08/21/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/21/2024 04:17
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 20, 2024
Registration No. 333-274563
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO FORM S-1 ON
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
DIGITAL BRANDS GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction |
46-1942864
(I.R.S. Employer |
1400 Lavaca Street
Austin, TX 78701
(209) 651-0172
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
John Hilburn Davis IV
President and Chief Executive Officer
1400 Lavaca Street
Austin, TX 78701
(209) 651-0172
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Laura Anthony, Esq.
Craig D. Linder, Esq.
Anthony, Linder & Cacomanolis, PLLC
1700 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 820
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
Telephone: (561) 514-0936
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a 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 | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ | ||
Emerging growth company | ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Registrant filed (A) a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-274563) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on September 18, 2023, which was amended on September 21, 2023, and declared effective on September 25, 2023 (the "Resale Registration Statement") registering the issuance of up to an aggregate of 1,580,166 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, consisting of 32,000 shares of common stock, up to 481,875 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of pre-funded warrants (the "Pre-Funded Warrants"), up to 513,875 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of Series A Warrants (the "Series A Warrants"), up to 513,875 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of Series B Warrants (the "Series B Warrants) and 38,541 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of placement agent warrants (the "Placement Agent Warrants"). Subsequently, the Registrant filed a prospectus with respect to such Resale Registration Statement on September 25, 2023, as well as a prospectus supplement to such Resale Registration Statement on May 7, 2024.
If any securities previously registered under the Resale Registration Statement (File No. 333-274563) were sold under the Resale Registration Statement or pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144, the amount of previously registered securities so sold will not be included in the prospectus hereunder.
This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 on Form S-3, is being filed to (i) convert the registration statement on Form S-1 into a registration statement on Form S-3 and (ii) include an updated prospectus relating to the registration of Common Stock for issuance by the Registrant and the offering and sale of Common Stock that was registered for resale by the selling security holders named in the prospectus to this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 on Form S-3. Pursuant to Rule 429, Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 on Form S-3 upon effectiveness will serve as a post-effective amendment to the Resale Registration Statement (File No. 333-274563).
No additional securities are being registered under this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 on Form S-3 and all applicable registration and filing fees were paid at the time of the original filing of the registration statement.
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES, AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
Subject to Completion, dated August 20, 2024
PROSPECTUS
DIGITAL BRANDS GROUP, INC.
COMMON STOCK, $0.0001 PAR VALUE
687,541 SHARES
This prospectus relates to the resale, from time to time, of up to 687,541 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share ("Common Stock"), by the selling stockholders named herein. On or around August 31, 2023, we entered into a securities purchase agreement (the "Agreement") with Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd. (the "Investor"). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company issued to the Investor a Series A common share purchase warrant to purchase up to 513,875 shares of Common Stock ("Series A Warrant") and Series B common share purchase warrant to purchase up to 513,875 shares of Common Stock ("Series B Warrant", and collectively with the Series A Warrant, the "Warrants") on or around September 5, 2023, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Securities Act"), each at an initial exercise price equal to $9.43 per share of Common Stock. The Series A Warrant is exercisable immediately upon issuance and expires five and one-half (5.5) years following the issuance date and the Series B Warrant is exercisable immediately upon issuance and expires fifteen (15) months following the issuance date. On May 3, 2024, we entered into an inducement offer to exercise of the Warrants (the "Inducement Agreement") with the Investor, pursuant to which the Company agreed to reduce the exercise price of such Warrants to $3.13 per share of Common Stock and the Investor exercised the Warrants into 1,027,750 shares of Common Stock. Such shares of Common Stock may only be issued in accordance with the beneficial ownership limitations in the Inducement Agreement, with the balance to be held in abeyance, which abeyance shall be evidenced through the Warrants and shall be deemed prepaid thereafter (including the cash payment in full of the exercise price), and exercised pursuant to a Notice of Exercise in the Warrants (provided no additional exercise price shall be due and payable). The balance of Common Stock currently held in abeyance under the Warrants is 649,000 shares of Common Stock.
In connection with the Agreement, we entered into an engagement agreement with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC ("Wainwright"), pursuant to which we have, among other things, issued to Wainwright's designees warrants to purchase up to 38,541 shares of Common Stock (the "Wainwright Warrants"). The terms of the Wainwright Warrants are substantially the same as the terms of the Series A Warrant except that they have an exercise price of $12.1625 per share.
Pursuant to the Inducement Agreement, the Company is required to file a registration statement to register the resale of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants within 30 calendar days of the date of the Inducement Agreement.
We are not selling any securities under this prospectus and will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares by any Selling Stockholders, however, we will receive proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants and/or Wainwright Warrants if the Warrants and/or Wainwright Warrants are exercised for cash. The Selling Stockholders may sell the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants and Wainwright Warrants described in this prospectus in a number of different ways and at varying prices. We provide more information about how the Selling Stockholders may resell its shares of our Common Stock underlying the Warrants and Wainwright Warrants in the section titled "Plan of Distribution" beginning on page 8. We will pay the expenses incurred in registering the shares, including legal and accounting fees.
Our Common Stock and Class A Warrants trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbols "DBGI" and "DBGIW," respectively. On August 9, 2024, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock was $1.06 per share and Class A Warrants was $11.21 per share. Prospective purchasers of our securities are urged to obtain current information as to the market prices of our Common Stock and Class A Warrants.
Investing in our securities involves risks. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully the risks that we have described on page 3 of this prospectus under the caption "Risk Factors."
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 [●], 2024.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS | ii |
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY | 1 |
THE OFFERING | 2 |
RISK FACTORS | 3 |
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | 5 |
USE OF PROCEEDS | 6 |
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS | 6 |
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION | 8 |
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW AND OF THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS | 9 |
LEGAL MATTERS | 12 |
EXPERTS | 12 |
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION | 12 |
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE | 13 |
i |
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For a more complete understanding of the offering of the securities, you should refer to the registration statement, including its exhibits. This prospectus, together with the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, includes all material information relating to the offering of securities under this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the information and documents incorporated herein by reference and the additional information under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information" before making an investment decision.
We and the Selling Stockholders have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We and the Selling Stockholders take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurances as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. You should assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and that any information incorporated herein by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of a security.
We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.
Unless the context otherwise requires, references to "we," "our," "us," or the "Company" in this prospectus mean Digital Brands Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries.
ii |
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following is a summary of what we believe to be the most important aspects of our business and a general description of the securities that may be offered for resale or other disposition by the Selling Stockholders. We urge you to read this entire prospectus, including the more detailed consolidated financial statements, notes to the consolidated financial statements and other information incorporated by reference from our other filings with the SEC. Investing in our securities involves risks. Therefore, carefully consider the risk factors set forth in our most recent annual and quarterly filings with the SEC, as well as other information in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, before purchasing our securities. Each of the risk factors could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities.
Overview
Digital Brands Group is a curated collection of lifestyle brands, including Bailey 44, DSTLD, Stateside, Sundry and ACE Studios, that offers a variety of apparel products through direct-to-consumer and wholesale distribution. Our complementary brand portfolio provides us with the unique opportunity to cross merchandise our brands. We aim for our customers to wear our brands head to toe and to capture what we call "closet share" by gaining insight into their preferences to create targeted and personalized content specific to their cohort. Operating our brands under one portfolio provides us with the ability to better utilize our technological, human capital and operational capabilities across all brands. As a result, we have been able to realize operational efficiencies and continue to identify additional cost saving opportunities to scale our brands and overall portfolio.
Our portfolio currently consists of four significant brands that leverage our three channels: our websites, wholesale and our own stores.
● Bailey 44 combines beautiful, luxe fabrics and on-trend designs to create sophisticated ready-to-wear capsules for women on-the-go. Designing for real life, this brand focuses on feeling and comfort rather than how it looks on a runway. Bailey 44 is primarily a wholesale brand, which we are transitioning to a digital, direct-to-consumer brand.
● DSTLD offers stylish high-quality garments without the luxury retail markup valuing customer experience over labels. DSTLD is primarily a digital direct-to-consumer brand, to which we recently added select wholesale retailers to generate brand awareness.
● Stateside is an elevated, America first brand with all knitting, dyeing, cutting and sewing sourced and manufactured locally in Los Angeles. The collection is influenced by the evolution of the classic T-shirt offering a simple yet elegant look. Stateside is primarily a wholesale brand that we will be transitioning to a digital, direct-to-consumer brand.
● Sundry offers distinct collections of women's clothing, including dresses, shirts, sweaters, skirts, shorts, athleisure bottoms and other accessory products. Sundry's products are coastal casual and consist of soft, relaxed and colorful designs that feature a distinct French chic, resembling the spirits of the French Mediterranean and the energy of Venice Beach in Southern California. Sundry is primarily a wholesale brand that we will be transitioning to a digital, direct-to-consumer brand.
We believe that successful apparel brands sell in all revenue channels. However, each channel offers different margin structures and requires different customer acquisition and retention strategies. We were founded as a digital-first retailer that has strategically expanded into select wholesale and direct retail channels. We strive to strategically create omnichannel strategies for each of our brands that blend physical and online channels to engage consumers in the channel of their choosing. Our products are sold direct-to-consumers principally through our websites and our own showrooms, but also through our wholesale channel, primarily in specialty stores and select department stores. With the continued expansion of our wholesale distribution, we believe developing an omnichannel solution further strengthens our ability to efficiently acquire and retain customers while also driving high customer lifetime value.
We believe that by leveraging a physical footprint to acquire customers and increase brand awareness, we can use digital marketing to focus on retention and a very tight, disciplined high value new customer acquisition strategy, especially targeting potential customers lower in the sales funnel. Building a direct relationship with the customer as the customer transacts directly with us allows us to better understand our customer's preferences and shopping habits. Our substantial experience as a company originally founded as a digitally native-first retailer gives us the ability to strategically review and analyze the customer's data, including contact information, browsing and shopping cart data, purchase history and style preferences. This in turn has the effect of lowering our inventory risk and cash needs since we can order and replenish product based on the data from our online sales history, replenish specific inventory by size, color and SKU based on real times sales data, and control our mark-down and promotional strategies versus being told what mark downs and promotions we have to offer by the department stores and boutique retailers.
We define "closet share" as the percentage ("share") of a customer's clothing units that ("of closet") she or he owns in her or his closet and the amount of those units that go to the brands that are selling these units. For example, if a customer buys 20 units of clothing a year and the brands that we own represent 10 of those units purchased, then our closet share is 50% of that customer's closet, or 10 of our branded units divided by 20 units they purchased in entirety. Closet share is a similar concept to the widely used term wallet share, it is just specific to the customer's closet. The higher our closet share, the higher our revenue as higher closet share suggests the customer is purchasing more of our brands than our competitors.
We have strategically expanded into an omnichannel brand offering these styles and content not only on-line but at selected wholesale and retail storefronts. We believe this approach allows us opportunities to successfully drive Lifetime Value ("LTV") while increasing new customer growth. We define Lifetime Value or LTV as an estimate of the average revenue that a customer will generate throughout their lifespan as our customer. This value/revenue of a customer helps us determine many economic decisions, such as marketing budgets per marketing channel, retention versus acquisition decisions, unit level economics, profitability and revenue forecasting.
We acquired Bailey in February 2020, Stateside in August 2021 and Sundry in December 2022. We agreed on the consideration that we paid in each acquisition in the course of arm's length negotiations with the holders of the membership interests in each of Bailey, H&J, Stateside and Sundry. In determining and negotiating this consideration, we relied on the experience and judgment of our management and our evaluation of the potential synergies that could be achieved in combining the operations of Bailey, Stateside and Sundry. We did not obtain independent valuations, appraisals or fairness opinions to support the consideration that we paid/agreed to pay.
Company Information
We were incorporated in Delaware in January 2013 under the name Denim.LA, Inc, and changed our name to Digital Brands Group, Inc. in December 2020. Our corporate offices are located at 1400 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX 78701. Our telephone number is (209) 651-0172. Our website is www.digitalbrandsgroup.co. None of the information on our website or any other website identified herein is part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part.
1 |
THE OFFERING
We are registering for resale by the selling stockholders named herein the 687,541 shares as described below:
Securities Offered | 687,541 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of Warrants and Wainwright Warrants acquired by the selling stockholders in private placement transactions on September 5, 2023. | |
Use of Proceeds | We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of shares of our common stock by the selling stockholders, or from the exercise of the Warrants since the Warrants are deemed prepaid, however, we will receive proceeds from the exercise of the Wainwright Warrants if the Wainwright Warrants are exercised for cash and retain broad discretion over the use of such proceeds. Our board of directors believes the flexibility in application of such proceeds is prudent. | |
Risk Factors | Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the information contained in or incorporated by reference under the heading "Risk Factors" in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any free writing prospectus that we authorize for use. | |
Market symbol and trading: | Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol "DBGI". |
2 |
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves significant risks. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in, or incorporated into, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference herein or therein, including but not limited to those set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, as revised or supplemented by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC since the filing of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, all of which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and that are incorporated by reference herein or in the applicable prospectus supplement. You should also carefully consider any other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus or include in any applicable prospectus supplement. 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 partial or complete loss of your investment.
The exercise of all or any number of outstanding Warrants may dilute your holding of shares of our common stock.
Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company issued to the Investor a Series A common share purchase warrant to purchase up to 513,875 shares of Common Stock ("Series A Warrant") and Series B common share purchase warrant to purchase up to 513,875 shares of Common Stock ("Series B Warrant", and collectively with the Series A Warrant, the "Warrants") on September 5, 2023, each at an initial exercise price equal to $9.43 per share of Common Stock. In connection with the Agreement, we entered into an engagement agreement with Wainwright, pursuant to which we have, among other things, issued to Wainwright's designees warrants to purchase up to 38,541 shares of Common Stock (the "Wainwright Warrants"). The terms of the Wainwright Warrants are substantially the same as the terms of the Series A Warrant except that they have an exercise price of $12.1625 per share. In connection with the Inducement Agreement, we reduced the exercise price of the Warrants to $3.13 per share of Common Stock and the Investor exercised the Warrants into 1,027,750 shares of Common Stock. Such shares of Common Stock may only be issued in accordance with the beneficial ownership limitations in the Inducement Agreement, with the balance to be held in abeyance, which abeyance shall be evidenced through the Warrants and shall be deemed prepaid thereafter (including the cash payment in full of the exercise price), and exercised pursuant to a Notice of Exercise in the Warrants (provided no additional exercise price shall be due and payable). Our shareholders could be subject to increased dilution upon the exercise of the Warrants and/or Wainwright Warrants. In addition, the exercise of the Warrants and/or Wainwright Warrants, and the subsequent sale of shares of common stock issued thereby, could have an adverse effect on the market for our common stock, including the price that a shareholder could obtain for their shares. Further, our shareholders may experience dilution in the value of their investment in our common stock upon the exercise of the Warrants and/or Wainwright Warrants.
The number of shares of common stock which are registered, including the shares to be issued upon exercise of the Warrants and/or Wainwright Warrants, is significant in relation to our currently outstanding common stock and could cause downward pressure on the market price for our common stock.
The number of shares of common stock registered for resale upon exercise of the Warrants and/or Wainwright Warrants is significant in relation to the number of shares of common stock currently outstanding. If the Selling Securityholder determines to sell a substantial number of shares into the market at any given time, there may not be sufficient demand in the market to purchase the shares without a decline in the market price for our common stock. Moreover, continuous sales into the market of a number of shares in excess of the typical trading volume for our common stock, or even the availability of such a large number of shares, could depress the trading market for our common stock over an extended period of time.
Our common stock may be delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market if we cannot maintain compliance with Nasdaq Capital Market's continued listing requirements.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. There are a number of continued listing requirements that we must satisfy in order to maintain our listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
3 |
We cannot assure you our securities will meet the continued listing requirements to be listed on Nasdaq Capital Market in the future. If the Nasdaq Capital Market delists our common stock from trading on its exchange, we could face significant material adverse consequences including:
● | a limited availability of market quotations for our securities; | |
● | a determination that our common stock is a "penny stock" which will require brokers trading in our common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our common stock; | |
● | a limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our company; and | |
● | a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
If we fail to maintain compliance with all applicable continued listing requirements for the Nasdaq Capital Market and Nasdaq Capital Market determines to delist our common stock, the delisting could adversely affect the market liquidity of our common stock, our ability to obtain financing to repay debt and fund our operations.
If our common stock is delisted from the The Nasdaq Capital Market and the price of our common stock remains below $5.00 per share, our common stock would come within the definition of "penny stock".
Transactions in securities that are traded in the United States that are not traded on The Nasdaq Capital Market or on other securities exchange by companies, with net tangible assets of $5,000,000 or less and a market price per share of less than $5.00, may be subject to the "penny stock" rules. The market price of our common stock is currently less than $5.00 per share. If our common stock is delisted from the The Nasdaq Capital Market and the price of our common stock remains below $5.00 per share and our net tangible assets remain $5,000,000 or less, our common stock would come within the definition of "penny stock".
Under these penny stock rules, broker-dealers that recommend such securities to persons other than institutional accredited investors:
● | must make a special written suitability determination for the purchaser; | |
● | receive the purchaser's written agreement to a transaction prior to sale; | |
● | provide the purchaser with risk disclosure documents which identify risks associated with investing in "penny stocks" and which describe the market for these "penny stocks" as well as a purchaser's legal remedies; and | |
● | obtain a signed and dated acknowledgment from the purchaser demonstrating that the purchaser has actually received the required risk disclosure document before a transaction in a "penny stock" can be completed. |
As a result of these requirements, if our common stock is at such time subject to the "penny stock" rules, broker-dealers may find it difficult to effectuate customer transactions and trading activity in these shares in the United States may be significantly limited. Accordingly, the market price of the shares may be depressed, and investors may find it more difficult to sell the shares.
Our common stock may be affected by limited trading volume and may fluctuate significantly.
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Although an active trading market has developed for our common stock, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for our common stock will be sustained. Failure to maintain an active trading market for our common stock may adversely affect our shareholders' ability to sell our common stock in short time periods, or at all. Our common stock has experienced, and may experience in the future, significant price and volume fluctuations, which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
4 |
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, including the documents we incorporate by reference into it, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "PSLRA") or in releases made by the SEC. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding our expectations, hopes or intentions regarding the future. Statements that are not historical fact are forward- looking statements. These forward-looking statements can often be identified by their use of words such as "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "outlook," "could," "target," "project," "intend," "plan," "seek," "estimate," "should," "will," "may" and "assume," as well as variations of such words and similar expressions referring to the future. These cautionary statements are being made pursuant to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the PSLRA with the intention of obtaining the benefits of the "safe harbor" provisions of such laws.
The forward-looking statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus are largely based on our expectations, which reflect estimates and assumptions made by our management. These estimates and assumptions reflect our best judgment based on currently known market conditions and other factors. Although we believe such estimates and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. If any of those risks and uncertainties materialize, actual results could differ materially from those discussed in any such forward-looking statement. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in forward-looking statements are those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" below, those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" and in other sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as well as in our other reports filed from time to time with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See "Available Information" and "Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference" for information about how to obtain copies of those documents.
All readers are cautioned that the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assure any reader that such statements will be realized or that the forward-looking events and circumstances will occur. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into it are made only as of the date of the document in which they are contained, based on information available to us as of the date of that document, and we caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in light of the risks and uncertainties associated with them. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
5 |
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Selling Stockholders will receive all of the proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock under this prospectus. We will not receive any proceeds from these sales, however, we will receive proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants and/or Wainwright Warrants if the Warrants and/or Wainwright Warrants are exercised for cash and retain broad discretion over the use of such proceeds. Our board of directors believes the flexibility in application of such proceeds is prudent. The Selling Stockholders will pay any underwriting discounts and agent's commissions and expenses it incurs for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses they incur in disposing of the shares. We will bear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the shares covered by this prospectus. These may include, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, SEC filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or "blue sky" laws.
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
This prospectus relates to the resale, from time to time, of up to 687,541 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share ("Common Stock"), by the selling stockholders named herein. On or around August 31, 2023, we entered into a securities purchase agreement (the "Agreement") with Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd. (the "Investor"). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company issued to the Investor a Series A common share purchase warrant to purchase up to 513,875 shares of Common Stock ("Series A Warrant") and Series B common share purchase warrant to purchase up to 513,875 shares of Common Stock ("Series B Warrant", and collectively with the Series A Warrant, the "Warrants") on or around September 5, 2023, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Securities Act"), each at an initial exercise price equal to $9.43 per share of Common Stock. The Series A Warrant is exercisable immediately upon issuance and expires five and one-half (5.5) years following the issuance date and the Series B Warrant is exercisable immediately upon issuance and expires fifteen (15) months following the issuance date. On May 3, 2024, we entered into an inducement offer to exercise of the Warrants (the "Inducement Agreement") with the Investor, pursuant to which the Company agreed to reduce the exercise price of such Warrants to $3.13 per share of Common Stock and the Investor exercised the Warrants into 1,027,750 shares of Common Stock. Such shares of Common Stock may only be issued in accordance with the beneficial ownership limitations in the Inducement Agreement, with the balance to be held in abeyance, which abeyance shall be evidenced through the Warrants and shall be deemed prepaid thereafter (including the cash payment in full of the exercise price), and exercised pursuant to a Notice of Exercise in the Warrants (provided no additional exercise price shall be due and payable). The balance of Common Stock currently held in abeyance under the Warrants is 649,000 shares of Common Stock.
In connection with the Agreement, we entered into an engagement agreement with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC ("Wainwright"), pursuant to which we have, among other things, issued to Wainwright's designees warrants to purchase up to 38,541 shares of Common Stock (the "Wainwright Warrants"). The terms of the Wainwright Warrants are substantially the same as the terms of the Series A Warrant except that they have an exercise price of $12.1625 per share.
This prospectus relates to the offer, resale or other disposition of up to 687,541 shares of our Common Stock issuable to the Selling Stockholders upon exercise of the Warrants and Wainwright Warrants. We are registering the shares of Common Stock in order to permit the Selling Stockholders to offer the shares for resale from time to time. None of the persons named in the table has held any position or office or had any other material relationship with us or our affiliates during the three years prior to the date of this prospectus.
The table below lists the Selling Stockholders and other information regarding their beneficial ownership (as determined under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the rules and regulations thereunder) of shares of our Common Stock. These rules generally provide that a person is the beneficial owner of securities if such person has or shares the power to vote or direct the voting thereof, or to dispose or direct the disposition thereof, or has the right to acquire such powers within 60 days. The second column lists the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Selling Stockholders as of August 19, 2024. The fourth column lists the shares of Common Stock being offered by the Selling Stockholders pursuant to this prospectus.
In accordance with the terms of the Agreement, this prospectus covers the offer, resale or other disposition of the shares of Common Stock issuable to the Selling Stockholders upon exercise of the Warrants and Wainwright Warrants issued to the Selling Stockholders pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Inducement Agreement. Percentage ownership is based on 2,617,027 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of August 19, 2024.
Because the Selling Stockholders may dispose of all, none or some portion of its securities, no estimate can be given as to the number of securities that will be beneficially owned by the Selling Stockholders upon termination of this offering. See "Plan of Distribution." For purposes of the table below, however, we have assumed that after termination of this offering none of the securities covered by this prospectus will be beneficially owned by the Selling Stockholders and further assumed that the Selling Stockholders will not acquire beneficial ownership of any additional securities during the offering. In addition, the Selling Stockholders may have sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, or may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, at any time and from time to time, our securities in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act after the date on which the information in the table is presented. This information is based upon our review of public filings, our stockholder and option holder registers and information furnished by the Selling Stockholders.
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Selling Stockholders (1) | Shares Beneficially Owned Immediately Prior to the Offering(4) | Number of Shares Being Offered for Resale Under this Prospectus(4) | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned After Sale of Warrant Shares(2) | Percentage of Outstanding Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned Immediately Following the Sale of Warrant Shares(3)(4) | ||||||||||||
Armistice Capital, LLC(5) | 2,796,296 | (5) | 649,000 | 2,147,296 | 64.98 | % | ||||||||||
Michael Vasinkevich(6) | 80,097 | (7) | 24,714 | 55,383 | 1.0 | % | ||||||||||
Noam Rubinstein(6) | 39,346 | (8) | 12,140 | 27,206 | * | % | ||||||||||
Craig Schwabe(6) | 4,215 | (9) | 1,301 | 2,914 | * | % | ||||||||||
Charles Worthman(6) | 1,250 | (10) | 386 | 864 | * | % |
*less than 1% | ||
(1) | The Warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder, 9.99%) (the "Beneficial Ownership Limitation"), which limitation precludes each Selling Stockholder from exercising any portion of its Warrants to the extent that, following such exercise, such Selling Stockholder's ownership of our Common Stock would exceed the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. | |
(2) | Assumes all shares offered by the selling securityholder hereby are sold and that the selling securityholder buys or sells no additional shares of common stock prior to the completion of this offering. | |
(3) | Percentage calculated based upon 2,617,027 shares of common stock outstanding as of August 19, 2024 and gives effect to the total number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the Selling Stockholders assuming full exercise of the Warrants and Wainwright Warrants registered hereunder. | |
(4) | The amounts and percentages in the table are provided without regard to the applicable Beneficial Ownership Limitation. "Beneficial ownership" is a term broadly defined by the SEC in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act and includes more than the typical form of stock ownership, that is, stock held in the person's name. The term also includes what is referred to as "indirect ownership," meaning ownership of shares as to which a person has or shares investment power. For purposes of this table, a person or group of persons is deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of any shares that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of August 19, 2024. | |
(5) | The securities consist of common stock and warrants directly held by Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the "Master Fund") and may be deemed to be beneficially owned by: (i) Armistice Capital, LLC ("Armistice Capital"), as the investment manager of the Master Fund; and (ii) Steven Boyd, as the Managing Member of Armistice Capital. Warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 4.99%, which such limitation restrict the holder from exercising or releasing that portion of warrant that would result in the holder and its affiliates owning, after exercise or release, a number of shares of common stock in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The address of Armistice Capital, LLC is 510 Madison Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022. As of the date of this filing, Master Fund currently holds: |
(I) | 0 shares of the Company's common stock; and | |
(II) | Series B Warrants and Series C Warrants issued on or around November 23, 2022, subject to a 4.99% blocker, exercisable into an aggregate of 91,796 shares of the Company's common stock, and | |
(III) | Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants issued on or around September 5, 2023, subject to a 9.99% blocker, exercisable into an aggregate of 649,000 shares of the Company's common stock, which are deemed prepaid in accordance with the Inducement Agreement, and | |
(IV) | Series A-1 Warrants issued on or around May 7, 2024, subject to a 4.99% blocker, exercisable into 1,027,750 shares of the Company's common stock, and | |
(V) | Series B-1 Warrants issued on or around May 7, 2024, subject to a 4.99% blocker, exercisable into 1,027,750 shares of the Company's common stock. |
(6) | The selling stockholder is affiliated with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, a registered broker dealer with a registered address of c/o H.C. Wainwright & Co., 430 Park Ave, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022, and has sole voting and dispositive power over the securities held. The number of shares to be sold in this offering consists of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of Wainwright Warrants, which were received as compensation for our placement of the securities issued pursuant to the Inducement Agreement. The selling stockholder acquired the Wainwright Warrants in the ordinary course of business and, at the time the Wainwright Warrants were acquired, the selling stockholder had no agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute such securities. | |
(7) | The securities consist of common stock underlying warrants directly held by Michael Vasinkevich. Warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 4.99%, which such limitation restrict the holder from exercising or releasing that portion of warrant that would result in the holder and its affiliates owning, after exercise or release, a number of shares of common stock in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. As of the date of this filing, Michael Vasinkevich currently holds: (i) warrants issued on or around December 1, 2022, exercisable into an aggregate of 3,498 shares of the Company's common stock, (ii) warrants issued on or around January 13, 2023, exercisable into an aggregate of 2,457 shares of the Company's common stock, (iii) warrants issued on or around September 5, 2023, exercisable into an aggregate of 24,714 shares of the Company's common stock, and (iv) warrants issued on or around May 7, 2024, exercisable into an aggregate of 49,428 shares of the Company's common stock. | |
(8) | The securities consist of common stock underlying warrants directly held by Noam Rubinstein. Warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 4.99%, which such limitation restrict the holder from exercising or releasing that portion of warrant that would result in the holder and its affiliates owning, after exercise or release, a number of shares of common stock in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. As of the date of this filing, Noam Rubinstein currently holds: (i) warrants issued on or around December 1, 2022, exercisable into an aggregate of 1,207 shares of the Company's common stock, (ii) warrants issued on or around January 13, 2023, exercisable into an aggregate of 1,718 shares of the Company's common stock, (iii) warrants issued on or around September 5, 2023, exercisable into an aggregate of 12,140 shares of the Company's common stock, and (iv) warrants issued on or around May 7, 2024, exercisable into an aggregate of 24,281 shares of the Company's common stock. | |
(9) | The securities consist of common stock underlying warrants directly held by Craig Schwabe. Warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 4.99%, which such limitation restrict the holder from exercising or releasing that portion of warrant that would result in the holder and its affiliates owning, after exercise or release, a number of shares of common stock in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. As of the date of this filing, Craig Schwabe currently holds: (i) warrants issued on or around December 1, 2022, exercisable into an aggregate of 184 shares of the Company's common stock, (ii) warrants issued on or around January 13, 2023, exercisable into an aggregate of 129 shares of the Company's common stock, (iii) warrants issued on or around September 5, 2023, exercisable into an aggregate of 1,301 shares of the Company's common stock, and (iv) warrants issued on or around May 7, 2024, exercisable into an aggregate of 2,601 shares of the Company's common stock. | |
(10) | The securities consist of common stock underlying warrants directly held by Charles Worthman. Warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 4.99%, which such limitation restrict the holder from exercising or releasing that portion of warrant that would result in the holder and its affiliates owning, after exercise or release, a number of shares of common stock in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. As of the date of this filing, Charles Worthman currently holds: (i) warrants issued on or around December 1, 2022, exercisable into an aggregate of 55 shares of the Company's common stock, (ii) warrants issued on or around January 13, 2023, exercisable into an aggregate of 38 shares of the Company's common stock, (iii) warrants issued on or around September 5, 2023, exercisable into an aggregate of 386 shares of the Company's common stock, and (iv) warrants issued on or around May 7, 2024, exercisable into an aggregate of 771 shares of the Company's common stock. |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering the shares of Common Stock issuable to the Selling Stockholders upon exercise of the Warrants and Wainwright Warrants issued to the Selling Stockholders in connection with the Inducement Agreement, in order to permit the Selling Stockholders to offer the shares for resale from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the Selling Stockholders of the shares of Common Stock. We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the shares of Common Stock.
The Selling Stockholders and any of its pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their securities covered hereby on The Nasdaq Capital Market or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. The Selling Stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when selling securities.
● | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; | |
● | block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; | |
● | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; | |
● | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; | |
● | privately negotiated transactions; | |
● | settlement of short sales; | |
● | in transactions through broker-dealers that agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security; | |
● | through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; | |
● | a combination of any such methods of sale; or | |
● | any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
The Selling Stockholders may also sell securities under Rule 144 or any other exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), if available, rather than under this prospectus. Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of securities, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2121; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with FINRA Rule 2121.
In connection with the sale of the securities or interests therein, the Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling Stockholders may also sell securities short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The Selling Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
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The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the securities may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each of the Selling Stockholders has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the securities.
The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the securities. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the all of the securities have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect. The resale securities will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale securities covered hereby may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale securities may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the shares of Common Stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the Selling Stockholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of the shares of Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling Stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW AND OF
THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
Anti-Takeover Provisions and Choice of Forum
Certain provisions of Delaware law and our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws could make the following more difficult:
● | the acquisition of us by means of a tender offer; | |
● | acquisition of control of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; and | |
● | the removal of our incumbent officers and directors. |
These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and are designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection against an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging such proposals. Among other things, negotiation of such proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
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Delaware Anti-Takeover Law. We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, an anti-takeover law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business acquisition" with an "interested stockholder" for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless the "business acquisition" or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved by our board of directors in a prescribed manner. Generally, a "business acquisition" includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Generally, an "interested stockholder" is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own, 15% or more of a corporation's voting stock. The existence of this provision may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the board of directors, including discouraging attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock held by stockholders.
Stockholder Meetings. Under our bylaws, only the board of directors, the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer and the president, and stockholders holding an aggregate of 25% of our shares of our common stock may call special meetings of stockholders.
No Cumulative Voting. Our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws do not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors.
Action by Written Consent of Stockholders Prohibited. Our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not allow stockholders to act by written consent in lieu of a meeting, unless approved in advance by our board of directors.
Undesignated Preferred Stock. The authorization of undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for the board of directors without stockholder approval to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to obtain control of us. These and other provisions may have the effect of deferring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of us.
Amendment of Provisions in the Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The Sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation will generally require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 662∕3% of the outstanding voting stock in order to amend any provisions of the sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation concerning, among other things:
● | the required vote to amend certain provisions of the sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation; | |
● | the reservation of the board of director's right to amend the amended and restated bylaws, with all rights granted to stockholders being subject to this reservation; | |
● | management of the business by the board of directors; | |
● | number of directors and structure of the board of directors; | |
● | removal and appointment of directors; | |
● | director nominations by stockholders; | |
● | prohibition of action by written consent of stockholders; | |
● | personal liability of directors to us and our stockholders; and | |
● | indemnification of our directors, officers, employees and agents. |
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Choice of Forum. Our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any state court located within the State of Delaware or, if and only if all such state courts lack subject matter jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the following types of actions or proceedings under Delaware statutory or common law:
● | any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; | |
● | any action asserting a breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders; | |
● | any action asserting a claim against us or our directors, officers or other employees arising under the Delaware General Corporation Law, our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our bylaws; | |
● | any action or proceeding to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our bylaws; | |
● | any action or proceeding as to which the Delaware General Corporation Law confers jurisdiction to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; or | |
● | any action asserting a claim against us or our directors, officers or other employees that is governed by the "internal affairs doctrine" as that term is defined in Section 115 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the court's having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. |
Our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation further provides that unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the U.S. federal district courts have exclusive jurisdiction of the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. The enforceability of similar exclusive federal forum provisions in other companies' organizational documents has been challenged in legal proceedings, and while the Delaware Supreme Court has ruled that this type of exclusive federal forum provision is facially valid under Delaware law, there is uncertainty as to whether other courts would enforce such provisions and that investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. This exclusive forum provision does not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to this exclusive forum provision of our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder's ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. Alternatively, if a court were to find this choice of forum provision in our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions. Additional costs associated with resolving an action in other jurisdictions could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations
Limitations on Directors' Liability and Indemnification
Our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for any of the following:
● | any breach of their duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; |
● | acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; |
● | payments of dividends or approval of stock repurchases or redemptions that are prohibited by Delaware law; or |
● | any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. |
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This limitation of liability does not apply to liabilities arising under the federal securities laws and does not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission.
Our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we shall indemnify our directors, officers, employees and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by law, and our amended and restated bylaws provide that we shall indemnify our directors and officers, and may indemnify our employees and other agents, to the fullest extent permitted by law. We believe that indemnification under our bylaws covers at least negligence and gross negligence on the part of indemnified parties. Our bylaws also permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of his or her actions in such capacity, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit indemnification.
We have entered into agreements to indemnify our directors and executive officers, in addition to the indemnification provided for in our sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws. These agreements, among other things, provide for indemnification of our directors and officers for expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and settlement amounts incurred by any such person in any action or proceeding arising out of such person's services as a director or officer or at our request.
We believe that these provisions and agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and executive officers. There is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers, employees or agents. We are not aware of any pending or threatened litigation or proceeding that might result in a claim for indemnification by a director, officer, employee or agent.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Anthony, Linder & Cacomanolis, PLLC, 1700 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 820, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2023, appearing in the Digital Brands Group, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed on June 3, 2024, for the year ended December 31, 2023, have been audited by dbbmckennon (with respect to the year ended December 31, 2022) and Macias, Gini and O'Connell LLP (with respect to the year ended December 31, 2023), respectively, independent registered public accounting firms, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are a public company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov, and on our website at https://www.digitalbrandsgroup.co/. The information contained on our website is not included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. In addition, our Common Stock and Class A Warrants are listed for trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbols "DBGI" and "DBGIW," respectively.
This prospectus is only part of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act, and therefore omits certain information contained in the Registration Statement. We have also filed exhibits and schedules with the Registration Statement that are excluded from this prospectus, and you should refer to the applicable exhibit or schedule for a complete description of any statement referring to any contract or other document. You may obtain a copy from the SEC's website or our website.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC's rules allow us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document. Any information referred to in this way is considered part of this prospectus from the date we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and before the date that the offering of the securities by means of this prospectus is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents or information filed with the SEC (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules):
● | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on April 15, 2024 (File No. 001-40400), as amended by Form 10-K/A (Amendment No. 1) for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on June 3, 2024 (File No. 001-40400); | |
● | Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 20, 2024 and August 19, 2024 respectively (File No. 001-40400); | |
● | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 25, 2024, May 3, 2024, May 7, 2024, May 21, 2024, May 29, 2024, and June 7, 2024 (in each case, excluding Items 2.02 and 7.01 on Form 8-K and Item 9.01 related thereto); and | |
● | The description of our securities contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on May 11, 2021 (File No. 001-40400), pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and any amendment or report filed with the SEC for purposes of updating such description. |
Additionally, all documents filed by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after (i) the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, and (ii) the date of this prospectus and before the termination or completion of this offering, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus from the respective dates of filing of such documents, except that we do not incorporate any document or portion of a document that is "furnished" to the SEC, but not deemed "filed." Any information that we subsequently file with the SEC that is incorporated by reference as described above will automatically update and supersede any previous information that is part of this prospectus.
We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon his or her written or oral request, a copy of any or all documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus excluding exhibits to those documents unless they are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents. You may request a copy of those filings at no cost by writing or telephoning our company at the following address and telephone number:
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Digital Brands Group, Inc.
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
1400 Lavaca Street
Austin, TX 78701
(209) 651-0172
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth the estimated expenses (except for the SEC filing fee) to be borne by the registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the shares of common stock being registered hereby.
Item | Amount* | |||
SEC Filing Fee | $ | 1,961 | ||
Legal Fees and Expenses | $ | 40,000* | ||
Accounting Fees and Expenses | $ | 20,000* | ||
Miscellaneous Fees and Expenses | $ | 2,039* | ||
Total | $ | 64,000* |
* Estimated expenses.
* Fees and expenses (other than the SEC registration fee to be paid upon filing of this registration statement) will depend on the securities offered, the number of issuances and the nature of the offerings, and cannot be estimated at this time.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Set forth below is a description of certain provisions of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and by-laws of the Company and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware ("DGCL"), as such provisions relate to the indemnification of the directors and officers of the registrant. This description is intended only as a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, the by-laws and the DGCL.
Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and individuals against expenses, including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with specified actions, suits and proceedings whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, other than a derivative action by or in the right of the corporation, if they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the case of derivative actions, except that indemnification extends only to expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action and the statute requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable to the corporation. The statute provides that it is not exclusive of other indemnification that may be granted by a corporation's certificate of incorporation, as amended, by-laws, disinterested director vote, stockholder vote, agreement, or otherwise.
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As permitted by the DGCL, the Company's amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that directors will not be personally liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability:
● | for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, | |
● | for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, | |
● | under Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions), or | |
● | for any transaction from which the director derived any improper personal benefit. |
If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of the registrant's directors shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.
Article VII of the by-laws provides that the Company shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or who was or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute mechanism, inquiry, judicial, administrative or legislative hearing, investigation or any other threatened, pending or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the corporation or otherwise, including any and all appeals, whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, investigative or other nature (hereinafter a "proceeding") by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, liabilities, losses, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such proceeding to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended.
Article VII of the by-laws further provides that, except with respect to a proceeding to enforce rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses under Article VII, the Company shall be required to indemnify a person under this Article VII in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the board of directors.
Article VII of the by-laws further provides that the Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the registrant. The Company has purchased directors' and officers' liability insurance covering many of the possible actions and omissions of persons acting or failing to act in such capacities.
Article VII of the by-laws also provides that the Company shall have the power to enter into indemnification agreements with any director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant in furtherance of the provisions of Article VII.
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Item 16. Exhibits
Exhibits
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* Filed herewith.
** Previously filed.
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Item 17. Undertakings
(a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
(1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
(i) | To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; | |
(ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and | |
(iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is 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. |
(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, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Austin, State of Texas, on this 20th day of August, 2024.
Digital Brands Group, Inc. | ||
By: | /s/ John Hilburn Davis IV | |
John Hilburn Davis IV | ||
Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ John Hilburn David IV | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Director | August 20, 2024 | ||
John Hilburn David IV | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
* | Chief Financial Officer | August 20, 2024 | ||
Reid Yeoman | (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer) | |||
* | Director | August 20, 2024 | ||
Mark T. Lynn | ||||
* | Director | August 20, 2024 | ||
Trevor Pettennude | ||||
* | Director | August 20, 2024 | ||
Jameeka Aaron Green | ||||
* |
Director | August 20, 2024 | ||
Huong "Lucy" Doan |
By: | /s/ John Hilburn David IV | |
John Hilburn David IV | ||
Attorney-in-fact* |
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