Immucell Corp S-3, filed Apr 1, 2024
Immucell Corp (ICCC)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2024
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ImmuCell Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 01-0382980 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer | |
| incorporation or organization) | Identification Number) |
56 Evergreen Drive
Portland, ME 04103
(207) 878-2770
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Michael F. Brigham
President, Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer
56 Evergreen Drive
Portland, ME 04103
(207) 878-2770
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
|
Mitchell S. Nussbaum, Esq. Norwood P. Beveridge, Esq. Loeb & Loeb LLP 345 Park Avenue New York, New York 10154 (212) 407-4000 |
Michael J. Anderson Pierce Atwood LLP 254 Commercial Street Portland, ME 04101 (207) 791-1100 |
Robert F. Charron, Esq. Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP 1345 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10105-0302 (212) 370-1300 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: þ
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ | Non-accelerated filer þ |
Smaller reporting company þ 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 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 Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Registration Statement contains the following documents:
| ● | A base prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to $20,000,000 in the aggregate of the securities identified above from time to time in one or more offerings; and |
| ● | An at the market offering prospectus covering the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $11 million of our common stock that may be issued and sold under an at the market offering agreement with Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC, or Craig-Hallum. |
The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The specific terms of any securities to be offered pursuant to the base prospectus will be specified in a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus. The at the market offering prospectus immediately follows the base prospectus. The $11,000,000 of common stock that may be offered, issued and sold under the at the market offering prospectus is included in the $20,000,000 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by us under the base prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the at the market offering agreement, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate purchase price of $11 million from time to time through Craig-Hallum. The at the market offering prospectus covers such aggregate amount. Upon termination of the at the market offering agreement with Craig-Hallum, any portion of the $11,000,000 included in the at the market offering prospectus that is not sold pursuant to the at the market offering agreement will be available for sale in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus, and if no shares are sold under the at the market offering agreement, the full $20,000,000 of securities may be sold in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
| Prospectus | Subject To Completion, Dated April 1, 2024 |
IMMUCELL CORPORATION
$20,000,000
Common Stock
Warrants
Subscription Rights
From time to time, we may offer up to $20,000,000.00 of our common stock, warrants and subscription rights, in one or more transactions.
We will provide specific terms of these securities and offerings in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplement, and any documents incorporated by reference, may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, any documents incorporated by reference and any related free writing prospectus carefully before buying any of the securities being offered.
We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.
We are a smaller reporting company under Rule 405 of the Securities Act and, as such, have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and future filings.
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, any documents incorporated by reference and any related free writing prospectus for a discussion of information that you should consider in connection with an investment in our common stock.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is____________, 2024.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement we may file constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements relate to future events concerning our business and to our future revenues, operating results and financial condition. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “target, ” “forecast,” “seeks,” “predict,” “project”, “propose,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology.
Any forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement are only estimates or predictions of future events based on information currently available to our management and management’s current beliefs about the potential outcome of future events. Whether these future events will occur as management anticipates, whether we will achieve our business objectives, and whether our revenues, operating results or financial condition will be sustained or improve in future periods are subject to numerous risks. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by these forward-looking statements. These important factors include those that we discuss under the heading “Risk Factors” and in other sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as well as in our other reports filed from time to time with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should read these factors and the other cautionary statements made in this prospectus and in the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this prospectus or the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus. If one or more of these factors materialize, or if any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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This document is called a prospectus and is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more transactions and in amounts we will determine from time to time, up to a total dollar amount of $20,000,000.00.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of ImmuCell Corporation and potential offerings of our securities described herein. Each time we offer securities we will provide a prospectus supplement or information that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, containing more specific information about the offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. This prospectus, together with applicable prospectus supplements, any information incorporated by reference and any related free writing prospectuses, includes all material information relating to these offerings. We may also add, update or change in the prospectus supplement any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including, without limitation, a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations that apply to these offerings or the specific plan of distribution. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and a prospectus supplement or information incorporated by reference having a later date, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement or incorporated information having a later date. We urge you to read carefully this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” before buying any of our securities.
You should rely only on the information we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus.
Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made under it implies that there has been no change in our affairs or that the information in this prospectus is correct as of any date after the date of this prospectus. You should assume that the information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of common stock.
This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information”. THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO CONSUMMATE A SALE OF SECURITIES, UNLESS IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we”, “us”, “our” or similar terms, as well as references to “ImmuCell” or the “Company”, refer to ImmuCell Corporation.
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We are a growing animal health company whose purpose is to create scientifically-proven and practical products that result in a measurable economic impact on animal health and productivity in the dairy and beef industries. We were originally incorporated in Maine in 1982 and reincorporated in Delaware in conjunction with our initial public offering of common stock in 1987. After achieving approval from the Center for Veterinary Biologics, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to sell First Defense® in 1991, we focused most of our efforts during the 1990’s attempting to develop human product applications of the underlying milk protein purification technology. Beginning in 1999, we re-focused our business strategy on the First Defense® product line and other products that improve the health and productivity of dairy and beef cattle. We support the dairy and beef industries’ purpose to produce nutritious, protein-rich food efficiently while ensuring food quality and safety. Our products help address the growing human health concern about using less antibiotics in food-producing animals. We aim to capitalize on the growth in sales of the First Defense® product line (a product that provides significant Immediate Immunity™ to newborn dairy and beef livestock) and to revolutionize the mastitis treatment paradigm with Re-Tain®, a novel product we are developing to treat this most significant cause of economic loss to the dairy industry.
During 2000, we began the development of Re-Tain®, our purified Nisin treatment for subclinical mastitis in lactating dairy cows. No sales of this product can be made without prior approval of our New Animal Drug Application (NADA) by the Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We have achieved FDA approval for four out of five of the significant Technical Sections required for product approval, and we have made our third submission of the fifth Technical Section. We expect a response to this third submission from the FDA by May of 2024. Regulatory achievements to date have significantly reduced the product development risks in the areas of safety and effectiveness. Our primary product development focus has now turned to completion of the manufacturing objectives required for FDA approval.
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Investing in our securities involves significant risks. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in, or incorporated into, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference herein or therein. Each of the referenced risks and uncertainties could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities. Additional risks not known to us or that we believe are immaterial may also adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition and the value of an investment in our securities.
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We may offer, from time to time, shares of our common stock under this prospectus at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of our common stock. Each time we offer common stock, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, and prices of the common stock. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus also may supplement or, as applicable, add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference. The terms of any particular offering, the initial offering price and the net proceeds to us will be contained in the prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus relating to such offering.
The description below of our common stock and provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws are summaries and are qualified by reference to the certificate of incorporation and the bylaws. These documents are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Our authorized capital stock consists of 15,000,000 shares of common stock. As of March 8, 2024 there were 7,750,864 shares of common stock outstanding.
Common Stock
The holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratable dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of or provision for liabilities. The common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable, and the shares of common stock to be issued upon the closing of this offering will be fully paid and nonassessable.
The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the shareholders. There is no cumulative voting.
Effect of Certain Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and Common Stock Rights Plan
Provisions of our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, our Common Stock Rights Plan or Delaware law may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares of our common stock. These provisions may also prevent or frustrate attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our management. These provisions include:
| ● | limitations on the removal of directors; advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and nominations; | |
| ● | the ability of our Board of Directors to alter or repeal our bylaws; | |
| ● | the ability of our Board of Directors to refuse to redeem rights issued under our Common Stock Rights Plan or otherwise to limit or suspend its operation that would work to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer, likely preventing acquisitions that have not been approved by our Board of Directors; and |
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| ● | Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder (generally defined as a person which together with its affiliates owns, or within the last three years has owned, 15% of our voting stock, for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder) unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. |
The existence of the foregoing provisions and anti-takeover measures could depress the trading price of our common stock or limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock. They could also deter potential acquirers of our Company, thereby reducing the likelihood of obtaining a premium for our common stock in an acquisition.
These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to promote stability in our management. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our Board of Directors.
| ● | Shareholder Meetings. Our bylaws provide that a special meeting of shareholders may be called only by the President or by the Board of Directors or by shareholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock. | |
| ● | Requirements for Advance Notification of Shareholder Nominations and Proposals. Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to shareholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors. | |
| ● | Board of Directors Vacancies. Under our bylaws, any vacancy on the Board of Directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of the Board of Directors, may only be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining directors. Any director may be removed by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock. The limitations on the removal of directors and filling of vacancies would have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, or of discouraging a third party from acquiring control of us. | |
| ● | Board of Directors Size. Within the range specified by our bylaws, our Board of Directors determines the size of our Board of Directors and may create new directorships and elect new directors, which may enable an incumbent Board of Directors to maintain control by adding directors. | |
| ● | Indemnification. Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws, as amended, provide that we will indemnify officers and directors against losses as they incur in investigations and legal proceedings resulting from their services to us, which may include service in connection with takeover defense measures. |
In September 1995, our Board of Directors adopted a Common Stock Rights Plan and declared a dividend of one common share purchase right (a “Right”) for each of the then outstanding shares of the common stock of the Company. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one share of common stock at an initial purchase price of $70.00 per share, subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement between the Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent (as amended from time to time, the “Rights Agreement”).
The Rights (as amended) become exercisable and transferable apart from the common stock upon the earlier of i) 10 days following a public announcement that a person or group (Acquiring Person) has, without the prior consent of the Continuing Directors (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement), acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding common stock or ii) 10 days following commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in ownership by a person or group of 20% or more of the outstanding common stock (the earlier of such dates being called the Distribution Date).
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Upon the Distribution Date, the holder of each Right not owned by the Acquiring Person would be entitled to purchase common stock at a discount to the initial purchase price of $70.00 per share, effectively equal to one half of the market price of a share of common stock on the date the Acquiring Person becomes an Acquiring Person. If, after the Distribution Date, the Company should consolidate or merge with any other entity and the Company were not the surviving company, or, if the Company were the surviving company, all or part of the Company’s common stock were changed or exchanged into the securities of any other entity, or if more than 50% of the Company’s assets or earning power were sold, each Right would entitle its holder to purchase, at the Rights’ then-current purchase price, a number of shares of the acquiring company’s common stock having a market value at that time equal to twice the Right’s exercise price.
At any time after a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding common stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of common stock per Right (subject to adjustment). At any time prior to 14 days following the date that any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person (subject to extension by the Board of Directors), the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the then outstanding Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.005 per Right, subject to adjustment.
During the third quarter of 2011, our Board of Directors voted to authorize an amendment to the Rights Plan to increase the ownership threshold for determining “Acquiring Person” status to 20%. During the second quarter of 2015, our Board of Directors also voted to authorize an amendment to remove a provision that prevented a new group of directors elected following the emergence of an Acquiring Person (an owner of more than 20% of our stock) from controlling the Rights Plan by maintaining exclusive authority over the Rights Plan with pre-existing directors. We did this because such provisions have come to be viewed with disfavor by Delaware courts. Each time that we made such amendments we entered into amendments to the Rights Agreement with the Rights Agent reflecting such extensions, threshold increases or provision changes. No other changes have been made to the terms of the Rights or the Rights Plan, other than extensions to the Final Expiration Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement).
Our Board of Directors believes that there is some risk that the potential value of the mastitis product development initiative and the potential value of our broadened First Defense® product line offerings are not fairly reflected in the market price of our common stock, as it fluctuates from time to time, and that opportunistic buyers could take advantage of that disparity to the detriment of our stockholders. If this were to happen and result in a potential threat through an unsolicited acquisition effort or otherwise, our Board of Directors feels that the Common Stock Rights Plan could enhance stockholder value by providing management with negotiating leverage.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “ICCC”.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equiniti Trust Company, LLC.
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The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and any related warrant agreement and warrant certificate. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer, we will describe the specific terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we indicate in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any warrants offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Specific warrant agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and will be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which includes this prospectus.
General
We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with common stock, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities.
We will evidence each series of warrants by warrant certificates that we may issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into a warrant agreement with a warrant agent. Each warrant agent may be a bank that we select which has its principal office in the United States. We may also choose to act as our own warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of any such warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants, including:
| ● | the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered; |
| ● | if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security; |
| ● | if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable; |
| ● | the number or amount of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which and currency in which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise; |
| ● | the manner of exercise of the warrants, including any cashless exercise rights; |
| ● | the warrant agreement under which the warrants will be issued; |
| ● | the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreement and the warrants; |
| ● | anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any; |
| ● | the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants; |
| ● | any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; |
| ● | the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire or, if the warrants are not continuously exercisable during that period, the specific date or dates on which the warrants will be exercisable; |
| ● | the manner in which the warrant agreement and warrants may be modified; |
| ● | the identities of the warrant agent and any calculation or other agent for the warrants; |
| ● | federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants; |
| ● | any securities exchange or quotation system on which the warrants or any securities deliverable upon exercise of the warrants may be listed or quoted; and |
| ● | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants. |
Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights.
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Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to 5:00 P.M. eastern time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required exercise price by the methods provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate, and in the applicable prospectus supplement, the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent.
Upon receipt of the required payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, then we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of warrants.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants
Any warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action the holder’s right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants in accordance with their terms.
Governing Law
Each warrant agreement and any warrants issued under the warrant agreements will be governed by New York law.
Calculation Agent
Any calculations relating to warrants may be made by a calculation agent, an institution that we appoint as our agent for this purpose. The prospectus supplement for a particular warrant will name the institution that we have appointed to act as the calculation agent for that warrant as of the original issue date for that warrant, if any. We may appoint a different institution to serve as calculation agent from time to time after the original issue date without the consent or notification of the holders. The calculation agent’s determination of any amount of money payable or securities deliverable with respect to a warrant will be final and binding in the absence of manifest error.
DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
We may issue to our shareholders subscription rights to purchase our common stock. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the subscription rights that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. The particular terms of the subscription rights and the extent, if any, to which the general terms and provisions may apply to the subscription right so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered by this prospectus and may or may not be transferable by the shareholder receiving the rights in the rights offering. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting agreement with one or more underwriters pursuant to which the underwriter will purchase any securities that remain unsubscribed for upon completion of the rights offering, or offer these securities to other parties who are not our shareholders. A copy of the form of subscription rights certificate will be filed with the SEC each time we issue subscription rights, and you should read that document for provisions that may be important to you. For more information on how you can obtain a copy of any subscription rights certificate, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”
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The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any subscription rights will describe the terms of the offered subscription rights, including, where applicable, the following:
| ● | the exercise price for the subscription rights; |
| ● | the number of subscription rights issued to each shareholder; |
| ● | the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable; |
| ● | any other terms of the subscription rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the subscription rights; |
| ● | the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights will commence and the date on which the right will expire; |
| ● | the extent to which the subscription rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; and |
| ● | the material terms of any standby underwriting arrangement entered into by us in connection with the subscription rights offering. |
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of our securities to repay outstanding indebtedness, for future capital expenditures, working capital and for general corporate purposes.
We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions, including, without limitation:
| ● | through agents; | |
| ● | to or through underwriters; | |
| ● | through broker-dealers (acting as agent or principal); | |
| ● | directly by us to purchasers (including our affiliates and shareholders), through a specific bidding or auction process, a rights offering or otherwise; | |
| ● | through a combination of any such methods of sale; or | |
| ● | through any other methods described in a prospectus supplement. |
The distribution of securities may be effected, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including:
| ● | block transactions (which may involve crosses) and transactions on the NASDAQ Capital Market or any other organized market where the common stock may be traded; | |
| ● | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to a prospectus supplement; | |
| ● | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker-dealer solicits purchasers; | |
| ● | sales “at the market” to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise; and | |
| ● | sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers. |
8
The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The consideration may be cash or another form negotiated by the parties. Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the securities. That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us or from the purchasers of the securities. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. If such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities Act.
We may also make direct sales through subscription rights distributed to our existing shareholders on a pro rata basis, which may or may not be transferable. In any distribution of subscription rights to our shareholders, if all of the underlying common stock is not subscribed for, we may then sell the unsubscribed common stock directly to third parties or may engage the services of one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to sell the unsubscribed common stock to third parties. We may pay the standby underwriters a commitment fee for the common stock they commit to purchase on a standby basis.
Agents may, from time to time, solicit offers to purchase the securities. If required, we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, as applicable, any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and set forth any compensation payable to the agent. Unless otherwise indicated, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any agent selling the securities covered by this prospectus may be deemed to be an underwriter of the securities.
If underwriters are used in an offering, securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or under delayed delivery contracts or other contractual commitments. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of securities, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for the sale is reached. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriter or underwriters, with respect to a particular underwritten offering of securities, and will set forth the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers and the public offering price, if applicable. This prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus will be used by the underwriters to resell the securities.
If a dealer is used in the sale of the securities, we, or an underwriter, will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. To the extent required, we will set forth in the prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, as applicable, the name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions.
We may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities and may make sales of securities directly to institutional investors or others. These persons may be deemed to be underwriters with respect to any resale of the securities. To the extent required, the prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, as applicable, will describe the terms of any such sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if used.
Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against specified liabilities, including liabilities incurred under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments they may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. If required, the prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, as applicable, will describe the terms and conditions of such indemnification or contribution. Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our subsidiaries or affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
Under the securities laws of some states, the securities offered by this prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.
9
Any person participating in the distribution of securities registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of our common stock by any such person. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our securities to engage in market-making activities with respect to our securities. These restrictions may affect the marketability of our securities and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our securities.
Certain persons participating in an offering may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. If any such activities will occur, they will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, as the case may be.
If more than 10% of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by FINRA members participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA members, the offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(h).
So long as the aggregate market value of our common equity held by non-affiliates is less than $75,000,000.00 and so long as required by the rules of the SEC, the amount of common stock we may offer hereunder will be limited such that the aggregate market value of securities sold by us during a period of 12 calendar months cannot exceed one-third of the aggregate market value of the common equity held by non-affiliates.
To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.
Loeb & Loeb LLP, New York, New York will pass upon legal matters in connection with the validity of the securities offered hereby for us.
The financial statements of ImmuCell Corporation as of and for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, incorporated in this Prospectus and Registration Statement by reference from the ImmuCell Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been audited WIPFLI LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, incorporated herein by reference, and have been incorporated in this Prospectus and Registration Statement in reliance upon such report and upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
No expert or counsel named in this prospectus as having prepared or certified any part of this prospectus or having given an opinion upon the validity of the securities being registered or upon other legal matters in connection with the registration or offering of the securities was employed on a contingency basis, or had, or is to receive, in connection with the offering, a substantial interest, direct or indirect, in the registrant. Nor was any such person connected with the registrant as a promoter, managing or principal underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer, or employee.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), with respect to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which is a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. For further information with respect to us and the securities covered by this prospectus, please see the registration statement and the exhibits filed with the registration statement. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC, including such registration statement. The address of the website is http://www.sec.gov.
We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and, in accordance therewith, we file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available on the website of the SEC referred to above. We maintain a website at www.immucell.com. You may access our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our website and the information contained on that site, or connected to that site, are not incorporated into and are not a part of this prospectus.
10
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and certain information that we will later file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below, as well as any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, and any filings made after the date of this prospectus until we sell all of the securities under this prospectus, except that we do not incorporate any document or portion of a document that was furnished and deemed by the rules of the SEC not to have been filed:
| ● | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024; | |
| ● | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2024 and March 6, 2024; | |
| ● |
Our Form 8-A filed with the SEC on March 18, 1987 with respect to our common stock; and | |
| ● | Our Form 8-A filed with the SEC on September 13, 1995, as amended by Form 8-A/A filed with the SEC on July 1, 2008, with respect to our common stock purchase rights. |
Additionally, all reports and other documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after (i) the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement; and (ii) the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination or completion of this offering, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such reports and other documents. Any information that we subsequently file with the SEC that is incorporated by reference as described above will automatically update and supersede any previous information that is part of this prospectus.
We hereby undertake to provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any and all of the information that has been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents. Requests for such copies should be directed to our Corporate Secretary at 56 Evergreen Drive, Portland, ME 04103. Our telephone number is (207) 878-2770.
11
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
| Prospectus | Subject To Completion, Dated April 1, 2024 |
IMMUCELL CORPORATION
$11,000,000
Common Stock
We have entered into an At The Market Offering Agreement, or the sales agreement, with Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC (“Craig-Hallum” or the “Agent”) acting as sales agent, on April , 2024, relating to the sale of shares of our common stock, par value $0.10 per share, offered by this prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the sales agreement, under this prospectus, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $11,000,000 from time to time through Craig-Hallum.
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ICCC.” On March 26, 2024, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market was $5.16 per share.
Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus may be made in sales deemed to be “at the market equity offerings” as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Agent will act as a sales agent on a best efforts basis using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed terms between the Agent and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
The compensation to the Agent for sales of common stock sold pursuant to the sales agreement is an amount equal to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from the sales hereunder. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, the Agent will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of the Agent will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to the Agent with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
As of the date of this prospectus, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates, or our public float, was approximately $34.0 million, based on 6,233,996 outstanding shares of common stock held by non-affiliates and a per share price of $5.46, the closing price of our common stock on March 4, 2024, which is the highest closing sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market within the prior 60 days. We have not sold any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3 during the prior 12 calendar month period that ends on and includes the date of this prospectus. We are thus currently eligible to offer and sell up to an aggregate of $11,345,873 of our common stock pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3.
We are a smaller reporting company under Rule 405 of the Securities Act and, as such, have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and future filings.
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3 of this prospectus and similar sections of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus for a discussion of information that you should consider in connection with an investment in our common stock.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Craig-Hallum
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement we may file constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements relate to future events concerning our business and to our future revenues, operating results and financial condition. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “target, ” “forecast,” “seeks,” “predict,” “project”, “propose,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology.
Any forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement are only estimates or predictions of future events based on information currently available to our management and management’s current beliefs about the potential outcome of future events. Whether these future events will occur as management anticipates, whether we will achieve our business objectives, and whether our revenues, operating results or financial condition will be sustained or improve in future periods are subject to numerous risks. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by these forward-looking statements. These important factors include those that we discuss under the heading “Risk Factors” and in other sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as well as in our other reports filed from time to time with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should read these factors and the other cautionary statements made in this prospectus and in the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this prospectus or the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus. If one or more of these factors materialize, or if any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
ii
This document is called a prospectus and is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. This prospectus provides you with a general description of ImmuCell Corporation and the offering of our securities described herein. Each time we offer securities we may provide a prospectus supplement or information that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, containing more specific information about us or the offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. This prospectus, together with any applicable prospectus supplements, any information incorporated by reference and any related free writing prospectuses, includes all material information relating to these offerings. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and a prospectus supplement or information incorporated by reference having a later date, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement or incorporated information having a later date. We urge you to read carefully this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” before buying any of our securities.
You should rely only on the information we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus.
Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made under it implies that there has been no change in our affairs or that the information in this prospectus is correct as of any date after the date of this prospectus. You should assume that the information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of common stock.
This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information”.
In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we”, “us”, “our” or similar terms, as well as references to “ImmuCell” or the “Company”, refer to ImmuCell Corporation.
iii
We are a growing animal health company whose purpose is to create scientifically-proven and practical products that result in a measurable economic impact on animal health and productivity in the dairy and beef industries. We were originally incorporated in Maine in 1982 and reincorporated in Delaware in conjunction with our initial public offering of common stock in 1987. After achieving approval from the Center for Veterinary Biologics, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to sell First Defense® in 1991, we focused most of our efforts during the 1990’s attempting to develop human product applications of the underlying milk protein purification technology. Beginning in 1999, we re-focused our business strategy on the First Defense® product line and other products that improve the health and productivity of dairy and beef cattle. We support the dairy and beef industries’ purpose to produce nutritious, protein-rich food efficiently while ensuring food quality and safety. Our products help address the growing human health concern about using less antibiotics in food-producing animals. We aim to capitalize on the growth in sales of the First Defense® product line (a product that provides significant Immediate Immunity™ to newborn dairy and beef livestock) and to revolutionize the mastitis treatment paradigm with Re-Tain®, a novel product we are developing to treat this most significant cause of economic loss to the dairy industry.
During 2000, we began the development of Re-Tain®, our purified Nisin treatment for subclinical mastitis in lactating dairy cows. No sales of this product can be made without prior approval of our New Animal Drug Application (NADA) by the Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We have achieved FDA approval for four out of five of the significant Technical Sections required for product approval, and we have made our third submission of the fifth Technical Section. We expect a response to this third submission from the FDA by May of 2024. Regulatory achievements to date have significantly reduced the product development risks in the areas of safety and effectiveness. Our primary product development focus has now turned to completion of the manufacturing objectives required for FDA approval.
1
The following summary contains the principal terms of this offering. The summary is not intended to be complete. You should read the full text and more specific details contained elsewhere in this prospectus.
| Common stock offered by us in this offering | Up to $11,000,000 of our common stock, par value $0.10 per share. |
| Common stock to be outstanding after this offering | Up to 9,854,114 shares of common stock, assuming sales of 2,131,783 shares in this offering at a public offering price of $5.16 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) on March 26, 2024. The actual number of shares issued will vary depending on the sales price under this offering. |
| Manner of offering | Sales of shares of our common stock, if any, will be made in sales deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act., from time to time, through the Agent, as our agent or as principal, pursuant to the sales agreement. See “Plan of Distribution.” |
| Use of proceeds | We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay amounts due on our outstanding indebtedness, future capital expenditures and to address the Company’s working capital needs. See “Use of Proceeds.” |
| Nasdaq Symbol | “ICCC.” |
| Risk Factors | See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3 and in the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act. Of 1934, as amended, incorporated by reference in this prospectus, to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our common stock. |
The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 7,750,864 shares of common stock outstanding on March 8, 2024, and excludes shares reserved for issuance under the 2017 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
Implications of Being a Smaller Reporting Company
We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Exchange Act. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies so long as the market value of our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenue is less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.
2
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk and uncertainty. In addition to the other information included in this prospectus, you should carefully consider each of the risk factors set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and any subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K we file after the date of this prospectus. The risks described are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we presently consider immaterial may also adversely affect our company. If any of the risks described occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part or your investment. In assessing these risks, you should also refer to the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Risks Related to This Offering
You will experience immediate dilution in the book value per share of the common stock you purchase in this offering.
Because the price per share of our common stock being offered is substantially higher than the book value per share of our common stock, you will suffer substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of the common stock you purchase in this offering. Based on the assumed public offering price of $5.16 per share (the closing sale price of our common stock on Nasdaq on March 26, 2024) and assuming that we sell all $11,000,000 of shares of common stock under this prospectus, and after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, if you purchase shares of common stock in this offering, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution of $1.58 per share in the net tangible book value of the common stock. See the section titled “Dilution” below for a more detailed discussion of the dilution you will incur if you purchase common stock in this offering.
Our management team may invest or spend the proceeds of this offering in ways with which you may not agree or in ways which may not yield a significant return.
Our management will have broad discretion over the use of proceeds from this offering, including for any of the purposes described in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds,” and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. However, we have not determined the specific allocation of any net proceeds among these potential uses, and the ultimate use of the net proceeds may vary from the currently intended uses. The net proceeds may be used for corporate purposes that do not increase our operating results or enhance the value of our common stock.
It is not possible to predict the aggregate proceeds resulting from sales made under the sales agreement.
Subject to certain limitations in the sales agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a placement notice to the Agent at any time throughout the term of the sales agreement. The number of shares that are sold through the Agent after delivering a placement notice will fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the market price of our common stock during the sales period, the limits we set with the Agent in any applicable placement notice, and the demand for our common stock during the sales period. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate during the sales period, it is not currently possible to predict the aggregate proceeds to be raised in connection with those sales.
The common stock offered hereby will be sold in “at the market offerings,” and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.
Investors who purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different levels of dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and number of shares sold in this offering. In addition, subject to the final determination by our board of directors, there is no minimum or maximum sales price for shares to be sold in this offering. Investors may experience a decline in the value of the shares they purchase in this offering as a result of sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.
Future sales of substantial amounts of our common stock, or the possibility that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
We cannot predict the effect, if any, that future issuances or sales of our securities, including the availability of our securities for future issuance or sale, will have on the market price of our common stock. Issuances or sales of substantial amounts of our securities, or the perception that such issuances or sales might occur, could negatively impact the market price of our common stock and the terms upon which we may obtain additional equity financing in the future.
3
We may issue and sell shares of our common stock having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $11,000,000 from time to time. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. There can be no assurance that we will sell any shares under or fully utilize the sales agreement as a source of financing.
Except as otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement or in other offering materials, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of our securities to repay outstanding indebtedness, for future capital expenditures, working capital and for general corporate purposes.
The amounts and timing of our actual repayments and expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the factors described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, as well as the amount of cash used in our operations. We may find it necessary or advisable to use the net proceeds for other purposes.
The difference between the public offering price per share of our common stock in this offering and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering constitutes immediate dilution to investors in this offering. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our net tangible book value, which is our total tangible assets less total liabilities, by the number of outstanding shares of common stock.
As of December 31, 2023, our net tangible book value was approximately $24.9 million, or approximately $3.21 per share.
On an as adjusted basis as of March 26, 2024, our net tangible book value would have been approximately $35.4 million, or approximately $3.59 per share, after giving effect to the sale of 2,131,783 shares of common stock offered in this prospectus at the assumed public offering price of $5.16 (the closing sale price of our common stock on Nasdaq on March 26, 2024) and the deduction of the Agent’s commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The difference between the historical and as adjusted net tangible book value represents an immediate dilution of approximately 30.6% per share, or $1.58, to new investors.
The following table illustrates the dilution to the new investors on a per-share basis:
| Public offering price | $ | 5.16 | ||
| Actual net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2023 | $ | 3.21 | ||
| Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors | 0.38 | |||
| As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering | $ | 3.58 | ||
| Dilution to new investors | $ | 1.58 |
The table above assumes for illustrative purposes that an aggregate of 2,131,783 shares of our common stock are sold during the term of the sales agreement at a price of $5.16 per share (the closing sale price of our common stock on Nasdaq on March 26, 2024) for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $11 million. The shares sold in this offering, if any, will be sold from time to time at various prices.
The table and discussion above are based on 7,750,864 shares of common stock outstanding on December 31, 2023, and excludes, as of that date, 618,500 shares reserved for issuance under the 2017 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
To the extent that new options are issued under the 2017 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, or we issue additional shares of common stock in the future, there may be further dilution to investors participating in this offering. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital because of market conditions or strategic considerations, even if we believe that we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. If we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or securities exercisable for or convertible into equity, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.
4
We may offer, from time to time, shares of our common stock under this prospectus at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of our common stock. Each time we offer common stock, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, and prices of the common stock. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus also may supplement or, as applicable, add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference. The terms of any particular offering, the initial offering price and the net proceeds to us will be contained in the prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus relating to such offering.
The description below of our common stock and provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws are summaries and are qualified by reference to the certificate of incorporation and the bylaws. These documents are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Our authorized capital stock consists of 15,000,000 shares of common stock. As of March 8, 2024 there were 7,750,864 shares of common stock outstanding.
Common Stock
The holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratable dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of or provision for liabilities. The common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable, and the shares of common stock to be issued upon the closing of this offering will be fully paid and nonassessable.
The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the shareholders. There is no cumulative voting.
Effect of Certain Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and Common Stock Rights Plan
Provisions of our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, our Common Stock Rights Plan or Delaware law may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares of our common stock. These provisions may also prevent or frustrate attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our management. These provisions include:
| ● | limitations on the removal of directors; advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and nominations; | |
| ● | the ability of our Board of Directors to alter or repeal our bylaws; | |
| ● | the ability of our Board of Directors to refuse to redeem rights issued under our Common Stock Rights Plan or otherwise to limit or suspend its operation that would work to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer, likely preventing acquisitions that have not been approved by our Board of Directors; and | |
| ● | Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder (generally defined as a person which together with its affiliates owns, or within the last three years has owned, 15% of our voting stock, for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder) unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. |
The existence of the foregoing provisions and anti-takeover measures could depress the trading price of our common stock or limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock. They could also deter potential acquirers of our Company, thereby reducing the likelihood of obtaining a premium for our common stock in an acquisition.
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These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to promote stability in our management. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our Board of Directors.
| ● | Shareholder Meetings. Our bylaws provide that a special meeting of shareholders may be called only by the President or by the Board of Directors or by shareholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock. | |
| ● | Requirements for Advance Notification of Shareholder Nominations and Proposals. Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to shareholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors. | |
| ● | Board of Directors Vacancies. Under our bylaws, any vacancy on the Board of Directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of the Board of Directors, may only be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining directors. Any director may be removed by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock. The limitations on the removal of directors and filling of vacancies would have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, or of discouraging a third party from acquiring control of us. | |
| ● | Board of Directors Size. Within the range specified by our bylaws, our Board of Directors determines the size of our Board of Directors and may create new directorships and elect new directors, which may enable an incumbent Board of Directors to maintain control by adding directors. | |
| ● | Indemnification. Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws, as amended, provide that we will indemnify officers and directors against losses as they incur in investigations and legal proceedings resulting from their services to us, which may include service in connection with takeover defense measures. |
In September 1995, our Board of Directors adopted a Common Stock Rights Plan and declared a dividend of one common share purchase right (a “Right”) for each of the then outstanding shares of the common stock of the Company. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one share of common stock at an initial purchase price of $70.00 per share, subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement between the Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent (as amended from time to time, the “Rights Agreement”).
The Rights (as amended) become exercisable and transferable apart from the common stock upon the earlier of i) 10 days following a public announcement that a person or group (Acquiring Person) has, without the prior consent of the Continuing Directors (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement), acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding common stock or ii) 10 days following commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in ownership by a person or group of 20% or more of the outstanding common stock (the earlier of such dates being called the Distribution Date).
Upon the Distribution Date, the holder of each Right not owned by the Acquiring Person would be entitled to purchase common stock at a discount to the initial purchase price of $70.00 per share, effectively equal to one half of the market price of a share of common stock on the date the Acquiring Person becomes an Acquiring Person. If, after the Distribution Date, the Company should consolidate or merge with any other entity and the Company were not the surviving company, or, if the Company were the surviving company, all or part of the Company’s common stock were changed or exchanged into the securities of any other entity, or if more than 50% of the Company’s assets or earning power were sold, each Right would entitle its holder to purchase, at the Rights’ then-current purchase price, a number of shares of the acquiring company’s common stock having a market value at that time equal to twice the Right’s exercise price.
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At any time after a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding common stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of common stock per Right (subject to adjustment). At any time prior to 14 days following the date that any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person (subject to extension by the Board of Directors), the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the then outstanding Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.005 per Right, subject to adjustment.
During the third quarter of 2011, our Board of Directors voted to authorize an amendment to the Rights Plan to increase the ownership threshold for determining “Acquiring Person” status to 20%. During the second quarter of 2015, our Board of Directors also voted to authorize an amendment to remove a provision that prevented a new group of directors elected following the emergence of an Acquiring Person (an owner of more than 20% of our stock) from controlling the Rights Plan by maintaining exclusive authority over the Rights Plan with pre-existing directors. We did this because such provisions have come to be viewed with disfavor by Delaware courts. Each time that we made such amendments we entered into amendments to the Rights Agreement with the Rights Agent reflecting such extensions, threshold increases or provision changes. No other changes have been made to the terms of the Rights or the Rights Plan, other than extensions to the Final Expiration Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement).
Our Board of Directors believes that there is some risk that the potential value of the mastitis product development initiative and the potential value of our broadened First Defense® product line offerings are not fairly reflected in the market price of our common stock, as it fluctuates from time to time, and that opportunistic buyers could take advantage of that disparity to the detriment of our stockholders. If this were to happen and result in a potential threat through an unsolicited acquisition effort or otherwise, our Board of Directors feels that the Common Stock Rights Plan could enhance stockholder value by providing management with negotiating leverage.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “ICCC”.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equiniti Trust Company, LLC.
We have entered into the sales agreement with Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC under which we may offer and sell, from time to time through Craig-Hallum, acting as agent or principal, shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $11,000,000. Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus may be made in transactions that are deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act.
Each time we wish to issue and sell our common stock under the sales agreement, we will notify Craig-Hallum of the number or dollar value of shares to be issued, the dates on which such sales are anticipated to be made, any limitation on the number of shares that may be sold in one day, any minimum price below which sales may not be made and other sales parameters as we deem appropriate. Once we have so instructed Craig-Hallum, unless Craig-Hallum declines to accept the terms of the notice, Craig-Hallum has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such shares up to the amount specified on such terms. The obligations of Craig-Hallum under the sales agreement to sell our common stock are subject to a number of conditions that we must meet. We may instruct Craig-Hallum not to sell our common stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us in any such instruction. Craig-Hallum or we may suspend the offering of common stock upon proper notice to the other party and subject to other conditions. Craig-Hallum and we each have the right, by giving written notice as specified in the sales agreement, to terminate the sales agreement in each party’s sole discretion at any time.
Under the terms of the sales agreement, we may also sell our common stock to Craig-Hallum, as principal for its own account, at a price negotiated at the time of sale, provided that no sales may be made in a privately negotiated transaction without our prior consent.
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We will pay Craig-Hallum commissions for its services in acting as agent in the sale of common stock at a commission rate of 3.0% of the gross proceeds from the sales hereunder. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. We have also agreed to reimburse Craig-Hallum for certain specified fees and documented expenses, including the fees and documented expenses of its legal counsel in an amount not to exceed $50,000, plus an additional amount not to exceed $5,000 per quarter thereafter in connection with updates at the time of Representation Dates. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding compensation and reimbursements payable to Craig-Hallum under the sales agreement, will be $150,000 if we sold the entire $11,000,000 of shares of our common stock.
Settlement for sales of common stock will occur on the second business day following the date on which any sales are made, or any such other settlement cycle as may be in effect pursuant to Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and Craig-Hallum in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. Sales of our common stock as contemplated in this prospectus will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and Craig-Hallum may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
In connection with the sale of the shares of common stock on our behalf, Craig-Hallum will be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, and Craig-Hallum’s compensation will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Craig-Hallum against certain liabilities, including civil liabilities under the Securities Act. To the extent required by Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act, Craig-Hallum will not engage in any transactions that stabilize our common stock while the offering pursuant to this prospectus is ongoing.
The offering of shares of our common stock pursuant to the sales agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (1) the issuance and sale of all shares of our common stock subject to the sales agreement; and (2) the termination of the sales agreement as permitted therein.
Craig-Hallum and its affiliates may in the future engage in investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ICCC.” The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equiniti Trust Company, LLC.
Loeb & Loeb LLP, New York, New York will pass upon legal matters in connection with the validity of the securities offered hereby for us. Craig-Hallum is being represented by Ellenoff, Grossman & Schole LLP.
The financial statements of ImmuCell Corporation as of and for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, incorporated in this Prospectus and Registration Statement by reference from the ImmuCell Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been audited WIPFLI LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, incorporated herein by reference, and have been incorporated in this Prospectus and Registration Statement in reliance upon such report and upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
No expert or counsel named in this prospectus as having prepared or certified any part of this prospectus or having given an opinion upon the validity of the securities being registered or upon other legal matters in connection with the registration or offering of the securities was employed on a contingency basis, or had, or is to receive, in connection with the offering, a substantial interest, direct or indirect, in the registrant. Nor was any such person connected with the registrant as a promoter, managing or principal underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer, or employee.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), with respect to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which is a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. For further information with respect to us and the securities covered by this prospectus, please see the registration statement and the exhibits filed with the registration statement. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC, including such registration statement. The address of the website is http://www.sec.gov.
We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and, in accordance therewith, we file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available on the website of the SEC referred to above. We maintain a website at www.immucell.com. You may access our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our website and the information contained on that site, or connected to that site, are not incorporated into and are not a part of this prospectus.
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and certain information that we will later file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below, as well as any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, and any filings made after the date of this prospectus until we sell all of the securities under this prospectus, except that we do not incorporate any document or portion of a document that was furnished and deemed by the rules of the SEC not to have been filed:
| ● | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024; | |
| ● | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2024 and March 6, 2024; | |
| ● |
Our Form 8-A filed with the SEC on March 18, 1987 with respect to our common stock; and
| |
| ● | Our Form 8-A filed with the SEC on September 13, 1995, as amended by Form 8-A/A filed with the SEC on July 1, 2008, with respect to our common stock purchase rights. |
Additionally, all reports and other documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after (i) the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement; and (ii) the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination or completion of this offering, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such reports and other documents. Any information that we subsequently file with the SEC that is incorporated by reference as described above will automatically update and supersede any previous information that is part of this prospectus.
We hereby undertake to provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any and all of the information that has been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents. Requests for such copies should be directed to our Corporate Secretary at 56 Evergreen Drive, Portland, ME 04103. Our telephone number is (207) 878-2770.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The estimated expenses payable by the registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered are as follows:
| SEC Registration Fee | $ | 2,952 | ||
| FINRA Filing Fee | $ | 3,500 | ||
| Legal Fees and Expenses* | $ | 110,000 | ||
| Accounting Fees and Expenses* | $ | 20,000 | ||
| Miscellaneous Fees and Expenses* | $ | 13,548 | ||
| TOTAL | $ | 150,000 |
| * | Estimated solely for the purposes of this Item. Actual expenses will vary. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
We are incorporated in Delaware and consequently are subject to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). Section 145 of the DGCL provides a detailed statutory framework covering indemnification of directors and officers who have been or are threatened to be or have been made defendants in legal proceedings by reason of their service as directors or officers. Our bylaws provide, in effect, that we shall indemnify our directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. Article V, Sections 1 through 9 of our bylaws provide as follows:
“Section 1. Actions other than by or in the Right of the Corporation. The corporation shall 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 an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of NOLO CONTENDERE or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Section 2. Actions by or in the Right of the Corporation. The corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in his favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorney’s fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and 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 unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances for the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or such other court shall deem proper.
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Section 3. Success on the Merits. To the extent that any person described in Section 1 or 2 of this Article V has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in said Sections, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
Section 4. Specific Authorization. Any indemnification under Section 1 or 2 of this Article V (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of any person described in said Sections is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in said Sections. Such determination shall be made (1) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders to the corporation.
Section 5. Advance Payment. Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of any person described in said Section to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to indemnification by the corporation as authorized in this Article V.
Section 6. Non-Exclusivity. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other Sections of this Article V shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those provided indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any By-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
Section 7. Insurance. The Board of Directors may authorize, by a vote of the majority of the full board, the corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article V.
Section 8. Continuation of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article V shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
Section 9. Intent of Article. The intent of this Article V is to provide for indemnification and advancement of expenses to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware. To the extent that such Section or any successor action may be amended or supplemented from time to time, this Article V shall be amended automatically and construed so as to permit indemnification and advancement of expenses to the fullest extent from time to time permitted by law.”
Reference is made to Article Eighth of our certificate of incorporation, which provides as follows:
“EIGHTH. A director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. In addition to and not in limitation of the foregoing, a director of the corporation shall not be liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent provided by the General Corporation Law of Delaware as the same may hereafter be amended.”
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Reference is also made to Section 145 of the DGCL, which provides as follows:
“(a) A corporation shall have 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 an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of NOLO CONTENDERE or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.
(b) A corporation shall have 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 or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
(c) (1) To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith. For indemnification with respect to any act or omission occurring after December 31, 2020, references to “officer” for purposes of paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this section shall mean only a person who at the time of such act or omission is deemed to have consented to service by the delivery of process to the registered agent of the corporation pursuant to § 3114(b) of Title 10 (for purposes of this sentence only, treating residents of this State as if they were nonresidents to apply § 3114(b) of Title 10 to this sentence). (2) The corporation may indemnify any other person who is not a present or former director or officer of the corporation against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person to the extent he or she has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein.
(d) Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of this section (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such determination shall be made with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
(e) Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director of the corporation in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents of the corporation or by persons serving at the request of the corporation as directors, officers, employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
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(f) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to or repeal or elimination of the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.
(g) A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under this section. For purposes of this subsection, insurance shall include any insurance provided directly or indirectly (including pursuant to any fronting or reinsurance arrangement) by or through a captive insurance company organized and licensed in compliance with the laws of any jurisdiction, including any captive insurance company licensed under Chapter 69 of Title 18, provided that the terms of any such captive insurance shall: (1) Exclude from coverage thereunder, and provide that the insurer shall not make any payment for, loss in connection with any claim made against any person arising out of, based upon or attributable to any (i) personal profit or other financial advantage to which such person was not legally entitled or (ii) deliberate criminal or deliberate fraudulent act of such person, or a knowing violation of law by such person, if (in the case of the foregoing paragraph (g)(1)(i) or (ii) of this section) established by a final, nonappealable adjudication in the underlying proceeding in respect of such claim (which shall not include an action or proceeding initiated by the insurer or the insured to determine coverage under the policy), unless and only to the extent such person is entitled to be indemnified therefor under this section; (2) Require that any determination to make a payment under such insurance in respect of a claim against a current director or officer (as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section) of the corporation shall be made by a independent claims administrator or in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (d)(1) through (4) of this section; and (3) Require that, prior to any payment under such insurance in connection with any dismissal or compromise of any action, suit or proceeding brought by or in the right of a corporation as to which notice is required to be given to stockholders, such corporation shall include in such notice that a payment is proposed to be made under such insurance in connection with such dismissal or compromise. For purposes of paragraph (g)(1) of this section, the conduct of an insured person shall not be imputed to any other insured person. A corporation that establishes or maintains a captive insurance company that provides insurance pursuant to this section shall not, solely by virtue thereof, be subject to the provisions of Title 18.
(h) For purposes of this section, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(i) For purposes of this section, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation” as referred to in this section.
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(j) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(k) The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification brought under this section or under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporation’s obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys’ fees).”
As permitted by the bylaws, we also presently maintain a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.
We have also entered into an indemnification agreement (the “Indemnification Agreement”) with each of our directors and executive officers which is intended to complement the indemnity and protection available under our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy maintained by us, and to provide for indemnification of directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
While our bylaws provide, in effect, that we shall indemnify directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law, the Indemnification Agreement provides a number of procedures, presumptions and remedies used in the determination of the right of the director or officer to indemnification. These procedures, presumptions and remedies substantially broaden the indemnity rights of directors and officers beyond those expressly contained in the bylaws and in Section 145 of the DGCL.
The Indemnification Agreement provides that we will pay certain expenses incurred by a director or officer in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, and specifically including actions by or in our name (“derivative suits”), where the individual’s involvement is by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer. Such amounts include attorneys’ fees and other expenses customarily incurred in connection with legal proceedings and, in the case of proceedings other than derivative suits, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement. Indemnification would be available for actions, suits, arbitrations or proceedings commenced after the effective date of the Indemnification Agreement. A director or officer will not receive indemnification if the director or officer is found not to have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best interests.
The Indemnification Agreement further provides that if an action against an indemnified party is dismissed, with or without prejudice, the defense is deemed to have been successful and indemnification is required to be made. The Indemnification Agreement also provides that litigation expenses must be advanced within twenty days of any request, against an undertaking to repay if the payee is ultimately determined not be entitled to indemnification. A determination of entitlement must be made within sixty days of an indemnification request, and payment is to be made within ten days after a favorable determination. (Otherwise a determination in favor of the indemnified party is deemed to have been made.) If there is a change in control of the Company (as defined in the Indemnification Agreement), the indemnified party is presumed to be entitled to indemnification (although the Company may overcome this presumption), and the indemnified party may require that independent counsel (as defined in the Indemnification Agreement) make the determination of entitlement and may choose such counsel, subject to objection by us on limited grounds specified in the Indemnification Agreement. If a determination of entitlement is made, we are bound, but if the indemnified party is denied indemnification pursuant to the terms of the Indemnification Agreement, he or she is entitled to seek a de novo determination from a court. The indemnified party is entitled to enforce the Indemnification Agreement in court and we are precluded from challenging the validity of the procedures and presumptions contained in the Indemnification Agreement.
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Item 16. Exhibits
| * | To be filed by an amendment or as an exhibit to a document filed under the Securities Exchange Act, and incorporated by reference herein. |
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.
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(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 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 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or
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(ii) If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, 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, 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.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities.
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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.
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 described in Item 15 above, 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, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Portland, State of Maine on April 1, 2024.
| IMMUCELL CORPORATION | ||
| By: | /s/ Michael F. Brigham | |
| Michael F. Brigham | ||
| President, Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Michael F. Brigham his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution, for him/her and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto 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 that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Dated: March 29, 2024 | By: | /s/ Michael F. Brigham |
| Michael F. Brigham | ||
| President, Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer and Director | ||
| (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | ||
| Dated: March 29, 2024 | By: | /s/ Bobbi Jo Brockmann |
| Bobbi Jo Brockmann, Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Director | ||
| Dated: March 29, 2024 | By: | /s/ Bryan K. Gathagan |
| Bryan K. Gathagan | ||
| Dated: March 29, 2024 | By: | /s/ Steven T. Rosgen |
| Steven T. Rosgen, Director | ||
| Dated: March 29, 2024 | By: | /s/ Gloria J. Basse |
| Gloria J. Basse, Director | ||
| Dated: March 29, 2024 | By: | /s/ David S. Tomsche |
| David S. Tomsche, Director | ||
| Dated: March 29, 2024 | By: | /s/ Paul R. Wainman |
| Paul R. Wainman, Director |
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Exhibit 5.1
 |
345 Park Avenue New York, NY 10154-1895 |
Direct 212.407.4000 Main 212.407.4000 Fax 212.407.4990
|
April 1, 2024
|
ImmuCell Corporation 56 Evergreen Drive Portland, ME 04103 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as securities counsel for ImmuCell Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing by the Company of a registration statement on Form S-3 to which this opinion letter has been filed as an exhibit (the “Registration Statement”), relating to the offer and sale by the Company from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of (i) shares of common stock, $0.10 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock (the “Warrants”), and (iii) rights to purchase Common Stock (the “Rights”). The Common Stock, Warrants and Rights are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Securities being registered for sale by the Company are for a maximum aggregate offering price of $20,000,000. The Securities may be offered and sold from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, including in an “at the market” offering (the “ATM”) pursuant to an At The Market Offering Agreement to be entered into with Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC (the “ATM Agreement”) pursuant to the prospectus included in the Registration Statement relating to the ATM (the “ATM Prospectus”) or otherwise pursuant to the base prospectus included in the Registration Statement (the “Base Prospectus” and, together with the ATM Prospectus, collectively the “Prospectuses”), at which time it is contemplated that such Base Prospectus will be supplemented by one or more prospectus supplements (each, a “Prospectus Supplement” and collectively the “Prospectus Supplements”).
In rendering our opinions set forth below, we have reviewed such corporate documents and records of the Company, such certificates of public officials and such other matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion letter. As to facts material to the opinions expressed herein, we have relied upon oral and written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company. We also have assumed (a) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; (b) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; (c) the genuineness of all signatures; (d) the legal capacity of natural persons; and (e) the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, factual matters, representations and warranties contained in all of such documents.
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A limited liability partnership including professional corporations
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ImmuCell Corporation Page 2 |
Based upon such examination, and subject to the further assumptions, qualifications and limitations contained herein, it is our opinion that:
1. The Common Stock to be sold by the Company, including any Common Stock duly issued upon the exercise of any duly issued Warrants or Rights, upon issuance and delivery of certificates (or book-entry notation if uncertificated) for such Common Stock against payment therefor as set forth in the Registration Statement, Prospectuses or a Prospectus Supplement will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
2. The Warrants, upon issuance and delivery of certificates (or book-entry notation if uncertificated) for such Securities against payment therefor as set forth in the Registration Statement, Prospectuses or a Prospectus Supplement, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company.
3. The Rights, upon issuance and delivery of certificates (or book-entry notation if uncertificated) for such Securities against payment therefor as set forth in the Registration Statement, Prospectuses or a Prospectus Supplement, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company.
In rendering the foregoing opinions, we have assumed that: (i) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto, shall have become effective under the Securities Act and will remain effective at the time of issuance of any Securities thereunder; (ii) a Prospectus Supplement describing each class or series of Securities offered pursuant to the Base Prospectus will be timely filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”); (iii) the definitive terms of each class or series of Securities shall have been established in accordance with resolutions (each, a “Board Action”) duly adopted by the Board of Directors or an authorized delegate thereof) (the “Board”), the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate”), and applicable law; (iv) the Company will issue and deliver the Securities identified in the Prospectuses or any applicable Prospectus Supplement, in each case, in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectuses, the applicable Prospectus Supplement and any applicable underwriting or placement agreement (including the ATM Agreement); (v) the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable (including upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security) will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under its Certificate; (vi) the Board Action authorizing the Company to issue, offer and sell the Securities, at the prices set forth in the Registration Statement, Prospectuses or a Prospectus Supplement, will have been adopted by the Board and will be in full force and effect at all times at which the Securities are offered or sold by the Company; and (vii) all Securities will be issued in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Warrants, we have further assumed that: (i) such Warrants shall have been issued pursuant to a warrant agreement (individually, a “Warrant Agreement”) approved by us between the Company and the warrantholders or a warrant agent appointed by the Company and identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement (the “Warrant Agent”); (ii) such Warrant Agreement shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of the Company; (iii) such Warrant Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York; (iv) such Warrant Agreement and any certificates representing such Warrants shall each have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered by the Company and in accordance with the any applicable provisions of such Warrant Agreement; (v) such Warrant Agreement, as executed and delivered, does not violate any law applicable to the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company; and (vi) such Warrant Agreement, as executed and delivered, complies with all requirements and restrictions, if any, applicable to the Company, whether imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company.
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ImmuCell Corporation Page 3 |
To the extent that the obligations of the Company under an Warrant Agreement may be dependent on such matters, we further have assumed for purposes of this opinion that any Warrant Agent under such Warrant Agreement (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; (ii) is duly qualified to engage in activities contemplated by such Warrant Agreement; (iii) has duly authorized, executed and delivered such Warrant Agreement and any certificates representing Warrants issuable thereunder, and such Warrant Agreement constitutes the legally valid and binding obligation of such Warrant Agent, enforceable against such Warrant Agent in accordance with its terms; (iv) is in compliance, with respect to acting as a agent under such Warrant Agreement, with all applicable laws and regulations; and (v) has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under such Warrant Agreement.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Rights, we have further assumed that (i) such Rights shall have been issued pursuant to a rights agreement approved by us (individually, a “Rights Agreement”) between the Company and a rights agent to be identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement (the “Rights Agent”); (ii) such Rights Agreement shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of the Company; (iii) such Rights Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York; (iv) all terms of such Rights shall have been established in accordance with the provisions of such Rights Agreement; (v) such Rights shall have been duly executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of such Rights Agreement; (vi) such Rights and the related Rights Agreement, as executed and delivered, do not violate any law applicable to the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company; and (vii) such Rights and the related Rights Agreement, as executed and delivered, comply with all requirements and restrictions, if any, applicable to the Company, in any case whether imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company.
To the extent that the obligations of the Company under any Rights or Rights Agreement may be dependent on such matters, we further have assumed for purposes of this opinion that the Rights Agent under each Rights Agreement (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; (ii) is duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated by such Rights Agreement; (iii) has duly authorized, executed and delivered such Rights Agreement and any certificates representing Rights issuable thereunder, and such Rights Agreement constitutes the legally valid and binding obligation of such Rights Agent, enforceable against such Rights Agent in accordance with its terms; (iv) is in compliance, with respect to acting as a Rights Agent under such Rights Agreement, with all applicable laws and regulations; and (v) has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under such Rights Agreement.
The opinions set forth in paragraphs 2 and 3 above are subject to the following exceptions, limitations and qualifications: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer and other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors, (ii) the effect of general principles of equity (including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity, and (iii) the effect of public policy considerations that may limit the rights of the parties to obtain further remedies, and (iv) that we express no opinion regarding provisions relating to choice of law, choice of venue, jurisdiction or waivers of jury trial, or any waiver of any usury defense.
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ImmuCell Corporation Page 4 |
This opinion letter is rendered as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or any subsequent changes in applicable law that may come to our attention, and we have assumed that no change in the facts stated or assumed herein or in applicable law after the date hereof will affect adversely our ability to render an opinion letter after the date hereof (i) containing the same legal conclusions set forth herein and (ii) subject only to such (or fewer) assumptions, limitations and qualifications as are contained herein.
We express no opinion herein as to the law of any state or jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United States of America. We are not rendering any opinion as to compliance with any federal or state antifraud law, rule, or regulation relating to securities, or to the sale or issuance thereof.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S−K under the Securities Act and to the reference to our firm therein and in the Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that this firm is within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
| Sincerely yours, | |
| /s/ Loeb & Loeb LLP | |
| Loeb & Loeb LLP |
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We have issued our report dated April 1, 2024 with respect to the financial statements of ImmuCell Corporation included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, which is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3. We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the aforementioned report, and to the reference to us under the caption “Experts.”
/s/ WIPFLI LLP
Radnor, Pennsylvania
April 1, 2024