424B5 1 f424b50321_brileyfinan.htm

Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333
-252513

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities, and they are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale thereof is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 23, 2021

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated January 28, 2021)

$125,000,000

_____________________

% Senior Notes due 2026

B. Riley Financial, Inc. is offering $125,000,000 principal amount of our         % Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”) as described in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Interest on the Notes will accrue from         , 2021 and will be paid quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year, commencing on April 30, 2021, and at maturity. The Notes will mature on March 31, 2026. We may redeem the Notes for cash in whole or in part at any time at our option on or after January 1, 2026 and prior to maturity, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption. See “Description of the Notes — Optional Redemption.” The Notes will be issued in denominations of $25 and in integral multiples thereof.

The Notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equal in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The Notes will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness, and the Notes will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness (including trade payables) of our subsidiaries.

Investing in the Notes involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

We intend to apply to list the Notes on the Nasdaq Global Market (“NASDAQ”). If approved for listing, trading on NASDAQ is expected to begin within 30 business days of         , 2021, the original issue date.

_____________________

 

Per Note

 

Total

Public offering price(1)

 

$

   

$

 

Underwriting discount(2)

 

$

   

$

 

Proceeds, before expenses, to us(1)

 

$

   

$

____________

(1)      Plus accrued interest from         , 2021, if the initial settlement occurs after that date.

(2)      See “Underwriting” for a description of all underwriting compensation payable in connection with this offering.

We have granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional $18,750,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes within 30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement.

The underwriters expect to deliver the Notes to purchasers in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants on or about         , 2021.

Book-Running Managers

B. Riley Securities

 

Incapital

 

Ladenburg Thalmann

National Securities Corporation

 

William Blair

Co-Managers

Aegis Capital Corp.

 

Boenning & Scattergood

 

Huntington Capital Markets

Kingswood Capital Markets,
division of Benchmark Investments, Inc.

 

Newbridge Securities Corporation

 

Wedbush Securities

The date of this prospectus supplement is         , 2021.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference, which describes the specific terms of this offering. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference, provides more general information. Generally, when we refer to this prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. We urge you to carefully read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, before buying any of the securities being offered under this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement may add or update information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein. To the extent that any statement we make in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements made in the accompanying prospectus or any documents incorporated by reference therein that were filed before the date of this prospectus supplement, the statements made in this prospectus supplement will be deemed to modify or supersede those made in the accompanying prospectus and such documents incorporated by reference therein.

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, or incorporated by reference herein or therein. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with different information. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. You should not rely on any unauthorized information or representation. This prospectus supplement is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, and only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. You should assume that the information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the applicable document and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the date of delivery of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, or any sale of a security.

As used in this prospectus, unless the context indicates or otherwise requires, “the Company,” “B. Riley,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to the combined business of B. Riley Financial, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, as amended (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, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to our future financial performance, the growth of the market for our services, expansion plans and opportunities 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 “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should,” “will,” “would,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. The statements we make regarding the following subject matters are forward-looking by their nature: plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other factors discussed in “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus.

The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement 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 or achievements to differ materially from any future results or achievements expressed in or implied by our forward-looking statements, including the factors listed below. Many of the factors that will determine future events or achievements are beyond our ability to control or predict. Certain of these are important factors that could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from the results or achievements reflected in our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to:

•        volatility in our revenues and results of operations;

•        changing conditions in the financial markets;

•        our ability to generate sufficient revenues to achieve and maintain profitability;

•        the unpredictable and ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;

•        the short term nature of our engagements;

•        the accuracy of our estimates and valuations of inventory or assets in “guarantee” based engagements;

•        competition in the asset management business;

•        potential losses related to our auction or liquidation engagements;

•        our dependence on communications, information and other systems and third parties;

•        potential losses related to purchase transactions in our Auction and Liquidations business;

•        the potential loss of financial institution clients;

•        potential losses from or illiquidity of our proprietary investments;

•        changing economic and market conditions;

•        potential liability and harm to our reputation if we were to provide an inaccurate appraisal or valuation;

•        potential mark-downs in inventory in connection with purchase transactions;

•        failure to successfully compete in any of our segments;

•        loss of key personnel;

•        our ability to borrow under our credit facilities as necessary;

•        failure to comply with the terms of our credit agreements;

•        our ability to meet future capital requirements;

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•        our ability to realize the benefits of our completed and proposed acquisitions, including our ability to achieve anticipated opportunities and operating cost savings, and accretion to reported earnings estimated to result from completed and proposed acquisitions in the time frame expected by management or at all;

•        our ability to promptly and effectively integrate our business with that of magicJack; and

•        the diversion of management time on acquisition-related issues.

The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement reflect our views and assumptions only as of the date of this prospectus supplement. 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 the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-7.

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the securities offered by this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. You should read this summary together with the entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including our financial statements, the notes to those financial statements and the other documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before making an investment decision. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement for a discussion of the risks involved in investing in our securities.

Our Business

B. Riley Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: RILY) and its subsidiaries provide collaborative financial services and solutions through several operating subsidiaries including:

•        B. Riley Securities, Inc. (“B. Riley Securities”) is a leading, full service investment bank providing financial advisory, corporate finance, research, securities lending and sales and trading services to corporate, institutional and high net worth individual clients. B. Riley Securities (fka B. Riley FBR, Inc.) was formed in November 2017 through the merger of B. Riley & Co, LLC and FBR Capital Markets & Co., which the Company acquired in June 2017.

•        B. Riley Wealth Management, Inc. provides comprehensive wealth management and brokerage services to individuals and families, corporations and non-profit organizations, including qualified retirement plans, trusts, foundations and endowments.

•        B. Riley Capital Management, LLC, a Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registered investment advisor, which includes:

•        B. Riley Asset Management, an advisor to certain private funds and to institutional and high net worth investors;

•        Great American Capital Partners, LLC (“GACP”), the general partner of two private funds, GACP I, L.P. and GACP II, L.P., both direct lending funds managed by WhiteHawk Capital Partners, L.P. pursuant to an advisory services agreement, that provide senior secured loans and second lien secured loan facilities to middle market public and private U.S. companies.

•         B. Riley Advisory Services provides expert witness, bankruptcy, financial advisory, forensic accounting, valuation and appraisal, and operations management services.

•        B. Riley Retail Solutions, LLC (fka Great American Group, LLC), a leading provider of asset disposition and auction solutions to a wide range of retail and industrial clients.

•        B. Riley Real Estate works with real estate owners and tenants through all stages of the real estate life cycle. Our real estate advisors advise companies, financial institutions, investors, family offices and individuals on real estate projects worldwide. A core focus of B. Riley real estate is the restructuring of lease obligations in both distressed and non-distressed situations, both inside and outside of the bankruptcy process, on behalf of corporate tenants.

•        B. Riley Principal Investments identifies attractive investment opportunities and aims to deliver financial and operational improvement to its portfolio companies. Our team concentrates on opportunities presented by distressed companies or divisions that exhibit challenging market dynamics. Representative transactions include recapitalization, direct equity investment, debt investment, active minority investment and buyouts. B. Riley Principal Investments seeks to control or influence the operations of our investments to deliver financial and operational improvements that will maximize free cash flow, and therefore, shareholder returns. As part of our principal investment strategy, we acquired United Online, Inc. (“UOL” or “United Online”) on July 1, 2016, magicJack VocalTec Ltd. (“magicJack”) on November 14, 2018 and on November 30, 2020, we acquired a 40% equity interest in Lingo Management, LLC (“Lingo”), with the ability to acquire an additional 40% equity interest therein.

•        UOL is a communications company that offers consumer subscription services and products, consisting of Internet access services and devices under the NetZero and Juno brands primarily sold in the United States.

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•        magicJack is a Voice over IP (“VoIP”) cloud-based technology and services communications provider.

•        Lingo is a global cloud/UC and managed service provider.

•        BR Brand Holding, LLC (“BR Brands”), in which the Company owns a majority interest, provides licensing of certain brand trademarks. BR Brands owns the assets and intellectual property related to licenses of six brands: Catherine Malandrino, English Laundry, Joan Vass, Kensie Girl, Limited Too and Nanette Lepore as well as investments in the Hurley and Justice brands with Bluestar Alliance LLC (“Bluestar”), a brand management company.

We are headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in major cities throughout the United States including New York, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Memphis, Metro Washington D.C. and West Palm Beach.

During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company realigned its segment reporting structure to reflect organizational management changes. Under the new structure, the valuation and appraisal businesses are reported in the Financial Consulting segment and our bankruptcy, financial advisory, forensic accounting, and real estate consulting businesses that were previously reported in the Capital Markets segment are now reported as a part of the Financial Consulting segment. In conjunction with the new reporting structure, the Company recast its segment presentation for all periods presented.

For financial reporting purposes we classify our businesses into five operating segments: (i) Capital Markets, (ii) Auction and Liquidation, (iii) Financial Consulting, (iv) Principal Investments — United Online and magicJack and (v) Brands.

Capital Markets Segment.    Our Capital Markets segment provides a full array of investment banking, corporate finance, consulting, financial advisory, research, securities lending, wealth management and sales and trading services to corporate, institutional and individual clients. Our corporate finance and investment banking services include merger and acquisitions as well as restructuring advisory services to public and private companies, initial and secondary public offerings, and institutional private placements. In addition, we trade equity securities as a principal for our account, including investments in funds managed by our subsidiaries. Our Capital Markets segment also includes our asset management businesses that manage various private and public funds for institutional and individual investors.

Auction and Liquidation Segment.    Our Auction and Liquidation segment utilizes our significant industry experience, a scalable network of independent contractors and industry-specific advisors to tailor our services to the specific needs of a multitude of clients, logistical challenges and distressed circumstances. Furthermore, our scale and pool of resources allow us to offer our services across North American as well as parts of Europe, Asia and Australia. Our Auction and Liquidation segment operates through two main divisions, retail store liquidations and wholesale and industrial assets dispositions. Our wholesale and industrial assets dispositions division operates through limited liability companies that are controlled by us.

Financial Consulting Segment.    Our Financial Consulting segment provides services to law firms, corporations, financial institutions, lenders and private equity firms. These services primarily include bankruptcy, financial advisory, forensic accounting, litigation support, real estate consulting and valuation and appraisal services. Our Financial Consulting segment operates through limited liability companies that are wholly owned or majority owned by us.

Principal Investments — United Online and magicJack Segment.    Our Principal Investments — United Online and magicJack segment consists of businesses which have been acquired primarily for attractive investment return characteristics. Currently, this segment includes UOL, through which we provide consumer Internet access, and magicJack, through which we provide VoIP communication and related product and subscription services.

Brands Segment.    Our Brands segment consists of our brand investment portfolio that is focused on generating revenue through the licensing of trademarks and is held by BR Brand.

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Recent Developments

We continue to see strength across our business units and expect operating adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $105 to $115 million for the first quarter of 2021. This estimate excludes trading income and fair value adjustments on loans and other investment related expenses, as well as anticipated contributions from our recently completed National Holdings acquisition. The Company also expects strong first quarter performance from its investment portfolio based on current information. Performance of the Company’s investment portfolio is dependent on financial market conditions for the remainder of the quarter. We define operating adjusted EBITDA as adjusted EBITDA excluding trading income (losses) and fair value adjustments on loans and other investment related expenses.

We have not provided guidance for a comparable GAAP measure or a quantitative reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure because we are unable to determine with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of certain significant items necessary to calculate such measure without unreasonable effort. These items include, but are not limited to, final calculation of investment gains. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could have a material impact on the GAAP reported results for the period. The guidance presented is subject to completion of the applicable period and closing procedures. Our actual results for such period will not be available until after this offering is completed and may vary from these estimates. In addition, prospective financial information is necessarily speculative in nature, and it can be expected that some or all of the assumptions underlying the prospective financial information described above will not materialize or will vary significantly from actual results. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on this forecast. The preliminary forecast is not necessarily indicative of any future period and should be read together with the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” and under similar headings in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus as well as our financial statements, related notes and other financial information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

On March 1, 2021, the Company announced its intention to redeem at par, and at its option, $128.2 million of senior notes due in February 2027 on March 31, 2021 pursuant to the second supplemental indenture dated May 31, 2017. The total redemption payment will include approximately $1.6 million in accrued interest.

On February 25, 2021, the Company completed the acquisition of National Holdings Corporation (“National”), pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger dated January 10, 2021, following the successful completion of a tender offer commenced by us on January 27, 2021. National is a full-service investment banking and asset management firm that, through its affiliates, provides a range of services including financial advisory, investment banking, institutional sales and trading, equity research, financial planning, market making, tax preparation and insurance to corporations, institutions, high net-worth individuals and retail investors. We previously owned approximately 45% of the common stock of National. National complements our Capital Markets segment, bringing approximately 900 registered representatives managing over $30 billion in assets.

On January 25, 2021, the Company issued $230 million of senior notes due in January 2028 (the “2028 Notes”). Interest on the 2028 Notes is payable quarterly at 6.00%. The 2028 Notes are unsecured and due and payable in full on January 31, 2028. In connection with the issuance of the 2028 Notes, the Company received net proceeds of $225.7 million.

On January 23, 2021, the Company committed up to $400 million aggregate principal amount of unsecured debt financing, consisting of $100 million of secured debt financing, and $300 million of unsecured debt financing, to affiliates of Franchise Group, Inc. (collectively, “FRG”) in connection with FRG’s acquisition of Pet Supplies Plus. On March 10, 2021, FRG closed their financing facilities and the acquisition of Pet Supplies Plus. As a result of the closing, the Company has no continuing obligation with respect to the $300 million of unsecured debt financing.

On January 15, 2021, the Company issued 1,413,045 shares of common stock inclusive of 184,310 shares issued pursuant to the full exercise of the Underwriter’s option to purchase additional shares of common stock at a price of $46.00 per share for net proceeds of approximately $61.4 million.

On November 30, 2020 we closed a recapitalization transaction with Lingo. Pursuant to the recapitalization, we purchased Lingo’s existing indebtedness held by affiliates of Garrison Investment Group and converted a portion of such indebtedness into a 40% equity interest in Lingo with the ability to acquire an additional 40% equity interest in consideration for the conversion of an additional portion of such indebtedness.

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On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) announced a global health emergency because of a new strain of coronavirus (the “COVID-19 outbreak”). In March 2020, the WHO classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic, based on the rapid increase in exposure globally. Coming into 2021, the full impact of the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve, as countries across the world manage repeated waves of the pandemic and vaccines come to market. The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our results of operations, financial position and cash flows will depend on future developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak and related advisories and restrictions and the success of vaccines in slowing or halting the pandemic. These developments and the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the financial markets and the overall economy continue to be highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. If the financial markets and/or the overall economy continue to be impacted, our results of operations, financial position and cash flows may be materially adversely affected.

Our Corporate Information

We are a Delaware corporation. Our executive offices are located at 11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 800, Los Angeles, California, 90025, and the telephone number at our principal executive office is (310) 966-1444. Our website addresses are http://www.brileyfin.com, http://www.greatamerican.com, https://www.glassratner.com, http://www.unitedonline.net, http://www.magicjack.com and http://www.vocaltec.com. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus the information on our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of this document.

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THE OFFERING

The following is a brief summary of some of the terms of the offering and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. For a more complete description of the terms of the Notes, see the “Description of the Notes” section in this prospectus supplement.

Issuer

 

B. Riley Financial, Inc.

Notes Offered

 

$125,000,000 aggregate principal amount of         % Senior Notes due 2026 (or $143,750,000 aggregate principal amount of         % Senior Notes due 2026 if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional Notes in full).

Offering Price

 

100% of the principal amount.

Maturity

 

The Notes will mature on March 31, 2026, unless redeemed prior to maturity.

Interest Rate and Payment Dates

 

        % interest per annum on the principal amount of the Notes, payable quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year, commencing on April 30, 2021, and at maturity.

Guarantors

 

None.

Ranking

 

The Notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equal in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The Notes will be effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. The Notes will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness (including trade payables) of our subsidiaries.

The indenture governing the Notes does not limit the amount of indebtedness that we or our subsidiaries may incur or whether any such indebtedness can be secured by our assets.

Optional Redemption

 

Prior to January 1, 2026 (the “Notes Par Call Date”), we may, at our option, redeem the Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus a Make-Whole Amount (as defined in the “Description of the Notes — Optional Redemption”), if any, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

We may redeem the Notes for cash in whole or in part at any time at our option on or after January 1, 2026 and prior to maturity, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

See “Description of the Notes — Optional Redemption” for additional details.

Conflicts of Interest

 

B. Riley Securities, our wholly-owned subsidiary, will participate in the offering of the Notes as a joint book-running manager.

Because of the foregoing, the representative may be deemed to have a “conflict of interest” within the meaning of Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), and this offering will be conducted in accordance with Rule 5121. The representative may not make sales of Notes in this offering to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior written approval of the account holder. However, in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, no “qualified independent underwriter” is required because the Notes are investment grade-rated by one or more nationally recognized statistical rating agencies.

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Sinking Fund

 

The Notes will not be subject to any sinking fund (i.e., no amounts will be set aside by us to ensure repayment of the Notes at maturity).

Use of Proceeds

 

We anticipate using the net proceeds in excess of $100.0 million, if any, from the sale of the notes for the redemption of all or a portion of our existing 7.25% Senior Notes due 2027 as soon as practicable and the remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including funding future acquisitions and investments, repaying indebtedness, making capital expenditures and funding working capital. Pending such use, we may invest the net proceeds in short-term interest-bearing accounts, securities or similar investments. See “Use of Proceeds.”

This prospectus supplement shall not constitute a notice of redemption under the indentures governing the existing notes. Any such notice, if made, will only be made in accordance with the provisions of the applicable indenture.

Events of Default

 

Events of default generally will include failure to pay principal, failure to pay interest, failure to observe or perform any other covenant or warranty in the Notes or in the indenture, and certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization. See “Description of the Notes — Events of Default.”

Certain Covenants

 

The indenture that governs the Notes contains certain covenants, including, but not limited to, restrictions on our ability to merge or consolidate with or into any other entity. See “Description of the Notes — Covenants.”

No Financial Covenants

 

The indenture relating to the Notes does not contain financial covenants.

Additional Notes

 

We may create and issue additional notes ranking equally and ratably with the Notes in all respects, so that such additional notes will constitute and form a single series with the Notes and will have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise (except the price to public, the issue date and, if applicable, the initial interest accrual date and the initial interest payment date) as the Notes; provided that if any such additional notes are not fungible with the Notes initially offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such additional notes will have one or more separate CUSIP numbers.

Defeasance

 

The Notes are subject to legal and covenant defeasance by us. See “Description of the Notes — Defeasance” for more information.

Listing

 

We intend to apply to list the Notes on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYK.” If the Notes are approved for listing, we expect trading in the Notes to begin within 30 business days of the original issue date.

Form and Denomination

 

The Notes will be issued in book-entry form in denominations of $25 and integral multiples thereof. The Notes will be represented by a permanent global certificate deposited with the trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. Beneficial interests in any of the Notes will be shown on, and transfers will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its direct and indirect participants and any such interest may not be exchanged for certificated securities, except in limited circumstances.

Trustee

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.

Governing Law

 

The Indenture is, and the Notes will be, governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Risk Factors

 

An investment in the Notes involves significant risks. Please refer to “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-7 and other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before investing in the Notes.

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in the Notes involves significant risks, including the risks described below and discussed under the section captioned “Risk Factors” contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in their entirety. Before purchasing the Notes, you should carefully consider each of the following risk factors as well as the other information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes. Each of these risk factors, either alone or taken together, could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in the Notes. The risks described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks of which we are not presently aware or that we currently believe are immaterial which may also impair our business operations and financial position. If any of the events described below were to occur, our financial condition, our results of operations and/or our future growth prospects could be materially and adversely affected. As a result, you could lose some or all of any investment you may have made or may make in our Company.

Risks Related to this Offering

We may be able to incur substantially more debt, which could have important consequences to you.

We may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. The terms of the indenture governing the Notes will not prohibit us from doing so. If we incur any additional indebtedness that ranks equally with the Notes, the holders of that debt will be entitled to share ratably with you in any proceeds distributed in connection with any insolvency, liquidation, reorganization or dissolution. This may have the effect of reducing the amount of proceeds paid to you. Incurrence of additional debt would also further reduce the cash available to invest in operations, as a result of increased debt service obligations. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could intensify.

In May 2017, we completed an initial offering of 7.50% 2027 Notes with an aggregate principal amount of $60.4 million. In December 2017, we completed an initial offering of 7.25% 2027 Notes with an aggregate principal amount of $80.5 million. In May 2018, we completed an initial offering of 7.375% 2023 Notes with an aggregate principal amount of $100.1 million. In September 2018, we completed an initial offering of 6.875% 2023 Notes with an aggregate principal amount of $100.1 million. In May 2019, we completed an initial offering of 6.75% 2024 Notes with an aggregate principal amount of $100.1 million. In September 2019, we completed an initial offering of 6.50% 2026 Notes with an aggregate principal amount of $115.0 million. In February 2020, we completed an initial offering of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025 with an aggregate principal amount of $132.3 million. In January 2021, we completed an initial offering of 2028 Notes with an aggregate principal amount of $230.0 million.

In June 2017, December 2017, June 2018, December 2018, September 2019, December 2019 and February 2020, we entered into At Market Issuance Sales Agreement with B. Riley Securities to sell, pursuant to one or more of such agreements, additional 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2025 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes, 7.25% 2027 Notes and 2028 Notes, under which such agreements, we sold an additional $37,403,925 in aggregate principal amount of 7.375% 2023 Notes, $15,168,750 in aggregate principal amount of 6.875% 2023 Notes, $11,120,775 in aggregate principal amount of 2024 Notes, $1,157,300 in aggregate principal amount of 2025 Notes, $21,494,425 in aggregate principal amount of 2026 Notes, $67,780,700 in aggregate principal amount of 7.50% 2027 Notes, $42,293,450 in aggregate principal amount of 7.25% 2027 Notes and $9,812,800 in aggregate principal amount of 2028 Notes as of the date of this prospectus supplement. On March 31, 2021, we intend to redeem all of the issued and outstanding 7.50% 2027 Notes having an aggregate principal amount of $128,155,700. Prior to giving effect to the issuance of the Notes offered hereby and assuming the full redemption of the 7.50% 2027 Notes, our total senior note indebtedness would have been approximately $995,043,200 as of the date of this prospectus supplement.

Our level of indebtedness could have important consequences to you, because:

•        it could affect our ability to satisfy our financial obligations, including those relating to the Notes;

•        a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations would have to be dedicated to interest and principal payments and may not be available for operations, capital expenditures, expansion, acquisitions or general corporate or other purposes;

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•        it may impair our ability to obtain additional debt or equity financing in the future;

•        it may limit our ability to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity;

•        it may limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and industry; and

•        it may make us more vulnerable to downturns in our business, our industry or the economy in general.

Our operations may not generate sufficient cash to enable us to service our debt. If we fail to make a payment on the Notes, we could be in default on the Notes, and this default could cause us to be in default on other indebtedness, to the extent outstanding. Conversely, a default under any other indebtedness, if not waived, could result in acceleration of the debt outstanding under the related agreement and entitle the holders thereof to bring suit for the enforcement thereof or exercise other remedies provided thereunder. In addition, such default or acceleration may result in an event of default and acceleration of other indebtedness of the Company, entitling the holders thereof to bring suit for the enforcement thereof or exercise other remedies provided thereunder. If a judgment is obtained by any such holders, such holders could seek to collect on such judgment from the assets of the Company. If that should occur, we may not be able to pay all such debt or to borrow sufficient funds to refinance it. Even if new financing were then available, it may not be on terms that are acceptable to us.

However, no event of default under the Notes would result from a default or acceleration of, or suit, other exercise of remedies or collection proceeding by holders of, our other outstanding debt, if any. As a result, all or substantially all of our assets may be used to satisfy claims of holders of our other outstanding debt, if any, without the holders of the Notes having any rights to such assets. The indenture governing the Notes will not restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness.

The Notes will be unsecured and therefore will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness that we currently have or that we may incur in the future.

The Notes will not be secured by any of our assets or any of the assets of our subsidiaries. As a result, the Notes will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness that we or our subsidiaries have currently outstanding or may incur in the future (or any indebtedness that is initially unsecured to which we subsequently grant security) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. The indenture governing the Notes does not prohibit us or our subsidiaries from incurring additional secured (or unsecured) indebtedness in the future. In any liquidation, dissolution, bankruptcy or other similar proceeding, the holders of any of our existing or future secured indebtedness and the secured indebtedness of our subsidiaries may assert rights against the assets pledged to secure that indebtedness and may consequently receive payment from these assets before they may be used to pay other creditors, including the holders of the Notes.

The Notes will be structurally subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.

The Notes are obligations exclusively of B. Riley and not of any of our subsidiaries. None of our subsidiaries is a guarantor of the Notes, and the Notes are not required to be guaranteed by any subsidiaries we may acquire or create in the future. Therefore, in any bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceeding, all claims of creditors (including trade creditors) of our subsidiaries will have priority over our equity interests in such subsidiaries (and therefore the claims of our creditors, including holders of the Notes) with respect to the assets of such subsidiaries. Even if we are recognized as a creditor of one or more of our subsidiaries, our claims would still be effectively subordinated to any security interests in the assets of any such subsidiary and to any indebtedness or other liabilities of any such subsidiary senior to our claims. Consequently, the Notes will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables) of any of our subsidiaries and any subsidiaries that we may in the future acquire or establish as financing vehicles or otherwise. The indenture governing the Notes does not prohibit us or our subsidiaries from incurring additional indebtedness in the future. In addition, future debt and security agreements entered into by our subsidiaries may contain various restrictions, including restrictions on payments by our subsidiaries to us and the transfer by our subsidiaries of assets pledged as collateral.

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The indenture under which the Notes will be issued contains limited protection for holders of the Notes.

The indenture under which the Notes will be issued offers limited protection to holders of the Notes. The terms of the indenture and the Notes do not restrict our or any of our subsidiaries’ ability to engage in, or otherwise be a party to, a variety of corporate transactions, circumstances or events that could have an adverse impact on your investment in the Notes. In particular, the terms of the indenture and the Notes will not place any restrictions on our or our subsidiaries’ ability to:

•        issue debt securities or otherwise incur additional indebtedness or other obligations, including (1) any indebtedness or other obligations that would be equal in right of payment to the Notes, (2) any indebtedness or other obligations that would be secured and therefore rank effectively senior in right of payment to the Notes to the extent of the values of the assets securing such debt, (3) indebtedness of ours that is guaranteed by one or more of our subsidiaries and which therefore is structurally senior to the Notes and (4) securities, indebtedness or obligations issued or incurred by our subsidiaries that would be senior to our equity interests in our subsidiaries and therefore rank structurally senior to the Notes with respect to the assets of our subsidiaries;

•        pay dividends on, or purchase or redeem or make any payments in respect of, capital stock or other securities subordinated in right of payment to the Notes;

•        sell assets (other than certain limited restrictions on our ability to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets);

•        enter into transactions with affiliates;

•        create liens (including liens on the shares of our subsidiaries) or enter into sale and leaseback transactions;

•        make investments; or

•        create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts to us from our subsidiaries.

In addition, the indenture does not include any protection against certain events, such as a change of control, a leveraged recapitalization or “going private” transaction (which may result in a significant increase of our indebtedness levels), restructuring or similar transactions. Furthermore, the terms of the indenture and the Notes do not protect holders of the Notes in the event that we experience changes (including significant adverse changes) in our financial condition, results of operations or credit ratings, as they do not require that we or our subsidiaries adhere to any financial tests or ratios or specified levels of net worth, revenues, income, cash flow, or liquidity. Also, an event of default or acceleration under our other indebtedness would not necessarily result in an Event of Default under the Notes.

Our ability to recapitalize, incur additional debt and take a number of other actions that are not limited by the terms of the Notes may have important consequences for you as a holder of the Notes, including making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to the Notes or negatively affecting the trading value of the Notes.

Other debt we issue or incur in the future could contain more protections for its holders than the indenture and the Notes, including additional covenants and events of default. The issuance or incurrence of any such debt with incremental protections could affect the market for and trading levels and prices of the Notes.

An increase in market interest rates could result in a decrease in the value of the Notes.

In general, as market interest rates rise, notes bearing interest at a fixed rate decline in value. Consequently, if you purchase the Notes, and the market interest rates subsequently increase, the market value of your Notes may decline. We cannot predict the future level of market interest rates.

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An active trading market for the Notes may not develop, which could limit the market price of the Notes or your ability to sell them.

The Notes are a new issue of debt securities for which there currently is no trading market. We intend to apply to list the Notes on NASDAQ within 30 business days of the original issue date under the symbol “RILYK”. We cannot provide any assurances that an active trading market will develop for the Notes or that you will be able to sell your Notes. If the Notes are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, our credit ratings, general economic conditions, our financial condition, performance and prospects and other factors. The underwriters have advised us that they may make a market in the Notes, but they are not obligated to do so. The underwriters may discontinue any market-making in the Notes at any time at their sole discretion. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that a liquid trading market will develop for the Notes, that you will be able to sell your Notes at a particular time or that the price you receive when you sell will be favorable. To the extent an active trading market does not develop, the liquidity and trading price for the Notes may be harmed. Accordingly, you may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Notes for an indefinite period of time.

In addition, there may be a limited number of buyers when you decide to sell your Notes. This may affect the price, if any, offered for your Notes or your ability to sell your Notes when desired or at all.

We may issue additional Notes.

Under the terms of the indenture governing the Notes, we may from time to time without notice to, or the consent of, the holders of the Notes, create and issue additional notes which will be equal in rank to the Notes. We will not issue any such additional Notes unless such issuance would constitute a “qualified reopening” for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

The rating for the Notes could at any time be revised downward or withdrawn entirely at the discretion of the issuing rating agency.

We have obtained a rating for the Notes. Ratings only reflect the views of the issuing rating agency or agencies and such ratings could at any time be revised downward or withdrawn entirely at the discretion of the issuing rating agency. A rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold the Notes. Ratings do not reflect market prices or suitability of a security for a particular investor and the rating of the Notes may not reflect all risks related to us and our business, or the structure or market value of the Notes. We may elect to issue other securities for which we may seek to obtain a rating in the future. If we issue other securities with a rating, such ratings, if they are lower than market expectations or are subsequently lowered or withdrawn, could adversely affect the market for or the market value of the Notes.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

The net proceeds from the sale of Notes in this offering, after deducting underwriting commissions and other estimated expenses of this offering payable by us, are estimated to be approximately $         million (or approximately $         million if the underwriters’ option to purchase up to        additional notes is exercised in full).

We anticipate using the net proceeds in excess of $100.0 million, if any, from the sale of the notes for the redemption of all or a portion of our existing 7.25% 2027 Notes as soon as practicable and the remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including funding future acquisitions and investments, repaying indebtedness, making capital expenditures and funding working capital. Pending such use, we may invest the net proceeds in short-term interest-bearing accounts, securities or similar investments.

This prospectus supplement shall not constitute a notice of redemption under the indentures governing the 7.25% 2027 Notes. Any such notice, if made, will only be made in accordance with the provisions of the applicable indenture.

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table shows our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of December 31, 2020:

•        on an actual basis; and

•        on an as adjusted basis, after giving effect to (i) the issuance and sale of $65.0 million of common stock which closed on January 15, 2021, (ii) the issuance of 2028 Notes which closed on January 25, 2021 (including the closing of the over-allotment on January 29, 2021), (iii) the announced redemption of the 7.50% 2027 Notes on March 31, 2021 having an aggregate principal amount of $128,155,700, (iv) the sale of Notes in this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Notes) and (v) the redemption of all or a portion of the 7.25% 2027 Notes using proceeds from the sale of Notes in this offering in excess of $100.0 million (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Notes).

 

As of
December 31, 2020

   

Actual

 

As Adjusted

   

(dollars in thousands)

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

103,602

 

 

$

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

2,722

 

 

$

2,722

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

 

168,478

 

 

 

168,478

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

68,651

 

 

 

68,651

 

Deferred tax liabilities, net

 

 

34,248

 

 

 

34,248

 

Due to related parties and partners

 

 

327

 

 

 

327

 

Due to clearing brokers

 

 

13,672

 

 

 

13,672

 

Securities sold not yet purchased

 

 

10,105

 

 

 

10,105

 

Securities loaned

 

 

759,810

 

 

 

759,810

 

Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

4,700

 

 

 

4,700

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

60,778

 

 

 

60,778

 

Notes payable

 

 

37,967

 

 

 

37,967

 

Loan participations sold

 

 

17,316

 

 

 

17,316

 

Term loan

 

 

74,213

 

 

 

74,213

 

Senior notes payable

 

 

870,783

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

 

 

2,123,770

 

 

 

 

 

B. Riley Financial, Inc. stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, 3,971 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020; liquidation preference of $99,260 as of December 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 25,777,796 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020

 

 

3

 

 

 

3

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

310,326

 

 

 

 

 

Retained earnings

 

 

203,080

 

 

 

203,080

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(823

)

 

 

(823

)

Total B. Riley Financial, Inc. stockholders’ equity

 

 

512,586

 

 

 

 

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

 

26,374

 

 

 

26,374

 

Total Capitalization

 

$

2,662,730

 

 

$

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

The         % Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”) are being issued under an Indenture dated as of May 7, 2019, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 7, 2019, the Second Supplemental Indenture dated September 23, 2019, the Third Supplemental Indenture dated February 12, 2020, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated January 25, 2021 and the Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated , 2021, which we refer to collectively as the “indenture,” between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, trustee. Set forth below is a description of the specific terms of the Notes and the indenture. This description supplements the description of the general terms and provisions of our debt securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus under the caption “Description of Debt Securities.” The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the indenture filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the Company.

General

The Notes:

•        will be our general unsecured, senior obligations;

•        will be initially limited to an aggregate principal amount of $125,000,000 (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Notes described herein);

•        will mature on March 31, 2026 unless earlier redeemed or repurchased, and 100% of the aggregate principal amount will be paid at maturity;

•        will bear cash interest from         , 2021 at an annual rate of         %, payable quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year, beginning on April 30, 2021, and at maturity;

•        will be redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, at any time on or after January 1, 2026, at the prices and on the terms described under “— Optional Redemption” below;

•        will be issued in denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof;

•        will not have a sinking fund;

•        are expected to be listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYK”; and

•        will be represented by one or more registered Notes in global form, but in certain limited circumstances may be represented by Notes in definitive form.

The indenture does not limit the amount of indebtedness that we or our subsidiaries may issue. The indenture does not contain any financial covenants and does not restrict us from paying dividends or issuing or repurchasing our other securities. Other than restrictions described under “— Covenants — Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” below, the indenture does not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of the Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving us or in the event of a decline in our credit rating as the result of a takeover, recapitalization, highly leveraged transaction or similar restructuring involving us that could adversely affect such holders.

We may from time to time, without the consent of the existing holders, issue additional Notes having the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise (except the price to public, the issue date and, if applicable, the initial interest accrual date and the initial interest payment date) that may constitute a single fungible series with the Notes offered by this prospectus supplement; provided that if any such additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes initially offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such additional Notes will have one or more separate CUSIP numbers.

Ranking

The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company, and, upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, will rank (i) senior to the outstanding shares of our common stock, (ii) senior to any of our future subordinated debt, (iii) pari passu (or equally) with our future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, (iv) effectively

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subordinated to any existing or future secured indebtedness (including indebtedness that is initially unsecured to which we subsequently grant security), to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness and (v) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries, financing vehicles or similar facilities.

Any borrowings under the Wells Fargo Credit Agreement are secured by the proceeds we receive for services rendered in connection with liquidation service contracts pursuant to which any outstanding loan or letters of credit are issued and the assets that are sold at liquidation related to such contracts and will be effectively senior to the Notes to the extent of the value of such proceeds and assets. As of December 31, 2020, there were no open letters of credit outstanding under the Wells Fargo Credit Agreement.

Interest

Interest on the Notes will accrue at an annual rate equal to         % from and including         , 2021 to, but excluding, the maturity date or earlier acceleration or redemption and will be payable quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year, beginning on April 30, 2021 and at maturity, to the record holders at the close of business on the immediately preceding January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 (and March 15 immediately preceding the maturity date), as applicable (whether or not a business day).

The initial interest period for the Notes will be the period from and including         , 2021, to, but excluding, April 30, 2021, and subsequent interest periods will be the periods from and including an interest payment date to, but excluding, the next interest payment date or the stated maturity date, as the case may be. The amount of interest payable for any interest period, including interest payable for any partial interest period, will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. If an interest payment date falls on a non-business day, the applicable interest payment will be made on the next business day and no additional interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment.

“Business day” means, for any place where the principal and interest on the Notes is payable, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day in which banking institutions in New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

Optional Redemption

Prior to January 1, 2026 (the “Notes Par Call Date”), we may, at our option, redeem the Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption and (ii) the Make-Whole Amount, if any.

The Notes may be redeemed for cash in whole or in part at any time at our option on or after January 1, 2026 and prior to maturity, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption. In each case, redemption shall be upon notice not fewer than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption.

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the particular Notes to be redeemed will be selected not more than 45 days prior to the redemption date by the trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption, by lot, or in the trustee’s discretion, on a pro-rata basis, provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Notes will be in an authorized denomination (which will not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Notes. The trustee will promptly notify us in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Notes selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Beneficial interests in any of the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption that are registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be selected by DTC in accordance with DTC’s applicable procedures.

The trustee shall have no obligation to calculate any redemption price, including any Make-Whole Amount, or any component thereof, and the trustee shall be entitled to receive and conclusively rely upon an officer’s certificate delivered by the Company that specifies any redemption price.

Unless we default on the payment of the redemption price, on and after the date of redemption, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes called for redemption.

We may at any time, and from time to time, purchase notes at any price or prices in the open market or otherwise.

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As used herein:

Make-Whole Amount” means, in connection with any optional redemption of any Note, the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of the present values, as of the date of such redemption, of the remaining scheduled payments of principal of, and interest (exclusive of interest accrued to, but excluding, the date of redemption) on, such Note, assuming such Note matured on, and that accrued and unpaid interest on such Note was payable through, the Notes Par Call Date, determined by discounting, on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), such principal and interest at the Reinvestment Rate (as defined below) (determined on the third business day preceding the date of redemption) over (ii) the aggregate principal amount of such Notes being redeemed.

Reinvestment Rate” means, 0.500%, or 50 basis points, plus the arithmetic mean (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of one percent) of the yields displayed for each day in the preceding calendar week published in the most recent Statistical Release under the caption “Treasury constant maturities” for the maturity (rounded to the nearest month) corresponding to the remaining life to maturity of the Notes (assuming that the Notes matured on the Notes Par Call Date) as of the date of redemption. If no maturity exactly corresponds to such remaining life to maturity, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to such remaining life to maturity shall be calculated pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence and the Reinvestment Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding in each of such relevant periods to the nearest month. For the purpose of calculating the Reinvestment Rate, the most recent Statistical Release published prior to the date of determination of the Reinvestment Rate shall be used.

Statistical Release” means that statistical release designated “H.15” or any successor publication that is published daily by the Federal Reserve System and that establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturities, or, if such statistical release (or a successor publication) is not published at the time of any determination under the Indenture, then such other reasonably comparable index that shall be designated by us.

Events of Default

Holders of our Notes will have rights if an Event of Default occurs in respect of the Notes and is not cured, as described later in this subsection. The term “Event of Default” in respect of the Notes means any of the following:

•        we do not pay interest on any Note when due, and such default is not cured within 30 days;

•        we do not pay the principal of the Notes when due and payable;

•        we breach any covenant or warranty in the indenture with respect to the Notes and such breach continues for 60 days after we receive a written notice of such breach from the trustee or the holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of the Notes; and

•        certain specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur and remain undischarged or unstayed for a period of 90 days.

The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the Notes of any default, except in the payment of principal or interest, if the trustee in good faith determines the withholding of notice to be in the interest of the holders of the Notes.

Each year, we will furnish to the trustee a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the indenture and the Notes, or else specifying any default.

Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs

If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes may declare the entire principal amount of the Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to be due and payable immediately by a notice in writing to us and, if notice is given by the holders of the Notes, the trustee. This is called an “acceleration of maturity.” If the Event of Default occurs in relation to our filing for bankruptcy or certain other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur, the principal amount of the Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the trustee or the holders, become immediately due and payable.

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At any time after a declaration of acceleration of the Notes has been made by the trustee or the holders of the Notes and before any judgment or decree for payment of money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority of the outstanding principal of the Notes, by written notice to us and the trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if (i) we have paid or deposited with the trustee all amounts due and owed with respect to the Notes (other than principal that has become due solely by reason of such acceleration) and certain other amounts, and (ii) any other Events of Default have been cured or waived.

At our election, the sole remedy with respect to an Event of Default due to our failure to comply with certain reporting requirements under the Trust Indenture Act or under “— Covenants — Reporting” below, for the first 180 calendar days after the occurrence of such Event of Default, consists exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the Notes at an annual rate equal to (1) 0.25% for the first 90 calendar days after such default and (2) 0.50% for calendar days 91 through 180 after such default. On the 181st day after such Event of Default, if such violation is not cured or waived, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes may declare the principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes to be due and payable immediately. If we choose to pay such additional interest, we must notify the trustee and the holders of the Notes by certificate of our election at any time on or before the close of business on the first business day following the Event of Default.

Before a holder of the Notes is allowed to bypass the trustee and bring a lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce such holder’s rights relating to the Notes, the following must occur:

•        such holder must give the trustee written notice that the Event of Default has occurred and remains uncured;

•        the holders of at least 25% of the outstanding principal of the Notes must have made a written request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as trustee;

•        such holder or holders must have offered to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to the trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

•        the trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

•        no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the trustee during such 60-day period by holders of a majority of the outstanding principal of the Notes.

No delay or omission in exercising any right or remedy will be treated as a waiver of that right, remedy or Event of Default.

Book-entry and other indirect holders of the Notes should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and how to declare or cancel an acceleration of maturity.

Waiver of Defaults

The holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes may on behalf of the holders of all Notes waive any past default with respect to the Notes other than (i) a default in the payment of principal or interest on the Notes when such payments are due and payable (other than by acceleration as described above), or (ii) in respect of a covenant that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each holder of Notes.

Covenants

In addition to any other covenants described in the accompanying prospectus, as well as standard covenants relating to payment of principal and interest, maintaining an office where payments may be made or securities can be surrendered for payment, payment of taxes by us and related matters, the following covenants will apply to the Notes. To the extent of any conflict or inconsistency between the base indenture and the following covenants, the following covenants will govern.

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Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

The indenture provides that we will not merge or consolidate with or into any other person (other than a merger of a wholly owned subsidiary into us), or sell, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all our property in any one transaction or series of related transactions unless:

•        we are the surviving entity or the entity (if other than us) formed by such merger or consolidation or to which such sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition is made will be a corporation or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

•        the surviving entity (if other than us) expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the trustee, executed and delivered to the trustee by such surviving entity, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, all the Notes outstanding, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of the indenture to be performed by us;

•        immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of related transactions, no default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and

•        in the case of a merger where the surviving entity is other than us, we or such surviving entity will deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the trustee, an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction and the supplemental indenture, if any, in respect thereto, comply with this covenant and that all conditions precedent in the indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with.

Reporting

If, at any time, we are not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act to file any periodic reports with the SEC, we agree to furnish to holders of the Notes and the trustee, for the period of time during which the Notes are outstanding, our audited annual consolidated financial statements, within 75 days of our fiscal year end, and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, within 40 days of our fiscal quarter end (other than our fourth fiscal quarter). All such financial statements will be prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP, as applicable.

Modification or Waiver

There are three types of changes we can make to the indenture and the Notes:

Changes Not Requiring Approval

First, there are changes that we can make to the Notes without the specific approval of the holders of the Notes. This type is limited to clarifications and certain other changes that would not adversely affect holders of the Notes in any material respect and include changes:

•        to evidence the succession of another corporation, and the assumption by the successor corporation of our covenants, agreements and obligations under the indenture and the Notes;

•        to add to our covenants such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the holders of the Notes, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default;

•        to modify, eliminate or add to any of the provisions of the indenture to such extent as necessary to effect the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, and to add to the indenture such other provisions as may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, excluding however, the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act;

•        to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained in the indenture or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with other provisions;

•        to secure the Notes;

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•        to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment of a successor trustee and to add or change any provisions of the indenture as necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trust by more than one trustee; and

•        to make provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under the indenture, so long such other provisions to do not materially affect the interest of any other holder of the Notes.

Changes Requiring Approval of Each Holder

We cannot make certain changes to the Notes without the specific approval of each holder of the Notes. The following is a list of those types of changes:

•        changing the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any Note;

•        reducing the principal amount or rate of interest of any Note;

•        changing the place of payment where any Note or any interest is payable;

•        impairing the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the date on which it is due and payable;

•        reducing the percentage in principal amount of holders of the Notes whose consent is needed to modify or amend the indenture; and

•        reducing the percentage in principal amount of holders of the Notes whose consent is needed to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or to waive certain defaults.

Changes Requiring Majority Approval

Any other change to the indenture and the Notes would require the following approval:

•        if the change only affects the Notes, it must be approved by holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes; and

•        if the change affects more than one series of debt securities issued under the indenture, it must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of each of the series of debt securities affected by the change.

Consent from holders to any change to the indenture or the Notes must be given in writing.

Further Details Concerning Voting

The amount of Notes deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of voting will include all Notes authenticated and delivered under the indenture as of the date of determination except:

•        Notes cancelled by the trustee or delivered to the trustee for cancellation;

•        Notes for which we have deposited with the trustee or paying agent or set aside in trust money for their payment or redemption and, if money has been set aside for the redemption of the Notes, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to the indenture to the satisfaction of the trustee;

•        Notes held by the Company, its subsidiaries or any other entity which is an obligor under the Notes, unless such Notes have been pledged in good faith and the pledgee is not the Company, an affiliate of the Company or an obligor under the Notes;

•        Notes for which have undergone full defeasance, as described below; and

•        Notes which have been paid or exchanged for other Notes due to such Notes loss, destruction or mutilation, with the exception of any such Notes held by bona fide purchasers who have presented proof to the trustee that such Notes are valid obligations of the Company.

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We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of the Notes that are entitled to vote or take other action under the indenture, and the trustee will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of the Notes that are entitled to join in the giving or making of any Notice of Default, any declaration of acceleration of maturity of the Notes, any request to institute proceedings or the reversal of such declaration. If we or the trustee set a record date for a vote or other action to be taken by the holders of the Notes, that vote or action can only be taken by persons who are holders of the Notes on the record date and, unless otherwise specified, such vote or action must take place on or prior to the 180th day after the record date. We may change the record date at our option, and we will provide written notice to the trustee and to each holder of the Notes of any such change of record date.

Defeasance

The following defeasance provisions will be applicable to the Notes. “Defeasance” means that, by irrevocably depositing with the trustee an amount of cash denominated in U.S. dollars and/or U.S. government obligations sufficient to pay all principal and interest, if any, on the Notes when due and satisfying any additional conditions noted below, we will be deemed to have been discharged from our obligations under the Notes. In the event of a “covenant defeasance,” upon depositing such funds and satisfying similar conditions discussed below we would be released from certain covenants under the indenture relating to the Notes. The consequences to the holders of the Notes would be that, while they would no longer benefit from certain covenants under the indenture, and while the Notes could not be accelerated for any reason, the holders of the Notes nonetheless would be guaranteed to receive the principal and interest owed to them.

Covenant Defeasance

Under the indenture, we have the option to take the actions described below and be released from some of the restrictive covenants under the indenture under which the Notes were issued. This is called “covenant defeasance.” In that event, holders of the Notes would lose the protection of those restrictive covenants but would gain the protection of having money and government securities set aside in trust to repay the Notes. In order to achieve covenant defeasance, the following must occur:

•        we must irrevocably deposit or cause to be deposited with the trustee as trust funds for the benefit of all holders of the Notes cash, U.S. government obligations or a combination of cash and U.S. government obligations sufficient, without reinvestment, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, investment bank or appraisal firm, to generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other applicable payments on the Notes on their various due dates;

•        we must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel stating that under U.S. federal income tax law, we may make the above deposit and covenant defeasance without causing holders to be taxed on the Notes differently than if those actions were not taken;

•        we must deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate stating that the Notes, if then listed on any securities exchange, will not be delisted as a result of the deposit;

•        no default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes has occurred and is continuing, and no defaults or Events of Defaults related to bankruptcy, insolvency or organization occurs during the 90 days following the deposit;

•        the covenant defeasance must not cause the trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act;

•        the covenant defeasance must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the indenture or any other material agreements or instruments to which we are a party;

•        the covenant defeasance must not result in the trust arising from the deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust will be registered under the Investment Company Act or exempt from registration thereunder; and

•        we must deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate and a legal opinion from our counsel stating that all conditions precedent with respect to the covenant defeasance have been complied with.

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Full Defeasance

If there is a change in U.S. federal income tax law, we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other obligations on the Notes if we take the following actions below:

•        we must irrevocably deposit or cause to be deposited with the trustee as trust funds for the benefit of all holders of the Notes cash, U.S. government obligations or a combination of cash and U.S. government obligations sufficient, without reinvestment, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm, of independent public accountants, investment bank or appraisal firm, to generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other applicable payments on the Notes on their various due dates;

•        we must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion confirming that there has been a change to the current U.S. federal income tax law or an Internal Revenue Service ruling that allows us to make the above deposit without causing holders to be taxed on the Notes any differently than if we did not make the deposit;

•        we must deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate stating that the Notes, if then listed on any securities exchange, will not be delisted as a result of the deposit;

•        no default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes has occurred and is continuing and no defaults or Events of Defaults related to bankruptcy, insolvency or organization occurs during the 90 days following the deposit;

•        the full defeasance must not cause the trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act;

•        the full defeasance must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the indenture or any other material agreements or instruments to which we are a party;

•        the full defeasance must not result in the trust arising from the deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust will be registered under the Investment Company Act or exempt from registration thereunder; and

•        we must deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate and a legal opinion from our counsel stating that all conditions precedent with respect to the full defeasance have been complied with.

In the event that the trustee is unable to apply the funds held in trust to the payment of obligations under the Notes by reason of a court order or governmental injunction or prohibition, then those of our obligations discharged under the full defeasance or covenant defeasance will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit of funds had occurred, until such time as the trustee is permitted to apply all funds held in trust under the procedure described above may be applied to the payment of obligations under the Notes. However, if we make any payment of principal or interest on the Notes to the holders, we will have the right to receive such payments from the trust in the place of the holders.

Listing

We have applied to list the Notes on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYK”. If the application is approved, we expect trading in the Notes on NASDAQ to begin within 30 business days of the date of the original issue date. The Notes are expected to trade “flat,” meaning that purchasers will not pay and sellers will not receive any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes that is not included in the trading price.

Governing Law

The Indenture is, and the Notes will be, governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Global Notes; Book-Entry Issuance

The Notes will be issued in the form of one or more global certificates, or “Global Notes,” registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, or “DTC”. DTC has informed us that its nominee will be Cede & Co. Accordingly, we expect Cede & Co. to be the initial registered holder of the Notes. No person that acquires a beneficial interest in the Notes will be entitled to receive a certificate representing that person’s interest in the Notes except as described

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herein. Unless and until definitive securities are issued under the limited circumstances described below, all references to actions by holders of the Notes will refer to actions taken by DTC upon instructions from its participants, and all references to payments and notices to holders will refer to payments and notices to DTC or Cede & Co., as the registered holder of these securities.

DTC has informed us that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds and provides asset servicing for over 3.5 million issues of U.S. and non-U.S. equity issues, corporate and municipal debt issues, and money market instruments from over 100 countries that DTC’s participants, or “Direct Participants,” deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or “DTCC.”

DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly, or “Indirect Participants.” DTC has an S&P rating of AA+. The DTC Rules applicable to its participants are on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com.

Purchases of the Notes under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the Notes on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each Note, or the “Beneficial Owner,” is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants’ records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. Beneficial Owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participant through which the Beneficial Owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the Notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the Notes, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the Notes is discontinued.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Notes deposited by Direct Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of the Notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Notes; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts the Notes are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the Notes are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each Direct Participant in the Notes to be redeemed.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the Notes unless authorized by a Direct Participant in accordance with DTC’s Procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an Omnibus Proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the Notes are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).

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Redemption proceeds, distributions and interest payments on the Notes will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the applicable trustee or depositary on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with the Notes held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC nor its nominee, the applicable trustee or depositary, or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions and interest payments to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of us or the applicable trustee or depositary. Disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners will be the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.

The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof.

None of the Company, the trustee, any depositary, or any agent of any of them will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of DTC’s or any participant’s records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a Global Note, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.

Termination of a Global Note

If a Global Note is terminated for any reason, interest in it will be exchanged for certificates in non-book-entry form as certificated securities. After such exchange, the choice of whether to hold the certificated Notes directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in a Global Note transferred on termination to their own names, so that they will be holders of the Notes. See “— Form, Exchange and Transfer of Certificated Registered Securities.”

Payment and Paying Agents

We will pay interest to the person listed in the trustee’s records as the owner of the Notes at the close of business on the record date for the applicable interest payment date, even if that person no longer owns the Note on the interest payment date. Because we pay all the interest for an interest period to the holders on the record date, holders buying and selling the Notes must work out between themselves the appropriate purchase price. The most common manner is to adjust the sales price of the Notes to prorate interest fairly between buyer and seller based on their respective ownership periods within the particular interest period.

Payments on Global Notes

We will make payments on the Notes so long as they are represented by Global Notes in accordance with the applicable policies of the depositary in effect from time to time. Under those policies, we will make payments directly to the depositary, or its nominee, and not to any indirect holders who own beneficial interest in the Global Notes. An indirect holder’s right to those payments will be governed by the rules and practices of the depositary and its participants.

Payments on Certificated Securities

In the event the Notes become represented by certificates, we will make payments on the Notes as follows. We will pay interest that is due on an interest payment date by check mailed on the interest payment date to the holder of the Note at his or her address shown on the trustee’s records as of the close of business on the record date. We will make all payments of principal by check at the office of the trustee in the contiguous United States and/or at other offices that may be specified in the indenture or a notice to holders against surrender of the Note.

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Payment When Offices Are Closed

If any payment is due on the Notes on a day that is not a business day, we will make the payment on the next day that is a business day. Payments made on the next business day in this situation will be treated under the indenture as if they were made on the original due date. Such payment will not result in a default under the Notes or the indenture, and no interest will accrue on the payment amount from the original due date to the next day that is a business day.

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments on the Notes.

Form, Exchange and Transfer of Certificated Registered Securities

Notes in physical, certificated form will be issued and delivered to each person that DTC identifies as a beneficial owner of the related Notes only if:

•        DTC notified us at any time that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes;

•        DTC ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act; or

•        an Event of Default with respect to such Global Note has occurred and is continuing.

Holders may exchange their certificated securities for Notes of smaller denominations or combined into fewer Notes of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed and as long as the denomination is equal to or greater than $25.

Holders may exchange or transfer their certificated securities at the office of the trustee. We have appointed the trustee to act as our agent for registering the Notes in the name of holders transferring Notes. 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.

Holders will not be required to pay a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of their certificated securities, but they may be required to pay any tax or other governmental charge associated with the registration of transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holder’s proof of legal ownership.

If we redeem any of the Notes, we may block the transfer or exchange of those Notes selected for redemption during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to determine or fix the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfer or exchanges of any certificated Notes selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any Note that will be partially redeemed.

About the Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will be the trustee under the indenture and will be the principal paying agent and registrar for the Notes. The trustee may resign or be removed with respect to the Notes provided that a successor trustee is appointed to act with respect to the Notes.

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of the Notes that we are offering. The following discussion is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), regulations promulgated under the Code by the U.S. Treasury Department (including proposed and temporary regulations), rulings, current administrative interpretations and official pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Such change could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences described below. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax consequences described below.

This summary is for general information only, and does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to a particular holder in light of its investment or tax circumstances or to holders subject to special tax rules, such as partnerships (including entities and arrangements classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes), subchapter S corporations or other pass-through entities, banks, financial institutions, tax-exempt entities, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, trusts and estates, dealers in stocks, securities or currencies, traders in securities that have elected to use the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities, persons holding the Notes as part of an integrated transaction, including a “straddle,” “hedge,” “constructive sale,” or “conversion transaction,” U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency for tax purposes (as defined in Section 985 of the Code) is not the U.S. dollar, holders subject to Section 451(b) of the Code, and individuals subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code. This summary does not include any description of the tax laws of any state or local governments, or of any foreign government, that may be applicable to a particular holder.

This summary is directed solely to holders that, except as otherwise specifically noted, will purchase the Notes offered in this prospectus supplement upon original issuance for the “issue price” (i.e., the first price at which a substantial amount of the Notes is sold for money to persons, other than to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of the underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers) for cash and will hold such securities as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, which generally means as property held for investment.

This summary is not a comprehensive description of all of the U.S. federal tax consequences that may be relevant with respect to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Notes. We urge you to consult your own tax advisor regarding your particular circumstances and the U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences to you of acquiring, owning and disposing of these securities, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local, foreign, or other tax jurisdiction and the possible effects of changes in U.S. federal or other tax laws.

As used in this prospectus supplement, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of Notes that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

•        an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

•        a corporation (including an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia;

•        an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source;

•        a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust; or

•        a trust in existence on August 20, 1996 that has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

As used in this prospectus supplement, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of the Notes (other than a partnership or other entity taxable as a partnership) that is not a U.S. Holder.

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If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds the Notes offered in this prospectus supplement, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership and accordingly, this summary does not apply to partnerships. A partner of a partnership holding the Notes should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to the partner of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Notes by the partnership.

Consequences to U.S. Holders

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that will apply to U.S. Holders of the Notes.

Payment of Interest.    It is expected, and this discussion assumes, that the Notes will be issued with less than a de minimis amount of “original issue discount” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, interest on a Note generally will be included in the income of a U.S. Holder as interest income at the time it is accrued or is received in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes and will be ordinary income.

Sale, Exchange, or Retirement of Notes.    Upon the sale, exchange, retirement, or other disposition of a Note, a U.S. Holder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Note. The amount realized by the U.S. Holder will include the amount of any cash and the fair market value of any other property received for the Note, but will exclude amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest which will be treated as described above under “Payments of Interest.” A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a Note will generally be the cost of the Note to such U.S. Holder.

Gain or loss realized on the sale, exchange, retirement, or other disposition of a Note generally will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the Note has been held for more than one year. Net long-term capital gain recognized by an individual U.S. Holder is generally taxed at preferential rates. The ability of U.S. Holders to deduct capital losses is subject to limitations under the Code.

Additional Medicare Tax on Unearned Income.    Certain U.S. Holders, including individuals, estates and trusts, are subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on unearned income. For individual U.S. Holders, the additional Medicare tax applies to the lesser of (i) “net investment income” or (ii) the excess of “modified adjusted gross income” over $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly or $125,000 if married and filing separately). “Net investment income” generally equals the taxpayer’s gross investment income reduced by the deductions that are allocable to such income. Investment income generally includes passive income such as interest and capital gains. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the implications of the additional Medicare tax resulting from an investment in the Notes.

Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that will apply to Non-U.S. Holders of a Note.

Payments of Interest.    Except as discussed below, principal and interest payments that are received from us and that are not effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States, or a permanent establishment maintained in the United States if certain tax treaties apply, generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax, except as provided below. Interest may be subject to a 30% withholding tax (or less under an applicable treaty, if any) if:

•        a Non-U.S. Holder actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote;

•        a Non-U.S. Holder is a “controlled foreign corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is related to us (directly or indirectly) through stock ownership;

•        a Non-U.S. Holder is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business (as described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code); or

•        the Non-U.S. Holder does not satisfy the certification requirements described below.

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In the case of the Notes, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will satisfy the certification requirements if either: (A) the Non-U.S. Holder certifies to us, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a “United States person” (within the meaning of the Code) and provides its name and address (which certification may generally be made on an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or other applicable U.S. nonresident withholding tax certification form), or (B) a securities clearing organization, bank, or other financial institution that holds customer securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business (a “financial institution”) and holds the Note certifies to us under penalties of perjury that either it or another financial institution has received the required statement from the Non-U.S. Holder certifying that it is not a United States person and furnishes us with a copy of the statement.

Except as discussed below, payments not meeting the requirements set forth above and thus subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax may nevertheless be exempt from withholding (or subject to withholding at a reduced rate) if the Non-U.S. Holder provides us with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN, Form W-8BEN-E, or other applicable U.S. nonresident withholding tax certification form, claiming an exemption from, or reduction in, withholding under the benefit of a tax treaty, or IRS Form W-8ECI (or other applicable form) stating that interest paid on the Notes is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States as discussed below. These forms may be required to be updated periodically. To claim benefits under an income tax treaty, a Non-U.S. Holder must obtain a taxpayer identification number and certify as to its eligibility under the appropriate treaty’s limitations on benefits article. In addition, special rules may apply to claims for treaty benefits made by Non-U.S. Holders that are entities rather than individuals. A Non-U.S. Holder that is eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. federal withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS.

Sale, Exchange, or Retirement of Note.    Except as discussed below, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any capital gain or market discount realized on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of Notes, provided that: (a) the gain is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States, or a permanent establishment maintained in the United States if certain tax treaties apply, and (b) in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is an individual, the Non-U.S. Holder is not present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the sale, exchange or other disposition of the Note. An individual Non-U.S. Holder who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of sale, exchange or other disposition of a Note, and if certain other conditions are met, will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% on the gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of such Note.

Income Effectively Connected with a Trade or Business within the United States.    If a Non-U.S. Holder of a Note is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business within the United States and if interest on the Note, or gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the Note, is effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business (and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States), the Non-U.S. Holder, although exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax (provided that the certification requirements discussed above are satisfied), will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such interest or gain on a net income basis in the same manner as if it were a U.S. Holder. Non-U.S. Holders should read the material under the heading “— Consequences to U.S. Holders,” for a description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning, and disposing of a Note. In addition, if such Non-U.S. Holder is a foreign corporation, it may also be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or such lower rate provided by an applicable U.S. income tax treaty) of all or a portion of its earnings and profits for the taxable year that are effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States, subject to certain adjustments.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

In general, in the case of a U.S. Holder, other than certain exempt recipients (including a corporation and certain other persons who, when required, demonstrate their exempt status), we and other payors are required to report to the IRS all payments of principal and interest on the Notes. In addition, we and other payors generally are required to report to the IRS any payment of proceeds from the sale of a Note before maturity. Additionally, backup withholding generally will apply to any payments if a U.S. Holder fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number and certify that the taxpayer identification number is correct, the U.S. Holder is notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding, or the U.S. Holder does not certify that it is not subject to backup withholding. If applicable, backup withholding will be imposed at a rate of 24%.

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In the case of a Non-U.S. Holder, backup withholding and information reporting will not apply to payments made if the Non-U.S. Holder provides the required certification to the applicable withholding agent under penalties of perjury that it is not a United States person, or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption, provided that the payor does not have actual knowledge that the holder is a United States person, or that the conditions of any exemption are not satisfied.

In addition, payments of the proceeds from the sale of a Note by a Non-U.S. Holder outside of the United States through a foreign office of a broker or the foreign office of a custodian, nominee, or other dealer acting on behalf of a holder generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, if the broker, custodian, nominee, or other dealer is a United States person, the government of the United States or the government of any state or political subdivision of any state, or any agency or instrumentality of any of these governmental units, a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a foreign partnership that is either engaged in a trade or business within the United States or whose United States partners in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the income or capital interest in the partnership, a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income for a certain period is effectively connected with a trade or business within the United States, or a United States branch of a foreign bank or insurance company, information reporting (but not backup withholding) generally will be required with respect to payments made to a holder unless the broker, custodian, nominee, or other dealer has documentation of the holder’s foreign status and the broker, custodian, nominee, or other dealer has no actual knowledge or reason to know to the contrary.

Payment of the proceeds from a sale of a Note to or through the United States office of a broker is subject to information reporting and backup withholding, unless the holder certifies as to its non-United States person status or otherwise establishes an exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.

Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

Certain provisions of the Code, known as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), impose a 30% U.S. withholding tax on certain U.S. source payments, including interest, dividends, other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gain, profits, and income, and on the gross proceeds from a disposition of property of a type which can produce U.S. source interest or dividends (“Withholdable Payments”), if paid to a foreign financial institution (including amounts paid to a foreign financial institution on behalf of a holder), unless such institution enters into an agreement with the Treasury to collect and provide to the Treasury certain information (that is in addition to and significantly more onerous than, the requirement to deliver an applicable U.S. nonresident withholding tax certification form (e.g., IRS Form W-8BEN), as discussed above) regarding U.S. financial account holders, including certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners, with such institution or otherwise complies with FATCA. FATCA also generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on Withholdable Payments made to a non-financial foreign entity unless such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or a certification identifying the direct and indirect substantial U.S. owners of the entity. Under certain circumstances, a holder may be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes.

These withholding and reporting requirements generally apply to U.S. source periodic payments (such as interest payments on the Notes) and, after December 31, 2018, to payments of gross proceeds from a sale, exchange, redemption, or other disposition of property that can give rise to U.S. source interest and dividends. If we determine withholding is appropriate with respect to the Notes, we will withhold tax at the applicable statutory rate, and we will not pay any additional amounts in respect of such withholding. Foreign financial institutions and non-financial foreign entities located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules. We will not be required to pay any additional amounts in respect of any payments to which FATCA withholding applies. Holders are urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in the Notes.

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UNDERWRITING (Conflicts of Interest)

B. Riley Securities is acting as joint book-running manager and representative of each of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement among us and the underwriters dated         , 2021 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the principal amount of Notes set forth opposite its name below.

Underwriter

 

Principal
Amount of
Notes

B. Riley Securities, Inc.

 

$

 

Incapital LLC

 

 

 

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc

 

 

 

National Securities Corporation

 

 

 

William Blair & Company, L.L.C.

 

 

 

Aegis Capital Corp.

 

 

 

Boenning & Scattergood, Inc.

 

 

 

Huntington Securities, Inc.

 

 

 

Kingswood Capital Markets, division of Benchmark Investments, Inc.

 

 

 

Newbridge Securities Corporation

 

 

 

Wedbush Securities Inc.

 

 

Total

 

$

125,000,000

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase all of the Notes sold under the Underwriting Agreement. These conditions include, among others, the continued accuracy of representations and warranties made by us in the Underwriting Agreement, delivery of legal opinions and the absence of any material changes in our assets, business or prospects after the date of this prospectus supplement.

The several obligations of the underwriters under the Underwriting Agreement are conditional and may be terminated on the occurrence of certain stated events, including, in the event that at or prior to the closing of the offering: (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market or in the over-the-counter market, or trading in any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices or maximum range for prices shall have been established on any such exchange or such market by the SEC, by such exchange or market or by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction; (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by United States federal or state authorities or a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iii) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities, or the subject of an act of terrorism, or there shall have been an outbreak of or escalation in hostilities involving the United States, or there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States; or (iv) there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic, political or financial conditions (or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such) as to make it, in the reasonable judgment of the underwriters, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the sale or delivery of the Notes on the terms and in the manner contemplated in this prospectus supplement.

We have granted to the underwriters the option to purchase up to an additional $18,750,000 of Notes at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts (the “Option”). If any Notes are purchased pursuant to the Option, the underwriters will, severally but not jointly, purchase the Notes in approximately the same proportions as set forth in the above table. This prospectus supplement also qualifies the grant of the Option and the Notes issuable upon the exercise thereof. A purchaser who acquires any Notes forming part of the underwriters’ Option acquires such Notes under this prospectus supplement, regardless of whether the position is ultimately filled through the exercise of the Option or secondary market purchases.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including, among other things, liabilities under the Securities Act or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

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We expect to deliver the Note against payment for such notes on or about         , 2021, which will be the second business day following the date of the pricing of the Notes (“T + 2”).

Discounts and Expenses

The representative has advised us that the underwriters propose initially to offer the Notes to the public at the public offering price and to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $         per Note. After the underwriters have made a reasonable effort to sell all of the Notes at the offering price, such offering price may be decreased and may be further changed from time to time to an amount not greater than the offering price set forth herein, and the compensation realized by the underwriters will effectively be decreased by the amount that the price paid by purchasers for the Notes is less than the original offering price. Any such reduction will not affect the net proceeds received by us. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discount that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the Option.

 

Price to the
Public

 

Underwriting
Discount
(1)

 

Net
Proceeds
(2)

Per Note

 

$

   

$

   

$

 

Total(3)

 

$

 

 

$

   

$

____________

(1)      Pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the underwriters will receive a discount equal to $         per Note.

(2)      After deducting the underwriting discount but before deducting expenses of the offering, estimated to be $        .

(3)      If the Option is exercised in full, the total price to the public, underwriting discount and net proceeds to us (after deducting the underwriting discount but before deducting estimated offering expenses) will be $        , $         and $        , respectively.

We estimate that the total expenses of this offering, including registration, filing and listing fees, printing fees and legal and accounting expenses, but excluding underwriting discounts and reimbursements, will be approximately $        . We have also agreed to reimburse the underwriters for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including attorneys’ fees, up to $75,000.

No Sales of Similar Securities

We have agreed for a period of 30 days following the date of this offering that, without the prior written consent of the representative, which may not be unreasonably withheld, on behalf of the underwriters, we will not, sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or file or cause to be declared effective a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any of the foregoing.

Stock Exchange Listing

We have applied to list the Notes on NASDAQ. If the application is approved, trading of the Notes on NASDAQ is expected to begin within 30 days after the date of initial delivery of the Notes. The underwriters will have no obligation to make a market in the Notes, however, and may cease market-making activities, if commenced, at any time. Accordingly, an active trading market on the NASDAQ for the Notes may not develop or, even if one develops, may not last, in which case the liquidity and market price of the Notes could be adversely affected, the difference between bid and asked prices could be substantial and your ability to transfer the Notes at the time and price desired will be limited.

Price Stabilization, Short Positions

Until the distribution of the Notes is completed, SEC rules may limit underwriters and selling group members from bidding for and purchasing our Notes. However, the representative may engage in transactions that have the effect of stabilizing the price of the Notes, such as purchases and other activities that peg, fix or maintain that price.

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In connection with this offering, the underwriters may bid for or purchase and sell our Notes in the open market. These transactions may include short sales and purchases on the open market to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of our Notes than they are required to purchase in this offering. “Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the Underwriters’ option to purchase additional Notes in this offering. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional notes or purchasing notes in the open market. In determining the source of notes to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of notes available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase additional notes pursuant to the option granted to them. “Naked” short sales are sales in excess of the option to purchase additional Notes. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing Notes in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of our Notes in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering.

Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters’ purchases to cover the syndicate short sales and other activities may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the Notes or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Notes. As a result, the price of the Notes may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued at any time. The underwriters may conduct these transactions on NASDAQ, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representative has repurchased Notes sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our Notes. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the representative will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Notes

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in electronic format may be made available on websites maintained by one or more of the underwriters, and the underwriters may distribute the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus electronically.

Other than this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in electronic format, the information on any underwriter’s or any selling group member’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by an underwriter or any selling group member is not part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or any underwriter or any selling group member in its capacity as underwriter or selling group member and should not be relied upon by investors.

Additional Relationships and Conflicts of Interest

The underwriters and their affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. The underwriters and their affiliates may provide from time to time in the future in the ordinary course of their business certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services to us for which they will be entitled to receive customary fees and expenses. The underwriters have in the past and may in the future borrow money from or obtain other financial and non-financial services from us for which we will be entitled to receive customary fees and expenses.

B. Riley Securities, our wholly-owned subsidiary, will participate in the offering of the Notes as a joint book-running manager.

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B. Riley Securities is also the sales agent under the Sales Agreements.

Because of the foregoing, the representative may be deemed to have a “conflict of interest” within the meaning of Rule 5121 of the FINRA, and this offering will be conducted in accordance with Rule 5121. The representative may not make sales of Notes in this offering to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior written approval of the account holder. However, in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, no “qualified independent underwriter” is required because the Notes are investment grade-rated by one or more nationally recognized statistical rating agencies.

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EXPERTS

Marcum LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, as well as the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, as stated in its report incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, and such audited consolidated financial statements have been incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon its authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The combined financial statements of BR Brand as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2018 incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of Mayer Hoffman McCann CPAs, The New York Practice of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C., independent auditor of BR Brand, incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters will be passed upon for us by The NBD Group, Inc., Los Angeles, California, and for the underwriters by Duane Morris LLP, New York, New York.

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INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information that we file with it, 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 supplement and the accompanying prospectus from the date we file that document. Any documents filed by us under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement and before the date that the offering of Notes by means of this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying 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, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2021; and

•        Our current reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 9, 2020, February 10, 2020, February 12, 2020, February 21, 2020, April 13, 2020, May 6, 2020, May 15, 2020, June 24, 2020, September 1, 2020, September 4, 2020, September 14, 2020, October 13, 2020, January 6, 2021, January 11, 2021, January 15, 2021, January 25, 2021, February 25, 2021 (001-37503) and March 1, 2021.

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are delivered, upon his or her written or oral request, a copy of any or all documents referred to above that have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, excluding exhibits to those documents unless they are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents. You may request those documents from us by contacting us at: B. Riley Financial, Inc., 11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 800, Los Angeles, California 90025, Attention: Investor Relations, telephone (310) 966-1444.

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PROSPECTUS

B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC.

COMMON STOCK
PREFERRED STOCK
WARRANTS
DEBT SECURITIES
DEPOSITARY SHARES
UNITS

We may offer and sell from time to time the above securities in one or more classes, in one or more transactions, separately or together in any combination and as separate series, and in amounts, at prices and on terms that we will determine at the times of the offerings. We may also offer any of these securities that may be issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange of debt securities, preferred stock or warrants.

We will provide specific terms of any offering in supplements to this prospectus, which we will deliver together with the prospectus at the time of sale. The supplements may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “RILY”. On January 27, 2021, the last reported sales price of our common stock as quoted on NASDAQ was $48.66 per share.

Investing in our securities involves risks. Risks associated with an investment in our securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and certain of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as described under the caption “Risk Factors” on page 3 of this prospectus.

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

The date of this prospectus is January 28, 2021.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), using a “shelf” registration process for the delayed offering and sale of securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. Under the shelf registration process, we may from time to time, offer and sell to the public any or all of the securities in the registration statement in one or more offerings.

For further information about our business and the securities, you should refer to the registration statement containing this prospectus and its exhibits. The exhibits to our registration statement contain the full text of certain contracts and other important documents we have summarized in this prospectus. Since these summaries may not contain all the information that you may find important in deciding whether to purchase the securities we offer, you should review the full text of these documents. We have filed and plan to continue to file other documents with the SEC that contain information about us and our business. Also, we will file legal documents that control the terms of the securities offered by this prospectus as exhibits to the reports we file by the SEC. The registration statement and other reports can be obtained from the SEC as indicated under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we offer securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement and/or other offering material that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. When we refer to a “prospectus supplement,” we are also referring to any free writing prospectus or other offering material authorized by us. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement or incorporated information having a later date. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus, in any prospectus supplement, or any other offering material that we authorize, including the information incorporated by reference. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any supplement to this prospectus, or any other offering material that we authorize, is accurate at any date other than the date indicated on the cover page of these documents or the date of the statement contained in any incorporated documents, respectively. This prospectus is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities referred to in the prospectus supplement. This prospectus is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. You should not interpret the delivery of this prospectus, or any sale of securities, as an indication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus. You should also be aware that information in this prospectus may change after this date. The information contained in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement or amendment, or incorporated herein or therein by reference, is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus or prospectus supplement or amendment, as applicable, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or prospectus supplement or amendment, as applicable, or of any sale of the shares.

As used in this prospectus, unless the context indicates or otherwise requires, “the Company,” “B. Riley,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to the combined business of B. Riley Financial, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

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ABOUT B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC.

This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our securities. You should read this summary together with the entire prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully, especially the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained herein and therein and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, as well as our financial statements and the notes to those financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference.

Our Business

B. Riley Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: RILY) and its subsidiaries provide collaborative financial services and solutions through several operating subsidiaries including:

•        B. Riley Securities, Inc. (“B. Riley Securities”) is a leading, full service investment bank providing financial advisory, corporate finance, research, securities lending and sales and trading services to corporate, institutional and high net worth individual clients. B. Riley Securities (fka B. Riley FBR, Inc.) was formed in November 2017 through the merger of B. Riley & Co, LLC and FBR Capital Markets & Co., which the Company acquired in June 2017.

•        B. Riley Wealth Management, Inc. provides comprehensive wealth management and brokerage services to individuals and families, corporations and non-profit organizations, including qualified retirement plans, trusts, foundations and endowments.

•        B. Riley Capital Management, LLC, a Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registered investment advisor, which includes:

•        B. Riley Asset Management, an advisor to certain private funds and to institutional and high net worth investors;

•        Great American Capital Partners, LLC (“GACP”), the general partner of two private funds, GACP I, L.P. and GACP II, L.P., both direct lending funds that provide senior secured loans and second lien secured loan facilities to middle market public and private U.S. companies.

•        Our subsidiaries doing business as B. Riley Advisory Services:

•        GlassRatner Advisory & Capital Group LLC (“GlassRatner”), a specialty financial advisory services firm that provides consulting services to shareholders, creditors and companies, including due diligence, fraud investigations, corporate litigation support, crisis management and bankruptcy services. We acquired GlassRatner on August 1, 2018. GlassRatner strengthens B. Riley’s diverse platform and compliments the restructuring services provided by B. Riley Securities.

•        Great American Group Advisory and Valuation Services, LLC, a leading provider of appraisal and valuation services for asset based lenders, private equity firms and corporate clients.

•        B. Riley Retail Solutions, LLC (aka Great American Group, LLC), a leading provider of asset disposition and auction solutions to a wide range of retail and industrial clients.

We also pursue a strategy of investing in or acquiring companies which we believe have attractive investment return characteristics. We acquired United Online, Inc. (“UOL”) on July 1, 2016 and magicJack VocalTec Ltd. (“magicJack”) on November 14, 2018 as part of our principal investment strategy.

•        UOL is a communications company that offers consumer subscription services and products, consisting of Internet access services and devices under the NetZero and Juno brands primarily sold in the United States.

•        magicJack is a Voice over IP (“VoIP”) cloud-based technology and services communications provider.

BR Brand Holding, LLC (“BR Brand”), in which the Company owns a majority interest, provides licensing of a brand investment portfolio. BR Brand owns the assets and intellectual property related to licenses of six brands: Catherine Malandrino, English Laundry, Joan Vass, Kensie Girl, Limited Too and Nanette Lepore. We also own an interest in Hurley, bebe and Justice as part of our Brands segment.

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We are headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in major cities throughout the United States including New York, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Memphis, Metro Washington D.C. and West Palm Beach.

For financial reporting purposes we classify our businesses into five operating segments: (i) Capital Markets, (ii) Auction and Liquidation, (iii) Valuation and Appraisal, (iv) Principal Investments — United Online and magicJack and (v) Brands.

Capital Markets Segment.    Our Capital Markets segment provides a full array of investment banking, corporate finance, consulting, financial advisory, research, securities lending, wealth management and sales and trading services to corporate, institutional and high net worth clients. Our corporate finance and investment banking services include merger and acquisitions as well as restructuring advisory services to public and private companies, initial and secondary public offerings, and institutional private placements. In addition, we trade equity securities as a principal for our account, including investments in funds managed by our subsidiaries. Our Capital Markets segment also includes our asset management businesses that manage various private and public funds for institutional and individual investors.

Auction and Liquidation Segment.    Our Auction and Liquidation segment utilizes our significant industry experience, a scalable network of independent contractors and industry-specific advisors to tailor our services to the specific needs of a multitude of clients, logistical challenges and distressed circumstances. Furthermore, our scale and pool of resources allow us to offer our services across North American as well as parts of Europe, Asia and Australia. Our Auction and Liquidation segment operates through two main divisions, retail store liquidations and wholesale and industrial assets dispositions. Our wholesale and industrial assets dispositions division operates through limited liability companies that are controlled by us.

Valuation and Appraisal Segment.    Our Valuation and Appraisal segment provides valuation and appraisal services to financial institutions, lenders, private equity firms and other providers of capital. These services primarily include the valuation of assets (i) for purposes of determining and monitoring the value of collateral securing financial transactions and loan arrangements and (ii) in connection with potential business combinations. Our Valuation and Appraisal segment operates through limited liability companies that are majority owned by us.

Principal Investments — United Online and magicJack Segment.    Our Principal Investments — United Online and magicJack segment consists of businesses which have been acquired primarily for attractive investment return characteristics. Currently, this segment includes UOL, through which we provide consumer Internet access, and magicJack, through which we provide VoIP communication and related product and subscription services.

Brands Segment.    Our Brands segment consists of our brand investment portfolio that is focused on generating revenue through the licensing of trademarks and is held by BR Brand.

Our Corporate Information

We are a Delaware corporation. Our executive offices are located at 11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 800, Los Angeles, California, 90025, and the telephone number at our principal executive office is (310) 966-1444. Our website addresses are http://www.brileyfin.com, http://www.greatamerican.com, https://www.glassratner.com, http://www.unitedonline.net, http://www.magicjack.com and http://www.vocaltec.com. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus the information on our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of this document.

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described 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 subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, together with all of the other information appearing in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These risks could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations and financial condition. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this prospectus that are not descriptions of historical facts are forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price could be materially negatively affected. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should,” “will,” “would” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated include those set forth in the section titled “Risk Factors.”

We operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment and new risks emerge from time to time. As a result, it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this prospectus speak only as of the date hereof, and except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this prospectus to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.

DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE

The terms of any particular offering by us, the initial offering price and the net proceeds to us will be contained in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, relating to such offering.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes, which may include funding future acquisitions and investments, repaying and/or refinancing indebtedness, making loans and/or providing guaranties or backstop commitments to our clients in the ordinary course of our business, making capital expenditures and funding working capital. Pending any specific application, we may initially invest the net proceeds in short-term interest-bearing accounts, securities or similar investments.

We have not determined the amounts we plan to spend on the areas listed above or the timing of these expenditures. As a result, our management will have broad discretion to allocate the net proceeds of any offering.

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SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

We may issue from time to time, in one or more offerings the following securities:

•        shares of common stock;

•        shares of preferred stock;

•        warrants exercisable for debt securities, common stock or preferred stock;

•        debt securities;

•        depositary shares; and

•        units of common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt securities or depositary shares, in any combination.

This prospectus contains a summary of the material general terms of the various securities that we may offer. The specific terms of the securities will be described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus, which may be in addition to or different from the general terms summarized in this prospectus. Where applicable, the prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus will also describe any material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the securities offered and indicate whether the securities offered are or will be listed on any securities exchange. The summaries contained in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplements, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus may not contain all of the information that you would find useful. Accordingly, you should read the actual documents relating to any securities sold pursuant to this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” for information about how to obtain copies of those documents.

The terms of any particular offering, the initial offering price and the net proceeds to us will be contained in the prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, relating to such offering.

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, provides that we are authorized to issue 101,000,000 shares of capital stock. Our authorized capital stock is comprised of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

The following description is a summary of the material terms of our capital stock and certain provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, each as amended. This description does not purport to be complete. For information on how you can obtain our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, each as amended, see “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

Common Stock

We are authorized to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares voting are able to elect all of our directors. Subject to preferences that may apply to any then outstanding shares of preferred stock, the holders of outstanding shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of assets legally available for distribution at the times and in the amounts, if any, that our Board of Directors may determine from time to time. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, subject to the rights of each series of our preferred stock, which may, from time to time come into existence, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all of our assets remaining after we pay our liabilities. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive or other subscription or conversion rights. Our common stock is not redeemable and there are no sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.

Preferred Stock

Our Board of Directors is authorized, subject to limitations imposed by Delaware law, to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, in one or more series, without stockholder approval. Our Board of Directors is authorized to fix the number of shares of preferred stock and to determine or (so long as no shares of such series are then outstanding) alter for each such series, such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, or other rights and such qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of such shares and as may be permitted by Delaware General Corporation Law. The rights, privileges, preferences and restrictions of any such additional series may be subordinated to, pari passu with, or senior to any of those of any present or future class or series of our capital stock. Our Board of Directors is also authorized to decrease the number of shares of any series, prior or subsequent to the issue of that series, but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding. In case the number of shares of any series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting any decrease shall resume the status which they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.

This section describes the general terms and provisions of our preferred stock. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any shares of preferred stock offered through that prospectus supplement, as well as any general terms described in this section that will not apply to those shares of preferred stock. We will file a copy of the certificate of designation that contains the terms of each new series of preferred stock with the SEC each time we issue a new series of preferred stock. Each certificate of designation will establish the number of shares included in a designated series and fix the designation, powers, privileges, preferences and rights of the shares of each series as well as any applicable qualifications, limitations or restrictions. You should refer to the applicable certificate of designation as well as our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, before deciding to buy shares of our preferred stock as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and Charter Provisions

Interested Stockholder Transactions

We are subject to Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any “business combination” with any “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, with the following exceptions:

•        before such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested holder;

•        upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction began, 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

•        on or after such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 ⅔% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Section 203 defines “business combination” to include the following:

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

•        any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer 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 or 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 by or through the corporation.

In general, Section 203 defines “interested stockholder” as an entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation or any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Provisions in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, each as amended, may have the effect of discouraging certain transactions that may result in a change in control of our company. Some of these provisions provide that stockholders cannot act by written consent and impose advance notice requirements and procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors. Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, allows us to issue shares of preferred stock (see “Blank Check Preferred Stock”) or common stock without any action by stockholders. Our directors and our officers are indemnified by us to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law pursuant to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended. Our Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended. These provisions may make it more difficult for stockholders to take specific corporate actions and may make it more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

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Blank Check Preferred Stock

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, authorizes our Board of Directors to approve the issuance of up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, without further approval of the stockholders, and to determine the rights and preferences of any series of preferred stock. The Board of Directors could issue one or more series of preferred stock with voting, conversion, dividend, liquidation or other rights that would adversely affect the voting power and ownership interest of holders of our common stock. This authority may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers, delaying or preventing a change in control and discouraging bids for our common stock at a premium over the market price.

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or other securities described in this prospectus. We may issue warrants independently or as part of a unit with other securities. Warrants sold with other securities as a unit may be attached to or separate from the other securities. The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants we are offering will describe specific terms relating to the offering, including a description of any other securities sold together with the warrants. These terms will include some or all of the following:

•        the title of the warrants;

•        the aggregate number of warrants offered;

•        the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;

•        the designation, number and terms of any common stock, preferred stock or other securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants and procedures by which those numbers may be adjusted;

•        the exercise price of the warrants, including any provisions for changes or adjustments to the exercise price, and terms relating to the currency in which such price is payable;

•        the dates or periods during which the warrants are exercisable;

•        the designation and terms of any securities with which the warrants are issued as a unit;

•        if the warrants are issued as a unit with another security, the date on or after which the warrants and the other security will be separately transferable;

•        any minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

•        any terms relating to the modification of the warrants;

•        a discussion of material federal income tax considerations, if applicable; and

•        any other terms of the warrants and any other securities sold together with the warrants, including, but not limited to, the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange, exercise or redemption of the warrants.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any warrant units.

The descriptions of the warrants in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreements. These descriptions do not restate those agreements in their entirety and do not contain all of the information that you may find useful. We urge you to read the applicable agreements because they, and not the summaries, define many of your rights as holders of the warrants or any warrant units. For more information, please review the form of the relevant agreements, which will be filed with the SEC promptly after the offering of warrants or warrant units and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

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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. The senior debt securities will rank equally with any other unsubordinated debt that we may have and may be secured or unsecured. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner described in the instrument governing the debt, to all or some portion of our senior indebtedness. Any convertible debt securities that we may issue will be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, preferred stock or other securities of ours or of a third party. Conversion may be mandatory or at your option and would be at prescribed conversion rates.

The debt securities will be issued either (i) pursuant to our existing indenture, dated as of November 2, 2016, as supplemented, between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (as amended, our “2016 Indenture”), (ii) pursuant to our existing indenture, dated as of May 7, 2019, as supplemented, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (as amended, our “2019 Indenture” and together with the 2016 Indenture, the “existing indentures”), or (iii) pursuant to a subordinated debt indenture that we will enter into with The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (“new subordinated debt indenture”). 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 a prospectus supplement (and any free writing prospectus).

We have incorporated by reference our existing indentures and filed forms of our new subordinated debt indenture as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We use the term “indentures” to refer collectively to our existing indentures and our new subordinated debt indenture.

The indentures, to the extent not already qualified, will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

The following summaries of the material provisions of the senior debt securities, the subordinated debt securities and the indentures, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements, does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the form of our new subordinated debt indenture filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is part, as it may be supplemented, amended or modified from time to time, as well as our existing indentures that are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is part. You should read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the series of debt securities being offered, as well as the complete indentures that contain the terms of the debt securities.

The following are some of the terms relating to our existing indentures and our new subordinated debt indenture of debt securities that could be described in a prospectus supplement:

•        title;

•        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 we will issue the series of debt securities in global form and, if so, the terms and who the depositary will be;

•        maturity date;

•        principal amount due at maturity, and whether the debt securities will be issued with any original issue discount;

•        whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a United States person for tax purposes, and whether we can redeem the debt securities if we have to pay such additional amounts;

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•        annual interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate, 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 the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;

•        terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt;

•        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;

•        date, if any, after which, the conditions upon 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 any other applicable terms of those redemption provisions;

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

•        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;

•        whether the indenture will restrict our ability or the ability of our subsidiaries to:

•        incur additional indebtedness;

•        issue additional securities;

•        create liens;

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

•        redeem capital stock;

•        place restrictions on our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends, make distributions or transfer assets;

•        make investments or other restricted payments;

•        sell or otherwise dispose of assets;

•        enter into sale-leaseback transactions;

•        engage in transactions with shareholders or 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;

•        a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities;

•        information describing any book-entry features;

•        procedures for any auction or remarketing, if any;

•        whether the debt securities are to be offered at a price such that they will be deemed to be offered at an “original issue discount” as defined in paragraph (a) of Section 1273 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

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•        denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;

•        if other than dollars, the currency in which the series of debt securities will be denominated; and

•        any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, including any events of default that are in addition to those described in this prospectus or any covenants provided with respect to the debt securities that are in addition to those described above, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the debt securities.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, preferred stock or other securities of ours, including the conversion or exchange rate, as applicable, or how it will be calculated, and the applicable conversion or exchange period. 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 our securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive upon conversion or exchange would, under the circumstances described in those provisions, be subject to adjustment, or pursuant to which those holders would, under those circumstances, receive other property upon conversion or exchange, for example in the event of our merger or consolidation with another entity.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

The terms of any securities that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus may limit our ability to merge or consolidate or otherwise sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets, which terms would be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and supplemental indenture. Any successor of ours or acquiror of such assets would have to assume all of our obligations under the indentures and the debt securities, as appropriate.

If the debt securities are convertible for our other securities, the person with whom we consolidate or merge or to whom we sell all of our property would have to 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 Indenture

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, 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 30 days and the time for payment has not been extended or deferred;

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

•        if we fail to deposit any sinking fund payment, to the extent applicable, when and as due;

•        if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the debt securities or the indentures, and our failure continues for 60 days after we receive notice from the trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and

•        if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur.

If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the 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 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

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immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding would be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the 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 waiver shall cure the default or event of default.

Subject to the terms of the indentures, if an event of default under an indenture occurs and continues, the trustee would 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 trustee indemnity satisfactory to the trustee. 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 trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:

•        the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture, nor subject the trustee to a risk of personal liability in respect of which the trustee has not received indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses, liabilities and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action; and

•        the trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

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

•        the holder has given written notice to the 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 indemnity satisfactory to the trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee; and

•        the 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 interest on, the debt securities.

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

Supplemental Indentures

We and the trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or supplemental indenture without the consent of any holders for one or more of the following purposes:

•        to evidence the succession of another corporation, and the assumption by the successor corporation of our covenants, agreements and obligations under the indenture and debt securities;

•        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 continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default;

•        to modify, eliminate or add to any of the provisions of the indenture to such extent as necessary to effect the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, and to add to the indenture such other provisions as may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, excluding however, the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act;

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•        to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained in the indenture or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with other provisions;

•        to make provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under the indenture, so long such other provisions to do not adversely affect the interest of any other holder of debt securities in any material respect;

•        to secure any series of security;

•        to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment of a successor trustee and to add or change any provisions of the indenture as necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trust by more than one trustee; and

•        to establish the form or terms of securities of any series as permitted under the indenture, including any subordination provisions.

In addition, we and the trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected, may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or supplemental indenture for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner the rights of the holders of the securities of such series and any related coupons of the indenture, provided that no such supplemental indenture shall:

•        extend the fixed maturity of any securities, or reduce the principal amount thereof or premium, if any, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest, without the extent of the holder so affected;

•        reduce the aforesaid percentage of securities, the consent of the holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of all holders of outstanding series of debt securities; or

•        modify any of the above provisions.

Discharge

Each indenture will provide 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; and

•        hold monies for payment in trust.

In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the trustee money or government obligations, or a combination thereof, sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The indentures will provide that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company or another depositary named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus with respect to that series.

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 or free writing prospectus, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

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Subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will make no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.

We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus 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 any series being redeemed in part during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of sending 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 such transmission; 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 Trustee

The 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 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 trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by an indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered 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 or free writing prospectus, 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 or free writing prospectus, we may make interest payments by check which we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we will designate an office or agency of the trustee in the contiguous United States as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

All money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities which 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.

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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.

Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Our new subordinated debt indenture in the form initially filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and our existing indentures, do not limit the amount of indebtedness which we may incur, including senior indebtedness or subordinated indebtedness, and do not limit us from issuing any other debt, including secured debt or unsecured debt.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

General

We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional interests in 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. You should refer to the form of the deposit agreement 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, or otherwise in accordance with the terms of, the underlying preferred stock. The depositary will not distribute amounts less than one cent. The depositary will distribute any balance with the next sum received for distribution to record holders of depositary shares.

If there is a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property 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 the Corporation, 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 to 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.

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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 the preferred stock redeemed, so long as we have set aside all funds necessary for the redemption, including the redemption price for such shares and all dividends declared but not paid as of the date fixed for redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will bear the same relationship to the redemption price per share of preferred stock that the depositary share bears to the underlying preferred stock. If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata, by lot or by any other equitable method.

After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be outstanding. When the depositary shares are no longer outstanding, all rights of the holders will cease, except the right to receive money or other property that the holders of the depositary shares were entitled to receive upon the redemption. Payments will be made when holders surrender their depositary receipts to the depositary.

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 forward the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts relating to that preferred stock. The relevant record date for depositary shares will be the same date as the record date for, or otherwise in accordance with the terms of, the underlying 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 reasonably 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 reasonable action requested by and deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to do so. In the absence of any specific instructions from a holder of depositary shares, the depositary will, subject to any applicable restrictions, cast votes pertaining to the number of whole shares of preferred stock represented by such depositary shares proportionately with instructions actually received.

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 associated 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 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 will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by at least a majority (or, in the case of such amendments relating to or affecting rights to receive dividends or distributions or voting or redemption rights, holders of at least two-thirds) 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 liquidation, dissolution or winding up and such distribution has been made to all the holders of depositary shares.

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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 of us is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. Our obligations and those of the depositary under the deposit agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of our and their obligations 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 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.

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The prospectus supplement will describe:

•        the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be held or transferred separately;

•        the terms of any unit agreement governing the units;

•        the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units;

•        material federal income tax considerations, if applicable; and

•        whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form.

The descriptions of the units and any applicable underlying security or pledge arrangements in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable agreements. These descriptions do not restate those agreements in their entirety and may not contain all the information that you may find useful. We urge you to read the applicable agreements because they, and not the summaries, define many of your rights as holders of the units. For more information, please review the form of the relevant agreements, which will be filed with the SEC promptly after the offering of units and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Securities Offered by Us

We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades, “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers, including our affiliates, or through a combination of any of these methods.

We may distribute securities from time to time in one or more transactions:

•        at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

•        at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

•        at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

•        at negotiated prices.

Unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of any underwriter to purchase securities will be subject to certain conditions, and an underwriter will be obligated to purchase all of the applicable securities if any are purchased. If a dealer is used in a sale, we may sell the securities to the dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.

We or our agents may solicit offers to purchase securities from time to time. Unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

In connection with the sale of securities, underwriters or agents may receive compensation (in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions) from us or from purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters may sell securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of securities may be deemed to be underwriters, as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profits on the resale of the securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify any such underwriter or agent, and we will describe any compensation paid to them, in the related prospectus supplement.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled under agreements with us to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

If stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize agents and underwriters to solicit offers by certain specified institutions or other persons to purchase securities at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement under delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. Institutions with which these contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions, and other institutions, but shall in all cases be subject to our approval. These contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of these contracts. The obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the securities shall not be prohibited at the time of delivery under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the purchaser is subject. The underwriters and other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of these contracts.

There is no established trading market for any security other than our common stock, which is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “RILY”, our Series A Depositary Shares, listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYP”, our Series B Depositary Shares, listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYL,” our 7.50% Senior Notes due 2027, listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYZ”, our 7.375% Senior Notes due 2023, listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYH”, our 7.25% Senior Notes due 2027, listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYG”, our 6.875% Senior Notes due 2023, listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYI”, our 6.75% Senior Notes due 2024, listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYO”, our 6.50% Senior Notes due 2026, listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYN”, our 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025, listed on NASDAQ under the symbol

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“RILYM” and our 6.00% Senior Notes due 2028, listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYT.” The securities issued under this registration statement may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of our securities. Any underwriter may make a market in these securities. However, no underwriter will be obligated to do so, and any underwriter may discontinue any market making at any time, without prior notice.

If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, until the distribution of the securities is completed, SEC rules may limit the ability of any underwriters and selling group members to bid for and purchase the securities. As an exception to these rules, representatives of any underwriters are permitted to engage in certain transactions that stabilize the price of the securities. These transactions may consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. If the underwriters create a short position in the applicable securities in connection with any offering (in other words, if they sell more securities than are set forth on the cover page of the applicable prospectus supplement) the representatives of the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing securities in the open market. The representatives of the underwriters may also elect to reduce any short position by exercising all or part of any over-allotment option we may grant to the underwriters, as described in the prospectus supplement. The representatives of the underwriters may also impose a penalty bid on certain underwriters and selling group members. This means that if the representatives purchase securities in the open market to reduce the underwriters’ short position or to stabilize the price of the securities, they may reclaim the amount of the selling concession from the underwriters and selling group members who sold those shares as part of the offering.

In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than it might be in the absence of those purchases. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of the securities to the extent that it discourages resales of the securities. The transactions described above may have the effect of causing the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the representatives of the underwriters may discontinue any of the transactions at any time. In addition, the representatives of any underwriters may determine not to engage in those transactions or that those transactions, once commenced, may be discontinued without notice.

Certain of the underwriters or agents and their associates may engage in transactions with and perform services for us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of their respective businesses.

In no event will the commission or discount received by any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) member or independent broker-dealer participating in a distribution of securities exceed eight percent of the aggregate principal amount of the offering of securities in which that FINRA member or independent broker-dealer participates.

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LEGAL MATTERS

The NBD Group, Inc., Los Angeles, California, has passed upon the validity of the securities to be offered pursuant to this prospectus.

EXPERTS

Marcum LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, as well as the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, as stated in its report incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and such audited consolidated financial statements have been incorporated by reference into this prospectus in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon its authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The combined financial statements of BR Brand Group as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2018 incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of Mayer Hoffman McCann CPAs, The New York Practice of Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C., independent auditor of BR Brand Group, incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document that we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, on official business days during the hours of 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. All filings we make with the SEC are also available on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. Our website addresses are http://www.greatamerican.com, http://www.brileyfin.com, http://www.unitedonline.net, http://www.magicjack.com and http://www.vocaltec.com. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information on our websites, and you should not consider it to be a part of this document.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities being offered by this prospectus. This prospectus is part of that registration statement. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities we are offering pursuant to this prospectus, you should refer to the complete registration statement, its exhibits and the information incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and you should refer to the copy of that contract or other documents filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. You may read or obtain a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference room and website referred to above.

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

For purposes of this prospectus, the SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” certain information we have filed with the SEC, which means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to other information we have filed with the SEC. The information we incorporate by reference is considered part of this prospectus. We specifically are incorporating by reference the following documents filed with the SEC (excluding those portions of any Current Report on Form 8-K that are not deemed “filed” pursuant to the General Instructions of Form 8-K):

•        Our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020, and September 30, filed with the SEC on May 11, 2020, August 3, 2020 and October 30, 2020, respectively;

•        Our annual report on Form 10-K for the year December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2020 and Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 23, 2020;

•        Our current reports on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on November 26, 2019, and our current reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 1, 2019, January 9, 2020, February 10, 2020, February 12, 2020, February 21, 2020, April 13, 2020, May 6, 2020, May 15, 2020, June 24, 2020, September 1, 2020, September 4, 2020, September 14, 2020, October 13, 2020, January 6, 2021, January 11, 2021, January 15, 2021 and January 25, 2021;

•        Description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on July 15, 2015;

•        Certificate of Designation designating the 6.875% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock filed on October 4, 2019; and

•        Certificate of Designation designating the 7.375% Series B Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock filed on September 3, 2020.

All documents we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, except as to any portion of any report or documents that is not deemed filed under such provisions, (1) on or after the date of filing of the registration statement containing this prospectus and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement and (2) on or after the date of this prospectus until the earlier of the date on which all of the securities registered hereunder have been sold or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part has been withdrawn, shall be deemed incorporated by reference in this prospectus and to be a part of this prospectus from the date of filing of those documents.

These reports and documents can be accessed free of charge on our website http://www.brileyfin.com by clicking on “Investor Relations” and then clicking on “SEC Filings.” We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, but not delivered with the prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into the documents that this prospectus incorporates. Please send written requests to:

11100 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 800
Los Angeles, California 90025
Attn.: Chief Financial Officer

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front page of those documents.

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$125,000,000

% Senior Notes due 2026

________________________________

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
________________________________

Book-Running Managers

B. Riley Securities

 

Incapital

 

Ladenburg Thalmann

National Securities Corporation

 

William Blair

Co-Managers

Aegis Capital Corp.

 

Boenning & Scattergood

 

Huntington Capital Markets

Kingswood Capital Markets, division of Benchmark Investments, Inc.

 

Newbridge Securities Corporation

 

Wedbush Securities

        , 2021