gevo20180807_s3.htm

 

Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2018

 

Registration No. 333-

 



 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM S-3

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


 

GEVO, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware

 

87-0747704

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

345 Inverness Drive South, Building C, Suite 310

Englewood, CO 80112

(303) 858-8358

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 


 

Patrick R. Gruber

Chief Executive Officer

345 Inverness Drive South, Building C, Suite 310

Englewood, CO 80112

(303) 858-8358

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 


 

With a copy to:

 

Jason Day

Ned A. Prusse

Perkins Coie LLP
1900 Sixteenth Street, Suite 1400

Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 291-2300

 


 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ☐

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  ☒

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

 

 

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer

 

  

Accelerated filer

 

       

Non-accelerated filer

 

☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

  

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. ☐

 


 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to Be Registered (1)

Amount

to Be

Registered (2)

Proposed

Maximum

Offering Price

Per Unit (2)

Proposed

Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price (2)(3)

Amount of
Registration Fee
(3)

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share

Debt Securities

Depositary Shares

Warrants

Purchase Contracts

Units

Total

   

$300,000,000

$37,350

 

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), an indeterminate number of additional securities are registered hereunder that may be issued to prevent dilution in connection with a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, or similar event or adjustment.

 

(2)

There are being registered under this registration statement such indeterminate number of shares of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, depositary shares, warrants, purchase contracts and/or units of the registrant as shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $300,000,000. Any securities registered under this registration statement may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered under this registration statement. The proposed maximum initial offering prices per unit or security will be determined, from time to time, by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered under this registration statement. The securities registered also include such indeterminate number of securities that may be issued upon exercise, settlement, exchange or conversion of securities offered or sold hereunder or that are represented by depositary shares. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange of other securities. The amount of each class of securities being registered under this registration statement is not specified pursuant to General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.

 

(3)

Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act.

 


 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 



 

 

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. Neither we nor the selling stockholders may sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED AUGUST 8, 2018

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

$300,000,000

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Depositary Shares

Warrants

Purchase Contracts

Units

 


 

We may, from time to time in one or more offerings, offer and sell up to $300,000,000 in the aggregate of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, depositary shares, warrants, purchase contracts and units, in any combination. The specific terms of the securities, including their offering prices, will be contained in one or more supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest. The securities may be sold to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to investors, on a continuous or delayed basis. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “GEVO”. On August 7, 2018, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $3.93 per share.

 


 

Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus, and in the documents which are incorporated by reference herein, and contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus.

 


 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 


 

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2018.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

  

Page

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

  

 

1

  

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    2  

RISK FACTORS

    3  

OUR COMPANY

  

 

3

  

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

  

 

4

  

USE OF PROCEEDS

  

 

5

  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

  

 

6

  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

  

 

9

  

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

    15  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

  

 

17

  

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

    18  

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

  

 

19

  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

  

 

20

  

LEGAL MATTERS

  

 

21

  

EXPERTS

  

 

21

  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

  

 

21

  

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

  

 

21  

 

i

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using the “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings, up to a total dollar amount of $300,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer the securities described in this prospectus, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all the information provided in the registration statement filed with the SEC. You should carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described below under “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated By Reference” before you make an investment decision

 

We have not authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you.

 

Any statement made in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in a prospectus supplement or in any other subsequently filed document that is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. See “Information Incorporated By Reference.”

 

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplements may include trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or other companies. All trademarks, service marks and trade names included in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement are the property of their respective owners.

 

Unless the context otherwise indicates, references in this prospectus to “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” are to Gevo, Inc. and its subsidiaries. The term “you” refers to a prospective investor.

 

1

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to our ability to sell our products, our ability to expand or continue production of ethanol and isobutanol at Our specialty production facility in Luverne, Minnesota (the “Luverne Facility”), our ability to meet our production, financial and operational guidance, our ability and plans to construct a commercial hydrocarbon facility to produce alcohol-to-jet fuel, our ability to raise additional funds to continue operations and/or expand the Luverne Facility, our ability to produce ethanol and isobutanol on a commercial level and at a profit, achievement of advances in our technology platform, the success of our Retrofit production model, the availability of suitable and cost-competitive feedstocks, our ability to gain market acceptance for our products, the expected cost-competitiveness and relative performance attributes of our ethanol and isobutanol and the products derived from isobutanol, additional competition and changes in economic conditions, the future price and volatility of petroleum and products derived from petroleum and statements regarding our intended uses of the proceeds of the securities offered hereby. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology.

 

Forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events, are based on assumptions, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Many important factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, performance or achievements expressed in or implied by our forward-looking statements, including the factors listed below. Many of the factors that will determine future results, performance or achievements are beyond our ability to control or predict. The following are important factors, among others, that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, performance or achievements reflected in our forward-looking statements:

 

 

our intent and ability to construct additional improvements to the Luverne Facility to produce low-carbon ethanol;

 

our ability to continue as a going concern;

 

our ability to timely repay or restructure our outstanding debt obligations;

 

our ability to produce full-scale commercial quantities of ethanol and/or isobutanol in a timely and economic manner;

 

fluctuations in the market price of petroleum;

 

fluctuations in the market price of corn and other feedstocks;

 

unexpected delays, operational difficulties, cost-overruns or failures in our production processes;

 

our ability to successfully identify and acquire access to additional facilities suitable for production of our products;

 

our ability to successfully commercialize ethanol, isobutanol and the products derived from isobutanol;

 

our ability to market our ethanol and isobutanol to potential customers;

 

our ability to obtain regulatory approval for ethanol, the use of our isobutanol and the products derived from our isobutanol, including, without limitation, our renewable jet fuel, in our target markets;

 

our ability to adequately protect our intellectual property, or the loss of some of our intellectual property rights through costly litigation or administrative proceedings;

 

our ability to transition our preliminary commitments into definitive supply and distribution agreements or to negotiate sufficient long-term supply agreements for our production of isobutanol;

 

general economic conditions and inflation, interest rate movements and access to capital; and

 

our ability to effectively use the net proceeds from any offering of securities offered hereby.

 

The forward-looking statements contained herein reflect our views and assumptions only as of the date such forward-looking statements are made. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we assume no responsibility for updating any forward-looking statements nor do we intend to do so. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. The risks included in this section are not exhaustive. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements are set forth in under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC. You should carefully read both this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect.

 

2

 

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risks described in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” in any prospectus supplement and those set forth in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, as well as other information in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, before purchasing any of our securities. Each of the risks described in these sections and documents could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, and could result in a loss of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not known to us or that we deem immaterial may also impair our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

 

OUR COMPANY 

 

We are a next generation “low-carbon” fuel company focused on the development and commercialization of renewable alternatives to petroleum-based products. Low-carbon fuels reduce the carbon intensity, or the level of greenhouse gas emissions, compared to standard fossil-based fuels across their lifecycle. The most common low-carbon fuels are renewable fuels. We are focused on the development and production of mainstream fuels like gasoline and jet fuel using renewable feedstocks, that have the potential to lower greenhouse gas emissions at a meaningful scale and enhance agricultural production, including food and other related products. In addition to serving the low-carbon fuel markets, through our technology, we can also serve markets for the production of chemical intermediate products for solvents, plastics, and building block chemicals.

 

Our proven production technologies target what we believe to be large potential markets of renewable fuels and related chemicals that can compete directly against petrochemical products depending on the price of oil and the value of carbon intensity. Renewable fuels are one of the few fuel products where the value for renewable carbon has already been established, particularly in the United States and the European Union. We believe that the demand for low-carbon fuels and renewable chemicals will continue to grow in the future.

 

We were incorporated in Delaware in June 2005 under the name Methanotech, Inc. and filed an amendment to our certificate of incorporation changing our name to Gevo, Inc. on March 29, 2006.

 

On April 21, 2015, we effected a reverse split of our common stock at a ratio of one-for-fifteen (the “2015 Reverse Stock Split”). On January 5, 2017, we effected a reverse split of our common stock at a ratio of one-for-twenty (the “2017 Reverse Stock Split”). On June 1, 2018, we effected a reverse split of our common stock at a ratio of one-for-twenty (the “2018 Reverse Stock Split” and, together with the 2015 Reverse Stock Split and the 2017 Reverse Stock Split, the “Reverse Stock Splits”). Unless otherwise indicated, all share amounts, per share data, share prices, exercise prices and conversion rates set forth in this prospectus have, where applicable, been adjusted retroactively to reflect the Reverse Stock Splits.

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 345 Inverness Drive South, Building C, Suite 310, Englewood, CO 80112, and our telephone number is (303) 858-8358. We maintain an Internet website at www.gevo.com. Information contained in or accessible through our website does not constitute part of this prospectus.

 

3

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

The following table sets forth consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the last five fiscal years and for the six months ended June 30, 2018. You should read this table in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

   

Year Ended December 31

   

Six Months

 
   

2013

   

2014

   

2015

   

2016

   

2017

    Ended
June 30, 2018
 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1)

    (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)

 

_________________________________________________

 

 

(1)

For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings available for fixed charges consists of loss from continuing operations and fixed charges, less capitalized interest. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, amortization of debt expense, capitalized interest and an estimate of interest component of rent expense. No preferred stock dividends were paid during the periods presented.

 

 

(2)

The ratio coverage for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, and for the six months ended June 30, 2018, was less than 1:1 in each of these periods. We would have needed to generate additional earnings of $55.7 million, $39.8 million, $31.9 million, $24.0 million, $23.3 million and $9.4 million in the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, and for the six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, to achieve a coverage ratio of 1:1 in each of these periods.

 

4

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of any securities offered by us under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include, among others, repayment or refinancing of debt, acquisitions, working capital, capital expenditures, and repurchases or redemptions of securities. We will retain broad discretion over the allocation of net proceeds from the sale of any securities offered by us.

 

5

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

Authorized and Outstanding Capital Stock

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 250,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, issuable in one or more series designated by our board of directors. As of July 31, 2018, there were 8,085,084 shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

 

Common Stock

 

The holders of our common stock have one vote per share. Holders of common stock are not entitled to vote cumulatively for the election of directors. Generally, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a majority, or, in the case of election of directors, by a plurality, of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present, voting together as a single class, subject to any voting rights granted to holders of any then outstanding preferred stock. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to participate equally in dividends when and as dividends may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends. In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the prior rights of our creditors and the liquidation preference of any preferred stock then outstanding must first be satisfied. The holders of common stock will be entitled to share in the remaining assets on a pro rata basis. No shares of common stock are subject to redemption or have redemptive rights to purchase additional shares of common stock.

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “GEVO”.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we may issue shares of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series. Our board of directors is authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable to the shares of each series of preferred stock. Our board of directors may, without stockholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of our common stock, including the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation, and could have anti-takeover effects, including preferred stock or rights to acquire preferred stock in connection with implementing a stockholder rights plan. The ability of our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control or the removal of our existing management. There are currently no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions

 

The Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and our amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that could discourage or make more difficult a change in control of us, including an acquisition of us by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest and removal of our incumbent officers and directors, without the support of our board of directors. A summary of these provisions follows.

 

Statutory Business Combination Provision

 

We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, which, subject to certain exceptions, prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

 

the board of directors of the corporation approves either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, prior to the time the interested stockholder attained that status;

 

 

upon the closing of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding, for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding, those shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

6

 

 

at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

With certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person or group who or which owns 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock (including any rights to acquire stock pursuant to an option, warrant, agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion or exchange rights, and stock with respect to which the person has voting rights only), or is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of such voting stock at any time within the previous three years.

 

In general, Section 203 defines a business combination to include:

 

 

any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

 

 

any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder;

 

 

subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;

 

 

any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or

 

 

the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

 

A Delaware corporation may “opt out” of this provision with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or an express provision in its amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws resulting from a stockholders’ amendment approved by at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares. However, we have not “opted out” of this provision. Section 203 could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change-in-control attempts and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire us.

 

Election and Removal of Directors

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for our board of directors to be divided into three classes, with staggered three-year terms. Only one class of directors is elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms. Because our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights, our stockholders holding a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding are able to elect all of our directors. Directors may be removed only with cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on such removal.

 

No Stockholder Action by Written Consent

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of common stock at an annual or special meeting of stockholders must be effected at a duly called meeting and may not be taken or effected by written consent of the stockholders.

 

Stockholder Meetings

 

Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, only our board of directors, acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the directors then in office, may call a special meeting of the stockholders, and any business conducted at any special meeting will be limited to the purpose or purposes specified in the notice for such special meeting.

 

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals

 

In order for our stockholders to bring nominations or business before an annual meeting properly, they must comply with certain notice requirements as provided by our amended and restated bylaws. Typically, in order for such notices to be timely, they must be provided to us not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. For such notices to be timely in the event the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 70 days after the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice must be provided to us not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or, if later, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.

 

7

 

Amendment of Charter Provisions

 

The affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of our voting stock, voting together as a single class, is required to, among other things, alter, amend or repeal certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, including those related to the classification of our board of directors, the amendment of our bylaws and certificate of incorporation, restrictions against stockholder actions by written consent, the designated parties entitled to call a special meeting of the stockholders and the indemnification of officers and directors.

 

Our amended and restated bylaws may only be amended (or new bylaws adopted) by our board of directors or the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of our voting stock.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company. Its address is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219 and its telephone number is (800) 937-5449. The transfer agent for any series of preferred stock that we may offer under this prospectus will be named and described in the prospectus supplement for that series.

 

8

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

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 debt securities that 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. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indentures, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.

 

We will issue the senior debt securities under the senior indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the senior indenture. We will issue the subordinated debt securities under the subordinated indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the subordinated indenture. The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”). We use the term “debenture trustee” to refer to either the trustee under the senior indenture or the trustee under the subordinated indenture, as applicable. We have filed forms of indentures as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.

 

The following summaries of material provisions of the senior debt securities, the subordinated debt securities and the indentures are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture 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, as well as the complete indentures that contain the terms of the debt securities. Except as we may otherwise indicate, the terms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are identical.

 

General

 

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, 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 U.S. 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 payable;

 

 

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;

 

9

 

 

the date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions 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 indenture will restrict our ability and/or the ability of our subsidiaries to:

 

 

incur additional indebtedness;

 

 

issue additional securities;

 

 

create liens;

 

 

pay dividends and make distributions in respect of our capital stock and/or the capital stock of our subsidiaries;

 

 

redeem capital stock;

 

 

make investments or other restricted payments;

 

 

sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of assets;

 

 

enter into sale-leaseback transactions;

 

 

engage in transactions with stockholders and affiliates;

 

 

issue or sell stock of our subsidiaries; or

 

 

effect a consolidation or merger;

 

 

whether the indenture will require us to maintain any interest coverage, fixed charge, cash flow-based, asset-based or other financial ratios;

 

 

information describing any book-entry features;

 

 

provisions for a sinking fund purchase or other analogous fund, if any;

 

 

the applicability of the provisions in the indenture 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;

 

 

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;

 

 

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; and

 

 

any other terms which shall not be inconsistent with the indentures.

 

The notes may be issued as original issue discount securities. An original issue discount security is a note, including any zero coupon note, which:

 

 

is issued at a price lower than the amount payable upon its stated maturity; and

 

 

provides that upon redemption or acceleration of the maturity, an amount less than the amount payable upon the stated maturity, shall become due and payable.

 

U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to notes sold at an original issue discount will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, U.S. federal income tax or other consequences applicable to any notes which are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. dollars may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Under the indentures, we will have the ability, in addition to the ability to issue notes with terms different from those of notes previously issued, without the consent of the holders, to reopen a previous issue of a series of notes and issue additional notes of that series, unless the reopening was restricted when the series was created, in an aggregate principal amount determined by us.

 

10

 

Conversion or Exchange Rights

 

We will set forth in the prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or our other securities. 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 or our other securities 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 indentures 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 acquiror of such assets must assume all of our obligations under the indentures or the debt securities, as appropriate. 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 Indentures

 

Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indentures 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 or deferred;

 

 

if we fail to pay the principal, premium or sinking fund payment, if any, when due and payable and the time for payment has not been extended or delayed;

 

 

if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the debt securities or the indentures, 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 debenture trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series;

 

 

if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur; and

 

 

any other event of default described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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 second to last bullet point above, the debenture trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the debenture trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default results from the occurrence of a specified event of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to us, the principal amount of 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 debenture trustee or any holder.

 

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 such waiver shall cure the default or event of default.

 

Subject to the terms of the applicable indenture, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the debenture trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the debenture trustee reasonable indemnity. 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 debenture trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the debenture trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:

 

 

the direction so given by the holders is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and

 

 

subject to its duties under the TIA, the debenture trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding.

 

11

 

A holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under an indenture or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies only if:

 

 

the holder has given written notice to the debenture trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series;

 

 

the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and such holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the debenture trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee; and

 

 

the debenture trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 60 days after the notice, request and offer.

 

These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or accrued interest on, the debt securities.

 

We will periodically file statements with the debenture trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indentures.

 

Modification of Indenture; Waiver

 

We and the debenture trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters:

 

 

to fix any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture;

 

 

to comply with the provisions described above under the heading “Description of Debt Securities—Consolidation, Merger or Sale;”

 

 

to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the TIA;

 

 

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 such indenture;

 

 

to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series as provided under the heading “Description of Debt Securities—General,” to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of an indenture or any series of debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities;

 

 

to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee;

 

 

to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose;

 

 

to add to our covenants such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the holders, and 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 change anything that does not materially adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series; provided that any amendment made solely to conform the provisions of the indenture to the corresponding description of the debt securities contained in the applicable prospectus or prospectus supplement shall be deemed not to adversely affect the interests of the holders of such debt securities.

 

12

 

In addition, under the indentures, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us and the debenture trustee with 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, unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the debenture trustee may make the following changes only with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:

 

 

extending the fixed 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 of any debt securities;

 

 

reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver of the applicable indenture or notes or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the applicable indenture or for waiver of certain defaults;

 

 

changing any of our obligations to pay additional amounts;

 

 

reducing the amount of principal of an original issue discount security or any other note payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

 

changing the currency in which any note or any premium or interest is payable;

 

 

impairing the right to enforce any payment on or with respect to any note;

 

 

adversely changing the right to convert or exchange, including decreasing the conversion rate or increasing the conversion price of, such note, if applicable;

 

 

in the case of the subordinated indenture, modifying the subordination provisions in a manner adverse to the holders of the subordinated notes;

 

 

if the notes are secured, changing the terms and conditions pursuant to which the notes are secured in a manner adverse to the holders of the secured notes;

 

 

reducing the requirements contained in the applicable indenture for quorum or voting;

 

 

changing any of our obligations to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes required by the indentures; or

 

 

modifying any of the above provisions set forth in this paragraph.

 

Discharge

 

Each indenture provides that we can 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;

 

 

hold monies for payment in trust;

 

 

recover excess money held by the debenture trustee;

 

 

compensate and indemnify the debenture trustee; and

 

 

appoint any successor trustee.

 

In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the debenture trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, the premium, if any, 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 provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indentures 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 (“DTC”) or another depositary named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement with respect to that series. See the section entitled “Legal Ownership of Securities” for a further description of the terms relating to any book-entry securities.

 

13

 

At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indentures 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.

 

Subject to the terms of the indentures 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 impose 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.

 

Information Concerning the Debenture Trustee

 

The debenture trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the debenture trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the debenture trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given to it by the indentures at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.

 

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.

 

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. Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the debenture trustee in the City of New York as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. 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 debenture 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 indentures and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the TIA is applicable.

 

Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

 

The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement. The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of subordinated debt securities that we may issue, nor does it limit us from issuing any other secured or unsecured debt.

 

14

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

General

 

We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, which we call depositary shares, rather than full shares of preferred stock.  If we do, we will issue to the public receipts, called depositary receipts, for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction, to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, of a share of a particular series of preferred stock.  Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share.  Those rights include dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights.

 

The shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited with a bank or trust company selected by us to act as depositary under a deposit agreement between us, the depositary and the holders of the depositary receipts. The depositary will be the transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursing agent for the depositary shares.

 

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Holders of depositary receipts agree to be bound by the deposit agreement, which requires holders to take certain actions such as filing proof of residence and paying certain charges.

 

The summary of terms of the depositary shares contained in this prospectus is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by, all provisions of the applicable deposit agreement, our certificate of incorporation and the certificate of designation for the applicable series of preferred stock that are, or will be, filed with the SEC.

 

Dividends and Other Distributions

 

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions, if any, received in respect of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares to the record holders of depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of depositary shares owned by those holders on the relevant record date.  The relevant record date for depositary shares will be the same date as the record date for the underlying preferred stock.

 

If there is a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property (including securities) received by it to the record holders of depositary shares, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution.  If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, adopt another method for the distribution, including selling the property and distributing the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.

 

Liquidation Preference

 

If a series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares has a liquidation preference, in the event of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us, holders of depositary shares will be entitled to receive the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each share of the applicable series of preferred stock, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Withdrawal of Stock

 

Unless the related depositary shares have been previously called for redemption, upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the office of the depositary, the holder of the depositary shares will be entitled to delivery, at the office of the depositary or upon his or her order, of the number of whole shares of the preferred stock and any money or other property represented by the depositary shares.  If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to the holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares.  In no event will the depositary deliver fractional shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts.  Holders of preferred stock thus withdrawn may not thereafter deposit those shares under the deposit agreement or receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares therefor.

 

15

 

Redemption of Depositary Shares

 

Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing shares of the preferred stock so redeemed, so long as we have paid in full to the depositary the redemption price of the preferred stock to be redeemed plus an amount equal to any accumulated and unpaid dividends on the preferred stock to the date fixed for redemption.  The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the redemption price and any other amounts per share payable on the preferred stock multiplied by the fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by one depositary share.  If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata or by any other equitable method as may be determined by the depositary.

 

After the date fixed for redemption, depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the monies payable upon redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of the depositary shares were entitled upon redemption upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares.

 

Voting the Preferred Stock

 

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts relating to that preferred stock.  The record date for the depositary receipts relating to the preferred stock will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of shares of preferred stock represented by that holder’s depositary shares.  The depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares in accordance with those instructions, and we will agree to take all action that may be deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to do so.  The depositary will not vote any shares of preferred stock except to the extent it receives specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing that number of shares of preferred stock.

 

Charges of Depositary

 

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements.  We will pay charges of the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay transfer, income and other taxes and governmental charges and such other charges (including those in connection with the receipt and distribution of dividends, the sale or exercise of rights, the withdrawal of the preferred stock and the transferring, splitting or grouping of depositary receipts) as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts.  If these charges have not been paid by the holders of depositary receipts, the depositary may refuse to transfer depositary shares, withhold dividends and distributions and sell the depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipt.

 

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

 

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may be amended by agreement between us and the depositary.  However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares, other than fee changes, will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding depositary shares.  The deposit agreement may be terminated by the depositary or us only if:

 

 

all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed; or

 

 

there has been a final distribution of the preferred stock in connection with our dissolution and such distribution has been made to all the holders of depositary shares.

 

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

 

The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may remove the depositary at any time. Any resignation or removal of the depositary will take effect upon our appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment.  The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having the requisite combined capital and surplus as set forth in the applicable agreement.

 

Notices

 

The depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all notices, reports and other communications, including proxy solicitation materials received from us, that are delivered to the depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.  In addition, the depositary will make available for inspection by holders of depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary, and at such other places as it may from time to time deem advisable, any reports and communications we deliver to the depositary as the holder of preferred stock.

 

Limitation of Liability

 

Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if either we or it is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations.  Our obligations and those of the depositary will be limited to performance in good faith of our and their duties thereunder.  We and the depositary will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, on information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent to give such information and on documents believed to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

16

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities.  Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of warrants.   The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants.  The summary of the terms of the warrants contained in this prospectus is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety to, all provisions of the applicable warrant agreement.

 

Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of warrants offered pursuant to such prospectus supplement for the terms of and information relating to such warrants, including, where applicable:

 

 

the specific designation and aggregate number of, and the offering price at which we will issue, the warrants;

 

 

the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

 

 

the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which that right will expire or, if you may not continuously exercise the warrants throughout that period, the specific date or dates on which you may exercise the warrants;

 

 

whether the warrants are to be sold separately or with other securities as parts of units;

 

 

whether the warrants will be issued in definitive or global form or in any combination of these forms, although, in any case, the form of a warrant included in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any security included in that unit;

 

 

any applicable material U.S. federal income tax consequences;

 

 

the identity of the warrant agent for the warrants and of any other depositaries, execution or paying agents, transfer agents, registrars or other agents;

 

 

the proposed listing, if any, of the warrants or any securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants on any securities exchange;

 

 

the designation and terms of any equity securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

 

the designation, aggregate principal amount, currency and terms of any debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;

 

 

if applicable, the designation and terms of the debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each security;

 

 

if applicable, the date from and after which any warrants issued as part of a unit and the related debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock will be separately transferable;

 

 

the number of shares of preferred stock, the number of depositary shares or the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which those shares may be purchased;

 

 

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

 

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

 

 

the antidilution provisions of, and other provisions for changes to or adjustment in the exercise price of, the warrants, if any;

 

 

any redemption or call provisions; and

 

 

any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange or exercise of the warrants.

 

17

 

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

 

We may issue, from time to time, purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us and us to sell to the holders, a specified principal amount of debt securities, shares of common stock or preferred stock, or any of the other securities that we may sell under this prospectus at a future date or dates.  The consideration payable upon settlement of the purchase contracts may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by a specific reference to a formula set forth in the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a purchase contract and other securities or obligations issued by us or third parties, including United States treasury securities, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the relevant securities under the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase contracts or units or vice versa, and the payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the purchase contracts. The summary of the terms of the purchase contracts contained in this prospectus is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by, all provisions of the applicable purchase contracts.

 

The prospectus supplement related to any particular purchase contracts will describe, among other things, the material terms of the purchase contracts and of the securities being sold pursuant to such purchase contracts, a discussion, if appropriate, of any special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase contracts and any material provisions governing the purchase contracts that differ from those described above. The description in the prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, relating to the purchase contracts.

 

18

 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

We may, from time to time, issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities that may be offered under this prospectus, in any combination. Each unit may also include debt obligations of third parties, such as U.S. Treasury securities. 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 or other specific circumstances occur. The summary of the terms of the units contained in this prospectus is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by, all provisions of the applicable unit agreements.

 

Any prospectus supplement related to any particular units will describe, among other things:

 

 

the material 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 material provisions relating to the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units;

 

 

if appropriate, any special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and

 

 

any material provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described above.

 

The applicable provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Capital Stock,” “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Depositary Shares,” “Description of Warrants” and “Description of Purchase Contracts,” will apply to each unit and to each security included in each unit, respectively.

.

19

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities being offered hereby:

 

 

directly to purchasers;

 

through agents;

 

through dealers;

 

through underwriters;

 

through a combination of any of the above methods of sale; or

 

through any other methods described in a prospectus supplement.

 

We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any direct purchasers, agents, dealers, underwriters and, if applicable, their compensation, the purchase price, the net proceeds to us, the public offering price, and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers, in a prospectus supplement.

 

The distribution of securities may be effected, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including block transactions and transactions on the Nasdaq Stock Market or any other organized market where the securities may be traded.  The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.  The consideration may be cash or another form negotiated by the parties.  Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the securities.  That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us or from the purchasers of the securities.

 

Offers to purchase the securities may be solicited directly by us or by agents designated by us from time to time.  We will, in the prospectus supplement relating to an offering, name any agent that could be viewed as an underwriter under the Securities Act and describe any commissions we must pay.  Any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment or, if indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, on a firm commitment basis.

 

If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal.  The dealer, which may be deemed to be an underwriter as that term is defined in the Securities Act, may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.  Dealer trading may take place in certain of the securities, including securities not listed on any securities exchange.

 

If an underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale, we will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriters at the time of sale to them and the names of the underwriters will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, which will be used by the underwriters to make resales of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered to the public.  The obligations of underwriters to purchase securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities of a series if any are purchased.

 

We may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities and we may make sales of securities directly to institutional investors or others. These persons may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities.  To the extent required, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any such sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if used.

 

Underwriters, dealers, agents and other persons may be entitled, under agreements that may be entered into with us, to indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments that they may be required to make in respect thereof.  Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

 

Any person participating in the distribution of common stock registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of our common stock by any such person. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock.  These restrictions may affect the marketability of our common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock.

 

In order to facilitate the offering of the securities, any underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities or any other securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on such securities.  Specifically, any underwriters may overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short position for their own accounts.  In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of the securities or of any such other securities, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the securities or any such other securities in the open market.  Finally, in any offering of the securities through a syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing the securities in the offering if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise.  Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities above independent market levels.  Any such underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time.

 

20

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Unless otherwise stated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Perkins Coie LLP, Denver, Colorado. Counsel representing any underwriters, dealers or agents will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

EXPERTS

 

The audited consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at their Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information. Our filings with the SEC are also available on our website at www.gevo.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, and later information filed with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and all documents subsequently filed 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 under this prospectus and any prospectus supplement (other than information deemed furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules, including Items 2.02 and 7.01 of Form 8-K):

 

 

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC on March 28, 2018;

 

 

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2018, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2018 and August 8, 2018, respectively;

 

 

Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 3, 2018, January 5, 2018, January 10, 2018, February 13, 2018, February 22, 2018, May 31, 2018, June 4, 2018, June 20, 2018, June 25, 2018 and June 28, 2018; and

 

 

The description of our common stock contained in the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on February 4, 2011 under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

You may request a copy of these filings (other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing) at no cost, by writing to or telephoning us at the following address: Gevo, Inc., Attention: Investor Relations, 345 Inverness Drive South, Building C, Suite 310, Englewood, Colorado, 80112, telephone (303) 858-8358.

 

21

 

 


 

 

 

GEVO, INC.

 

 

$300,000,000 

 

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Depositary Shares

Warrants

Purchase Contracts

Units

 

____________________________________________

 

PROSPECTUS

____________________________________________

 

, 2018

 

 


 

 

 

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14.     Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

 

The following table sets forth the expenses payable by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities covered by this Registration Statement, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. All expenses are estimates.

 

SEC Registration Fee

  $ 37,350  

Printing Expenses

    *  

Legal Fees and Expenses

    *  

Accounting Fees and Expenses

    *  

Transfer Agent and Registrar Fees and Expenses

    *  

Trustee Fees and Expenses

    *  

Stock Exchange and Other Listing Fees

    *  

Miscellaneous

    *  

Total

  $ *  

 


*

These expenses are calculated in part based on the number of issuances and the amount of securities offered and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

 

Item 15.     Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), a corporation has the power to indemnify its directors and officers under certain prescribed circumstances and, subject to certain limitations, against certain costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, to which any of them is a party by reason of his being a director or officer of the corporation if it is determined that he acted in accordance with the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such statutory provision. In addition, a corporation may advance expenses incurred by a director or officer in defending a proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking from such person to repay any amount so advanced if it is ultimately determined that such person is not eligible for indemnification. The registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, pursuant to the DGCL, the registrant’s directors shall not be liable for monetary damages to the fullest extent authorized under applicable law, including for breach of the directors’ fiduciary duty of care to the registrant and the registrant’s stockholders. This provision in the registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not eliminate the duty of care, and in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies such as injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief will remain available under Delaware law. In addition, each director will continue to be subject to liability for breach of the director’s duty of loyalty, for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or knowing violations of the law, for actions leading to improper personal benefit to the director, and for payment of dividends or approval of stock repurchases or redemptions that are unlawful under Delaware law. The provision also does not affect a director’s responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal securities laws or state or federal environmental laws.

 

Article 10 of the registrant’s amended and restated bylaws provides that the registrant will indemnify, to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the registrant, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer against all expenses, liability and loss reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith.

 

In addition to the above, the registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and officers. These indemnification agreements provide the registrant’s directors and officers with the same indemnification and advancement of expenses as described above, and provide that the registrant’s directors and officers will be indemnified to the fullest extent authorized by any future Delaware law that expands the permissible scope of indemnification. The registrant also has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, which provides coverage against certain liabilities that may be incurred by the registrant’s directors and officers in their capacities as directors and officers of the registrant.

 

II-1

 

Item 16.     Exhibits.      

 

       

Incorporation By Reference

   

Exhibit Number

 

Description

 

Form

 

File No.

 

Filing Date

 

Exhibit

 

Filed Herewith

1.1#

 

Form of Underwriting Agreement.

                 

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Gevo, Inc.

 

10-K

 

001-35073

 

03/29/11

 

3.1

   

3.2

 

Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Gevo, Inc.

 

8-K

 

001-35073

 

06/10/13

 

3.1

   

3.3

 

Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Gevo, Inc.

 

8-K

 

001-35073

 

07/09/14

 

3.1

   

3.4

 

Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Gevo, Inc.

 

8-K

 

001-35073

 

04/22/15

 

3.1

   

3.5

 

Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Gevo, Inc.

 

8-K

 

001-35073

 

01/06/17

 

3.1

   

3.6

 

Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Gevo, Inc.

 

8-K

 

001-35073

 

06/04/18

 

3.1

   

3.7

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Gevo, Inc.

 

10-K

 

001-35073

 

03/29/11

 

3.1

   

4.1

 

Form of Gevo, Inc. Common Stock Certificate.

 

S-1

 

333-168792

 

01/19/11

 

4.1

   

4.2

 

Form of Senior Debt Indenture.

                 

X

4.3

 

Form of Subordinated Debt Indenture.

                 

X

4.4#

 

Form of Senior Note.

                   

4.5#

 

Form of Subordinated Note.

                   

4.6#

 

Form of Specimen Preferred Stock Certificate.

                   

4.7#

 

Form of Certificate of Designation.

                   

4.8#

 

Form of Deposit Agreement.

                   

4.9#

 

Form of Warrant Agreement.

                   

4.10#

 

Form of Purchase Contract.

                   

4.11#

 

Form of Unit Agreement.

                   

5.1

 

Opinion of Perkins Coie LLP.

                 

X

12.1

 

Calculation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

                 

X

23.1

 

Consent of Grant Thornton LLP.

                 

X

23.2

 

Consent of Perkins Coie LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

                 

X

24.1

 

Power of Attorney (included on signature page).

                 

X

25.1†

 

Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of Trustee for the Senior Debt Indenture.

                   

25.1†

 

Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of Trustee for the Subordinated Debt Indenture.

                   

 


#

To be filed by amendment, as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or by other applicable filing with the SEC to be incorporated by reference herein.

To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 

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 Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

 

II-2

 

 

(iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

(2)     That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3)     To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4)     That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

 

(i)

Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

 

(ii)

Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. 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 sellers 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.

 

II-3

 

(b)     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c)     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 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 counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by them is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(d)     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

 

II-4

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Englewood, State of Colorado, on August 8, 2018.

 

 

GEVO, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Patrick R. Gruber

 

 

 

Patrick R. Gruber

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Patrick R. Gruber and Geoffrey T. Williams, Jr., and each of them acting individually, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to execute any and all amendments to this Registration Statement (including any post-effective amendments, and any new registration statement with respect to the offering contemplated thereby filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act), and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of each to act alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

/s/ Patrick R. Gruber

 

 

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

August 8, 2018

Patrick R. Gruber

       

/s/ Bradford K. Towne

 

Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

August 8, 2018

Bradford K. Towne

       

/s/ Ruth I. Dreessen

 

 

Chairperson of the Board of Directors

 

August 8, 2018

Ruth I. Dreessen

       
         

/s/ Gary W. Mize

 

Director

 

August 8, 2018

Gary W. Mize

       
         

/s/ Andy Marsh

 

Director

 

August 8, 2018

Andy Marsh

       
         

/s/ Johannes Minho Roth

 

Director

 

August 8, 2018

Johannes Minho Roth

       
         

/s/ William H. Baum

 

Director

 

August 8, 2018

William H. Baum