Society Pass Incorporated S-3, filed Mar 31, 2023
Society Pass Incorporated. (SOPAQ)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2023
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Society Pass Incorporated
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Nevada | 7389 | 83-1019155 |
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
701 S. Carson Street, Suite 200
Carson City, NV 89701
+65 6518-9382
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Dennis Nguyen
Chief Executive Officer
Society Pass Incorporated
701 S. Carson Street, Suite 200, Carson City, NV 89701
+65 6518-9382
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Gregory Sichenzia, Esq.
Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas, 31st Floor, New York, NY 10036
Tel.: (212) 930-9700
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box. ☒
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 post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ |
| Non-accelerated filer ☒ | Smaller reporting company ☒ |
| Emerging growth company ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of 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 that specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities or accept an offer to buy these securities until the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and we are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY
PROSPECTUS
Subject to completion, dated March 31, 2023
Society Pass Incorporated
$50,000,000
Common
Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Rights
Units
We may offer and sell, from time to time in one or more offerings, any combination of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or rights to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, or any combination of the foregoing, either individually or as units comprised of one or more of the other securities, having an aggregate initial offering price not exceeding $50,000,000.
This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell a particular class or series of securities, we will provide specific terms of the securities offered in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. You should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as any documents incorporated by reference herein or therein before you invest in any of our securities.
The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of any of these securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement. Before investing, you should carefully read this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement.
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SOPA”. On March 30, 2023, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $1.01 per share. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market or any securities market or other exchange of the securities, if any, covered by the prospectus supplement. Prospective purchasers of our securities are urged to obtain current information as to the market prices of our securities, where applicable.
The aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates is approximately $15.5 million based on 27,082,849 shares of outstanding common stock, of which 11,781,021 shares are held by affiliates, and a per share price of $1.01, which was the closing sale price of our common stock as quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market on March 30, 2023. Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3, in no event will we sell securities registered on the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part with a value of more than one-third of the aggregate market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates in any 12-month period, so long as the aggregate market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $75,000,000. During the 12 calendar month period that ends on, and includes, the date of this prospectus, we have not offered and sold any of our securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3.
These securities may be sold directly by us, through dealers or agents designated from time to time, to or through underwriters, dealers, or through a combination of these methods on a continuous or delayed basis. See “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. We may also describe the plan of distribution for any particular offering of our securities in a prospectus supplement. If any agents, underwriters or dealers are involved in the sale of any securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, we will disclose their names and the nature of our arrangements with them in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from any such sale will also be included in a prospectus supplement.
Investing in our securities involves various risks. See “Risk Factors” contained herein for more information on these risks. Additional risks will be described in the related prospectus supplements under the heading “Risk Factors.” You should review that section of the related prospectus supplements for a discussion of matters that investors in our securities should consider.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities, or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2023.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | |
| ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS | ii |
| CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | 1 |
| SUMMARY | 1 |
| RISK FACTORS | 6 |
| USE OF PROCEEDS | 6 |
| DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK | 7 |
| DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES | 9 |
| DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS | 13 |
| DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS | 15 |
| DESCRIPTION OF UNITS | 16 |
| LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES | 16 |
| PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION | 19 |
| LEGAL MATTERS | 21 |
| EXPERTS | 21 |
| WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION | 21 |
| INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE | 21 |
| i |
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration statement, we may sell from time to time in one or more offerings of common stock and preferred stock, various series of debt securities and/or warrants to purchase any of such securities, either individually or as units comprised of a combination of one or more of the other securities in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $50,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell any type or series of securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain more specific information about the terms of that offering.
This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For a more complete understanding of the offering of the securities, you should refer to the registration statement, including its exhibits. We may add, update or change in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. 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 the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, will include all material information relating to the applicable offering. You should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the additional information described under “Where You Can Find More Information,” before buying any of the securities being offered.
We have not authorized any dealer, agent or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or an accompanying prospectus supplement, or any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you. This prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, if any, do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, if any, constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference (as our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date), even though this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is delivered or securities are sold on a later date.
We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of our securities, unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement. To the extent there are inconsistencies between any prospectus supplement, this prospectus and any documents incorporated by reference, the document with the most recent date will control.
As permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, includes additional information not contained in this prospectus. You may read the registration statement and the other reports we file with the SEC at the SEC’s web site or at the SEC’s offices described below under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
Company References
In this prospectus “the Company,” “the Group,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Society Pass Incorporated, a Nevada corporation and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires.
| ii |
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents and information incorporated by reference in this prospectus include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events or our future financial or operating performance. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding our capital needs, business strategy and expectations. Any statements that are not of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue”, the negative of the terms or other comparable terminology. Actual events or results may differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements reflect our management’s beliefs and views with respect to future events, are based on estimates and assumptions as of the date of this prospectus and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements. We discuss many of these risks in greater detail in this prospectus under “Risk Factors” and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 23, 2023, as well as those described in the other documents we file with the SEC. These factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update these statements, or disclose any difference between actual results and those reflected in these statements, except as may be required under applicable law.
Moreover, new risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
We do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable laws or regulations.
SUMMARY
Overview
We are, through the operation and acquisition of fintech and e-commerce platforms and mobile applications through our direct and indirect wholly or majority-owned subsidiaries, building the next generation digital ecosystem and loyalty platform in the Southeast Asian (“SEA”) countries of Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand.
The Company currently markets to both consumers and merchants in SEA while maintaining an administrative headquarters in Singapore and a software development center in Philippines. We continue to expand our fintech and e-commerce ecosystem throughout the rest of SEA by making selective acquisitions of leading e-commerce companies and applications and through strategic partnerships with technology providers in SEA. Material acquisitions to date include:
| • | In February 2021, we acquired an online lifestyle platform of Leflair branded assets (the “Leflair Assets”). |
| • | In February 2022, we acquired New Retail Experience Incorporated (“NREI”) and Dream Space Company Limited (“Dream Space”) to operate food delivery companies, Pushkart in the Philippines and Handycart in Vietnam, respectively. |
| • | In May 2022, we acquired Gorilla Networks Pte Ltd and Gorilla Mobile Singapore Pte Ltd to operate a mobile telecommunications company in Singapore. |
| • | In July 2022, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Thoughtful Media Group Incorporated (“TMG”), a Nevada corporation, we acquired a digital marketing company with significant operations in Thailand and the United States. |
| • | In July 2022, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, NREI, we acquired the assets of Mangan PH Food Delivery Services Corp., a corporation registered in Philippines, (the “Mangan Assets”). |
| • | In August 2022, we acquired majority control of Singapore-incorporated Nusatrip International Pte Ltd and 100% of the outstanding shares of Indonesia-incorporated PT Tunas Sukses Mandiri, together the “Nusatrip Group”, that give us ownership and operational control of the online and offline NusaTrip travel services marketing platform. |
| • | In December 2022, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Thoughtful Media Group Incorporated (“TMG”), a Nevada corporation, we acquired PT Wahana Cerita Indonesia (a/k/a More Media), an Indonesia-based creative design and branding company. |
| 1 |
We operate six verticals in SEA: loyalty, lifestyle, food and beverage delivery, telecommunications, digital media and travel.
Loyalty
The Group spent over two years building a cutting edge, proprietary IT architecture to effectively scale and support our ecosystem’s companies, consumers and merchants (the “Platform”). Using our Society Pass loyalty platform, which we plan to introduce in 2023, consumers may earn, and merchants may issue, loyalty points or “Society Points” across our subsidiaries. The Company aggregates data generated across various touch points, builds a realistic view of consumer behavior and uses this data to increase sales across our ecosystem by: cross-pollinating acquired companies with other existing verticals, customer re-targeting, offline and online behavior prediction and cross promotions and loyalty points. The Company ecosystem becomes a key enabler for our users by converting this aggregation of data into creation of loyalty for our ecosystem companies to generate revenue:
| • | More revenue generation for merchants leads to creation of customer loyalty; |
| • | More customer loyalty creation leads to more consumers for merchants; |
| • | More consumers for merchants leads to greater revenues for merchants, which results in |
| • | Virtuous cycle of revenue generation and loyalty creation. |
Lifestyle
The Group operates an online lifestyle business in Vietnam to enable the consumers to purchase high-end brands of all categories under its own brand name of “Leflair”. Consumers search or review their favorite brands among hundreds of choices in Apparel, Bags & Shoes, Accessories, Health & Beauty, Home & Lifestyle, International, Women, Men and Kids & Babies categories. The platform also allows consumers to order from hundreds of vendor choices with personalized promotions based on purchase history and location. The platform has also partnered up with a Vietnam-based delivery company, Tikinow, to offer seamless delivery of product from merchant to consumer’s home or office at the touch of a button. Consumers can place orders for delivery or collect at the Company’s logistics center.
Grocery and Food Delivery
The Group operates several online platforms in Vietnam, under the brand name of “Handycart”, and in the Philippines, under the brand names of “Pushkart” and “Mangan”, to enable the consumers to purchase meals from restaurants and food from local grocery and food merchants and deliver to them in their area.
Telecommunications
The Company operates a Singapore-based online telecommunication reseller platform under the brand name of “Gorilla” to enable the consumers to subscribe local mobile data and overseas internet data in a different subscription package. Established in Singapore in 2019, Gorilla offers a full suite of mobile communication services such as local calls, international roaming, data, and SMS texting and network coverage in over 150 countires. In first quarter 2023, Gorilla announced it will temporarily suspend providing local service in Singapore while it updates its operating software.
Digital Media
The acquisition of a digital media platform, TMG, amplifies the reach and engagement of the Company's e-commerce ecosystem and retail partners. Originally founded in 2010, TMG today creates and distributes digital advertising campaigns across its multi-channel network in both SEA and the US. With its intimate knowledge of local markets, digital marketing technology tools and social commerce business focus, advertisers leverage TMG's wide influencer network throughout SEA to market and sell advertising inventory exclusively with specific placement and effect.
As a result, Thoughtful Media's content creator partners earn a larger share of advertising revenues from international consumer brands. Thoughtful Media's data-rich multi-channel network has uploaded over 675,000 videos with over 80 billion video views. The current network of 263 YouTube channels has onboarded over 85 million subscribers with an average monthly viewership of over 600 million views.
| 2 |
Travel
The Company purchased the Nusatrip Group, a leading Jakarta-based Online Travel Agency (“OTA”) in Indonesia and across SEA. The NusaTrip acquisition extended SoPa’s business reach into SEA regional travel industry and marked the Company’s first foray into Indonesia. Established in 2013 as the first Indonesian OTA accredited by the International Air Transport Association, NusaTrip pioneered offering a comprehensive range of airlines and hotels to Indonesian corporate and retail customers. With its first mover advantage, NusaTrip has onboarded over 1.2 million registered users, over 500 airlines and over 200,000 hotels around the world as well as connected with over 80 million unique visitors.
As of March 30, 2023, we have onboarded over 3.3 million registered consumers and over 200,000 registered merchants/brands on our Platform.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and other Global Events
COVID-19 has globally resulted in loss of life, business shutdowns, restrictions on travel, and widespread cancellation of social gatherings. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time, including:
| • | new information which may emerge concerning the severity of the disease in Vietnam and SEA; |
| • | the duration and spread of the outbreak; |
| • | the severity of travel restrictions imposed by geographic areas in which we operate, mandatory or voluntary business closures; |
| • | regulatory actions taken in response to the pandemic, which may impact merchant operations, consumer and merchant pricing, and our product offerings; |
| • | other business disruptions that affect our workforce; |
| • | the impact on capital and financial markets; and |
| • | action taken throughout the world, including in markets in which we operate, to contain the COVID-19 outbreak or treat its impact. |
In addition, the current outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in a widespread global health crisis and adversely affected global economies and financial markets, and similar public health threats could do so in the future. Such events have impacted, and could in the future impact, demand for merchants and consumer purchase patterns, which in turn, could adversely affect our revenue and results of operations.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March and April 2020, all our POS merchant clients are affected by COVID-19 measures for F&B to temporary stop restaurant dine ins.
| • | Some of our restaurant clients ceased operations permanently and many were closed since June 2020 without any notice of reopening their business to date. |
| • | Our largest POS client, a hotel chain for which we provide POS services to their F&B business in their hotels, ceased operations in two out of nine hotels since April 2020. |
| • | The Company faces challenges to onboard new clients but at the same time losing many existing ones. |
With the ongoing pandemic, Company faces challenges in our operation as follows:
| • | Disruption of operation in Vietnam, Philippines, India, Singapore and US where staffs have to work from home. |
| • | The coordination of rebooting of company’s recent asset acquisition of NREI and Dream Space, which are the F&B Delivery platforms in operate in Philippines and Vietnam respectively. |
| • | Application of licenses are delayed as government agencies take longer time to review and process time. |
| • | HR process to hire personnel are generally slow due to people not willing to leave their current job, company have to spend more time and resource |
| 3 |
The spread of COVID-19 has caused us to modify our business practices, including employee travel, employee work locations in certain cases, and cancellation of physical participation in certain meetings, events and conferences and further actions may be taken as required or recommended by government authorities or as we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers, and other business partners. We are monitoring the global outbreak of the pandemic, in SEA, especially Vietnam and are taking steps in an effort to identify and mitigate the adverse impacts on, and risks to, our business posed by its spread and the governmental and community reactions thereto.
The Russian-Ukraine war and the supply chain disruption have not affected any specific segment of our business.
Software and Development
Our ability to compete depends in large part on our continuous commitment to research and development, our ability to rapidly introduce new features and functionality and our ability to improve proven applications for established markets in which we have competitive advantages. We intend to work closely with our customers to continuously enhance the performance, functionality, usability, reliability and flexibility of our applications.
Our software and development team is responsible for the design enhancements, development, testing and certification of the Application. In addition, we may, in the future, utilize third parties for our automated testing, managed upgrades, software development and other technology services.
Intellectual Property Portfolio
We strive to protect and enhance the proprietary technology and inventions that are commercially important to our business, including seeking, maintaining and defending patent rights. Our policy is to seek to protect our proprietary position through a combination of intellectual property rights, including trademarks, copyrights, trade secret laws and internal procedures. Our commercial success will depend in part on our ability to protect our intellectual property and proprietary technologies.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 701 S. Carson Street, Suite 200, Carson City, NV 89701.
Our corporate website address is www.thesocietypass.com. The website for our loyalty marketplace is www.sopa.asia. We also maintain a number of other websites including:
| a) | https://leflair.com/en/ |
| b) | https://handycart.vn/home, https://pushkart.ph/, and https://mangan.ph/ |
| c) | https://gorilla.global/ |
| d) | https://www.thoughtfulmedia.com/th_en/ |
| e) | https://www.nusatrip.com/en |
The information included on our websites are not part of this prospectus. We have included our website addresses in this prospectus as an inactive textual reference only and not as an active hyperlink.
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The Securities We May Offer
We may offer common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights and units in one or more offerings and in any combination. These securities may be convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, common or preferred stock or other securities of ours. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in one or more supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements will also describe the specific manner in which these securities will be offered and may also add to, supplement, update, clarify or amend information contained in this prospectus.
Common and Preferred Stock
The Company is authorized to issue two classes of stock. The total number of shares of stock which the Company is authorized to issue is 100,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 95,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of which 83,500 shares are designated into six separate series.
Common Stock
We may offer shares of our common stock either alone or underlying other registered securities convertible into or exercisable for our common stock. Holders of our common stock are entitled to such dividends as our board of directors (the “Board of Directors” or “Board”) may declare from time to time out of legally available funds, subject to the preferential rights of the holders of any shares of our preferred stock that are outstanding or that we may issue in the future. Currently, we do not pay any dividends on our common stock. Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote per share. In this prospectus, we provide a general description of, among other things, the rights and restrictions that apply to holders of our common stock.
Preferred Stock
The rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions granted to or imposed upon any series of preferred stock that we offer and sell under this prospectus and applicable prospectus supplements will be set forth in a certificate of designation relating to the series. We will incorporate by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of shares of that series of preferred stock. You should read any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of preferred stock being offered, as well as the complete certificate of designation that contains the terms of the applicable series of preferred stock.
Debt Securities
We may offer general debt obligations, which may be secured or unsecured, senior or subordinated, and convertible into shares of our common stock. In this prospectus, we refer to the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities together as the “debt securities.” We may issue debt securities under a note purchase agreement or under an indenture to be entered between us and the holders of the debt securities. The senior debt securities will have the same rank as all of our other indebtedness that is not subordinated. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to our senior debt on terms set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, the subordinated debt securities will be effectively subordinated to creditors and preferred stockholders of our subsidiaries. Our Board of Directors will determine the terms of each series of debt securities being offered. This prospectus contains only general terms and provisions of the debt securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of the debt securities offered thereby. You should read any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of debt securities being offered, as well as the complete note agreements and/or indentures that contain the terms of the debt securities. Forms of debt securities containing the terms of debt securities being offered will be incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part from reports we file with the SEC.
Warrants
We may offer warrants for the purchase of shares of our common stock or preferred stock or of debt securities. We may issue the warrants by themselves or together with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Any warrants issued under this prospectus may be evidenced by warrant certificates. Warrants may be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and the investors or a warrant agent. Our Board of Directors will determine the terms of the warrants. This prospectus contains only general terms and provisions of the warrants. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of the warrants being offered thereby. You should read any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of warrants being offered, as well as the complete warrant agreements that contain the terms of the warrants. Specific warrant agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and will be incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is apart from reports we file with the SEC.
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Rights
We may issue rights to our stockholders to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or the other securities described in this prospectus. We may offer rights separately or together with one or more additional rights, debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or warrants, or any combination of those securities in the form of units, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights of the series of certificates and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the rights to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the rights to which any prospectus supplement may relate and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions may apply to the rights so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent that any particular terms of the rights, rights agreement or rights certificates described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described below, then the terms described below will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement. Specific rights agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and will be incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part from reports we file with the SEC.
Units
We may offer units consisting of our common stock or preferred stock, debt securities and/or warrants to purchase any of these securities in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units. This prospectus contains only a summary of certain general features of the units. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the particular features of the units being offered thereby. You should read any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of units being offered, as well as the complete unit agreements that contain the terms of the units. Specific unit agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and will be incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part from reports we file with the SEC.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should consider carefully the risks, uncertainties and other factors described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented and updated by subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K that we have filed or will file with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Our business, affairs, prospects, assets, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected by these risks. For more information about our SEC filings, please see “Where You Can Find More Information”.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Except as described in any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, including the development and commercialization of our products, research and development, general and administrative expenses, license or technology acquisitions, and working capital and capital expenditures. We may also use the net proceeds to invest in or acquire complementary businesses, products, or technologies, although we have no current commitments or agreements with respect to any such investments or acquisitions as of the date of this prospectus. We have not determined the amount of net proceeds to be used specifically for the foregoing purposes. As a result, our management will have broad discretion in the allocation of the net proceeds and investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of any sale of the securities. Pending use of the net proceeds, we intend to invest the proceeds in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments.
Each time we offer securities under this prospectus, we will describe the intended use of the net proceeds from that offering in the applicable prospectus supplement. The actual amount of net proceeds we spend on a particular use will depend on many factors, including, our future capital expenditures, the amount of cash required by our operations, and our future revenue growth, if any. Therefore, we will retain broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following description of our securities is only a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual terms and provisions of the capital stock contained in our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws.
General
The Company is authorized to issue two classes of stock. The total number of shares of stock which the Company is authorized to issue is 100,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 95,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of which 83,500 shares are designated into six separate series.
As of March 30, 2023, 27,082,849 shares of our common stock were outstanding and there were approximately 100 holders of record of our common stock. Because many of our shares of common stock are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, this number is not representative of the total number of beneficial owners of our stock.
Common Stock
The holders of our common stock are entitled to the following rights:
Voting Rights. Each share of our common stock entitles its holder to one vote per share on all matters to be voted or consented upon by the stockholders. Holders of our common stock are not entitled to cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of directors.
Dividend Rights. Subject to limitations under Nevada law and preferences that may apply to any shares of preferred stock that we may decide to issue in the future, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends or other distributions, if any, as may be declared by our Board out of funds legally available therefor.
Liquidation Rights. In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business, the holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in the assets available for distribution after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities, subject to the prior rights of the holders of our preferred stock.
Other Matters. The holders of our common stock have no subscription, redemption or conversion privileges. Our common stock does not entitle its holders to preemptive rights. All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock which we may issue in the future.
Preferred Stock Generally
As of March 31, 2023, 3,500 shares of our preferred stock have been designated Series X Super Voting Preferred Stock, all of which are outstanding.
Super Voting Preferred Stock
We have issued 3,300 shares of our Super Voting Preferred Stock to Dennis Nguyen, our founder and Chief Executive Officer and 200 shares of Super Voting Preferred Stock to Raynauld Liang, our Chief Financial Officer. The following is a summary of the material terms of our Super Voting Preferred Stock.
Voting Rights. Each share of our Super Voting Preferred Stock entitles its holder to 10,000 votes per share and votes with our common stock as a single class on all matters to be voted or consented upon by the stockholders.
No Dividend Rights. The holders of our Super Voting Preferred Stock are not entitled to any dividend rights.
No Liquidation Rights. The holders of the Super Voting Preferred Stock are not entitled to any liquidation preference.
No Conversion Rights. The shares of our Super Voting Preferred Stock are not convertible into shares of our Common Stock.
No Redemption Rights. The Super Voting Preferred Stock is not subject to redemption right.
Additional Preferred Stock
Our Board has the authority to issue additional preferred stock in one or more classes or series and to fix the designations, powers, preferences, and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof including dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, redemption prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any class or series, without further vote or action by the stockholders.
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While we do not currently have any plans for the issuance of any additional preferred stock, the issuance of additional preferred stock could adversely affect the rights of the holders of common stock and, therefore, reduce the value of the common stock. It is not possible to state the actual effect of the issuance of any shares of preferred stock on the rights of holders of the common stock until the Board of Directors determines the specific rights of the holders of the preferred stock; however, these effects may include:
| • | Restricting dividends on the common stock; |
| • | Diluting the voting power of the common stock; |
| • | Impairing the liquidation rights of the common stock; or |
| • | Delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company without further action by the stockholders. |
Issued Warrants
As of March 31, 2023, we have outstanding warrants that were issued to certain former holders of our Series C-1 Preferred Stock that were originally exercisable for additional shares of our Series C-1 Preferred Stock (the Series C-1 Warrants”). All of our Series C-1 Preferred Stock was automatically converted into shares of our common stock at a conversion rate of 300 shares of common stock for every share of Series C-1 Preferred Stock held. as of March 31, 2023 we have outstanding 3,860 Series C-1 Warrants that are now exercisable for 1,158,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $1.40 per share. We also have outstanding 144,445 warrants to purchase our common stock that were issued to the underwriter in connection with the consummation of our initial public offering on November 12, 2021. Such warrants have a 5-year term and are exercisable beginning on May 9, 2022, at an exercise price of $9.90 per share.
Options
On November 16, 2021, the Board of Directors awarded Dennis Nguyen a 10-year option to purchase 1,945,270 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $6.49 as payment for accrued and unpaid bonuses.
Restricted Shares
Each member of the Board will receive 3,000 shares of common stock for work prior to the IPO. The Board was also granted shares of common stock having a value of $50,000 based on the ending share price on December 31, 2021, that would vest by January 15, 2022.
Pursuant to his employment agreement, Raynauld Liang, our and Chief Financial Officer and Singapore Country General Manager was issued 814,950 shares of our common stock, of which 651,960 shares are subject to a 2-year vesting period.
Equity Incentive Plan.
On September 23, 2021, we adopted the Society Pass Incorporated 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which was approved by both our Board of Directors (the “Board”) and our stockholders. Under the Plan, the Company may grant incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance awards. Awards of up to 3,133,760 shares of common stock to Company employees, officers, directors, consultants, and advisors are available under the Plan. The type of grant, vesting provisions, exercise price, and expiration dates are to be established by the Board at the date of grant. No grants have been made under the Plan.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Nevada Law
Business Combinations
The “business combination” provisions of Sections 78.411 to 78.444, inclusive, of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) generally prohibit a Nevada corporation with at least 200 stockholders from engaging in various “combination” transactions with any interested stockholder for a period of two years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the transaction is approved by the board of directors prior to the date the interested stockholder obtained such status or the combination is approved by the board of directors and thereafter is approved at a meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of stockholders representing at least 60% of the outstanding voting power held by disinterested stockholders, and extends beyond the expiration of the two-year period, unless:
| • | the combination was approved by the board of directors prior to the person becoming an interested stockholder or the transaction by which the person first became an interested stockholder was approved by the board of directors before the person became an interested stockholder or the combination is later approved by a majority of the voting power held by disinterested stockholders; or |
| • | if the consideration to be paid by the interested stockholder is at least equal to the highest of: (a) the highest price per share paid by the interested stockholder within the two years immediately preceding the date of the announcement of the combination or in the transaction in which it became an interested stockholder, whichever is higher, (b) the market value per share of common stock on the date of announcement of the combination and the date the interested stockholder acquired the shares, whichever is higher, or (c) for holders of preferred stock, the highest liquidation value of the preferred stock, if it is higher. |
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A “combination” is generally defined to include mergers or consolidations or any sale, lease exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer, or other disposition, in one transaction or a series of transactions, with an “interested stockholder” having: (a) an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of the assets of the corporation, (b) an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of all outstanding shares of the corporation, (c) 10% or more of the earning power or net income of the corporation, and (d) certain other transactions with an interested stockholder or an affiliate or associate of an interested stockholder.
In general, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within two years, did own) 10% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. The statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire our company even though such a transaction may offer our stockholders the opportunity to sell their stock at a price above the prevailing market price.
Control Share Acquisitions
The “control share” provisions of Sections 78.378 to 78.3793, inclusive, of the NRS apply to “issuing corporations” that are Nevada corporations with at least 200 stockholders, including at least 100 stockholders of record who are Nevada residents, and that conduct business directly or indirectly in Nevada. The control share statute prohibits an acquirer, under certain circumstances, from voting its shares of a target corporation’s stock after crossing certain ownership threshold percentages, unless the acquirer obtains approval of the target corporation’s disinterested stockholders. The statute specifies three thresholds: one-fifth or more but less than one-third, one-third but less than a majority, and a majority or more, of the outstanding voting power. Generally, once an acquirer crosses one of the above thresholds, those shares in an offer or acquisition and acquired within 90 days thereof become “control shares” and such control shares are deprived of the right to vote until disinterested stockholders restore the right. These provisions also provide that if control shares are accorded full voting rights and the acquiring person has acquired a majority or more of all voting power, all other stockholders who do not vote in favor of authorizing voting rights to the control shares are entitled to demand payment for the fair value of their shares in accordance with statutory procedures established for dissenters’ rights.
A corporation may elect to not be governed by, or “opt out” of, the control share provisions by making an election in its articles of incorporation or bylaws, provided that the opt-out election must be in place on the 10th day following the date an acquiring person has acquired a controlling interest, that is, crossing any of the three thresholds described above. We have not opted out of the control share statutes, and will be subject to these statutes if we are an “issuing corporation” as defined in such statutes.
The effect of the Nevada control share statutes is that the acquiring person, and those acting in association with the acquiring person, will obtain only such voting rights in the control shares as are conferred by a resolution of the stockholders at an annual or special meeting. The Nevada control share law, if applicable, could have the effect of discouraging takeovers of our company.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent for our common stock is VStock Transfer, LLC. Its address is 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, New York 11598, and its telephone No. is (212) 828-8436.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SOPA”.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplements or free writing prospectuses, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. We may issue debt securities, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any future debt securities we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The terms of any debt securities we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below. However, no prospectus supplement shall fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness. As of the date of this prospectus, we have no outstanding registered debt securities.
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The following summaries of material provisions of the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to the terms applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus that contain the terms of the debt securities.
General
The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our Board of Directors and set forth or determined in the manner provided in an officers’ certificate. Debt securities may be issued in separate series without limitation as to aggregate principal amount. We may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the debt securities of any series. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:
| • | the title; |
| • | the principal amount being offered, and if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding; |
| • | any limit on the amount that may be issued; |
| • | whether or not we will issue the series of debt securities in global form, and, if so, the terms and who the depositary will be; |
| • | the maturity date; |
| • | whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a United States person for tax purposes, and whether we can redeem the debt securities if we have to pay such additional amounts; |
| • | the annual interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates; |
| • | whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt; |
| • | the terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt; |
| • | the place where payments will be made; |
| • | restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any; |
| • | our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period; |
| • | the date, if any, after which, and the price at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions; |
| • | provisions for a sinking fund purchase or other analogous fund, if any, including the date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant thereto or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option, to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable; |
| • | whether the terms will restrict our ability or the ability of our subsidiaries, if any, to: |
| • | incur additional indebtedness; |
| • | issue additional securities; |
| • | create liens; |
| • | pay dividends or make distributions in respect of our capital stock or the capital stock of our subsidiaries; |
| • | redeem capital stock; |
| • | place restrictions on our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends, make distributions or transfer assets; |
| • | make investments or other restricted payments; |
| • | sell or otherwise dispose of assets; |
| • | enter into sale-leaseback transactions; |
| • | engage in transactions with stockholders or affiliates; |
| • | issue or sell stock of our subsidiaries; or |
| • | effect a consolidation or merger; |
| • | whether the terms will require us to maintain any interest coverage, fixed charge, cash flow-based, asset-based or other financial ratios; |
| • | a discussion of certain material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities; |
| • | information describing any book-entry features; |
| • | the applicability of the provisions in the note agreements on discharge; |
| • | whether the debt securities are to be offered at a price such that they will be deemed to be offered at an “original issue discount” as defined in paragraph (a) of Section 1273 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; |
| • | the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
| • | the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars; and |
| • | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, including any additional events of default or covenants provided with respect to the debt securities, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations. |
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Conversion or Exchange Rights
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms under which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, our preferred stock or other securities (including securities of a third party). We will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock, our preferred stock or other securities (including securities of a third party) that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the note agreements will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets must assume all of our obligations under the debt securities. If the debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for our other securities or securities of other entities, the person with whom we consolidate or merge or to whom we sell all of our property must make provisions for the conversion of the debt securities into securities that the holders of the debt securities would have received if they had converted the debt securities before the consolidation, merger or sale.
Events of Default under the Note Agreements
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following may be events of default under the note agreements with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:
| • | if we fail to pay interest when due and payable and our failure continues for 90 days and the time for payment has not been extended; |
| • | if we fail to pay the principal, premium or sinking fund payment, if any, when due and payable at maturity, upon redemption or repurchase or otherwise, and the time for payment has not been extended; |
| • | if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the debt securities or the note agreements, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive notice from the holder or holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and |
| • | if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur. |
We will describe in each applicable prospectus supplement any additional events of default relating to the relevant series of debt securities.
If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the holder or holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the holder if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default arises due to the occurrence of certain specified bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization events, the unpaid principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the holder or holders.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.
Subject to the terms of the note agreements, if an event of default under a note agreement shall occur and be continuing, the holders will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such note agreement at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the holders, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the holders, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or applicable note agreement.
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Modification of the Note Agreements; Waiver
Subject to the terms of the note agreement for any series of debt securities that we may issue, we and at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected may change a note agreement without the consent of any other holders with respect to the following specific matters:
| • | to fix any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the note agreements; |
| • | to comply with the provisions described above under “Description of Debt Securities—Consolidation, Merger or Sale;” |
| • | to comply with any requirements of the SEC; |
| • | to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in the note agreement; |
| • | to provide for the issuance of, and establish the form and terms and conditions of, the debt securities of any series as provided under “Description of Debt Securities—General,” to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of any series of debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities; |
| • | to provide for uncertificated debt securities and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose; |
| • | to add such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the benefit of the holders, to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default or to surrender any right or power conferred to us in the note agreement; or |
| • | to change anything that does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series in any material respect. |
In addition, under the note agreements, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, subject to the terms of the note agreements for any series of debt securities that we may issue or otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we may only make the following changes with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:
| • | extending the stated maturity of the series of debt securities; |
| • | reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption or repurchase of any debt securities; or |
| • | reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver. |
Discharge
Each note agreement shall provide that, subject to the terms of the note agreement and any limitation otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we may elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:
| • | register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series; |
| • | replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series; |
| • | maintain paying agencies; and |
| • | hold monies for payment in trust. |
In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we will deposit with a trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.
Form, Exchange and Transfer
We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The note agreements will provide that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company or another depositary named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement with respect to that series. See “Legal Ownership of Securities” below for a further description of the terms relating to any book-entry securities.
At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the note agreements and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
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Subject to the terms of the note agreements and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will make no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.
We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.
If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:
| • | issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or |
| • | register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part. |
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest payment.
We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
All money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Governing Law
The debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Ranking Debt Securities
The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement.
The senior debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally in right of payment to all our other senior unsecured debt.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements and free writing prospectuses, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, which may consist of warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities and may be issued in one or more series. Warrants may be offered independently or together with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement, and may be attached to or separate from those securities. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus. The terms of any warrants offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. However, no prospectus supplement will fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.
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We may issue the warrants under a warrant agreement that we will enter into with a warrant agent to be selected by us. If selected, the warrant agent will act solely as an agent of ours in connection with the warrants and will not act as an agent for the holders or beneficial owners of the warrants. If applicable, we will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a Current Report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant agreement, including a form of warrant certificate, that describes the terms of the particular series of warrants we are offering before the issuance of the related series of warrants. The following summaries of material provisions of the warrants and the warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement and warrant certificate applicable to a particular series of warrants. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus related to the particular series of warrants that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants.
General
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms relating to a series of warrants, including:
| • | the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered; |
| • | the currency for which the warrants may be purchased; |
| • | if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security; |
| • | if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable; |
| • | in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at, and currency in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise; |
| • | in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise; |
| • | the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreements and the warrants; |
| • | the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants; |
| • | any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; |
| • | the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire; |
| • | the manner in which the warrant agreements and warrants may be modified; |
| • | United States federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants; |
| • | the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; 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: |
| • | in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture; or |
| • | in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any. |
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the warrant agent in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to us or the warrant agent as applicable.
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 number of warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.
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Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants
If selected, each warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS
General
We may issue rights to our stockholders to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or the other securities described in this prospectus. We may offer rights separately or together with one or more additional rights, debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or warrants, or any combination of those securities in the form of units, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights of the series of certificates and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the rights to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the rights to which any prospectus supplement may relate and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions may apply to the rights so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent that any particular terms of the rights, rights agreement or rights certificates described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described below, then the terms described below will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement. We encourage you to read the applicable rights agreement and rights certificate for additional information before you decide whether to purchase any of our rights. We will provide in a prospectus supplement the following terms of the rights being issued:
| • | the date of determining the stockholders entitled to the rights distribution; |
| • | the aggregate number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights; |
| • | the exercise price; |
| • | the aggregate number of rights issued; |
| • | whether the rights are transferrable and the date, if any, on and after which the rights may be separately transferred; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence, and the date on which the right to exercise the rights will expire; |
| • | the method by which holders of rights will be entitled to exercise; |
| • | the conditions to the completion of the offering, if any; |
| • | the withdrawal, termination and cancellation rights, if any; |
| • | whether there are any backstop or standby purchaser or purchasers and the terms of their commitment, if any; |
| • | whether stockholders are entitled to oversubscription rights, if any; |
| • | any applicable material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and |
| • | any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange and exercise of the rights, as applicable. |
Each right will entitle the holder of rights to purchase for cash the principal amount of shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities at the exercise price provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities, as applicable, purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Rights Agent
The rights agent for any rights we offer will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements and free writing prospectuses, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the units that we may offer under this prospectus.
While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any units that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of units in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any units offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. However, no prospectus supplement will fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.
We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a Current Report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement that describes the terms of the series of units we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of the related series of units. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the units are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the unit agreement and any supplemental agreements applicable to a particular series of units. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the particular series of units that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete unit agreement and any supplemental agreements that contain the terms of the units.
General
We may issue units comprised of one or more debt securities, shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock and warrants in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of units, including:
| • | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
| • | any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and |
| • | any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units. |
The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Capital Stock,” “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of Warrants” will apply to each unit and to any common stock, preferred stock, debt security or warrant included in each unit, respectively.
Unit Agent
The name and address of the unit agent, if any, for any units we offer will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Issuance in Series
We may issue units in such amounts and in numerous distinct series as we determine.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units
Each unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more than one series of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a unit may, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.
We, the unit agents and any of their agents may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of the units evidenced by that certificate for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested, despite any notice to the contrary. See “Legal Ownership of Securities.”
LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
We can issue securities in registered form or in the form of one or more global securities. We describe global securities in greater detail below. We refer to those persons who have securities registered in their own names on the books that we or any applicable trustee or depositary or warrant agent maintain for this purpose as the “holders” of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those persons who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names, as “indirect holders” of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.
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Book-Entry Holders
We may issue securities in book-entry form only, as we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means securities may be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, which are referred to as participants, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.
Only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Global securities will be registered in the name of the depositary or its participants. Consequently, for global securities, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities, and we will make all payments on the securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.
As a result, investors in a global security will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not legal holders, of the securities.
Street Name Holders
We may terminate a global security or issue securities that are not issued in global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in “street name.” Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.
For securities held in street name, we or any applicable trustee or depositary will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities, and we or any such trustee or depositary will make all payments on those securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect holders, not legal holders, of those securities.
Legal Holders
Our obligations run only to the legal holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.
Special Considerations for Indirect Holders
If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form because the securities are represented by one or more global securities or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:
| • | how it handles securities payments and notices; |
| • | whether it imposes fees or charges; |
| • | how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required; |
| • | whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a legal holder, if that is permitted in the future; |
| • | how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and |
| • | if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters. |
Global Securities
A global security is a security that represents one or any other number of individual securities held by a depositary. Generally, all securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.
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Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we issue to, deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, NY, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all securities issued in book-entry form.
A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary, its nominee or a successor depositary, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “—Special Situations When A Global Security Will Be Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and legal holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a legal holder of the security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.
If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued as a global security, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.
Special Considerations For Global Securities
As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.
If securities are issued only as global securities, an investor should be aware of the following:
| • | an investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations we describe below; |
| • | an investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as we describe above; |
| • | an investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and to other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form; |
| • | an investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in the global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective; |
| • | the depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in the global security. We have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in the global security. We also do not supervise the depositary in any way; |
| • | the depositary may, and we understand that DTC will, require that those who purchase and sell interests in the global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your broker or bank may require you to do so as well; and |
| • | financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in the global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the securities. There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries |
Special Situations When A Global Security Will Be Terminated
In a few special situations described below, a global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing those interests. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in securities transferred to their own names, so that they will be direct holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above.
A global security will terminate when the following special situations occur:
| • | if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days; |
| • | if we notify any applicable trustee that we wish to terminate that global security; or |
| • | if an event of default has occurred with regard to securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived. |
The applicable prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and neither we, nor any applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities being offered hereby in one or more of the following ways from time to time:
| • | through agents to the public or to investors; |
| • | to underwriters for resale to the public or to investors; |
| • | negotiated transactions; |
| • | block trades; |
| • | directly to investors; or |
| • | through a combination of any of these methods of sale. |
As set forth in more detail below, the securities may be distributed from time to time in one or more transactions:
| • | at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| • | at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| • | at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or |
| • | at negotiated prices. |
We will set forth in a prospectus supplement the terms of that particular offering of securities, including:
| • | the name or names of any agents or underwriters; |
| • | the purchase price of the securities being offered and the proceeds we will receive from the sale; |
| • | any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; |
| • | any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation; |
| • | any initial public offering price; |
| • | any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers; and |
| • | any securities exchanges or markets on which such securities may be listed. |
Only underwriters named in an applicable prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered by that prospectus supplement.
If underwriters are used in an offering, we will execute an underwriting agreement with such underwriters and will specify the name of each underwriter and the terms of the transaction (including any underwriting discounts and other terms constituting compensation of the underwriters and any dealers) in a prospectus supplement. The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by one or more investment banking firms or others, as designated. If an underwriting syndicate is used, the managing underwriter(s) will be specified on the cover of the prospectus supplement. If underwriters are used in the sale, the offered securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own accounts 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. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the offered securities if any are purchased.
We may grant to the underwriters options to purchase additional securities to cover over-allotments, if any, at the public offering price, with additional underwriting commissions or discounts, as may be set forth in a related prospectus supplement. The terms of any over-allotment option will be set forth in the prospectus supplement for those securities.
If we use a dealer in the sale of the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, we 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. The names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction will be specified in a prospectus supplement.
We may sell the securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, any agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
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We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.
In connection with the sale of the securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of the common stock for whom they act as agents in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities, and any institutional investors or others that purchase common stock directly and then resell the securities, may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the common stock by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
We may provide agents and underwriters with indemnification against particular civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to such liabilities. Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
We may engage in at the market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties (including the writing of options), or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with such a transaction, the third parties may, pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or in a post-effective amendment.
To facilitate an offering of a series of securities, persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involves the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than have been sold to them by us. In those circumstances, such persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by purchasing in the open market or by exercising the over-allotment option granted to those persons. In addition, those persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to underwriters or dealers participating in any such offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. We make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above, if implemented, may have on the price of our securities.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each class or series of securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than our common stock, which is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market. We may elect to list any other class or series of securities on any exchange or market, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a class or series of securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot give any assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.
In order to comply with the securities laws of some U.S. states or territories, if applicable, the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus will be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some state securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and complied with.
Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of these activities at any time.
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Any underwriters who are qualified market makers on The Nasdaq Capital Market may engage in passive market making transactions in the securities on The Nasdaq Capital Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of the securities. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security. If all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the issuance of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP, New York, NY. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
The consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2022 and the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and shareholders’ equity for the year then ended have been audited by OneStop Assurance PAC, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by reference. The consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021 and the related consolidated statements of operations, and other comprehensive loss, cash flows and shareholders’ equity for the year then ended have been audited by RBSM LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by reference. The financial statements have been incorporated herein by reference in reliance on the report of each such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus constitutes a part of a registration statement on Form S-3 filed under the Securities Act. As permitted by the SEC’s rules, this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, which form a part of the registration statement, do not contain all the information that is included in the registration statement. You will find additional information about us in the registration statement. Any statements made in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement concerning legal documents are not necessarily complete and you should read the documents that are filed as exhibits to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the SEC for a more complete understanding of the document or matter.
You may read and copy the registration statement, as well as our reports, proxy statements, and other information, at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the Public Reference Room. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The SEC’s Internet site can be found at http://www.sec.gov. You can also obtain copies of materials we file with the SEC from our website found at www.thesocietypass.com. Information on our website does not constitute a part of, nor is it incorporated in any way, into this prospectus and should not be relied upon in connection with making an investment decision.
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with them. Incorporation by reference allows us to disclose important information to you by referring you to those other documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We filed a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with the SEC with respect to the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus. This prospectus omits certain information contained in the registration statement, as permitted by the SEC. You should refer to the registration statement, including the exhibits, for further information about us and the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus. Statements in this prospectus regarding the provisions of certain documents filed with, or incorporated by reference in, the registration statement are not necessarily complete and each statement is qualified in all respects by that reference. Copies of all or any part of the registration statement, including the documents incorporated by reference or the exhibits, may be obtained upon payment of the prescribed rates at the offices of the SEC listed above in “Where You Can Find More Information.” We are incorporating by reference the documents listed below, which we have already filed with the SEC, and all documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, except as to any portion of any future report or document that is not deemed filed under such provisions:
| • | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, filed with the SEC on March 23, 2023; and |
| • | Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2022, June 30, 2022, and September 30, 2022, filed with the SEC on May 17, 2022, August 17, 2022, and November 14, 2022, respectively; |
| • | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than Current Reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items) filed with the SEC on February 14, 2022, February 17, 2022, March 2, 2022, April 29, 2022, July 13, 2022, August 19, 2022, September 16, 2022, October 13, 2022; and December 27, 2022. |
| • | The description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A12B filed with the SEC on November 8, 2021, including any amendments or reports filed with the SEC for the purposes of updating such description. |
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We also incorporate by reference all documents (other than Current Reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items) that are subsequently filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offering of the securities made by this prospectus (including documents filed after the date of the initial Registration Statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement). These documents include periodic reports, such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as proxy statements.
Any statement contained in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or any subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes the statement.
You may request, and we will provide you with, a copy of these filings, at no cost, by calling us at 65 6518-9382 or by writing to us at the following address:
Society Pass Incorporated
701 S. Carson Street, Suite 200., Carson City, NV 89701
Attn.: Secretary
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Society Pass Incorporated
$50,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Rights
Units
PROSPECTUS
We have not authorized any dealer, salesperson, or other person to give you written information other than this prospectus or to make representations as to matters not stated in this prospectus. You must not rely on unauthorized information. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities or our solicitation of your offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where that would not be permitted or legal. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sales made hereunder after the date of this prospectus shall create an implication that the information contained herein or the affairs of the Company have not changed since the date of this prospectus.
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PART
II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth an estimate of the fees and expenses relating to the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered hereby, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, all of which shall be borne by the Registrant. All of such fees and expenses, except for the SEC registration fee and the FINRA filing fee, are estimated:
| SEC registration fee | $ | 5,510 | ||
| FINRA filing fee | $ | 8,000 | * | |
| Legal fees and expenses | 20,000 | * | ||
| Accounting fees and expenses | 25,000 | * | ||
| Miscellaneous fees and expenses | 5,000 | * | ||
| Total | 63,510 |
* Represents fees incurred in connection with the filing of this shelf registration statement. We will incur additional legal and accounting fees and expenses based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. The applicable prospectus will set forth the estimated amount of expenses of any offering of the securities.
Item 15. Indemnification of Officers and Directors.
Section 78.138 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) provides that, unless the corporation’s articles of incorporation provide otherwise, a director or officer will not be individually liable unless it is proven that (i) the director’s or officer’s acts or omissions constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties, and (ii) such breach involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law.
Section 78.7502(1) of the Nevada Revised Statutes provides that a corporation may 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 (except in an action brought by or on behalf of the corporation) if that 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 or enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by that person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if that person acted in good faith and in a manner which that person 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, alone, does not 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 that, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, the person had reasonable cause to believe his action was unlawful.
Section 78.7502(2) of the Nevada Revised Statutes provides that a corporation may 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 brought by or on behalf of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor because the person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by that person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, if the person acted in accordance with the standard set forth above, except that no indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.
Section 78.7502(3) of the Nevada Revised Statutes further provides that, to the extent a director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections 1 and 2 thereof, or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, that person shall be indemnified by the corporation against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by that person in connection therewith.
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Section 78.751 of the Nevada Revised Statutes provides that unless indemnification is ordered by a court, the determination to provide indemnification must be made by the stockholders, by a majority vote of a quorum of the board of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding, or in specified circumstances by independent legal counsel in a written opinion. In addition, the articles of incorporation, bylaws or an agreement made by the corporation may provide for the payment of the expenses of a director or officer of the expenses of defending an action as incurred upon receipt of an undertaking to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the person is not entitled to indemnification. Section 78.751 of the Nevada Revised Statutes further provides that the indemnification provided for therein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled and that the scope of indemnification shall continue as to directors, officers, employees or agents who have ceased to hold such positions, and to their heirs, executors and administrators.
Section 78.752 of the Nevada Revised Statutes provides that a corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against any liability asserted against him or incurred by him in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such whether or not the corporation would have the authority to indemnify him against such liabilities and expenses.
Articles of Incorporation
Our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation provide that the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by the provisions of Section 78.751 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, indemnify any and all persons whom it shall have the power to indemnify under such section.
Item 16. Exhibits.
a) Exhibits.
* To the extent applicable, to be filed by an amendment or as an exhibit to a document filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated by reference herein.
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Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
Provided, however , that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii), and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is a 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:
(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.
(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 to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee, if any, to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(d) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on March 31, 2023.
SOCIETY PASS INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Dennis Nguyen
Dennis Nguyen
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Name | Position | Date |
| /s/ Dennis Nguyen | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board | March 31, 2023 |
| Dennis Nguyen | (Principal Executive Officer) | |
| /s/ Raynauld Liang | Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer | March 31, 2023 |
| Raynauld Liang | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |
| /s/ Tan Bien Kiat | Vice-Chairman of the Board | March 31, 2023 |
| Tan Bien Kiat | ||
| /s/ Jeremy Miller | Director | March 31, 2023 |
| Jeremy Miller | ||
| /s/ Linda Cutler | Director | March 31, 2023 |
| Linda Cutler | ||
| /s/ John Mackay | Director | March 31, 2023 |
| John Mackay |
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CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors
Society Pass Incorporated
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated March 28, 2022, relating to the financial statements, which appears in Society Pass Incorporated Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ RBSM, LLP
New York, New York
March 31, 2023
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated March 22, 2023, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Society Pass Incorporated, included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus.
/s/ OneStop Assurance PAC
OneStop Assurance PAC
Singapore
March 31, 2023
Exhibit 5.1
March 31, 2023
Society Pass Incorporated
701 S. Carson Street, Suite 200
Carson City, NV 89701
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Society Pass Incorporated, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the registration, pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the offering and sale from time to time, as set forth in the Registration Statement, the form of prospectus contained therein (the “Prospectus”), and one or more supplements to the Prospectus (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”), by the Company of up to an aggregate of $50,000,000 of securities of the Company consisting of (a) shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), (b) shares of preferred stock, $.0001 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”), (c) senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities (collectively, the “Debt Securities”) to be issued in one or more series, (d) stock purchase units of the Company (the “Stock Purchase Units”), each consisting of any of the Securities offered hereby, (e) warrants to purchase one or more of the Securities (as hereinafter defined) (the “Warrants”), and (f) Rights to purchase any of the Securities that may be sold under the Registration Statement (the “Rights”). The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants and Rights and any securities issuable upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of the Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants or Rights are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.”
We advise you that we have examined executed originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of the following documents: (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement; (iii) resolutions adopted by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board of Directors”) relating to the registration of the Securities and related matters, (iv) the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended to date (the “Certificate of Incorporation”); and (v) the Company’s Bylaws, as amended to date (the “Bylaws”, and together with the Certificate of Incorporation, the “Constituent Documents”). In addition, we have examined and relied upon such corporate records and other documents, instruments and certificates of officers and representatives of the Company and of public officials, and we have made such examination of law, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of the opinion expressed below.
We have assumed for purposes of rendering the opinions set forth herein, without any verification by us, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons to execute and deliver documents, the authenticity and completeness of documents submitted to us as originals and the completeness and conformity with authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies, that all documents, books and records made available to us by the Company are accurate and complete.
For purposes of this opinion letter, we have also assumed that: (a) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) shall have become and remain effective under the Act, no stop order with respect thereto shall have been issued, a prospectus supplement shall have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby and such Securities shall have been issued and sold in accordance with the terms set forth in such prospectus supplement; (b) any securities issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Securities being offered shall have been duly authorized by corporate action and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exercise or exchange; (c) at the time of any offering or sale of any shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Securities exercisable, convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock or Preferred Stock, there shall be a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, authorized and unissued under the Certificate of Incorporation then in effect and not otherwise reserved for issuance; (d) at the time of issuance of the Securities, the Company shall validly exist and shall be in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada, and shall have the necessary corporate power for such issuance; (e) any definitive purchase, at-the-market offering, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Securities, if applicable, and any applicable indenture, Stock Purchase Unit Agreement, Warrant Agreement or Rights Agreement (each as hereinafter defined) relating to Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants or Rights, as the case may be, shall constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto, enforceable against each of them in accordance with their respective terms, at the time of issuance of the applicable Securities; (f) certificates representing the shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, or any Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants, or Rights shall have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered, or if uncertificated, valid book-entry notations shall have been made in the share or other register of the Company, in each case in accordance with the Constituent Documents and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable prospectus supplement, either (x) against payment therefor in an amount not less than the par value thereof, in the case of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, or such other consideration determined by the Board of Directors, or an authorized committee thereof, as permitted under the Nevada Revised Statutes (the “NVR”), in accordance with the provisions of any applicable definitive purchase agreement, at-the-market offering agreement, underwriting agreement, indenture, Stock Purchase Unit Agreement, Warrant Agreement, Rights Agreement or similar agreement, if any, approved by the Company or (y) upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any other Security in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security as approved by the Company, for the consideration approved by the Company (in the case of Common Stock or Preferred Stock in an amount not less than the par value thereof, or such other consideration determined by the Board of Directors, or an authorized committee thereof, as permitted under the NGCL); (g) the Constituent Documents shall be in full force and effect and shall not have been amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise altered, and there shall be no authorization of any such amendment, restatement, supplement or alteration, in each case since the date hereof, other than in connection with the Future Authorization and Issuance of Securities (as hereinafter defined) and (h) the Trustee (as hereinafter defined) has satisfied all regulatory and legal requirements applicable to its activities.
For purposes of this opinion letter, we refer to the following as the “Future Authorization and Issuance” of Securities:
| (a) | with respect to any of the Securities, (i) the authorization by the Company of the terms, offering and issuance of such Securities (the “Authorization”) and (ii) the issuance of such Securities in accordance with the Authorization therefor upon the receipt by the Company of the consideration to be paid therefor in accordance with the Authorization; |
| (b) | with respect to Preferred Stock, (i) the establishment of the terms of such Preferred Stock by the Company in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law and (ii) the proper execution, acknowledgement and filing with the Nevada Secretary of State, and the effectiveness of, a certificate of designations to the Certificate of Incorporation setting forth the terms of such Preferred Stock in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law; |
| (c) | with respect to Debt Securities, (i) the due authorization, valid execution and delivery of any applicable indenture, or any necessary amendment or supplement thereto or other agreement in respect thereof, if any, (ii) the due qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of any applicable indenture, if required, and (iii) the establishment of the terms, due authorization, valid execution and delivery of the Debt Security in conformity with the applicable indenture, if any, or other agreement in respect thereof, if any, and applicable law; |
| (d) | with respect to the Stock Purchase Units, (i) the due authorization, valid execution and delivery by the Company and the other parties thereto of any agreement under which the Stock Purchase Units are to be issued (each, a “Stock Purchase Unit Agreement”) and (ii) the establishment of the terms of the Stock Purchase Units, and the execution and delivery of the Stock Purchase Units, in conformity with the Stock Purchase Unit Agreement and applicable law; |
| (e) | with respect to Warrants, (i) the due authorization, valid execution and delivery by the Company and the other parties thereto of any agreement under which the Warrants are to be issued (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) and (ii) the establishment of the terms of the Warrants, and the execution and delivery of the Warrants, in conformity with the Warrant Agreement and applicable law; and |
| (f) | with respect to Rights, (i) the due authorization, valid execution and delivery by the Company and the other parties thereto of any agreement under which the Rights are to be issued (each, a “Rights Agreement”) and (ii) the establishment of the terms of the Rights, and the execution and delivery of the Rights, in conformity with the Rights Agreement and applicable law. |
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations contained herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. With respect to the Common Stock, including those shares that are duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants or Rights, upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of such shares of Common Stock, such shares of Common Stock will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
2. With respect to one or more series of the Preferred Stock, including those duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants or Rights, upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock, such shares of Preferred Stock will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
3. With respect to the Debt Securities, including those duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants or Rights, upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of such Debt Securities, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.
4. With respect to the Stock Purchase Units, including those duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants or Rights, upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of the Stock Purchase Units, such Stock Purchase Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.
5. With respect to the Warrants, including those duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock, Debt Securities or Rights, upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of the Warrants, such Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.
6. With respect to Rights, upon receipt by the Company of such lawful consideration therefore as the Board (or a duly authorized committee thereof) may determine, such Rights will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.
The opinions set forth above are subject to the following exceptions, limitations and qualifications:
We express no opinion as to: (a) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors; (b) 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 or injunctive relief, regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefore may be brought; (c) the unenforceability under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the indemnification of, or contribution to, a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy; (d) the rights or remedies available to any party for violations or breaches of any provisions of the Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants and Rights, as applicable, that are immaterial or the enforcement of which would be unreasonable under the then-existing circumstances, (e) the rights or remedies available to any party for material violations or breaches that are the proximate result of actions taken by any party to the Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants and Rights, as applicable, other than the party against whom enforcement is sought, which actions such other party is not entitled to take pursuant to the Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants and Rights, as applicable, or that otherwise violate applicable laws, (f) the rights or remedies available to any party that takes discretionary action that is arbitrary, unreasonable or capricious, or is not taken in good faith or in a commercially reasonable manner, whether or not the Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants and Rights, as applicable, permit such action or (g) the effect of the exercise of judicial discretion, whether in a proceeding in equity or at law.
The aforesaid opinions as to enforceability of the Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants and Rights also are subject to the qualification that certain provisions of the Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants and Rights, as applicable, may not be enforceable, but (subject to the limitations set forth in clauses (a) through (g) of the immediately preceding paragraph) such unenforceability will not render the Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants and Rights, as applicable, invalid as a whole or substantially interfere with realization of the principal benefits and/or security provided thereby.
We express no opinion (a) concerning the enforceability of any waiver of rights or defenses with respect to stay, extension or usury laws or (b) with respect to whether acceleration of Debt Securities may affect the collectibility of any portion of the stated principal amount thereof that might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon.
This opinion is being furnished at the request of the Company and in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Act in connection with the offer and resale of the Securities and is not to be used, quoted or otherwise referred to for any other purpose without our prior written consent. This opinion does not constitute such prior written consent.
We are members of the Bar of the State of New York. We express no opinion as to the effect of any laws other than the laws of the State of New York, the NGCL and the Federal laws of the United States of America, each as in effect on the date hereof.
This opinion speaks only at and as of its date and is based solely on the facts and circumstances known to us at and as of such date. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion to reflect any facts or circumstances that may hereafter come to our attention or any changes in fact or law that may hereafter occur.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference made to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby concede that our 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.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP | |
| Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP |