Empery Digital Inc S-1, filed Jun 9, 2023
Empery Digital Inc. (EMPD)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 9, 2023
Registration No. 333-_______
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
(
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
Greg Endo
3121 Eagles Nest, Suite 120
Round Rock, TX 78665
(512) 400-4271
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Cavas S. Pavri
Johnathan C. Duncan
ArentFox Schiff LLP
1717 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
Telephone: (202) 724-6847
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
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, check the following box. x
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) 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 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 post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) 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. ¨
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 | ¨ |
| x | 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 preliminary 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 preliminary 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 June 9, 2023
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
29,072,464 Shares
Common Stock
This prospectus relates to the resale by the selling shareholders named in this prospectus of up to 29,072,464 shares of our common stock. These 29,072,464 shares of common stock consist of:
| · | up to 5,434,783 shares of common stock (the “New Warrant Shares”) issuable upon the exercise of the common stock purchase warrants (the “New Warrants”) that were issued in a private placement pursuant to the Securities Purchase and Exchange Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated May 19, 2023, among the Company, Empery Asset Master, LTD, Empery Tax Efficient, LP and Empery Debt Opportunity Fund, LP; |
| · | up to 6,579,710 shares of common stock (the “Convertible Note Shares”) issuable upon the conversion of the senior convertible notes (the “Convertible Notes”) that were issued in a private placement pursuant to the Purchase Agreement; and |
| · | up to 17,057,971 shares of common stock (the “Exchange Warrant Shares” and collectively with the New Warrant Shares, the “Warrant Shares”) issuable upon the exercise of the common stock purchase warrants (the “Exchange Warrants,” and collectively with the New Warrants, the “Warrants”) that were issued upon the exchange of certain common stock purchase warrants issued in August 2022 pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. |
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock by the selling shareholders. However, we will receive proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants if the Warrants are exercised for cash. We intend to use those proceeds, if any, for general corporate purposes.
The selling shareholders may sell or otherwise dispose of the common stock covered by this prospectus in a number of different ways and at varying prices. We provide more information about how the selling shareholders may sell or otherwise dispose of the common stock covered by this prospectus in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” on page 19. Discounts, concessions, commissions and similar selling expenses attributable to the sale of common stock covered by this prospectus will be borne by the selling shareholders. We will pay all expenses (other than discounts, concessions, commissions and similar selling expenses) relating to the registration of the common stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.
Any shares of common stock subject to resale hereunder will have been issued by us and acquired by the selling shareholders prior to any resale of such shares pursuant to this prospectus.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “VLCN”. The last reported sale price of our common stock on June 8, 2023 was $0.72 per share.
We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements.
An investment in our common stock involves significant risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors beginning on page 10 of this prospectus, and in our periodic reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any applicable prospectus supplement. You should carefully read this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference, before you make your decision to invest in our common stock.
Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is __, 2023
Table of Contents
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-1 that we filed with the SEC pursuant to which the selling shareholders may, from time to time, offer and sell or otherwise dispose of the shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale by such selling shareholders of the securities offered by them described in this prospectus. However, we will receive proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants, if the Warrants are exercised for cash.
Neither we nor the selling shareholders have authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. Neither we nor the selling shareholders take responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date. Neither we nor the selling shareholders will make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
We may also provide a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the registration statement to add information to, or update or change information contained in, this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the registration statement together with the additional information to which we refer you in the section of this prospectus titled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.
Market data and certain industry data and forecasts used throughout this prospectus were obtained from internal company surveys, market research, consultant surveys, publicly available information, reports of governmental agencies and industry publications and surveys. Industry surveys, publications, consultant surveys and forecasts generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but that the accuracy and completeness of such information is not guaranteed. We have not independently verified any of the data from third-party sources, nor have we ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon therein. Similarly, internal surveys, industry forecasts and market research, which we believe to be reliable based on our management’s knowledge of the industry, have not been independently verified. Forecasts are particularly likely to be inaccurate, especially over long periods of time. In addition, we do not necessarily know what assumptions regarding general economic growth were used in preparing the forecasts we cite. Statements as to our market position are based on the most currently available data. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding the industry data presented in this prospectus, our estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, we or our representatives may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance, including: our financial performance and projections; our growth in revenue and earnings; and our business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” “intends,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including: our ability to change the direction of the Company; our ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; and the competitive environment of our business. These and other factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are only predictions. The forward-looking events discussed in this document and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives, may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us. We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this document and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives might not occur.
While we believe we have identified material risks, these risks and uncertainties are not exhaustive. Other sections of this prospectus describe additional factors that could adversely impact our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We are under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus to conform our prior statements to actual results or revised expectations, and we do not intend to do so.
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:
| · | our ability to generate revenues from sales, generate cash from operations, or obtain additional funding to market our vehicles and develop new products; | |
| · | our ability to successfully implement and effectively manage our outsourced manufacturing, design and development model and achieve any anticipated benefits; | |
| · | the ability of third-party manufacturers to produce our vehicles in accordance with our design and quality specifications, with sufficient scale to satisfy customers and within a reasonable cost; | |
| · | anticipated timing for the manufacture, design, production, shipping and launch of our vehicles; | |
| · | the inability of our suppliers to deliver the necessary components for our vehicles at prices and volumes acceptable to our third-party manufacturers; | |
| · | our ability to establish a network of dealers and international distributors to sell and service our vehicles on the timeline we expect; | |
| · | whether our vehicles will perform as expected; | |
| · | our facing product warranty claims or product recalls; | |
| · | our facing adverse determinations in significant product liability claims; | |
| · | customer adoption of electric vehicles; | |
| · | the development of alternative technology that adversely affects our business; | |
| · | increased government regulation of our industry; | |
| · | tariffs and currency exchange rates; and | |
| · | the conflict with Russia and the Ukraine and the potential adverse effect it may have on the availability of materials used in the manufacturing of batteries for our vehicles. |
We caution you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus in the case of forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus.
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Prospectus Summary
This summary highlights certain information about us, this offering and selected information contained elsewhere in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This summary provides an overview of selected information and does not contain all of the information you should consider before deciding whether to invest in our common stock. Therefore, you should read the entire prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein), especially the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page 10 of this prospectus, and any similar section contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before deciding to invest in our common stock. Unless otherwise indicated or the context requires otherwise, the words “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” or “our Company,” and “Volcon” refer to Volcon, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Our Company
We are an all-electric, off-road powersports vehicle company developing electric two and four-wheel motorcycles and utility terrain vehicles, or UTVs, also known as side-by-sides, along with a complete line of upgrades and accessories. In October 2020, we began building and testing prototypes for our future offerings with two off-road motorcycles – the Grunt and the Runt. Our motorcycles feature unique frame designs protected by design patents. Additional utility and design patents have been filed for other aspects of Volcon’s vehicles.
We initially began to sell and distribute the Grunt and related accessories in the United States on a direct-to-consumer sales platform. We terminated our direct-to-consumer sales platform in November 2021. Prior to the termination of our direct-to-consumer sales platform, U.S. customers made deposits for 360 Grunts (net of cancellations) and five Runts, plus accessories and a delivery fee representing total deposits of $2.2 million. These orders were cancelable by the customer until the vehicle was delivered and after a 14-day acceptance period, therefore the deposits were recorded as deferred revenue. As of June 30, 2022, we had completed shipping of all Grunts sold through our direct-to-consumer sales platform. Due to delays in developing the Runt, we refunded the deposits made for all Runts.
Beginning in November 2021, we began negotiating dealership agreements with powersports dealers to display and sell our vehicles and accessories. Customers can now, or will soon be able to, buy our vehicles and accessories directly from a local dealership. Some of these dealers will also provide warranty and repair services to customers. Through March 31, 2023, we have 143 active dealers. We expect to be able to offer the dealers a financing option, or “floor plan” to make larger purchases of our vehicles, but we do not currently have this financing option available. We have agreements with third-party financing companies to provide financing to qualified customers of each dealer. There is no recourse to the Company or the dealer if the dealer’s customer defaults on the financing agreement with this third-party.
As of March 31, 2023, we have signed agreements with six importers in Latin America and one importer for the Caribbean Region, collectively referred to herein as the LATAM importers, to sell our vehicles and accessories in their assigned countries/markets. In June 2022, we signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Torrot Electric Europa S.A., referred to herein as Torrot, to distribute their electric motorcycles for youth riders in Latin America. We will use our LATAM importers to sell Torrot’s products in Latin America.
In October 2022, we signed an expanded agreement with Torrot to also be the exclusive distributor of Torrot and Volcon co-branded youth electric motorcycles in the United States as well as Latin America. This agreement supersedes the original Torrot agreement and once all Torrot branded inventory is sold, we will no longer distribute Torrot branded motorcycles. Finally, in December 2022, we signed an expanded agreement with Torrot to be the exclusive distributor of Volcon co-branded youth electric motorcycles in Canada.
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We expect to expand our global sales of our vehicles and accessories beyond our current LATAM importer base. We expect to sign more LATAM importers in 2023 and expect to begin selling in Canada in 2023. We expect export sales to be executed with individual importers in each country that buy vehicles by the container. Each importer will sell vehicles and accessories to local dealers or directly to customers. Local dealers will provide warranty and repair services for vehicles purchased in their country.
In July 2022, we expanded our offerings with the introduction of the first of our Volcon UTV models, the Stag, which we anticipate will be available for delivery to customers possibly as early as the third quarter of 2023, followed by additional models of the Stag expected in 2024 and 2025 and the introduction of a higher performance, longer range UTV (to be named) which we expect to begin delivering in 2025. The Stag will be manufactured by a third-party and incorporate electrification units, which include batteries, drive units and control modules provided by General Motors. Beginning in June 2022 we have taken non-binding pre-production orders which are cancelable prior to delivery.
Through August 2022 we assembled the Grunt in a leased production facility in Round Rock, Texas. In August 2022 we announced that we will outsource the manufacturing of the Grunt to a third-party manufacturer, which we anticipate will reduce costs and improve profitability on the Grunt. We also outsourced the manufacturing of the 2023 Grunt EVO to the same third-party manufacturer. The 2023 Grunt EVO will replace the Grunt and has a belt drive rather than a chain drive as well as an updated rear suspension. We have received prototypes of the Grunt EVO in the first quarter of 2023 and expect to begin sales late in the second quarter or early in the third quarter of 2023.
In September 2022, we reduced our headcount in our product development and administration departments as we outsourced the design and development of certain components of our vehicle development. We also hired our Chief Marketing Officer and expect to hire additional sales and marketing employees and increase marketing activities to further support our brand and products.
We began taking pre-orders for an E-Bike, the Brat, in September 2022 and shipments to customers began in the fourth quarter of 2022. The Brat is being manufactured by a third-party. In January 2023, we began selling the Brat directly to consumers through our website. Consumers who order the Brat from our website can have the Brat shipped to their specified destination.
In November 2022, we finalized an agreement for a third-party to manufacture the Runt. We received prototypes of the Runt in the first quarter of 2023 and expect to begin sales in the third quarter of 2023.
The estimated fulfillment of all orders we have received assumes that our third-party manufacturers can successfully meet our order quantities and deadlines. If they are unable to satisfy orders on a timely basis, our customers may cancel their orders.
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Recent Developments
Public Offering
On May 22, 2023, we entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Aegis Capital Corp. (the “Underwriter”), in connection with a public offering (the “Offering”) of an aggregate of 6,000,000 shares (the “Shares”) of our common stock. In addition, we granted the Underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 900,000 Shares to cover over-allotments, if any, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
The Offering closed on May 24, 2023, and we received net proceeds of approximately $4.0 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated expenses payable by us associated with the Offering. An aggregate of 6,000,000 Shares were sold in the Offering. The Shares were sold at a price to the public of $0.75 per share, less underwriting discounts and commissions.
Under the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriter received an underwriting discount of 8.0% to the public offering price for the Shares. In addition, we agreed to, (i) pay the Underwriter a non-accountable expenses allowance equal to 1.0% of the gross proceeds from the Offering, and (ii) reimburse the Underwriter’s fees and expenses of $37,500.
Private Placement
On May 19, 2023, we entered into a Securities Purchase and Exchange Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Empery Asset Master, LTD, Empery Tax Efficient, LP and Empery Debt Opportunity Fund, LP pursuant to which we agreed to:
(A) issue and sell to the investors in a private placement (i) senior convertible notes in an aggregate principal amount of $4,934,782 (the “Convertible Notes”), at an initial conversion price of $2.54 per share, which conversion price will be decreased, upon the receipt of shareholder approval, to $0.75 (the “Transaction Price”), which was the price in the Offering described above, subject to further adjustment upon the occurrence of specified events, and (ii) warrants to purchase 5,434,783 shares of common stock with an initial exercise price of $1.09 per share of common stock, which shall be, upon the receipt of shareholder approval, decreased to the Transaction Price (the “New Warrants”);
(B) exchange the senior convertible notes due February 24, 2024 in principal amount of $27,173,913 (the “Original Notes”) for: (i) senior convertible notes due February 24, 2024 in principal amount of $3,690,422 at an initial conversion price per share of common stock equal to the Transaction Price, subject to further adjustment upon the occurrence of specified events (the “Series A Exchange Notes”); and (ii) senior convertible notes due February 24, 2024 in principal amount of $23,483,491 at an initial conversion price of $1.09 per share of common stock, which conversion price will be decreased, upon the receipt of shareholder approval, to the Transaction Price, subject to further adjustment upon the occurrence of specified events (the “Series B Exchange Notes,” and together with the Series A Exchange Notes, the “Exchange Notes”); and
(C) exchange the common stock purchase warrants issued in connection with the Original Notes to purchase 9,057,971 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.85 per share (the “Original Warrants”) for warrants to purchase 17,057,971 shares of common stock with an initial exercise price of $1.09 per share of common stock, which shall be, upon the receipt of shareholder approval, decreased to the Transaction Price (the “Exchange Warrants”).
The closing of the private placement of the Convertible Notes and New Warrants occurred on May 24, 2023, and we received approximately $4.0 million in net proceeds.
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The Convertible Notes are senior unsecured obligations and were issued with an original issue discount of approximately 8.8%. The Convertible Notes bear no interest until an event of default has occurred, upon which interest accrues at 10.0% per annum. The Convertible Notes mature on February 24, 2024, unless earlier converted (only upon the satisfaction of certain conditions) (the “Maturity Date”). The Maturity Date may be extended at the sole option of the investor, under certain circumstances specified therein. We may, at our election, force conversion of the Convertible Notes if at any time after the issuance date, the weighted average price of the common stock for ten consecutive trading days equals or exceeds $3.94, subject to certain limitations described in the Convertible Notes.
The Original Notes required us to have unrestricted and unencumbered cash on deposit of $10,000,000 if the outstanding principal (and interest, if any) of the Original Notes is $15,000,000 or greater as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2023. The cash on deposit requirement is reduced dollar for dollar to the extent the outstanding principal of the Original Notes is less than $15,000,000 on each of these dates. The Exchange Notes eliminated the foregoing requirement for September 30, 2023.
The Convertible Notes and the Exchange Notes contain certain conversion limitations, providing that no conversion may be made if, after giving effect to the conversion, the holder, together with any of its affiliates, would own in excess of 9.99% of our outstanding shares of common stock.
The Warrants contain certain exercise limitations, providing that a holder thereof may not exercise such warrant to the extent (but only to the extent) that, if after giving effect to such exercise, the holder or any of its affiliates would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the outstanding shares of our common stock immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
Aegis Capital Corp. (“Aegis”) acted as exclusive placement agent for the private placement, and received (i) upon closing cash compensation of 8.0% of the private placement), and a non-accountable expense allowance of 1.0% of the private placement.
Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement, we and the investors executed and delivered a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, we agreed to file a registration statement covering the resale of all the shares of common stock tock underlying the Convertible Notes, the New Warrants and the Exchange Warrants (the “Registerable Securities”), on or before the 30th calendar day following the closing of the Purchase Agreement and to cause such registration statement to be declared effective by the SEC on or before the 60th calendar day (or, in the event of a “full review” by the SEC, the 90th calendar day) following the closing of the Purchase Agreement. We are required to use our best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement until the date that all Registerable Securities covered by such Registration Statement (i) have been sold or (ii) may be sold without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) (or any successor thereto). The registration rights granted under the Registration Rights Agreement are subject to certain conditions and limitations and are subject to customary indemnification and contribution provisions.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, we agreed to hold a special meeting of shareholders for approval of resolutions providing for among other items: (i) our issuance of all of the shares of common stock upon conversion of the Exchange Notes in accordance with applicable law and the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market, (ii) the adjustment of the conversion price of the Convertible Notes and the Exchange Notes to the Transaction Price, and (iii) the adjustment of the exercise price of the New Warrants and the Exchange Warrants to the Transaction Price. We agreed to hold the special meeting not later than 60 calendar days after the closing date of the private placement. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement, we and our officers, directors and 10% shareholder executed and delivered a voting agreement pursuant to which they agreed to vote their shares of common stock in favor of the above proposals.
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Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as the term is used in The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and therefore, we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various public company reporting requirements, including:
| · | a requirement to only have two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related selected financial data and management’s discussion and analysis; |
| · | exemption from the auditor attestation requirement on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting; |
| · | reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation; and |
| · | exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory stockholder vote on executive compensation and any golden parachute payments. |
We may take advantage of these provisions for up to five years or such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We would cease to be an emerging growth company if we have more than $1.235 billion in annual revenues, have more than $700.0 million in market value of our capital stock held by non-affiliates or issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period. We may choose to take advantage of some, but not all, of the available benefits of the JOBS Act. We have taken advantage of some of the reduced reporting requirements in this prospectus. Accordingly, the information contained herein may be different than the information you receive from other public companies in which you hold stock. In addition, the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to avail ourselves of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards and, therefore, we will not be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.
Company Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 3121 Eagles Nest, Suite 120, Round Rock, TX 78665. Our website address is www.volcon.com. We make our periodic reports and other information filed with, or furnished to, the SEC available free of charge through our website. The information on or accessible through our website is not part of and is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
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THE OFFERING
| Common stock to be offered by the selling shareholders | Up to 29,072,464 shares of our common stock, which consist of (i) up to 5,434,783 New Warrant Shares, (ii) up to 6,579,710 Convertible Note Shares, and (iii) up to 17,057,971 Exchange Warrant Shares. | |
| Use of proceeds | We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares by the selling shareholders. With respect to the Warrants, we will not receive any proceeds from such shares of common stock except with respect to amounts received by us upon exercise of such Warrants to the extent such Warrants are exercised for cash. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the Convertible Note Shares by the selling noteholders. We intend to use any such proceeds for general corporate purposes. | |
| Shares outstanding prior to the offering | 30,615,119 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. | |
| Shares outstanding after the offering | 59,687,583 shares of common stock (assuming the exercise or conversion, as applicable, of the Warrants and Convertible Notes). | |
| Plan of Distribution | The selling shareholders named in this prospectus, or its pledgees, donees, transferees, distributees, beneficiaries or other successors-in-interest, may offer or sell the shares from time to time through public or private transactions at prevailing market prices, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. The selling shareholders may also resell the shares to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. | |
| Risk Factors | See the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 of this prospectus and other information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding whether to invest in our securities. | |
| Nasdaq Capital Market listing symbol | Our common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “VLCN.” The New Warrants, Convertible Notes, and Exchange Warrants will not be listed |
The number of shares of our common stock expected to be outstanding after this offering is based on 30,615,119 shares of common stock outstanding as of June 9, 2023, and excludes, as of that date, the following:
| · | 3,293,497 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, vested and unvested, with a weighted-average exercise price of $2.90 per share; | |
| · | 50,000 shares of common stock issuable for vesting of restricted stock units; | |
| · | 6,027,647 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants (excluding the Warrants) with a weighted-average exercise price of $1.56 per share; | |
| · | 36,231,884 shares of our common stock issuable upon the conversion of the convertible note we issued in August 2022 (assuming we receive shareholder approval for the repricing of such convertible note as described above in the “Recent Developments” section); and | |
| · | up to an aggregate of 2,938,282 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our stock plan, as amended. |
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Risk Factors
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider each of the following risk factors and all of the other information included in this prospectus and the documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including those in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, as supplemented by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, before making an investment decision. Any of these risks and uncertainties could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. If that occurs, the trading price of our common stock could decline materially, and you could lose all or part of your investment. The risks included in this prospectus and the documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus are not the only risks we face. We may experience additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or as a result of developments occurring in the future. Conditions that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
Risks Related to our Common Stock
If our stock price fluctuates, you could lose a significant part of your investment.
Since our initial public offering through June 1, 2023, our share price has fluctuated from a high of $17.96 to a low of $0.60. The market price of our common stock is subject to wide fluctuations in response to, among other things, the risk factors described in this filing and other factors beyond our control, such as fluctuations in the valuation of companies perceived by investors to be comparable to us. Furthermore, the stock markets have experienced price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities of many companies. These fluctuations often have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations, as well as general economic, political, and market conditions, such as recessions, interest rate changes or international currency fluctuations, may negatively affect the market price of our common stock. In the past, many companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have been subject to securities class action litigation. We may be the target of this type of litigation in the future. Securities litigation against us could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention from other business concerns, which could seriously harm our business.
The terms of the Warrants and Convertible Notes imposed additional challenges on our ability to raise capital.
The agreements related to the sale of the New Warrants and Convertible Notes, and the exchange of the Exchange Warrants, contain a number of restrictive covenants that may impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us while the Warrants and Convertible Notes remain outstanding, unless the restrictions are waived by consent of each holder, including, but not limited to, restrictions on our ability to incur additional indebtedness and guarantee indebtedness; incur liens or allow mortgages or other encumbrances; redeem, or repurchase certain other debt; pay dividends or make other distributions or repurchase or redeem our capital stock; sell assets or enter into or effect certain other transactions; issue additional equity; and enter into variable rate transactions, among other restrictions.
A breach of the covenants or restrictions under the Purchase Agreement, the Warrants and Convertible Notes and related agreements governing our indebtedness could result in an event of default under such agreements. As a result of these restrictions, we may be limited in how we conduct our business, unable to finance our operations through additional debt or equity financings and/or unable to compete effectively or to take advantage of new business opportunities.
Further, while we could potentially receive up to an aggregate of $16.9 million in gross proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants, assuming the exercise in full of all of the Warrants, no assurances can be made that the holders of such warrants will elect to exercise any or all of such warrants and, accordingly, no assurance that we will receive any proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants. If the trading price for our common stock is less than the exercise price for the Warrants, we believe the holders of such warrants will be unlikely to exercise their warrants. Accordingly, we may not receive cash proceeds with respect to either the Warrants and we are restricted in our ability to conduct additional debt or equity financings.
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The issuance of our common stock in connection with the Warrants, the Convertible Notes and the Exchange Notes, could cause substantial dilution, which could materially affect the trading price of our common stock.
The Warrants, the Convertible Notes, and Exchange Notes are exercisable or convertible, as applicable, for up to 65,304,348 shares of our common stock (assuming we receive shareholder approval for the repricing of such securities as described in the “Prospectus Summary – Recent Developments” section). The additional shares of common stock issued upon the exercise or conversion of the foregoing securities will result in dilution to our then existing holders of common stock and increase the number of shares eligible for resale in the public market. Sales of a substantial numbers of such shares in the public market could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
The sale of our common stock by the selling shareholders, or the perception that stock sales may occur, could cause the price of our common stock to decline.
The sale of our common stock in the public market by the selling shareholders pursuant to this prospectus, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of our common stock. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate (which ability to sell equity securities is also subject to restrictions under the terms of the Purchase Agreement and related agreements). If and when we do issue shares of common stock to the selling shareholders upon the exercise or conversion, as applicable of the Warrants, Convertible Notes, or Exchange Notes, the selling shareholders may resell all, some or none of those shares of common stock at any time or from time to time in their discretion. Resales of our common stock may cause the market price of our securities to drop significantly, regardless of the performance of our business.
We may not be able to maintain our listing on the Nasdaq, which could have a material adverse effect on us and our stockholders.
The standards for continued listing on Nasdaq include, among other things, that the minimum bid price for the listed securities not fall below $1.00 for a period in excess of thirty consecutive business days. Since May 22, 2023 our common stock has traded at levels below $1.00 per share. If the closing bid price of our common stock were to fail to meet Nasdaq’s minimum closing bid price requirement, or if we otherwise fail to meet any other applicable requirements of Nasdaq and we are unable to regain compliance, Nasdaq may make a determination to delist our common stock. The delisting of our common stock from Nasdaq could negatively impact us by (i) reducing the liquidity and market price of our common stock; (ii) reducing the number of investors willing to hold or acquire our common stock, which could negatively impact our ability to raise equity financing; (iii) impacting our ability to use a registration statement to offer and sell freely tradable securities, thereby preventing or limiting us from accessing the public capital markets; and (iv) impairing our ability to provide equity incentives to our employees.
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Use of Proceeds
All of the shares offered by the selling shareholders pursuant to this prospectus will be sold by the selling shareholders for their respective accounts. We will not receive any of the proceeds from these sales. With respect to the shares of common stock underlying the Warrants, we will not receive any proceeds from such shares except with respect to amounts received by us upon exercise of such Warrants to the extent such Warrants are exercised for cash. We intend to use any such proceeds for general corporate purposes.
The selling shareholders will pay any underwriting fees, discounts, selling commissions, stock transfer taxes and certain legal expenses incurred by such selling shareholders in disposing of their securities, and we will bear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the securities covered by this prospectus, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, Nasdaq listing fees and fees and expenses of our counsel and our independent registered public accountants.
DIVIDEND POLICY
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock, and we do not currently intend to pay any cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. We expect to retain future earnings, if any, to fund the development and growth of our business. Any future determination to pay dividends on our common stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon, among other factors, our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements and any contractual restrictions.
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SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
The common stock being offered by the selling shareholders are those issuable to the selling shareholders upon conversion of the New Notes and exercise of the New Warrants and the Exchange Warrants. For additional information regarding the issuances of those shares of common stock underlying the New Notes, the New Warrants and the Exchange Warrants, see “Prospectus Summary – Recent Developments” above. We are registering the shares of common stock underlying the New Notes, the New Warrants and the Exchange Warrants in order to permit the selling shareholders to offer the shares for resale from time to time. Except for the ownership of the the New Notes, the New Warrants, the Exchange Notes, and the Exchange Warrants, the selling shareholders have not had any material relationship with us within the past three years.
The table below lists the selling shareholders and other information regarding the beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock by each of the selling shareholders. The second column lists the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by each selling shareholder, based on its ownership of the common stock, New Notes, the New Warrants, the Exchange Notes, and the Exchange Warrants, as of May 26, 2023, assuming conversion of the New Notes and the Exchange Notes and exercise of the New Warrants and the Exchange Warrants held by the selling shareholders on that date, without regard to any limitations on conversions or exercises.
The third column lists the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus by the selling shareholders.
In accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement with the selling shareholders, this prospectus generally covers the resale of the sum of (i) the maximum number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the New Notes, determined as if the outstanding New Notes were converted in full and assuming a conversion price equal to the Transaction Price and (ii) the maximum number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the related New Warrants and the Exchange Warrants, determined as if the outstanding New Warrants and Exchange Warrants were exercised in full, in each case, as of the trading day immediately preceding the date this registration statement was initially filed with the SEC, each as of the trading day immediately preceding the applicable date of determination and all subject to adjustment as provided in the registration right agreement, without regard to any limitations on the conversion of the New Notes or the exercise of the New Warrants and Exchange Warrants. The fourth column assumes the sale of all of the shares offered by the selling shareholders pursuant to this prospectus.
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Under the terms of the New Notes and the Exchange Notes, a selling shareholder may not convert the notes to the extent such conversion would cause such selling shareholder, together with its affiliates and attribution parties, to beneficially own a number of shares of common stock which would exceed 9.99% of our then outstanding common stock following such conversion, excluding for purposes of such determination shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of such notes or exercise of such New Warrants and Exchange Warrants which have not been converted or exercised. Under the terms of the New Warrants and Exchange Warrants, a selling shareholder may not exercise the New Warrants and Exchange Warrants to the extent such exercise would cause such selling shareholder, together with its affiliates and attribution parties, to beneficially own a number of shares of common stock which would exceed 4.99% of our then outstanding common stock following such exercise, excluding for purposes of such determination shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of such New Notes and the Exchange Notes or exercise of such New Warrants and Exchange Warrants which have not been converted or exercised. The number of shares in the second and fourth columns do not reflect these limitations. The selling shareholders may sell all, some or none of their shares in this offering. See "Plan of Distribution."
| Name | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering | Maximum Number of Shares to be Sold Pursuant to this Prospectus | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned After Offering(1) | Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned After Offering(1) | ||||||||||||
| Empery Asset Master, LTD(2) | 1,617,403 | (5) | 913,707 | (5) | 849,428 | (5) | 2.6% | |||||||||
| Empery Tax Efficient, LP(3) | 441,112 | (6) | 249,192 | (6) | 231,664 | (6) | * | |||||||||
| Empery Debt Opportunity Fund, LP(4) | 49,404,307 | (7) | 27,909,566 | (7) | 25,946,148 | (7) | 9.99%(7 | ) | ||||||||
* Less than 1%
(1) Because the selling shareholders identified in this table may sell some, all or none of the shares owned by them that are registered under this registration statement, and because, to our knowledge, there are currently no agreements, arrangements or understandings with respect to the sale of any of the shares registered hereunder, no estimate can be given as to the number of shares available for resale hereby that will be held by the selling shareholders at the time of this registration statement. Therefore, unless otherwise noted, we have assumed for purposes of this table that the selling shareholders will sell the maximum number of shares registered for resale pursuant to this Prospectus.
(2) Empery Asset Management LP, the authorized agent of Empery Asset Master Ltd ("EAM"), has discretionary authority to vote and dispose of the shares held by EAM and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares. Martin Hoe and Ryan Lane, in their capacity as investment managers of Empery Asset Management LP, may also be deemed to have investment discretion and voting power over the shares held by EAM. EAM, Mr. Hoe and Mr. Lane each disclaim any beneficial ownership of these shares
(3) Empery Asset Management LP, the authorized agent of Empery Tax Efficient, LP ("ETE"), has discretionary authority to vote and dispose of the shares held by ETE and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares. Martin Hoe and Ryan Lane, in their capacity as investment managers of Empery Asset Management LP, may also be deemed to have investment discretion and voting power over the shares held by ETE. ETE, Mr. Hoe and Mr. Lane each disclaim any beneficial ownership of these shares.
(4) Empery Asset Management LP, the authorized agent of Empery Debt Opportunity Fund, LP ("EDOF"), has discretionary authority to vote and dispose of the shares held by EDOF and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares. Martin Hoe and Ryan Lane, in their capacity as investment managers of Empery Asset Management LP, may also be deemed to have investment discretion and voting power over the shares held by EDOF. EDOF, Mr. Hoe and Mr. Lane each disclaim any beneficial ownership of these shares.
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(5) The amount in the column “Number of Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering” consists of: (i) 17,670 shares of common stock; (ii) 831,758 shares of common stock underlying Exchange Notes (based on the conversion price of the Exchange Notes as of the date hereof); (iii) 536,107 shares underlying Exchange Warrants; (iv) 170,808 shares underlying New Warrants; and (v) 61,060 shares underlying the New Notes (based on the conversion price of the New Notes as of the date hereof).
The amount in the column “Maximum Number of Shares to be Sold Pursuant to this Prospectus”: consists of: (i) 536,107 shares underlying Exchange Warrants; (ii) 170,808 shares underlying New Warrants; and (iii) 206,792 shares underlying the New Notes (assuming a conversion price equal to the Transaction Price).
The amount in the column “Number of Shares Beneficially Owned After Offering” consists of: (i) 17,670 shares of common stock; and (ii) 831,758 shares of common stock underlying Exchange Notes (based on the conversion price of the Exchange Notes as of the date hereof).
(6) The amount in the column “Number of Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering” consists of: (i) 4,820 shares of common stock; (ii) 226,844 shares of common stock underlying Exchange Notes (based on the conversion price of the Exchange Notes as of the date hereof); (iii) 146,212 shares underlying Exchange Warrants; (iv) 46,583 shares underlying New Warrants; and (v) 16,653 shares underlying the New Notes (based on the conversion price of the New Notes as of the date hereof).
The amount in the column “Maximum Number of Shares to be Sold Pursuant to this Prospectus” consists of: (i) 146,212 shares underlying Exchange Warrants; (ii) 46,583 shares underlying New Warrants; and (iii) 56,397 shares underlying the New Notes (assuming a conversion price equal to the Transaction Price).
The amount in the column “Number of Shares Beneficially Owned After Offering” consists of: (i) 4,820 shares of common stock; and (ii) 226,844 shares of common stock underlying Exchange Notes (based on the conversion price of the Exchange Notes as of the date hereof).
(7) The amount in the column “Number of Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering” consists of: (i) 539,700 shares of common stock; (ii) 25,406,448 shares of common stock underlying Exchange Notes (based on the conversion price of the Exchange Notes as of the date hereof); (iii) 16,375,652 shares underlying Exchange Warrants; (iv) 5,217,392 shares underlying New Warrants; and (v) 1,865,115 shares underlying the New Notes (based on the conversion price of the New Notes as of the date hereof).
The amount in the column “Maximum Number of Shares to be Sold Pursuant to this Prospectus” consists of: (i) 16,375,652 shares underlying Exchange Warrants; (ii) 5,217,392 shares underlying New Warrants; and (iii) 6,316,522 shares underlying the New Notes (assuming a conversion price equal to the Transaction Price).
The amount in the column “Number of Shares Beneficially Owned After Offering” consists of: (i) 539,700 shares of common stock; and (ii) 25,406,448 shares of common stock underlying Exchange Notes (based on the conversion price of the Exchange Notes as of the date hereof).
Under the terms of the Exchange Notes, a selling shareholder may not convert the notes to the extent such conversion would cause such selling shareholder, together with its affiliates and attribution parties, to beneficially own a number of shares of common stock which would exceed 9.99% of our then outstanding common stock following such conversion, excluding for purposes of such determination shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of such notes or any New Notes, or upon exercise of any New Warrants and Exchange Warrants, which have not been converted or exercised. The amount in the column “Maximum Number of Shares to be Sold Pursuant to this Prospectus” does not reflects this limitation, but the percentage set forth in the column “Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned After Offering” reflects this limitation.
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Description of Securities
The following summary is a description of the material terms of our securities and is not complete. You should also refer to the Volcon, Inc. amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, which are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL.
Authorized Capital Stock
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue 105,000,000 shares of capital stock consisting of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.00001 per share.
Common Stock
Shares of our common stock have the following rights, preferences and privileges:
Voting
Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Any action at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be decided by a majority of the voting power present in person or represented by proxy, except in the case of any election of directors, which will be decided by a plurality of votes cast. There is no cumulative voting.
Dividends
Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for payment, subject to the rights of holders, if any, of any class of stock having preference over the common stock. Any decision to pay dividends on our common stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors. Our board of directors may or may not determine to declare dividends in the future. The board’s determination to issue dividends will depend upon our profitability and financial condition, any contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and the SEC, and other factors that our board of directors deems relevant.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably on the basis of the number of shares held in any of the assets available for distribution after we have paid in full, or provided for payment of, all of our debts and after the holders of all outstanding series of any class of stock have preference over the common stock, if any, have received their liquidation preferences in full.
Other
Our issued and outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. Holders of shares of our common stock are not entitled to preemptive rights. Shares of our common stock are not convertible into shares of any other class of capital stock, nor are they subject to any redemption or sinking fund provisions.
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Preferred Stock
We are authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the board to issue these shares in one or more series, to determine the designations and the powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, including the dividend rights, conversion or exchange rights, voting rights (including the number of votes per share), redemption rights and terms, liquidation preferences, sinking fund provisions and the number of shares constituting the series. Our board of directors could, without stockholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of common stock which could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire, a majority of our outstanding voting stock.
Warrants
Underwriter Warrants
In connection with our initial public offering completed on October 8, 2021, we entered into the Underwriting Agreement, pursuant to which we agreed to issue to Aegis the Underwriter Warrant, a five-year warrant to purchase up to 162,594 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $6.88.
In connection with our public offering completed on February 1, 2022, we entered into the Underwriting Agreement, pursuant to which we agreed to issue to Aegis the Underwriter Warrant, a five-year warrant to purchase up to 333,334 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $3.75.
Placement Agent Warrant
On August 22, 2022, we entered into the Placement Agent Agreement, pursuant to which we agreed to issue to Aegis the Placement Agent Warrant, a five-year warrant to purchase up to 603,864 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $3.5625.
For a description of the New Warrants and Exchange Warrants see the section “Prospectus Summary – Recent Developments – Private Placement.”
Convertible Notes
For a description of the New Notes and Exchange Notes see the section “Prospectus Summary – Recent Developments – Private Placement.”
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaw Provisions
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws include a number of anti-takeover provisions that may have the effect of encouraging persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals to negotiate with our board of directors rather than pursue non-negotiated takeover attempts. These provisions include:
Advance Notice Requirements. Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with regard to stockholder proposals relating to the nomination of candidates for election as directors or new business to be brought before meetings of stockholders. These procedures provide that notice of stockholder proposals must be timely and given in writing to our corporate Secretary. Generally, to be timely, notice must be received at our principal executive offices not fewer than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary date on which our notice of meeting and related proxy statement were mailed to stockholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders. The notice must contain the information required by the bylaws, including information regarding the proposal and the proponent.
Special Meetings of Stockholders. Our bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders may be called at any time by only the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the board of directors, or in their absence or disability, by any vice president.
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No Written Consent of Stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.
Amendment of Bylaws. Our stockholders may amend any provisions of our bylaws by obtaining the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of each class of issued and outstanding shares of our voting securities, at a meeting called for the purpose of amending and/or restating our bylaws.
Preferred Stock. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to create and issue rights entitling our stockholders to purchase shares of our stock or other securities. The ability of our board to establish the rights and issue substantial amounts of preferred stock without the need for stockholder approval may delay or deter a change in control of us. See the section titled “Preferred Stock” above.
Delaware Takeover Statute
We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL which, subject to certain exceptions, prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any “business combination” (as defined below) with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless: (1) prior to such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; (2) on consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding those shares owned (x) by persons who are directors and also officers and (y) by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to this plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or (3) on or subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2⁄3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.
Section 203 of the DGCL defines generally “business combination” to include: (1) any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; (2) any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder; (3) subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; (4) any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or (5) the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation. In general, Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws limit the liability of our officers and directors and provide that we will indemnify our officers and directors, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. We expect to obtain additional directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage prior to the completion of this offering.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq under the symbol “VLCN”.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent for our common stock is Computershare.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each selling shareholder of the securities and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their securities covered hereby on the principal trading market or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. A selling shareholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling securities:
| · | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; | |
| · | block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities 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; | |
| · | in the over-the-counter market; | |
| · | in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market; | |
| · | privately negotiated transactions; | |
| · | settlement of short sales; | |
| · | in transactions through broker-dealers that agree with the selling shareholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security; | |
| · | through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; | |
| · | a combination of any such methods of sale; or | |
| · | any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
The selling shareholders may also sell securities under Rule 144 or any other exemption from registration under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
Broker-dealers engaged by the selling shareholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling shareholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of securities, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2121; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with FINRA Rule 2121.
In connection with the sale of the securities or interests therein, the selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling shareholders may also sell securities short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling shareholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
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The selling shareholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the securities may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each selling shareholder has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the securities.
We are required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by us incident to the registration of the securities. We have agreed to indemnify the selling shareholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which the securities may be resold by the selling shareholders without registration and without regard to any volume or manner-of-sale limitations by reason of Rule 144, without the requirement for us to be in compliance with the current public information under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all of the securities have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect. The resale securities will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale securities covered hereby may not be sold 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.
Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale securities may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the selling shareholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of the common stock by the selling shareholders or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the selling shareholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).
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LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by ArentFox Schiff, LLP, Washington, DC.
EXPERTS
The financial statements as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 incorporated in this prospectus have been audited by MaloneBailey LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act for the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which is part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement and the exhibits. For further information about us and the common stock offered by this prospectus, you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits. References in this prospectus to any of our contracts or other documents are not necessarily complete, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract or document. You may read and copy any document that we file at the SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. SEC filings are also available to the public at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
We are subject to the reporting and information requirements of the Exchange Act and, as a result, file periodic and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We expect to make our periodic reports and other information filed with or furnished to the SEC, available, free of charge, through our website, https://ir.volcon.com/sec-filings/all-sec-filings, as soon as reasonably practicable after those reports and other information are filed with or furnished to the SEC. Additionally, these periodic reports, proxy statements and other information will be available for inspection and copying at the public reference room and website of the SEC referred to above. Information on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it, which means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to other documents. The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC automatically will update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, excluding any information in those documents that is deemed by the rules of the SEC to be furnished not filed, until all offerings under the registration statement are completed:
| · | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 7, 2023 as amended by Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on March 14, 2023. | |
| · | Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A filed with the SEC on May 8, 2023. | |
| · | Our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 3, 2023; | |
| · | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 10, 2023, March 28, 2023, May 22, 2023, and both reports filed May 25, 2023. | |
| · | The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on October 1, 2021, and any other amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
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These reports contain important information about us, our financial condition and our results of operations.
All future documents filed pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 on any Current Report on Form 8-K) after the date on which the registration statement that includes this prospectus was initially filed with the SEC (including all such documents that we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement) and until all offerings under this registration statement are terminated shall be deemed to be incorporated in this prospectus by reference and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained herein, or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the reports or documents that have been incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained in the registration statement but not delivered with the prospectus at no charge, upon written or oral request to Volcon, Inc., 3121 Eagles Nest , Suite 120, Round Rock, TX 78665, Attn: Chief Financial Officer, (512) 400-4271; greg@volcon.com.
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29,072,464 Shares
Volcon, Inc.
Common Stock
_______, 2023
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities of Volcon, Inc. (the “Registrant”) which are registered under this Registration Statement on Form S-1 (this “Registration Statement”), other than underwriting discounts and commissions. All amounts are estimates except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.
The following expenses will be borne solely by the Registrant:
| Amount to be Paid |
||||
| SEC Registration fee | $ | 2,366 | ||
| Legal fees and expenses | $ | 20,000 | ||
| Accounting fees and expenses | $ | 20,000 | ||
| Miscellaneous fees and expenses | $ | 5,000 | ||
| Total | $ | 47,366 | ||
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Pursuant to Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), a corporation shall have the power to indemnify any 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 a derivative action by or in the right of such corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or serving at the request of such corporation in such capacity for 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 in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of such corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
The DGCL also permits indemnification by a corporation under similar circumstances for expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such persons in connection with the defense or settlement of a derivative action or suit, 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 such corporation unless the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.
To the extent a present or former director or officer is successful in the defense of such an action, suit or proceeding referenced above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, a corporation is required by the DGCL to indemnify such person for actual and reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by such persons in defending any action, suit or proceeding may be paid in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon in the case of a current officer or director, receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be so indemnified.
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The DGCL provides that the indemnification described above shall not be deemed exclusive of other indemnification that may be granted by a corporation pursuant to its bylaws, disinterested directors’ vote, stockholders’ vote and agreement or otherwise.
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL enables a corporation, in its certificate of incorporation or an amendment thereto, to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for violations of the directors’ fiduciary duty, except (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) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions) or (iv) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit. The Registrant’s certificate of incorporation provides for such limitations on liability for its directors.
The DGCL also provides corporations with the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation in a similar capacity for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against him or her in any such capacity or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability as described above. In connection with this offering, the Registrant will obtain liability insurance for its directors and officers. Such insurance would be available to its directors and officers in accordance with its terms.
The Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires the Registrant to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (a “covered person”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer or member of a committee of the Registrant, or, while a director or officer of the Registrant, is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director or officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgment, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with a proceeding.
In addition, under the Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, in certain circumstances, the Registrant shall pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a covered person in defending a proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding; provided, however, that the Registrant shall not be required to advance any expenses to a person against whom the Registrant directly brings an action, suit or proceeding alleging that such person (1) committed an act or omission not in good faith or (2) committed an act of intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law. Additionally, an advancement of expenses incurred by a covered person shall be made only upon delivery to the Registrant of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such covered person, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal or otherwise in accordance with Delaware law that such covered person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses.
In addition, the Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and executive officers that provide for additional indemnification protections, which form of agreement has been filed as an exhibit to this registration statement.
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Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
Except as set forth below, in the three years preceding the filing of this Registration Statement, the Registrant has not issued any securities that were not registered under the Securities Act:
On September 21, 2020, the Company issued its founding stockholders an aggregate of 775,000 shares of common stock. The issuances were made in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. promulgated thereunder.
On August 28, 2020, the Company entered into consulting agreements with Pink Possum, LLC (“Pink Possum”), an entity controlled by Mr. Okonsky, and Highbridge Consultants, LLC (“Highbridge”), an entity controlled by Mr. James. In consideration for entering into the consulting agreements, the Company issued the two entities ten-year warrants to purchase common stock at an exercise price of $0.004 per share. The number of shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the warrants was based on the number of shares of our common stock outstanding at the time of exercise and provided that Pink Possum and Highbridge would receive 18.75% and 25%, respectively, of our shares of common stock outstanding at the time of exercise on a fully diluted basis. On March 26, 2021, Pink Possum and Highbridge entered into amendments to the consulting agreements agreeing to exchange the original warrants for new ten-year warrants to purchase 1,900,000 and 2,500,000 shares (4,750,000 and 6,250,000 shares after the 1 to 2.5 stock split completed in July 2021), respectively, of common stock at an exercise price of $2.46. On December 20, 2021, Highbridge exercised all of its warrants on a cashless basis and the Company issued 5,507,575 shares of common stock to Highbridge. The issuances were made in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act promulgated thereunder.
In September 2020, the Company issued five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 60,636 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share to consultants. The issuances were made in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
From September 2020 to October 2020, the Company issued $2,000,000 of SAFE securities (the “SAFE I securities”) to investors in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D promulgated thereunder. From November 2020 to December 2020, the Company completed an offering pursuant to Regulation CF of the Securities Act pursuant to which it issued $1,070,000 in January 2021 of a new class SAFE securities (the “SAFE II securities”) to investors. From November 2020 to December 2020, the Company completed an offering of SAFE II securities to investors in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D promulgated thereunder, pursuant to which it issued $1,188,940 of SAFE II securities in January 2021.
Between January and April 2021, the Company sold 415,287 shares of Series A preferred stock at $6.43 per share and issued 776,101 shares of Series A preferred stock upon the conversion of the SAFE I securities and SAFE II securities and 1,105,827 shares of Series B preferred stock at $9.50 per share in a private placement. The issuances were made in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
In connection with the Series A preferred stock issuance, the Company issued 79,750 shares of common stock and 79,775 fully vested warrants with a five (5) year exercise term to purchase common stock with an exercise price of $2.57 to a financial broker. In connection with the Series B preferred stock issuance, the Company issued 123,296 shares of common stock and 197,277 fully vested warrants to purchase common stock with a five (5) year exercise term and an exercise price of $3.80 to two financial brokers. In October 2021, warrant holders representing 317,018 shares from the Series A and Series B Preferred Stock issuances exercised their warrants on a cashless basis and the Company issued 236,220 shares of common stock as settlement for these warrants. The issuances were made in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
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On September 10, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with a lender for a 6% promissory note of $2 million. The promissory note has a maturity date of one year from inception or immediately upon the completion of this offering. For providing the above promissory note, the Company agreed to issue 266,664 shares of our common stock and agreed to pay $35,000 of the placement agent’s and investor’s legal costs and paid a 6% commission to the placement agent, who is the underwriter of this offering. The issuances were made in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company issued fully vested warrants with ten year (10) terms to purchase 150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to consultants with exercise price ranging from $0.245 - $1.00. The issuances were made in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
On August 22, 2022, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) with certain institutional investors listed on the signature pages thereto (individually, the “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”) pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Investors in a private placement (i) senior convertible notes in an aggregate principal amount of $27,173,913 (the “Original Notes”), at an initial conversion price of $2.25 per share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.00001, subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of specified events, and (ii) warrants to purchase up to 9,057,971 shares of common stock with an initial exercise price of $2.85 per share of common stock (the “Original Warrants”).
On August 22, 2022, in connection with the private placement of the Original Notes and Original Warrants, the Company entered into a Placement Agent Agreement dated as of August 22, 2022 (the “Placement Agent Agreement”) with Aegis Capital Corp. (“Aegis”). Pursuant to the Placement Agent Agreement, Aegis received (i) upon closing cash compensation of $2.0 million (8.0% of the gross proceeds of the private placement), (ii) $250,000 for non-accountable expenses (1.0% of the gross proceeds of the private placement), and (iii) a warrant to purchase up to 603,864 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $3.5625 (the “Placement Agent Warrant”).
On May 19, 2023, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase and Exchange Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with the Investors that entered into the SPA pursuant to which the Company agreed to:
(A) issue and sell to the Investors in a private placement (i) senior convertible notes in an aggregate principal amount of $4,934,782 (the “Convertible Notes”), at an initial conversion price of $2.54 per share of the Company’s common stock, which conversion price will be decreased, upon the receipt of shareholder approval, to $0.75 (the “Transaction Price”), subject to further adjustment upon the occurrence of specified events, and (ii) warrants to purchase 5,434,783 shares of the Company’s common stock with an initial exercise price of $1.09 per share, which shall be, upon the receipt of shareholder approval, decreased to the Transaction Price (the “New Warrants”);
(B) exchange the senior convertible notes due February 24, 2024 in principal amount of $27,173,913 (the “Original Notes”) for: (i) senior convertible notes due February 24, 2024 in principal amount of $3,690,422 at an initial conversion price per share equal to the Transaction Price, subject to further adjustment upon the occurrence of specified events (the “Series A Exchange Notes”); and (ii) senior convertible notes due February 24, 2024 in principal amount of $23,483,491 at an initial conversion price of $1.09 per share, which conversion price will be decreased, upon the receipt of shareholder approval, to the Transaction Price, subject to further adjustment upon the occurrence of specified events (the “Series B Exchange Notes,” and together with the Series A Exchange Notes, the “Exchange Notes”); and
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(C) exchange the Original Warrants for warrants to purchase 17,057,971 shares of the Company’s common stock with an initial exercise price of $1.09 per share, which shall be, upon the receipt of shareholder approval, decreased to the Transaction Price, subject to further adjustment upon the occurrence of specified events (the “Exchange Warrants”).
The Exchange Notes are the senior unsecured obligations of the Company and were issued with an original issue discount of approximately 8.8%. The Exchange Notes bear no interest unless an event of default has occurred, upon which interest accrues at 10.0% per annum. The Exchange Notes mature on February 24, 2024, unless earlier converted (only upon the satisfaction of certain conditions) (the “Maturity Date”). The Maturity Date may be extended at the sole option of the Investors, under certain circumstances specified therein. The Company may, at its election, force conversion of the Exchange Notes if at any time after the issuance date, the weighted average price of the Company’s common stock for ten (10) consecutive trading days equals or exceeds $3.94, subject to certain limitations described in the Exchange Notes.
The issuance of the Original Notes, Original Warrants, and the Placement Agent Warrant was made in reliance on the exemption provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) for the offer and sale of securities not involving a public offering, and Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. The issuance of the Exchange Notes and Exchange Warrants was made in reliance on the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act.
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) Exhibits: Reference is made to the Exhibit Index following the signature pages hereto, which Exhibit Index is hereby incorporated into this Item.
(b) Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules: All schedules are omitted because the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the financial statements and the related notes.
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 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
(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), (ii), and (iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-1 and 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.
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(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 of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C (§ 230.430C of this chapter), each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A (§ 230.430A of this chapter), shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. 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 first use, 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 date of first use.
(b) 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 provisions referenced in Item 14 of this Registration Statement, 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 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 hereunder, 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 of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(c) 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.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Round Rock, Texas, on June 9, 2023.
|
VOLCON, INC. (Registrant) | ||
| By: | /s/ Jordan Davis | |
|
Jordan Davis Chief Executive Officer | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Jordan Davis or Greg Endo as attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, to sign on his or her behalf, individually and in any and all capacities, including the capacities stated below, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any registration statements filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
| SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE |
| /s/ Jordan Davis | June 9, 2023 | |
| Jordan Davis |
Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
|
| /s/ Greg Endo | June 9, 2023 | |
| Greg Endo |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
|
| /s/ Christian Okonsky | ||
| Christian Okonsky | Director and Chief Technology Officer | June 9, 2023 |
| /s/ Jonathan P. Foster | ||
| Jonathan P. Foster | Director | June 9, 2023 |
| /s/ John Kim | ||
| John Kim | Director | June 9, 2023 |
| /s/ Karin-Joyce Tjon | ||
| Karin-Joyce Tjon | Director | June 9, 2023 |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit Number |
Description |
| 3.1 | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Volcon, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Form 8-K filed October 8, 2021)
|
| 3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of Volcon, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468) |
| 4.1 | Form of common stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468) |
| 4.2 | Form of Warrant issued to Pink Possum, LLC and Highbridge Consulting, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468) |
| 4.3 | Form of Underwriter Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468) |
| 4.4 | Form of Underwriter Warrant (incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.3 of the Form S-1 file number 333-262343) |
| 4.5 | Form of Original Senior Convertible Note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 24, 2022) |
| 4.6 | Note Amendment to Senior Convertible Note, dated September 6, 2022 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.6 of the Form S-1 file number 333-267404) |
| 4.7 | Form of Original Common Stock Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 24, 2022) |
| 4.8 | Placement Agent Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 24, 2022). |
| 4.9 | Form of New Senior Convertible Note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 22, 2023) |
| 4.10 | Form of Exchange Senior Convertible Note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 22, 2023) |
| 4.11 | Form of New Common Stock Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 22, 2023) |
| 4.12 | Form of Exchange Common Stock Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 22, 2023) |
| 5.1 | Opinion of ArentFox Schiff LLP* |
| 10.1† | 2021 Stock Plan of Volcon, Inc., as amended (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.1 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468) |
| 10.2 | Consulting Agreement, as amended, between Volcon, Inc. and Pink Possum, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468) |
| 10.3 | Consulting Agreement, as amended, between Volcon, Inc. and Highbridge Consulting, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468) |
| 10.4 | Lease Agreement dated November 20, 2020, as amended between Volcon, Inc. and Alexander EV Park, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468) |
| 10.5† | Employment Agreement between Volcon, Inc. and Greg Endo dated June 7, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468) |
| 10.6 | Sublease Agreement dated June 1, 2021 between Volcon, Inc. and Sustainability Initiatives, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468) |
| 10.7† | Employment Agreement between Volcon, Inc. and Jordan Davis dated August 5, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468) |
| 10.8 | Securities Purchase Agreement by and among Volcon, Inc. and the Buyers, dated August 22, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 24, 2022)** |
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| 10.9 | Registration Rights Agreement by and among Volcon, Inc. and the Buyers, dated August 22, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 24, 2022) |
| 10.10 | Placement Agent Agreement for Original Notes (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 24, 2022) |
| 10.11† | Amendment to the Volcon, Inc. 2021 Stock Plan (as amended and restated) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 27, 2022) |
| 10.12 | Supply Agreement with General Motors LLC executed as of August 9, 2022 and effective as of August 3, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 filed with the SEC on August 15, 2022)** |
| 10.13 | Supplier Agreement with GLV Ventures effective August 11, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 filed with the SEC on August 15, 2022) |
| 10.14† | Employment Agreement between Volcon, Inc. and Stephanie Davis, dated January 3, 2022 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.2 of the Form 10-Q filed May 12, 2022) |
| 10.15 | Underwriting Agreement by and among Volcon, Inc. and Aegis Capital Corp., dated January 28, 2022 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 1.1 of Form 8-K filed on April 28, 2022) |
| 10.16 | Securities Purchase Agreement by and among Volcon, Inc. and the Buyers, dated May 19, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 24, 2023)** |
| 10.17 | Registration Rights Agreement by and among Volcon, Inc. and the Buyers, dated May 19, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 22, 2023) |
| 10.18 | Placement Agent Agreement for New Notes (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 22, 2023) |
| 10.19 | Underwriting Agreement by and among Volcon, Inc. and Aegis Capital Corp., dated May 22, 2023 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 1.1 of Form 8-K filed on May 25, 2023) |
| 21.1 | List of subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 of the Form S-1 file number 333-259468) |
| 23.1 | Consent of MaloneBailey LLP* |
| 23.2 | Opinion of ArentFox Schiff LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)* |
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney (included on signature page) |
| 107 | Filing Fee Table* |
| * | Filed herewith. |
| ** | Schedules and exhibits omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company will furnish a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the SEC upon request. |
| † | Indicates management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement. |
| II-9 |
Exhibit 5.1
|
 |
June 9, 2023
Volcon, Inc.
3121 Eagles Nest, Suite 120
Round Rock, TX 78665
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-1
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Volcon, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Registration Statement relates to the registration for resale by the selling stockholders named in the Registration Statement (the “Selling Stockholders”) of up to (i) 22,492,754 shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”) issuable upon the exercise of certain outstanding warrants (the “Warrants”) issued by the Company to the Selling Stockholders (the “Warrant Shares”); and (ii) up to 6,579,710 issuable upon the conversion of certain outstanding convertible notes (the “Notes”) issued by the Company to the Selling Stockholders (the “Note Shares,” and collectively with the Warrant Shares, the “Shares”).
In connection with our opinion, we have examined the Registration Statement, including the exhibits thereto, the Warrants, the Notes, and such other documents, corporate records and instruments, and have examined such laws and regulations, as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion. In making our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies and the legal capacity of all natural persons. As to matters of fact material to our opinions in this letter, we have relied on certificates and statements from officers and other employees of the Company, public officials and other appropriate persons.
Based on the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Warrant Shares initially issuable upon exercise of the Warrants when issued by the Company against payment therefor (not less than par value) in the circumstances contemplated by the Warrants, will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
2. The Note Shares initially issuable upon conversion of the Notes in the circumstances contemplated by the Notes, will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
The opinion letter which we render herein is limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, including all Delaware statutes and all Delaware court decisions that affect the interpretation of such General Corporation Law, as of the date hereof.
The opinions expressed in this opinion letter are as of the date of this opinion letter only and as to laws covered hereby only as they are in effect on that date, and we assume no obligation to update or supplement such opinion to reflect any facts or circumstances that may come to our attention after that date or any changes in law that may occur or become effective after that date. The opinions herein are limited to the matters expressly set forth in this opinion letter, and no opinion or representation is given or may be inferred beyond the opinions expressly set forth in this opinion letter.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of this firm’s name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ ArentFox Schiff LLP
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of our report dated March 6, 2023 with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements of Volcon, Inc. and its subsidiary for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. Our report contains an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
We also consent to the references to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ MaloneBailey, LLP
www.malonebailey.com
Houston, Texas
June 9, 2023