Commerce.com, Inc S-3ASR, filed Feb 11, 2022
Commerce.com, Inc. (CMRC)
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11, 2022
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
The Securities Act of 1933
BigCommerce Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 46-2707656 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
11305 Four Points Drive
Building II, Third Floor
Austin, Texas 78726
(512) 865-4500
(Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
Brent Bellm
President and Chief Executive Officer
BigCommerce Holdings, Inc.
11305 Four Points Drive
Building II, Third Floor
Austin, Texas 78726
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Samer M. Zabaneh, Esq.
Samuel D. Rettew, Esq.
Latham & Watkins LLP
301 Congress Avenue, Suite 900
Austin, Texas 78701
Tel: (737) 910-7300
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, 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. ☐
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Series 1 Common Stock
We may offer from time to time series 1 common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series 1 common stock”) in one or more offerings. When we decide to sell Series 1 common stock, we will provide specific terms of the offered common stock, including the amount of Series 1 common stock offered, in a prospectus supplement. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement may be used to offer Series 1 common stock for the account of persons other than us. We may offer and sell Series 1 common stock to or through one or more underwriters, brokers, dealers, agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. See “Plan of Distribution” for a further description of the manner in which we may offer and sell the Series 1 common stock covered by this prospectus.
You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest. We may not use this prospectus to sell Series 1 common stock unless it includes a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the applicable offering. A prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell common stock and it is not soliciting an offer to buy common stock in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “BIGC.”
Investing in our Series 1 common stock involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3, as well as the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.
The Securities and Exchange Commission and state regulators have not approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is February 11, 2022.
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We are responsible for the information contained and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, in any applicable prospectus supplement, and in any related free writing prospectus we prepare or authorize. We have not authorized anyone to give you any other information, and we take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the Series 1 common stock offered by this document are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this document does not extend to you. The information appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, and any related free writing prospectus, is accurate only as of the date thereof, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, or any related free writing prospectus, or of any sale of our Series 1 common stock. Our business, financial condition, and results of operations may have changed since those dates. It is important for you to read and consider all the information contained in this prospectus and in any applicable prospectus supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, in making your investment decision.
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This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”). We may sell Series 1 common stock described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. There is no limit on the aggregate amount of the Series 1 common stock we may offer pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the Series 1 common stock we may offer. Each time we offer Series 1 common stock, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the amounts, prices, and terms of the offered Series 1 common stock. The applicable prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the applicable prospectus supplement. You should carefully read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, and any related free writing prospectus.
The registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, including the exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the offered Series 1 common stock. Wherever references are made in this prospectus to information that will be included in a prospectus supplement, to the extent permitted by applicable law, rules, or regulations, we may instead include such information or add, update, or change the information contained in this prospectus by means of a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, through filings we make with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, or by any other method as may then be permitted under applicable law, rules, or regulations. Before purchasing any Series 1 common stock, you should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement (and any applicable free writing prospectuses), together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We will not make an offer to sell Series 1 common stock 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 only as of the date on its respective cover, that the information appearing in any applicable free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of that free writing prospectus, 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, market data and industry statistics and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the market and industry data and forecasts that may be included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptions and other risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.
When we refer to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” or “BigCommerce” in this prospectus, we mean BigCommerce Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified. When we refer to “you,” we mean the potential holders of the Series 1 common stock.
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BigCommerce is leading a new era of ecommerce. Our SaaS platform simplifies the creation of beautiful, engaging online stores by delivering a unique combination of ease-of-use, enterprise functionality, and flexibility. We allow merchants to build their ecommerce solution their way with the freedom of choice that makes the most sense for their unique business and product offerings. We power both our customers’ branded ecommerce stores and their cross-channel connections to popular online marketplaces, social networks, and offline point-of-sale (“POS”) systems. As of December 31, 2021 we served approximately 60,000 online stores across industries in approximately 145 countries.
We provide a comprehensive platform for launching and scaling an ecommerce operation, including store design, catalog management, hosting, checkout, order management, reporting, and pre-integration into third-party services like payments, shipping, and accounting. All our stores run on a single code base and share a global, multi-tenant architecture purpose built for security, high performance, and innovation. Our platform serves stores in a wide variety of sizes, product categories, and purchase types, including B2C and B2B. Our customers include Ben & Jerry’s, Molton Brown, SC Johnson, SkullCandy, SoloStove and Vodafone.
We offer access to our platform on a subscription basis. We serve customers with subscription plans tailored to their size and feature needs. For our larger customers, our Enterprise plan offers our full feature set at a monthly subscription price tailored to each business. For small businesses (“SMBs”), BigCommerce Essentials offers three retail plans: Standard, Plus, and Pro, priced at $29.95, $79.95, and $299.95 per month, respectively. Our Essentials plans include gross merchandise volume (“GMV”) thresholds with programmatic upgrades built in as merchants exceed each plan’s threshold.
Partners are essential to our open strategy. We believe we possess one of the deepest and broadest ecosystems of integrated technology solutions in the ecommerce industry. We strategically partner with, rather than compete against, the leading providers in adjacent categories, including payments, shipping, POS, content management system (“CMS”), customer relationship management (“CRM”), and enterprise resource planning (“ERP”). We focus our research and development investments in our core product to create a best-of-breed ecommerce platform and co-market and co-sell with our strategic technology partners to enhance the breadth of the product offering to our customers. As a result, we earn high-margin revenue share from a subset of our strategic technology partners, which complements the high gross margin of our core ecommerce platform.
We plan to continue to invest in our “Open SaaS” strategy, building new partnerships and continuing to develop a platform that offers best-of-breed functionality with the cost-effectiveness of multi-tenant SaaS. As we work to develop and deliver this platform for our customers, we will also invest and grow our business by acquiring additional customers to our platform, growing our revenue with existing customers, expanding our presence in new segments and geographies, and through acquisitions that would synergize and expand our current product offering.
Our principal executive offices are located at 11305 Four Points Drive, Building II, Third Floor, Austin, Texas 78726 (telephone: 512-865-4500). Our principal website is www.bigcommerce.com. The information found on our website is not considered part of, or incorporated by reference in, this prospectus. BigCommerce is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, trading under the symbol “BIGC.”
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Investing in our Series 1 common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before making a decision to invest in our Series 1 common stock, in addition to the other information contained in this prospectus, in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, or incorporated by reference herein or therein, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and discussed under “Risk Factors” contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as any amendments thereto, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus in their entirety, together with other information included in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference, and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with a specific offering. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, predictions, forecasts, objectives, assumptions, or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” and similar words or phrases. These forward-looking statements include statements concerning the following:
| • | our expectations regarding our revenue, expenses, sales, and operations; |
| • | anticipated trends and challenges in our business and the markets in which we operate; |
| • | our ability to compete in our industry and innovation by our competitors; |
| • | our ability to anticipate market needs or develop new or enhanced services to meet those needs; |
| • | our ability to manage growth and to expand our infrastructure; |
| • | our ability to establish and maintain intellectual property rights; |
| • | our ability to manage expansion into international markets and new industries; |
| • | our ability to hire and retain key personnel; |
| • | our expectations regarding the use of proceeds from this offering; |
| • | our ability to successfully identify, manage, and integrate any existing and potential acquisitions; |
| • | our ability to adapt to emerging regulatory developments, technological changes, and cybersecurity needs; |
| • | our anticipated cash needs and our estimates regarding our capital requirements and our need for additional financing; |
| • | the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated economic uncertainty on us, our customers, and our partners, and our response thereto; |
| • | our expectations regarding the prevalence of ecommerce and consumer behavior for periods following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic; and |
| • | other statements described in this prospectus under “Risk Factors” and “BigCommerce Holdings, Inc.” |
Although we believe the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties which are subject to change based on various important factors, some of which are beyond our control. For more information regarding these risks and uncertainties as well as certain additional risks that we face, refer to “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus.
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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement and/or any applicable free writing prospectus, we intend to use the net proceeds to us from the sale of the Series 1 common stock offered hereby for working capital and other general corporate purposes. Additionally, we may use a portion of the net proceeds to us for acquisitions of or investments in businesses, technologies, or other assets. We may also use the net proceeds to refinance or to repay outstanding indebtedness if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Pending other uses, we intend to invest the net proceeds to us in investment-grade, interest-bearing securities such as money market funds, certificates of deposit, or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government, or hold as cash. We cannot predict whether the net proceeds invested will yield a favorable return. Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the Series 1 common stock offered hereby, and investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the net proceeds.
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Authorized Capitalization
Our authorized capital stock consists of 500,000,000 shares of Series 1 common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 5,050,555 shares of Series 2 common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. Unless our board of directors determines otherwise, we will issue all shares of our capital stock in uncertificated form.
Common Stock
This section describes the general terms and provisions of our common stock. For more detailed information, you should refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and restated bylaws, copies of which have been filed with the SEC. These documents are also incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
As of December 31, 2021, there were 72,362,905 shares of our Series 1 common stock outstanding.
Holders of shares of our Series 1 common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally, including the election or removal of directors elected by our stockholders generally. The holders of our Series 1 common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Accordingly, holders of a majority of our Series 1 common stock entitled to vote at an election of directors may elect all of the directors standing for election.
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any preferred stock outstanding at the time, holders of shares of our Series 1 common stock are entitled to receive dividends ratably when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any statutory or contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends. See “Dividends.”
Upon our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up and after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of preferred stock having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of shares of our Series 1 common stock will be entitled to receive pro rata our remaining assets available for distribution.
All shares of our Series 1 common stock to be offered at the time of the consummation of any offering pursuant to this prospectus will be fully paid and non-assessable. Such Series 1 common stock will not be subject to further calls or assessments by us. Holders of shares of our Series 1 common stock do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption, or conversion rights. There will be no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Series 1 common stock. The rights powers, preferences, and privileges of our Series 1 common stock will be subject to those of the holders of any shares of our preferred stock or any other series or class of stock we may authorize and issue in the future.
Dividends
We do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to declare and pay cash dividends, if any, will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on a variety of factors, including applicable laws, our financial condition, results of operations, contractual restrictions, capital requirements, business prospects, general business or financial market conditions, and other factors our board of directors may deem relevant. In addition, our ability to pay cash dividends may be restricted by the terms of the agreements governing any outstanding indebtedness. Our ability to pay cash dividends on our capital stock in the future may also be limited by the terms of any preferred securities we may issue or agreements governing any additional indebtedness we may incur.
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Preferred stock
No shares of preferred stock are issued or outstanding. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to establish one or more series of preferred stock (including convertible preferred stock). Unless required by law or any stock exchange, the authorized shares of preferred stock will be available for issuance without further action by the holders of our common stock. Our board of directors is able to determine, with respect to any series of preferred stock, the powers (including voting powers), preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereof, including:
| • | the designation of the series; |
| • | the number of shares of the series, which our board of directors may, except where otherwise provided in the preferred stock designation, increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of the class) or decrease (but not below the number of shares then outstanding); |
| • | whether dividends, if any, will be cumulative or non-cumulative and the dividend rate of the series; |
| • | the dates at which dividends, if any, will be payable; |
| • | the redemption or repurchase rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series; |
| • | the terms and amounts of any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series; |
| • | the amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs; |
| • | whether the shares of the series will be convertible into shares of any other class or series, or any other security, of us or any other entity, and, if so, the specification of the other class or series or other security, the conversion price or prices or rate or rates, any rate adjustments, the date or dates as of which the shares will be convertible and all other terms and conditions upon which the conversion may be made; |
| • | restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series; and |
| • | the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the series. |
We could issue a series of preferred stock that could, depending on the terms of the series, impede or discourage an acquisition attempt or other transaction that some, or a majority, of the holders of our common stock might believe to be in their best interests or in which the holders of our common stock might receive a premium over the market price of the shares of our common stock. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may adversely affect the rights of holders of our common stock by restricting dividends on the common stock, diluting the voting power of the common stock, or subordinating the liquidation rights of the common stock. As a result of these or other factors, the issuance of preferred stock could have an adverse impact on the market price of our common stock.
Registration Rights and Other Issuances
We have granted certain registration rights pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement, dated November 12, 2021 (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”), by and among us, Quote Ninja, Inc. (d/b/a DBD Ninja) and certain of its stockholders (the “selling stockholders”), pursuant to which the selling stockholders have specified rights to require us to register all or a portion of their shares under the Securities Act.
In connection with our acquisition of Feedonomics LLC, we may elect, in our sole discretion, to make certain post-closing payments partially or entirely in cash or shares of Series 1 common stock, which we would be obligated to register with the SEC.
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Annual stockholder meetings
Our amended and restated bylaws provide that annual stockholder meetings will be held at a date, time and place, if any, as exclusively selected by our board of directors. To the extent permitted under applicable law, we may conduct meetings by remote communications, including by webcast.
Anti-takeover effects of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and certain provisions of Delaware law
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) contain provisions that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our board of directors. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, reduce our vulnerability to a hostile or abusive change of control, and enhance the ability of our board of directors to maximize stockholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire us. However, these provisions may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter, or prevent a merger or acquisition by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest, or other takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the prevailing market price for the shares of common stock held by stockholders.
Authorized but unissued capital stock
The authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval, subject to any limitations imposed by the listing standards of Nasdaq. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate finance transactions, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could make more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger, or otherwise.
Classified board of directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors be divided into three classes, with the classes as nearly equal in number as possible and each class serving three-year staggered terms. Directors may only be removed from our board of directors for cause by the affirmative vote of at least 662⁄3% of the voting power of all of our then outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that, subject to the rights granted to one or more series of preferred stock then outstanding, any newly created directorship on the board of directors that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on our board of directors will be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. These provisions may have the effect of deferring, delaying, or discouraging hostile takeovers, or changes in control of us or our management.
Business combinations
We have opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL, which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any “business combination” with any “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, subject to certain exceptions; however, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains similar provisions providing that we may not engage in certain business combinations with any interested stockholder for a three-year period following the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
| • | prior to such time, our board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; |
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| • | upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding certain shares; or |
| • | at or subsequent to that time, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 662/3% of our outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with that person’s affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three years owned, 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock. For purposes of this section only, “voting stock” has the meaning given to it in Section 203 of the DGCL.
Under certain circumstances, this provision will make it more difficult for a person who would be an “interested stockholder” to effect various business combinations with us for a three-year period. This provision may encourage companies interested in acquiring us to negotiate in advance with our board of directors because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if our board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction that results in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our board of directors and may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
No cumulative voting
Under Delaware law, the right to vote cumulatively does not exist unless the certificate of incorporation specifically authorizes cumulative voting. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not authorize cumulative voting. Therefore, stockholders holding a majority of the shares of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors will be able to elect all of our directors.
Special stockholder meetings
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that special meetings of our stockholders may be called at any time only by or at the direction of a majority of the total number of directors that we would have if there were no vacancies, the chairman of the board of directors, or our chief executive officer. Our amended and restated bylaws prohibit the conduct of any business at a special meeting other than as specified in the notice for such meeting. These provisions may have the effect of deferring, delaying, or discouraging hostile takeovers or changes in control or management.
Director nominations and stockholder proposals
Our amended and restated bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors. In order for any matter to be “properly brought” before a meeting, a stockholder will have to comply with advance notice requirements and provide us with certain information. Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Our amended and restated bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. Our amended and restated bylaws allow the chairman of the meeting at a meeting of the stockholders to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings that may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the rules and regulations are not followed. These provisions may also defer, delay, or discourage a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to influence or obtain control.
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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 or are 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 amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation precludes stockholder action by written consent.
Amendment of amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws
The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as the case may be, requires a greater percentage. Our bylaws may be amended or repealed by a majority vote of our board of directors or by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 662⁄3% of the votes which all our stockholders would be entitled to cast in any annual election of directors. In addition, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 662⁄3% of the votes which all our stockholders would be entitled to cast in any election of directors is required to amend or repeal or to adopt any provisions inconsistent with any of the provisions of our certificate of incorporation described above.
The foregoing provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control. These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our board of directors and in the policies formulated by our board of directors and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened change of control. These provisions are designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal. The provisions also are intended to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights. However, such provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares and, as a consequence, they also may inhibit fluctuations in the market price of our shares of common stock that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts. Such provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our management or delaying or preventing a transaction that might benefit you or other minority stockholders.
Exclusive forum
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware be the sole and exclusive forum for: (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our company, (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any director (including any director serving as a member of the Executive Committee), officer, agent, or other employee or stockholder of our company to us or our stockholders, (3) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (4) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to such Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation further provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolutions of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. The exclusive forum clauses described above shall not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Although we believe these provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of applicable law in the types of lawsuits to which they apply, the provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
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The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings and there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provisions. In addition, investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. It is possible that, in connection with any applicable action brought against us, a court could find the choice of forum provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in such action. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Limitations of liability and indemnification
The DGCL authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties, subject to certain exceptions. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary damages to the corporation or its stockholders for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of these provisions is to eliminate the rights of us and our stockholders, through stockholders’ derivative suits on our behalf, to recover monetary damages from a director for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, including breaches resulting from grossly negligent behavior. However, exculpation does not apply to any breaches of the director’s duty of loyalty, any acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law, any authorization of dividends or stock redemptions or repurchases paid or made in violation of the DGCL, or for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws generally provide that we must indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. We also are expressly authorized to carry directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing indemnification for our directors, officers and certain employees for some liabilities. We believe these indemnification and advancement provisions and insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and executive officers.
The limitation of liability, indemnification and advancement provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
There is currently no pending material litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees for which indemnification is sought.
We have entered into an indemnification agreement with each of our directors and executive officers. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors or executive officers, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy and is therefore unenforceable.
Listing
Our Series 1 common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the trading symbol “BIGC.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our Series 1 common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.
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We may offer and sell the securities being offered hereby in one or more of the following ways from time to time:
| • | through agents; |
| • | to or through underwriters; |
| • | on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale; |
| • | in the over-the-counter market; |
| • | in transactions other than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market; |
| • | in “at the market offerings,” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise; |
| • | through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; |
| • | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
| • | block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| • | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
| • | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
| • | directly by us or by selling stockholders to purchasers, including through a specific bidding, auction or other process; |
| • | privately negotiated transactions; |
| • | a combination of any of the above methods of sale; and |
| • | through any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law and described in a prospectus supplement. |
We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents, or other purchasers, persons, or entities and any applicable compensation and/or indemnification, any over-allotment options by the underwriters, and a brief description of any passive market making that any underwriter or any selling group members intend to engage in and any transactions that any underwriter intends to conduct that stabilizes, maintains or otherwise affects the market price of the securities, together in a prospectus supplement, in an amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or in other filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act, which are incorporated by reference.
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Unless otherwise stated in an applicable prospectus supplement, Latham & Watkins LLP, Austin, Texas, will provide us with an opinion as to the legality of the Series 1 common stock offered under this prospectus. Counsel representing any underwriters, dealers, agents, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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The consolidated financial statements of BigCommerce Holdings, Inc. appearing in BigCommerce Holdings, Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2020, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, incorporated by reference therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed with the SEC are hereby incorporated by reference in this prospectus:
| • | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2021; |
| • | the portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2021, incorporated by reference in Part III of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020; |
| • | our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on May 12, 2021, June 30, 2021, filed with the SEC on August 6, 2021 and September 30, 2021 filed on November 12, 2021, respectively; |
| • | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 18, 2021, July 27, 2021 (not including Item 7.01), September 10, 2021 and September 15, 2021; and |
| • | the description of stock set forth under the heading “Description of capital stock” contained in prospectus on Form 424B4 filed with the SEC on November 16, 2020. |
All reports and other documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the Series 1 common stock hereunder shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such reports and other documents.
Notwithstanding the statements in the preceding paragraphs, no document, report, or exhibit (or portion of any of the foregoing) or any other information that we have “furnished” or may in the future “furnish” to the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act shall be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
We hereby undertake to provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any or all of the information that has been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits have been specifically incorporated by reference thereto. Requests for such copies should be directed to our Investor Relations department, at the address or email address below.
11305 Four Points Drive
Building II, Third Floor
Austin, Texas 78726
(512) 865-4500
investorrelations@bigcommerce.com
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly, and special reports and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet web site that contains reports, proxy, and information statements and other information regarding registrants like us that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the site is www.sec.gov. Our Internet address is www.bigcommerce.com and our investor relations website is located at www.investors.bigcommerce.com. We make available free of charge, on or through our investor relations website, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Any internet addresses provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement are for information only and are not intended to be hyperlinks. In addition, the information on or available through our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in, this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. The Series 1 common stock offered under this prospectus or any prospectus supplement are offered only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus or the prospectus supplement, as the case may be, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, a prospectus supplement, or any sale of the Series 1 common stock.
This prospectus constitutes a part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC under the Securities Act. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and the offerings made under this prospectus, reference is hereby made to the registration statement. Statements contained herein concerning any document filed as an exhibit are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.
BIGCOMMERCE HOLDINGS, INC.
Series 1 Common Stock
PROSPECTUS
FEBRUARY 11, 2022
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
| ITEM 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution |
The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses payable by us in connection with the offering of the Series 1 common stock being registered.
| SEC registration fee |
* | |||
| Nasdaq listing fee |
** | |||
| FINRA fees |
** | |||
| Accounting fees and expenses |
** | |||
| Legal fees and expenses |
** | |||
| Printing and engraving |
** | |||
| Transfer agent and registrar fees |
** | |||
| Trustee fees |
** | |||
| Blue sky fees and expenses (including legal fees) |
** | |||
| Miscellaneous |
** | |||
| Total |
** |
| * | In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), we are deferring payment of the registration fee for the Series 1 common stock offered. |
| ** | The amount of Series 1 common stock and number of offerings are indeterminate and the expenses cannot be estimated at this time. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the sale and distribution of Series 1 common stock being offered will be included in any applicable prospectus supplement. |
| ITEM 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains such a provision.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and individuals against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with specified actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation --a “derivative action”), if they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the case of derivative actions, except that indemnification only extends to expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with defense or settlement of such action, and the statute requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable to the corporation. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains such a provision.
We maintain a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy indemnifying our directors and officers for certain liabilities incurred by them, including liabilities under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. We pay the entire premium of this policy.
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We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers that provide the maximum indemnity allowed to directors and officers by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and which allow for certain additional procedural protections.
These indemnification provisions and the indemnification agreements may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of our officers and directors for liabilities (including reimbursement of expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act.
In addition, an underwriting agreement, if any, entered into in connection with an offering pursuant to this registration statement may provide for indemnification by the underwriters of us and our officers and directors for certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act. Our Investor Rights Agreement with certain stockholders filed as Exhibit 4.3 to this registration statement also provides for cross-indemnification in connection with the registration of our common stock on behalf of such investors.
| ITEM 16. | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules |
| * | To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference, if applicable. |
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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;
(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 the 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 SEC 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 “Calculations 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 (i), (ii) and (iii) above 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 SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, 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, 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 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. 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
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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 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) Any 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, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report, pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) 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 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 SEC 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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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 Austin, State of Texas, on February 11, 2022.
| BIGCOMMERCE HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Robert Alvarez | |
| Robert Alvarez | ||
| Chief Financial Officer | ||
Each of the undersigned officers and directors of the registrant hereby severally constitutes and appoints Brent Bellm, Robert Alvarez and Jeff Mengoli, and each of them acting individually, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of each to act alone, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of each to act alone, 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 for all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his 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, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| SIGNATURE |
TITLE |
DATE | ||
| /s/ Brent Bellm Brent Bellm |
President, Chief Executive Officer and |
February 11, 2022 | ||
| /s/ Robert Alvarez Robert Alvarez |
President and Chief Financial Officer |
February 11, 2022 | ||
| /s/ Thomas Aylor Thomas Aylor |
Vice President, Accounting and |
February 11, 2022 | ||
| /s/ Steven Murray Steven Murray |
Director | February 11, 2022 | ||
| /s/ Donald E. Clarke Donald E. Clarke |
Director | February 11, 2022 | ||
| /s/ Lawrence Bohn Lawrence Bohn |
Director | February 11, 2022 | ||
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| SIGNATURE |
TITLE |
DATE | ||
| /s/ Ellen F. Siminoff Ellen F. Siminoff |
Director | February 11, 2022 | ||
| /s/ Jeff Richards Jeff Richards |
Director | February 11, 2022 | ||
| /s/ John T. McDonald John T. McDonald |
Director | February 11, 2022 | ||
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Exhibit 5.1
| 301 Congress Avenue, Suite 900 | ||||
| Austin, TX 78701 | ||||
| Tel: +1.737.910.7300 Fax: +1.737.910.7301 | ||||
| www.lw.com | ||||
|
FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES | |||
| Austin | Moscow | |||
| Beijing | Munich | |||
| Boston | New York | |||
| Brussels | Orange County | |||
| Century City | Paris | |||
| February 11, 2022 | Chicago | Riyadh | ||
| Dubai | San Diego | |||
| Düsseldorf | San Francisco | |||
| Frankfurt | Seoul | |||
| Hamburg | Shanghai | |||
| BigCommerce Holdings, Inc. 11305 Four Points Drive Building II, Third Floor Austin, Texas 78726 |
Hong Kong | Silicon Valley | ||
| Houston | Singapore | |||
| London | Tel Aviv | |||
| Los Angeles | Tokyo | |||
| Madrid | Washington, D.C. | |||
| Milan | ||||
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
To the addressees set forth above:
We have acted as special counsel to BigCommerce Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with its filing on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of a registration statement on Form S-3 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”), including a base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”), which provides that it will be supplemented by one or more prospectus supplements (each such prospectus supplement, together with the Base Prospectus, a “Prospectus”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the registration of shares of the Company’s series 1 common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”).
This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or related applicable Prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the shares of Common Stock.
As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to the Delaware General Corporation Law, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction or, in the case of Delaware, any other laws, or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any state.
Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, when an issuance of Common Stock has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, upon issuance, delivery and payment therefor in an amount not less than the par value thereof in the manner contemplated by the applicable Prospectus, and by such corporate action, and in total amounts and numbers of shares that do not exceed the respective total amounts and numbers of shares (a) available under the certificate of incorporation, and (b) authorized by the board of directors in connection with the offering contemplated by the applicable Prospectus, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the Delaware General Corporation Law.
February 11, 2022
Page 2
Our opinions are subject to: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, preference, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors; (ii) (a) the effect of general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), (b) concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and (c) the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought; and (iii) the invalidity under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy. We express no opinion as to (a) any provision for liquidated damages, default interest, late charges, monetary penalties, make-whole premiums or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions are deemed to constitute a penalty, (b) consents to, or restrictions upon, governing law, jurisdiction, venue, arbitration, remedies, or judicial relief, (c) waivers of rights or defenses, (d) any provision requiring the payment of attorneys’ fees, where such payment is contrary to law or public policy, (e) the creation, validity, attachment, perfection, or priority of any lien or security interest, (f) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights, (g) waivers of broadly or vaguely stated rights, (h) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies, (i) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations, (j) grants of setoff rights, (k) proxies, powers and trusts, (l) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any right or property, (m) any provision to the extent it requires that a claim with respect to a security denominated in other than U.S. dollars (or a judgment in respect of such a claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange at a particular date, to the extent applicable law otherwise provides, and (n) the severability, if invalid, of provisions to the foregoing effect.
This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm contained in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Sincerely,
/s/ Latham & Watkins LLP
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in this Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of BigCommerce Holdings, Inc. for the registration of Series 1 common stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated February 26, 2021, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of BigCommerce Holdings, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Austin, Texas
February 11, 2022