In addition, because of time-zone differences, U.S. investors who hold their interests in the securities through these systems and wish to transfer their interests, or to receive or make a payment or delivery or exercise any other right with respect to their interests, on a particular day may find that the transaction will not be effected until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, as applicable. Thus, U.S. investors who wish to exercise rights that expire on a particular day may need to act before the expiration date.
Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of debt securities among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time. Neither we nor any paying agent will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective direct or indirect participants of their obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.
Conversion and Exchange
If any offered debt securities are convertible at the option of the holders or exchangeable at our option, the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities will include the terms and conditions governing any conversions and exchanges.
Governing Law
The indentures are, and the debt securities will be, governed by and will be construed in accordance with New York law.
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Outstanding Warrants
As of April 21, 2025, we had 652,174 shares of the common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, all of which are fully exercisable.
Series A Warrant
Exercisability. Series A Warrants are exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part, by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full in immediately available funds for the number of shares of our common stock purchased upon such exercise (except in the case of a cashless exercise as described below), subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations. No fractional shares of common stock will be issued in connection with the exercise of a Series A Warrant. In lieu of fractional shares, we will pay the holder an amount in cash equal to the fractional amount multiplied by the exercise price.
Duration and Exercise Price. The initial exercise price per whole share of our common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Series A Warrants is $46 per share of common stock. The Series A Warrants may be exercised for a period expiring 5 years from the initial issuance date.
If, while the Series A Warrants are outstanding, we issue or sell, or are deemed to have issued or sold, any common stock and/or common stock equivalents other than in connection with certain exempt issuances, at a purchase price per share less than the exercise price of the Series A Warrants in effect immediately prior to such issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale, then simultaneously with the consummation (or, if earlier, the announcement) of each such issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale, the exercise price of the Series A Warrants then in effect will be reduced to an amount equal to the new issuance price, and the number of shares issuable upon exercise will be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate price will remain unchanged, provided that, the adjusted exercise price shall not be less than twenty percent of the “Minimum Price” under Nasdaq rules (subject to adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, recapitalizations and similar transactions following the issue date of the Series A Warrants (the “Issue Date”)).
Provided the lowest volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) of the common stock during the period commencing five consecutive trading days immediately preceding the Issue Date and ending five consecutive trading days immediately after the Issue Date (the “Event Market Price”) (such period, subject to the terms of the related warrant agreement, shall be the “Issue Date Adjustment Period”) is less than the exercise price then in effect, then at the close of trading on the primary trading market on the last day of the Issue Date Adjustment Period, the exercise price then in effect on such fifth trading day shall be reduced to the Event Market Price and the number of shares issuable upon exercise will be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate price will remain unchanged; provided that the adjusted exercise price shall not be less than twenty percent of the “Minimum Price” under Nasdaq rules (subject to adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, recapitalizations and similar transactions following the Issue Date). However, if such adjustment would otherwise result in an increase in the exercise price hereunder, no adjustment shall be made.
Cashless Exercise. If, at any time after the holder’s purchase of Series A Warrants, such holder exercises its Series A Warrants and the registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of common stock underlying the Series A Warrants under the Securities Act is not then effective or available (or a prospectus is not available for the resale of shares of common stock underlying the Series A Warrants), then in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to us upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder shall instead receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) only the net number of shares of common stock determined according to a formula set forth in the Series A Warrants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event we do not have or maintain an effective registration statement, there are no circumstances that would require us to make any cash payments or net cash settle the Series A Warrants to the holders.
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Transferability. Subject to applicable laws, the Series A Warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned at the option of the holder upon surrender of the Series A Warrants to us together with the appropriate instruments of transfer.
Exchange Listing. We do not plan on applying to list the Series A Warrants on the Nasdaq Capital Market, any other national securities exchange or any other nationally recognized trading system.
Fundamental Transactions. In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the Series A Warrants and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our common stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding common stock, the holders of the Series A Warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Series A Warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the Series A Warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction. In the case of certain fundamental transactions affecting us, a holder of Series A Warrants, upon exercise of such warrants after such fundamental transaction, will have the right to receive, in lieu of shares of our common stock, the same amount and kind of securities, cash or property that such holder would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of the fundamental transaction, had the Series A Warrants been exercised immediately prior to such fundamental transaction. In lieu of such consideration, a holder of Series A Warrants may instead elect to receive a cash payment based upon the Black-Scholes value of their Series A Warrants.
Rights as a Stockholder. Except by virtue of such holder’s ownership of shares of our common stock, the holder of a Series A Warrant does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our common stock, including any voting rights, until the holder exercises the Series A Warrant.
Additional Warrants
We may issue warrants, including pre-funded warrants, for the purchase of shares of our common stock or preferred stock or of debt securities. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and the investors or a warrant agent. The following summary of material provisions of the warrants and warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement and warrant certificate applicable to a particular series of warrants. The terms of any warrants offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants.
The particular terms of any issue of warrants will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the issue. Those terms may include:
● | the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase such shares and the price at which such number of shares may be purchased upon such exercise; |
● | the designation, stated value and terms (including, without limitation, liquidation, dividend, conversion and voting rights) of the series of preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of warrants to purchase preferred stock; |
● | the principal amount of debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a debt warrant and the exercise price for the warrants, which may be payable in cash, securities or other property; |
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● | the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the related debt securities, preferred stock or common stock will be separately transferable; |
● | the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants; |
● | the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire; |
● | a discussion of certain United States federal income tax consequences applicable to the warrants; and |
● | any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange, exercise and settlement of the warrants. |
Holders of equity warrants will not be entitled to:
● | vote, consent or receive dividends; |
● | receive notice as stockholders with respect to any meeting of stockholders for the election of our directors or any other matter; or |
● | exercise any rights as our stockholders. |
Each warrant will entitle its holder to purchase the principal amount of debt securities or the number of shares of preferred stock or common stock at the exercise price set forth in, or calculable as set forth 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 the specified 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.
A holder of warrant certificates may exchange them for new warrant certificates of different denominations, present them for registration of transfer and exercise them at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Until any warrants to purchase debt securities are exercised, the holder of the warrants will not have any rights of holders of the debt securities that can be purchased upon exercise, including any rights to receive payments of principal, premium or interest on the underlying debt securities or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture. Until any warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock are exercised, the holders of the warrants will not have any rights of holders of the underlying common stock or preferred stock, including any rights to receive dividends or payments upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up on the common stock or preferred stock, if any.
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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS
We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us and contracts obligating us to sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of common stock or other securities at a future date or dates. The price per share of the securities and the number of shares of the securities may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a stock purchase contract and warrants or other securities or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the securities under the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase contracts or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. They may also require holders to secure their obligations thereunder in a specified manner and in certain circumstances we may deliver newly issued prepaid stock purchase contracts, or prepaid securities, upon release to a holder of any collateral securing such holder’s obligations under the original stock purchase contract.
The stock purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of stock purchase contracts. The prospectus supplement and any incorporated documents relating to any stock purchase contracts that we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including, among other matters:
● | If applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and |
● | Any other information we think important about the stock purchase contracts. |
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We may issue rights to purchase our common stock. The rights may or may not be transferable by the persons purchasing or receiving the rights. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which such underwriters or other persons would purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such rights offering. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agent agreement to be entered into between us and one or more banks, trust companies or other financial institutions, as rights agent, that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights.
The prospectus supplement and any incorporated documents relating to any rights that we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including, among other matters:
● | the date of determining the security holders entitled to the rights distribution; |
● | the aggregate number of rights issued and the aggregate number of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of the rights; |
● | the exercise price; |
● | the conditions to completion of the rights offering; |
● | the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the rights will expire; and |
● | a discussion of certain United States federal income tax consequences applicable to the rights offering. |
Each right would entitle the holder of the rights to purchase for cash shares of common stock at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will become void.
If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than our security holders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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We may issue units consisting of any combination of the other types of securities offered under this prospectus in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units.
The following description, together with the additional information included in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general features of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. You should read any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of units being offered, as well as the complete unit agreements that contain the terms of the units. Specific unit agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and we will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from another report that we file with the SEC, the form of each unit agreement relating to units offered under this prospectus.
If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable:
● | the title of the series of units; |
● | identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units; |
● | the price or prices at which the units will be issued; |
● | the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable; |
● | a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and |
● | any other terms of the units and their constituent securities. |
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We may sell securities in any one or more of the following ways from time to time:
● | to or through agents; |
● | to or through underwriters (including through syndicates or acting alone for resale); |
● | to or through brokers or dealers; |
● | directly by us to purchasers, including through a specific bidding, auction or other process; |
● | upon the exercise of subscription rights that may be distributed to our stockholders; |
● | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
● | privately negotiated transactions; |
● | settlement of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part; |
● | through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise; or |
● | through a combination of any of these methods of sale; or |
● | by any other method permitted by law. |
The applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material will contain the terms of the transaction, name or names of any underwriters, dealers, or agents and the respective amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by them, the initial public offering price of the securities, and the applicable agent’s commission, dealer’s purchase price or underwriter’s discount. Any dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts.
Sales of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions:
● | at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
● | at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
● | at prices related to prevailing market prices; |
● | at varying prices determined at the time of sale; or |
● | at negotiated prices. |
Any initial offering price, dealer purchase price, discount or commission may be changed from time to time. The securities may be distributed from time to time in one or more transactions, at negotiated prices, at a fixed price or fixed prices (that may be subject to change), at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at various prices determined at the time of sale or at prices related to prevailing market prices.
Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us or by agents designated by us from time to time. Any such agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold.
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If underwriters or dealers acting as principal are utilized in the sale of any securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, such securities will be acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at fixed public offering prices or at varying prices determined by the underwriters or dealers at the time of sale. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by one or more underwriters. If any underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale of securities, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, the obligations of the underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all such securities if any are purchased.
If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. Transactions through brokers or dealers may include block trades in which brokers or dealers will attempt to sell shares as agent but may position and resell as principal to facilitate the transaction or in crosses, in which the same broker or dealer acts as agent on both sides of the trade. Any such dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter, as such term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold.
Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us and the sale thereof may be made directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale thereof.
If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, we may authorize agents and underwriters to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase securities at the public offering price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material. Such delayed delivery contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material.
Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under relevant agreements to indemnification against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which such agents, underwriters and dealers may be required to make in respect thereof. The terms and conditions of any indemnification or contribution will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material.
We may also sell shares of our common stock through various arrangements involving mandatorily or optionally exchangeable securities, and this prospectus may be delivered in connection with those sales.
We may enter into derivative, sale or forward sale transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material indicates, in connection with those transactions, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, including in short sale transactions and by issuing securities not covered by this prospectus but convertible into, or exchangeable for or representing beneficial interests in such securities covered by this prospectus, or the return of which is derived in whole or in part from the value of such securities. The third parties may use securities received under derivative, sale or forward sale transactions, or securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those transactions to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment) and/or other offering material.
Underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts or concessions from us. Underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may also receive compensation from the purchasers of shares for whom they act as agents or to whom they sell as principals, or both. Compensation as to a particular underwriter, broker-dealer or agent might be in excess of customary commissions and will be in amounts to be negotiated in connection with transactions involving shares. In effecting sales, broker-dealers may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in the resales.
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Each series of securities will be a new issue and, other than the common stock, which is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, will have no established trading market. We may elect to list any series of securities on an exchange, and in the case of the common stock, on any additional or substitute exchange, but, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, we shall not be obligated to do so. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.
Agents, underwriters and dealers may engage in transactions with, or perform services for us and our respective subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.
Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. 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 securities 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 securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be.
If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time. An underwriter may carry out these transactions on the Nasdaq Capital Market, any additional or substitute exchange on which our common stock is listed, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. We do not make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above might have on the price of the securities. In addition, we do not make any representation that underwriters will engage in such transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
The place and time of delivery for securities will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement and/or other offering material for such securities.
To comply with applicable state securities laws, the securities offered by this prospectus will be sold, if necessary, in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, securities may not be sold in some states unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
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The validity of the securities offered hereby and certain other matters under U.S. law will be passed upon for us by Rimon, P.C. unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for any underwriters, dealers or agents by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on April 15, 2025 have been audited by UHY LLP independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which includes an explanatory paragraph as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern and which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
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SUNation Energy, Inc.
$100,000,000
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Debt Securities
Stock Purchase Contracts
Warrants
Rights
Units
PROSPECTUS
, 2025
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following is an estimate of the expenses (all of which are to be paid by the registrant) that we may incur in connection with the securities being registered hereby.
SEC registration fee | $ | 15,310 | ||
Fees and expenses of the trustee | * | |||
Printing expenses | * | |||
Legal fees and expenses | * | |||
Accounting fees and expenses | * | |||
FINRA filing fees | * | |||
The Nasdaq Capital Market supplemental listing fee | * | |||
Miscellaneous | * | |||
Total | $ | 15,310 |
* | These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
The discussion below is not intended to be exhaustive and is respectively qualified in its entirety by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the DGCL, our certificate of incorporation (as amended), our bylaws (as amended), and relevant indemnification agreements.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the provisions below, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Delaware Law
Section 102 of the DGCL permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit.
Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or a person serving at the request of the corporation for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise in related capacities against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding to which he was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
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Certificate of Incorporation
Our certificate of provide that we will indemnify each person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of our company) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of our company, or is or was serving at the request of our company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of our company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful.
In addition, our certificate of incorporation provide that we will indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of our company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of our company, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of our company and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to our company; unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses that the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Bylaws
Our bylaws provide that we will indemnify each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he/she is or was our director or an officer or is or was serving at our request, as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by us to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits us to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted us to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees, professional fees, expert fees, expenses, judgments, fines, taxes, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as provided in our bylaws with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, we will indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding was authorized by our board of directors.
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Insurance Matters
We also maintain standard policies of insurance under which coverage is provided to our directors and officers against losses arising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act, and to us with respect to payments which may be made by us to such directors and officers pursuant to the above indemnification provisions or otherwise as a matter of law, but which such insurance policies also contain customary deductibles.
Item 16. Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed as a part of this Registration Statement.
Exhibit No. | Description | Method of Filing | ||
1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement | |||
4.1 | Form of Series A Warrant | Incorporated by Reference | ||
4.2 | Form of Senior Indenture | Incorporated by Reference | ||
4.3 | Form of Subordinated Indenture | Incorporated by Reference | ||
4.4* | Form of Senior Note | |||
4.5* | Form of Subordinated Note | |||
4.6* | Form of Warrant Agreement | |||
4.7* | Form of Warrant | |||
4.8* | Form of Rights Agent Agreement (including form of Rights Certificate) | |||
4.9* | Form of Unit Agreement (including form of Unit Certificate) | |||
4.10* | Form of Stock Purchase Contract (including form of Stock Purchase Contract Certificate) | |||
5.1 | Opinion of Rimon, P.C. | Filed herewith | ||
23.1 | Consent of UHY LLP | Filed herewith | ||
23.2 | Consent of Rimon, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto) | Filed herewith | ||
24.1 | Power of Attorney (included in Signatures) | Filed herewith | ||
25.1* | Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the trustee, as trustee under the Senior Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.10 above. | |||
25.2* | Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the trustee, as trustee under the Subordinated Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.11 above. | |||
107 | Filing Fee Table | Filed herewith |
* | To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of the securities. |
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Item 17. Undertakings
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii), and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on April 22, 2025.
SUNATION ENERGY, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Scott Maskin | |
Scott Maskin | ||
Chief Executive Officer |
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Scott Maskin and James Brennan as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to file and sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments and any registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective under Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, to this registration statement, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in- fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney shall be governed by and construed with the laws of the State of Delaware and applicable federal securities laws.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities set forth opposite their names and on April 22, 2025.
Name | Title | |
/s/ Scott Maskin | Chief Executive Officer and Director | |
Scott Maskin | (Principal Executive Officer) | |
/s/ James Brennan | Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer | |
James Brennan | (Principal Financial Officer) | |
/s/ Kristin A. Hlavka | Chief Accounting Officer | |
Kristin A. Hlavka | (Principal Accounting Officer) | |
/s/ Roger Lacey | Director | |
Roger Lacey | ||
/s/ Spring Hollis | Director | |
Spring Hollis | ||
/s/ Kevin O’Connor | Director | |
Kevin O’Connor | ||
/s/ Dr. Henry B. Howard | Director | |
Dr. Henry B. Howard |
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