S-3 1 forms-3.htm

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 2, 2024

 

Registration No. __________

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-3

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

DELAWARE

 

58-1954497

(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)

 

8302 Dunwoody Place, #250

Atlanta, Georgia 30350

(770) 587-9898

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

 

Ben Naccarato

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.

8302 Dunwoody Place, #250

Atlanta, Georgia 30350

(770) 587-9898

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

 

Copies to:

 

Irwin H. Steinhorn, Esq.

Jeanette C. Timmons, Esq.

Steptoe & Johnson PLLC

210 Park Avenue, Suite 2300

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102

(405) 825-9058

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer Smaller reporting company
    Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has selected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

 
 

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to completion, dated December 2, 2024

 

PROSPECTUS

 


 

PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

 

$100,000,000

 

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Depositary Shares

Warrants

Rights

Purchase Contracts

Units

 

We may offer and sell from time to time shares of our common stock, shares of our preferred stock, debt securities, depositary shares, warrants, rights, purchase contracts or units, or any combination thereof, in one or more offerings in amounts, at prices and on terms that we determine at the time of the offering, with an aggregate initial offering price of up to $100,000,000 (or its equivalent in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies).

 

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the manner in which they may be offered. We will provide the specific terms of any offering of securities in one or more supplements to this prospectus containing more information about the particular offering. The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

These securities may be sold on a continuous or delayed basis to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers, directly to purchasers, through agents in “at the market” offerings or otherwise through a combination of any of these methods of sale.

 

Our common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “PESI.” If we decide to list or seek a quotation for any other securities, the prospectus supplement relating to those securities will disclose the exchange or market on which those securities will be listed or quoted.

 

 

 

Investing in our securities involves significant risks. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” on page 8 of this prospectus and any similar section contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, as well as the “Risk Factors” incorporated by reference into this prospectus from our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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

 

The date of this prospectus is          , 2024.

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 1
   
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 2
   
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE 2
   
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 4
   
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY 6
   
RISK FACTORS 8
   
USE OF PROCEEDS 8
   
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER 9
   
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK 9
   
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK 11
   
DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES 12
   
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES 18
   
DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS 21
   
DESCRIPTION OF THE RIGHTS 23
   
DESCRIPTION OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACTS 24
   
DESCRIPTION OF THE UNITS 25
   
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 26
   
LEGAL MATTERS 28
   
EXPERTS 28

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

To understand the terms of the securities offered by this prospectus, you should carefully read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. You should also read the documents referred to under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on us and the business conducted by us.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell from time to time shares of our common stock, shares of our preferred stock, debt securities, depositary shares, warrants, rights, purchase contracts or units, or any combination thereof, in one or more offerings in amounts, at prices and on terms that we determine at the time of the offering, with an aggregate initial offering price of up to $100,000,000 (or its equivalent in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies). This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities. Each time we offer the securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that describes the terms of the offering. The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Before making an investment decision, you should read carefully both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus as described below under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”

 

The registration statement that contains this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement and the information incorporated by reference, provides additional information about us and our securities. That registration statement can be found on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

We have not authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus is accurate at any date other than the date indicated on the cover page of these documents. We are not making an offer to sell the securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

We may sell the securities to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers, directly to purchasers, through agents, in “at the market” offerings or otherwise through a combination of any of these methods of sale. The securities may be sold for U.S. dollars, foreign-denominated currency, currency units or composite currencies. Amounts payable with respect to any securities may be payable in U.S. dollars or foreign-denominated currency, currency units or composite currencies as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. We and our agents reserve the sole right to accept or reject in whole or in part any proposed purchase of the securities. The prospectus supplement, which we will provide each time we offer the securities, will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of the securities, and any related fee, commission or discount arrangements. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

The prospectus supplement may also contain information about any material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the securities covered by the prospectus supplement.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “Perma-Fix,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which is part of the registration statement, omits certain information, exhibits, schedules, and undertakings set forth in the registration statement. You may refer to the registration statement, exhibits, and schedules for more information about us and the securities. The registration statement, exhibits, and schedules are available through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 19343, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and, in accordance with such requirements, we file periodic reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC, including our audited financial statements. Our publicly available filings can be found on the SEC’s website. We also maintain a website at www.perma-fix.com, at which you may access these filings as well as additional information that we have made public to investors. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus (except for SEC reports expressly incorporated by reference herein).

 

You should rely only on the information in this prospectus and the additional information described above and under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” below. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely upon it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus was accurate on the date of the front cover of this prospectus only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information contained in documents that we file separately with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those other documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus or the prospectus supplement. The following documents have been filed by us with the SEC and are incorporated by reference into this prospectus:

 

  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 13, 2024;
     
  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 09, 2024;
     
  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on August 8, 2024
     
  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on November 13, 2024
     
  Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 10, 2024;
     
  Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 14, 2024;
     
  Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 24, 2024;
     
  Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 19, 2024;
     
 

The description of our common stock that is contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, that became effective on October 30, 1992, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

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All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than documents or portions of documents deemed to be furnished pursuant to the Exchange Act), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold, or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

 

You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, the prospectus supplement, any applicable pricing supplement or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

You may obtain copies of any of these filings by contacting us as described below, or by contacting the SEC or accessing its website as described above under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.” We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, without charge upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus, including exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. You may request a copy of these filings by writing or calling us at:

 

Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.

8302 Dunwoody Place, #250

Atlanta, Georgia 30350

(770) 587-9898

 

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON, OR ACCESSIBLE THROUGH, OUR WEBSITE IS NOT INCORPORATED INTO AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A PART OF THIS PROSPECTUS.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management, and expected market growth are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are contained principally in the sections entitled “Summary,” “Risk Factors” and “Use of Proceeds.” Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, any time we use the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology, and similar expressions, we intend to clearly express that the information deals with possible future events and is forward-looking in nature. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

 

These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” and the risks set out below, any of which may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks include, by way of example and not in limitation:

 

 

demand for our services;

     
 

reductions in the level of government funding in future years and its effect on the Company;

     
 

the possibility that accelerated investments could adversely affect our operations an ongoing basis;

     
 

our belief that our base business is well-positioned for fiscal 2025;

     
 

our belief that advancement of certain initiatives should have a positive impact beginning in the second half of fiscal 2024;

     
 

our ability to reduce operating costs and non-essential expenditures;

     
 

our ability to meet loan agreement quarterly covenant requirements;

     
 

our ability to collect in a timely manner a material amount of receivables;

     
 

our cash flow requirements;

     
 

our belief that we have sufficient liquidity to fund operations for the next 12 months through cash from operations, borrowing availability under our credit facility, financing, and the collection of accounts receivable;

     
 

the timing and amount of revenue under a multi-year contract awarded by the European Commission to our joint venture with Campoverde Srl;

     
 

our ability to obtain additional grants or bid awards internationally;

     
 

the manner in which applicable governmental entities are required to spend funding to remediate various sites containing environmental hazards;

     
 

our ability to develop and/or improve new and existing technologies in the conduct of operations;

     
 

uncertainties related to our new PFAS destruction technology process, including market acceptance of its superiority to currently available treatment options, expenditures associated with scalability, and our ability to advance operations at our pilot PFAS destruction unit and accept commercial quantities of waste for destruction by mid-2025;

 

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our ability to fund remediation expenditures for sites from funds generated internally;

     
 

the need to use internally generated funds for purposes not presently anticipated;

     
 

discovery of additional contamination or expanded contamination at any of the sites or facilities leased or owned by us or our subsidiaries which would result in a material increase in remediation expenditures;

     
 

delays at our third-party disposal site can extend collection of our receivables greater than twelve months;

     
 

a change in regulations reducing or even eliminating existing requirements to obtain permits for treatment, storage, and disposal (TSD) activities or licensing to handle low-level radioactive materials;

     
 

terminations of contracts with government agencies or subcontracts involving government agencies, or reduction in amount of waste delivered to the Company under the contracts or subcontracts;

     
 

changes in the scope of work relating to existing contracts;

     
 

failure of our Italian joint venture partner to meets its performance obligations under the terms of the European Commission bid award;

     
 

compliance with environmental regulations;

     
 

our ability to obtain procurement contracts from the Department of Energy (“DOE”) and other government agencies;

     
 

delays in waste shipments and contract awards;

     
 

the risk that disposal expense accrual could prove to be inadequate in the event the waste requires re-treatment;

     
 

potential effect of being a “Potentially Responsible Party,” or PRP, as such term is defined in 40 CFR § 304.12; and

     
  potential violations of environmental laws and attendant remediation at our facilities.
     
 

inability to raise capital on commercially reasonable terms; and

     
 

inability of the Company to maintain the listing of its common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

The foregoing list sets forth many, but not all, of the factors that could impact our ability to achieve results described in any forward-looking statements. Investors should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors and should not consider this list to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties.

 

Moreover, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and any related free-writing prospectus, and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We cannot assure you that the results, events, and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur, and actual results, events, or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

 

You should read this prospectus and the documents that we incorporate by reference herein with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we currently expect. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and any document incorporated by reference herein is accurate as of its date only. Because the risks referred to above could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which factors may arise. In addition, we cannot predict the impact of each factor 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 qualify all of the information presented in this prospectus and any document incorporated herein by reference, and particularly our forward-looking statements, by these cautionary statements.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

The following summary highlights selected information from this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you need to consider in making your investment decision. You should carefully read the entire prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, including the risks of investing in our securities discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should also carefully read the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our financial statements, and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

Our Company and Business

 

We are an environmental services and environmental technology know-how company providing waste treatment, processing, and disposal services for nuclear, low-level radioactive, mixed, hazardous, and non-hazardous waste, primarily through four treatment and storage facilities that are licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (or state equivalent agency) and permitted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) or state-equivalent agency. We also conduct research and development (“R&D”) activities to identify, develop and implement innovative waste processing techniques for problematic waste streams, as well as provide technical services and on-site waste management services to commercial and governmental customers.

 

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, we provide services across the United States and internationally to research institutions, commercial companies, public utilities, and governmental agencies (domestic and foreign), including the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) and U.S. Department of Defense (“DOD”). The distribution channels for our services are through direct sales to customers or via intermediaries.

 

Our business is conducted through two operating segments, treatment and services, which contributed approximately 48.5% and 51.5%, respectively, to our total revenue in 2023. Historically, we have focused our business strategy in the treatment segment on upgrading our treatment facilities to increase efficiency and modernize and expand treatment capabilities to meet the changing markets associated with the waste management industry. Within our services segment, we continue to revitalize and expand our business development programs to further increase competitive procurement effectiveness and broaden the market penetration within both the commercial and government sectors. The Company also remains focused on expansion into both commercial and international markets to supplement government spending in the United States, from which a significant portion of the Company’s revenue is derived. Inherent in our strategy is the development of new services, new customers, and increased market share in our current markets.

 

For a description of our business, financial condition, results of operations and other important information regarding Perma-Fix, we refer you to our filings with the SEC incorporated by reference into this prospectus. For instructions on how to find copies of these documents, see “Where You Can Find More Information.” More information about us is also available through our website at www.perma-fix.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement (except for SEC reports that are expressly incorporated by reference herein).

 

Corporate Information

 

We are a Delaware corporation incorporated in December 1990. Our principal executive offices are located at 8302 Dunwoody Place, Suite 250, Atlanta, Georgia 30350, and our telephone number is (770) 587-9898. Our website address is www.perma-fix.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and should not be considered to be a part of this prospectus. Our internet address is included in this prospectus supplement as an inactive textual reference only.

 

The Securities That May Be Offered

 

We may offer or sell common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, depositary shares, warrants, rights, purchase contracts, and units in one or more offerings and in any combination. The aggregate offering price of the securities we sell pursuant to this prospectus will not exceed $100,000,000. Each time securities are offered with this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered and the net proceeds we expect to receive from that sale.

 

 

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The securities may be sold to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers or as otherwise set forth in the section of this prospectus captioned “Plan of Distribution.” Each prospectus supplement will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers, agents or other entities involved in the sale of securities described in that prospectus supplement and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them.

 

Common Stock

 

We may offer shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, either alone or underlying other registered securities convertible into our common stock. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, subject to rights, if any, of preferred shareholders. We have not paid dividends in the past and have no current plans to pay dividends. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote per share. The holders of common stock have no preemptive rights.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our board of directors has the authority, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations or restrictions, in each case without further vote or action by our shareholders. Each series of preferred stock offered by us will be more fully described in the particular prospectus supplement that will accompany this prospectus, including redemption provisions, rights in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, voting rights and rights to convert into common stock.

 

Debt Securities

 

We may offer secured or unsecured obligations in the form of one or more series of senior or subordinated debt. The senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities are together referred to in this prospectus as the “debt securities.” The subordinated debt securities generally will be entitled to payment only after payment of our senior debt. Senior debt generally includes all debt for money borrowed by us, except debt that is stated in the instrument governing the terms of that debt to be not senior to, or to have the same rank in right of payment as, or to be expressly junior to, the subordinated debt securities. We may issue debt securities that are convertible into shares of our common stock.

 

The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee to be identified in an accompanying prospectus supplement. We have summarized the general features of the debt securities to be governed by the indenture in this prospectus and the form of indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We encourage you to read the indenture.

 

Depositary Shares

 

We may offer depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts, with each depositary share representing a fractional interest in a share of a particular series of preferred stock issued and deposited with a depositary to be designated by us. Each series of depositary shares or depositary receipts offered by us will be more fully described in the particular prospectus supplement that will accompany this prospectus, including redemption provisions, rights in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, voting rights and rights to convert into common stock.

 

Warrants

 

We may offer warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or depositary shares. We may offer warrants independently or together with other securities.

 

Rights

 

We may offer rights to purchase our common stock. These rights may be offered independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the securityholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering.

 

Purchase Contracts

 

We may offer purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders or us to purchase from the other a specific or variable number of securities at a future date or dates.

 

Units

 

We may offer units comprised of one or more of the other classes of 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.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus involves substantial risks. Before you decide whether to purchase any of our securities, you should carefully consider the specific risks discussed in, or incorporated by reference into, the applicable prospectus supplement, together with all the other information contained in the prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. These risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. For more information, please see “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.” 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.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We maintain broad discretion over the use of proceeds from the sale of securities pursuant to this prospectus. Unless we specify otherwise in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities by us for general corporate purposes, which may include, but is not limited to, working capital, repayment of indebtedness, capital expenditures, research and development expenditures, and acquisitions of new technologies or businesses, subject in all respects to the consent of our secured creditor. The precise amount, use and timing of the application of such proceeds will depend upon our funding requirements and the availability and cost of other capital. Any allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of such offering and will be described in the accompanying supplement to this prospectus.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

 

The descriptions of the securities contained in this prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplements, summarize material terms and provisions of the various types of securities that we may offer. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any securities the particular terms of the securities offered by that prospectus supplement. If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the terms of the securities may differ from the terms we have summarized below. We will also include information in the prospectus supplement, where applicable, about material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the securities, and the securities exchange, if any, on which the securities will be listed. This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

 

General

 

The following description summarizes some of the terms of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and our Second Amended and Restated By-Laws, as amended (the “Bylaws”), and of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). This description is summarized from, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, each of which has been publicly filed with the SEC, as well as the relevant provisions of the DGCL.

 

Capital Stock

 

Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes us to issue up to 30,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of November 21, 2024, there were 15,847,237 shares of our common stock outstanding.

 

Voting Power

 

Except as otherwise required by law or as otherwise provided in any certificate of designation for any series of preferred stock, the holders of common stock possess all voting power for the election of our directors and all other matters requiring stockholder action. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on matters to be voted on by stockholders.

 

Dividends

 

Common stockholders are entitled to receive dividends declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, subject to the rights, if any, of preferred stockholders. However, we have never paid a dividend and we do not anticipate paying a dividend in the foreseeable future. Our current secured credit facility prohibits us from paying cash dividends on our common stock without prior approval from our lender.

 

Liquidation

 

Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business, the holders of common stock are entitled to share equally in all assets available for distribution after payment of all liabilities and provision for liquidation preference of shares of preferred stock then outstanding.

 

Preemptive or Other Rights

 

The holders of common stock have no preemptive rights and no rights to convert their common stock into any other securities. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Options and Other Equity Awards

 

Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes us to issue shares of common stock and options, rights, and warrants relating to the common stock for the consideration and on the terms and conditions established by our board of directors in its sole discretion, whether in connection with acquisitions or otherwise. As of November 21, 2024, we had (i) 1,000,900 shares of common stock issuable under outstanding options granted pursuant to various incentive stock option plans of the Company, and (ii) an additional 61,538 shares available for issuance pursuant to outstanding warrants.

 

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Antitakeover Effects of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

We are a Delaware corporation governed by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, or the DGCL, including the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a Delaware public corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. As a result of Section 203, potential acquirers may be discouraged from attempting to effect acquisition transactions with us, thereby possibly depriving our security holders of certain opportunities to sell, or otherwise dispose of, such securities at above-market prices pursuant to such transactions. Further, certain of our option plans provide for the immediate acceleration of, and removal of restrictions from, options and other awards under such plans upon a “change of control” (as defined in the respective plans). Such provisions may also have the result of discouraging acquisition of us.

 

As of November 21, 2024, out of 30,000,000 shares of common stock authorized, we had 15,847,237 shares of common stock outstanding and 7,642 shares of treasury stock. In addition, at November 21, 2024, we had outstanding options to purchase 1,000,900 shares of our common stock at exercise prices ranging from $3.15 to $10.20 per share, and outstanding warrants to purchase 61,538 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $12.19 per share. Assuming the issuance of the common stock underlying such outstanding options and warrants, as of November 21, 2024, we had available for future issuance 13,090,325 shares of authorized and unissued common stock, including 897,934 shares of common stock available for issuance under our various incentive stock option plans, and 2,000,000 shares of our preferred stock. Future sales of authorized and unissued shares could be used by our management to make it more difficult for, and thereby discourage, an attempt to acquire control of us.

 

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Meetings, Nominations and Proposals

 

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by either the Chairman of the Board, if one has been elected, or the Chief Executive Officer, and shall be called by either such officer or the Secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the Board of Directors, but such special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons. In addition, any stockholder who wishes to bring business before an annual meeting or nominate directors must comply with the requirements set forth in our Bylaws. These provisions may have the effect of deferring, delaying or discouraging hostile takeovers or changes in control or management of our company.

 

No Cumulative Voting

 

The DGCL provides that stockholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004-1561.

 

Exchange Listing

 

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

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

 

We are authorized to issue 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. Our board of directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock in one or more series, and with respect to each series, to establish the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the voting powers (if any), designations, powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, of the shares of each such series, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The powers (including voting powers), preferences, and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of preferred stock and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any other series at any time outstanding. As of November 21, 2024, no shares of preferred stock are outstanding.

 

The authorization of undesignated preferred stock in our Certificate of Incorporation will make it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock with super voting, special approval, dividend or other rights or preferences on a discriminatory basis that could impede the success of any attempt to acquire us. These and other provisions may have the effect of deferring, delaying or discouraging hostile takeovers, or changes in control or management of our company.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES

 

We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to the indenture also refer to any supplemental indentures or officer’s certificates that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.

 

We will issue the debt securities under the indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the indenture. The indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures, officer’s certificates and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.

 

The following summary of material provisions of the debt securities and the indenture is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. You are urged to read the applicable prospectus supplements or officer’s certificates and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities.

 

General

 

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that the Company may issue and it provides that the Company may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that the Company may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that the Company may designate. Except for the limitations on merger, consolidation and sale of all or substantially all of the Company assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in the Company’s operations, financial condition or transactions involving the Company.

 

The Company may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may be issued with “original issue discount,” or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of interest payment and other characteristics or terms of the debt securities. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with OID will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate will describe the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:

 

the title of the series of debt securities;
the forms of the series of debt securities;
the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the series of debt securities will be issued;
any limit upon the aggregate principal amount that may be issued;
the maturity date or dates;
the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the series of debt securities shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;
the place or places where the principal of, premium and interest, if any, on the series of debt securities shall be payable, where the series of debt securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the series of debt securities may be served, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;

 

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if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the series of debt securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase the series of debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which series of debt securities shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the series of debt securities will be repurchased by the Company at the option of the holders thereof and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations;
the denominations in which the series of debt securities shall be issuable, if other than minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;
if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the series of debt securities that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;
the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of, premium and interest, if any, on the series of debt securities will be made if other than U.S. dollars;
any addition to or change in the events of default under the indenture which applies to any series of debt securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite Holders of such debt securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable;
any addition to or change in the covenants set forth under the indenture which applies to series of debt securities;
any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to series of debt securities if other than those appointed in the indenture the applicability of any guarantees;
whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;
whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination;
The Company’s right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;
whether the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities; the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such global security or securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities; and the depositary for such global security or securities; and
any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, any other additions or changes in the provisions of the indenture (which may modify or delete any provision of the indenture insofar as it applies to such series), and any terms that may be required by the Company or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.

 

Conversion or Exchange Rights

 

The applicable prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate may set forth the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for the Company’s common stock or its other securities. The applicable prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate may include provisions as to settlement upon conversion or exchange and whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at the Company’s option. The applicable prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of the Company’s common stock or the Company’s other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.

 

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Events of Default under the Indenture

 

Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities that the Company may issue:

 

if the Company fails to pay any installment of interest on such series of debt securities, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;
if the Company fails to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, on such series of debt securities as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to such series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such debt securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any;
if the Company fails to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the debt securities of such series or the indenture, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and such failure continues for 90 days after the Company receives written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such is a notice of default thereunder, from the trustee or holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and
if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur.

 

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 not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to the Company 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, of such series of debt securities due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to the Company, the principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the 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 (including acceleration described in the preceding paragraph), except that such waivers of defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, require that the Company shall have paid or set aside with the trustee sufficient funds to pay all amounts then due and payable otherwise then due and payable otherwise then by acceleration. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.

 

Subject to the terms of the indenture, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that the trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the indenture that the trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other holders of the debt securities of any series or that may involve the trustee in personal liability.

 

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No holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the indenture or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies unless:

 

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 for the trustee to initiate such action or proceeding;
such holders have offered to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred by the trustee in compliance with the request;
the trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and
during such 60-day period the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series do not give the trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

 

No holder of the debt securities of any series may use the indenture to prejudice the rights of another holder of the debt securities of such series or to obtain a preference or priority over another holder of the debt securities of such series.

 

On an annual basis, the Company will provide statements to the trustee regarding its compliance with specified covenants in the indenture.

 

Modification of Indenture; Waiver

 

Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the Company and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters:

 

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture or in the debt securities of any series;
to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities;
to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations to the holders of the debt securities of any series by a successor to the Company;
to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of the debt securities of any series or that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any holder;
to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act (“TIA”);
to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of debt securities of any series as permitted by the indenture;
to add guarantees with respect to the debt securities of any series or to provide security for the debt securities of any series; or
to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee.

 

In addition, under the indenture, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by the Company and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the Company and the trustee may make the following changes only with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:

 

reduce the principal amount or change the fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption or repurchase of the debt securities of any series;
reduce the rate (or alter the method of computation) of or extend the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any debt securities of any series;
waive a default or event of default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities of any series, except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration;
make the principal of or premium, if any or interest on any debt securities of any series payable in currency other than that stated in the debt securities of any series;
make any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to waivers of past defaults or the rights of holders of the debt securities of any series to receive payments of principal of or premium, interest, if any, on the debt securities of any series and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payments;
make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions; or
reduce the percentage in principal amount of any debt securities of any series, the consent of the holders of which is required for any of the foregoing modifications or otherwise necessary to modify or amend the indenture or to waive any past defaults.

 

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Discharge

 

The indenture provides that the Company can elect to be discharged from its obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities that shall become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year, including obligations to:

 

provide for payment;
register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series;
replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series;
pay principal of and premium and interest on any debt securities of the series;
maintain paying agencies;
hold monies for payment in trust;
recover excess money held by the trustee;
compensate and indemnify the trustee; and
appoint any successor trustee.

 

In order to exercise its rights to be discharged, the Company must irrevocably deposit with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities of the series when payments are due on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption.

 

Form, Exchange and Transfer

 

The Company will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The indenture provides that the Company may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or another depositary named by the Company and identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate with respect to that series. To the extent the debt securities of a series are issued in global form and as book-entry, a description of terms relating to any book-entry securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate.

 

At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

 

Subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate, 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 the Company or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by the Company for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, the Company will impose no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate will name the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that the Company initially designates for any debt securities. The Company 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 the Company will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.

 

If the Company elects to redeem the debt securities of any series, the Company will not be required to:

 

issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or
register the transfer of or exchange of any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities the Company is redeeming in part.

 

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Information Concerning the Trustee

 

The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee to be named in the indenture. 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 the indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate, the Company 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.

 

The Company 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 it, except that unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate, the Company will make interest payments by check that it will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate, the Company will designate the corporate trust office of the trustee as its sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. The applicable prospectus supplement or officer’s certificate will name any other paying agents that the Company initially designates for the debt securities of a particular series. The Company will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

 

All money the Company pays to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to the Company, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to the Company for payment thereof.

 

Governing Law

 

The indenture and the debt securities, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to the indenture or the debt securities, will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

General

 

We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional shares rather than full shares of the preferred stock of a series. In the event that we determine to do so, we will issue receipts for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction (to be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock) of a share of a particular series of preferred stock as more fully described below.

 

The shares of any series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under one or more deposit agreements among us, a depositary to be named in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the holders from time to time of depositary receipts issued thereunder. Subject to the terms of the applicable deposit agreement, each holder of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented thereby (including, as applicable, dividend, voting, redemption, subscription and liquidation rights).

 

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of the related series of preferred stock.

 

The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the depositary shares to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the depositary shares to which any prospectus supplement may relate and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to the depositary shares so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent that any particular terms of the depositary shares or the deposit agreement described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described below, then the terms described below will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement relating to such deposited shares. The forms of deposit agreement and depositary receipt will be filed as exhibits to the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

The following summary of certain provisions of the depositary shares and deposit agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by express reference to, all the provisions of the deposit agreement and the applicable prospectus supplement, including the definitions.

 

Immediately following our issuance of shares of a series of preferred stock that will be offered as fractional shares, we will deposit the shares with the depositary, which will then issue and deliver the depositary receipts to the purchasers thereof. Depositary receipts will only be issued evidencing whole depositary shares. A depositary receipt may evidence any number of whole depositary shares.

 

Pending the preparation of definitive depositary receipts, the depositary may, upon our written order, issue temporary depositary receipts substantially identical to (and entitling the holders thereof to all the rights pertaining to) the definitive depositary receipts but not in definitive form. Definitive depositary receipts will be prepared thereafter without unreasonable delay, and such temporary depositary receipts will be exchangeable for definitive depositary receipts at our expense.

 

Dividends and Other Distributions

 

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the related series of preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares relating to the series of preferred stock in proportion to the number of the depositary shares owned by the holders.

 

In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary shares entitled thereto in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by the holders, unless the depositary determines that the distribution cannot be made proportionately among the holders or that it is not feasible to make the distributions, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt any method as it deems equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting the distribution, including the sale (at public or private sale) of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, at the place or places and upon those terms as it may deem proper.

 

The amount distributed in any of the foregoing cases will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by us or the depositary on account of taxes or other governmental charges.

 

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Redemption of Depositary Shares

 

If any series of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from any redemption, in whole or in part, of the series of the preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable with respect to the series of the preferred stock. If we redeem shares of a series of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing the shares of preferred stock so redeemed. If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or substantially equivalent method determined by the depositary.

 

After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares so called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the monies payable upon redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of the depositary shares were entitled upon such redemption, upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares. Any funds deposited by us with the depositary for any depositary shares that the holders thereof fail to redeem will be returned to us after a period of two years from the date the funds are so deposited.

 

Voting the Underlying Preferred Stock

 

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

 

Withdrawal of Stock

 

Upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office of the depositary and upon payment of the taxes, charges and fees provided for in the deposit agreement and subject to the terms thereof, the holder of the depositary shares evidenced thereby will be entitled to delivery at such office, to or upon his or her order, of the number of whole shares of the related series of preferred stock and any money or other property, if any, represented by the depositary shares. Holders of depositary shares will be entitled to receive whole shares of the related series of preferred stock, but holders of the whole shares of preferred stock will not thereafter be entitled to deposit the shares of preferred stock with the depositary or to receive depositary shares therefor. 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 the related series of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to the holder or upon his or her order at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares.

 

19
 

 

Amendment and Termination of a Deposit Agreement

 

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares of any series and any provision of the applicable deposit agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between us and the depositary. However, any amendment that materially adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares of any series will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares of the series then outstanding. Every holder of a depositary receipt at the time the amendment becomes effective will be deemed, by continuing to hold the depositary receipt, to be bound by the deposit agreement as so amended. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may any amendment impair the right of any holder of any depositary shares, upon surrender of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares and subject to any conditions specified in the deposit agreement, to receive shares of the related series of preferred stock and any money or other property represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. The deposit agreement may be terminated by us at any time upon not less than 60 days prior written notice to the depositary, in which case, on a date that is not later than 30 days after the date of the notice, the depositary shall deliver or make available for delivery to holders of depositary shares, upon surrender of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares, the number of whole or fractional shares of the related series of preferred stock as are represented by the depositary shares. The deposit agreement shall automatically terminate after all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or there has been a final distribution in respect of the related series of preferred stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us and the distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary shares.

 

Charges of Depositary

 

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and the governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay the charges of the depositary, including charges in connection with the initial deposit of the related series of preferred stock and the initial issuance of the depositary shares and all withdrawals of shares of the related series of preferred stock, except that holders of depositary shares will pay transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts.

 

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

 

The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us written notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the depositary. Any resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary, which 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 a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.

 

Miscellaneous

 

The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary shares all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the depositary and which we are required to furnish to the holders of the related preferred stock.

 

The depositary’s corporate trust office will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the depositary will act as transfer agent and registrar for depositary receipts and if shares of a series of preferred stock are redeemable, the depositary will also act as redemption agent for the corresponding depositary receipts.

 

20
 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS

 

The following description of the terms of the warrants sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants to which any prospectus supplement may relate. We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or depositary shares. Warrants may be issued independently or together with common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or depositary shares offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities. Each series of warrants may be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, and, if issued in such manner, the warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. The following summary of certain provisions of the warrants does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of the warrant agreement that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of such warrants.

 

Debt Warrants

 

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of debt warrants will describe the terms of such debt warrants, including the following:

 

the title of such debt warrants;
the offering price for such debt warrants, if any;
the aggregate number of such debt warrants;
the designation and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of such debt warrants;
if applicable, the designation and terms of the debt securities with which such debt warrants are issued and the number of such debt warrants issued with each such debt security;
if applicable, the date from and after which such debt warrants and any debt securities issued therewith will be separately transferable;
the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of a debt warrant and the price at which such principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon exercise (which price may be payable in cash, securities or other property);
the date on which the right to exercise such debt warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;
if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such debt warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
whether the debt warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates or debt securities that may be issued upon exercise of the debt warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form;
information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;
if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations;
the antidilution or adjustment provisions of such debt warrants, if any;
the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to such debt warrants; and
any additional terms of such debt warrants, including terms, procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such debt warrants.

 

21
 

 

Stock Warrants

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any particular issue of common stock warrants, preferred stock warrants or depositary share warrants will describe the terms of such warrants, including the following:

 

the title of such warrants;
the offering price for such warrants, if any;
the exercise price for such warrants;
the aggregate number of such warrants;
the designation and terms of the offered securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants;
if applicable, the designation and terms of the offered securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such offered security;
if applicable, the date from and after which such warrants and any offered securities issued therewith will be separately transferable;
the number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares purchasable upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which such shares may be purchased upon exercise;
the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;
if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;
if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations;
the antidilution provisions of such warrants, if any;
the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to such warrants; and
any additional terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants.

 

22
 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE RIGHTS

 

We may issue rights to purchase our common stock. The rights may or may not be transferable by the persons purchasing or receiving the rights. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which such underwriters or other persons would purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such rights offering. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agent agreement to be entered into between us and one or more banks, trust companies or other financial institutions, as rights agent, that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any rights that we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including, among other matters:

 

the date of determining the security holders entitled to the rights distribution;
the aggregate number of rights issued and the aggregate number of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of the rights;
the exercise price;
the conditions to completion of the rights offering;
the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the rights will expire; and
any applicable federal income tax considerations.

 

Each right would entitle the holder of the rights to purchase for cash the principal amount of shares of common stock at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will become void.

 

If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than our security holders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

23
 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACTS

 

We may issue, from time to time, purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us and us to sell to the holders, a specified principal amount of debt securities, shares of common stock or preferred stock, depositary shares, government securities, or other securities that we may sell under this prospectus at a future date or dates. The consideration payable upon settlement of the purchase contracts may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by a specific reference to a formula set forth in the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a purchase contract and other securities or obligations issued by us or third parties, including United States treasury securities, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the relevant securities under the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase contracts or units or vice versa, and the payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the purchase contracts.

 

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

 

24
 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE UNITS

 

We may, from time to time, issue units comprised of one or more of certain other securities that may be offered under this prospectus, in any combination. Each unit may also include debt obligations of third parties, such as U.S. Treasury securities. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately at any time, or at any time before a specified date.

 

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

 

the material terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
any material provisions relating to the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units;
if appropriate, any special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and
any material provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described above.

 

25
 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities being offered by us in this prospectus in one or more of the following ways: through underwriters or dealers; in short or long transactions; directly to a limited number of purchasers or to a single purchaser; through agents, including via an at-the-market program; or through a combination of any of these methods of sale. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

 

the name or names of any underwriters, if, and if required, any dealers or agents;
the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will receive from the sale;
any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;
any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers; and
any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed or traded.

 

We, and our agents, dealers, and underwriters, as applicable, may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at:

 

a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;
market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
prices related to such prevailing market prices; or
negotiated prices.

 

We may determine the price or other terms of the securities offered under this prospectus by use of an electronic auction. We will describe how any auction will determine the price or any other terms, how potential investors may participate in the auction and the nature of the underwriters’ obligations, in the applicable prospectus supplement or amendment.

 

We may solicit directly offers to purchase securities. We may also designate agents from time to time to solicit offers to purchase securities. Any agent that we designate, who may be deemed to be an underwriter as such term is defined in the Securities Act, may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such agent at the time of resale.

 

We may engage in “at the market” offerings of our securities as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. An “at the market” offering is an offering of our common stock at other than a fixed price, at prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, including sales made directly on a national securities exchange or sales made through a market maker other than on an exchange or other similar offerings through sales agents. We shall name any underwriter or agent that the Company engages for an at the market offering in a post-effective amendment to the registration statement containing this prospectus. In the related prospectus supplement, we shall also describe any additional details of the Company’s arrangement with such underwriter or agent, including commissions or fees paid or discounts offered by the Company, and whether such underwriter is acting as principal or agent.

 

If underwriters are used in an offering, we will execute an underwriting agreement with such underwriters and will specify the name of each underwriter and the terms of the transaction (including any underwriting discounts and other terms constituting compensation of the underwriters and any dealers) in a prospectus supplement. Only underwriters named in a prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered by that prospectus supplement. The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by one or more investment banking firms or others, as designated. If an underwriting syndicate is used, the managing underwriter(s) will be specified on the cover of the prospectus supplement. If underwriters are used in the sale, the offered securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own accounts and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the offered securities, if any are purchased.

 

26
 

 

We may grant to the underwriters options to purchase additional securities to cover over-allotments, if any, at the public offering price, with additional underwriting commissions or discounts, as may be set forth in a related prospectus supplement. The terms of any over-allotment option will be set forth in the prospectus supplement for those securities.

 

If we use a dealer in the sale of the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, we will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. The names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction will be specified in a prospectus supplement.

 

We may sell the securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement.

 

We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.

 

In connection with the sale of the securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of the securities for whom they act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities, and any institutional investors or others that purchase securities directly for the purpose of resale or distribution, may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the common stock by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. No FINRA member firm may receive compensation in excess of that allowable under FINRA rules, including Rule 5110, in connection with the offering of the securities.

 

We may provide agents, underwriters and other purchasers with indemnification against particular civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents, underwriters or other purchasers may make with respect to such liabilities. Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

 

To facilitate the public offering of a series of securities, persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involves the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than have been sold to them by us. In exercising the over-allotment option granted to those persons. In addition, those persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to underwriters or dealers participating in any such offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. We make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above, if implemented, may have on the price of our securities.

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be eligible for trading as quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Any underwriters to whom securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice.

 

In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus will be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and complied with.

 

27
 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Legal matters in connection with the issuance and sale of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC. Additional legal matters will be passed upon for any underwriters, dealers, or agents by counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

EXPERTS

 

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

 

28
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

 

$100,000,000

 

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Depositary Shares

Warrants

Rights

Purchase Contracts

Units

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

 

The aggregate estimated (other than the registration fee) expenses to be paid by the Registrant in connection with this offering are as follows:

 

SEC Registration Fee  $15,310 
Legal Fees and Expenses  $(1)
Accounting Fees and Expenses  $(1)
Printing  $(1)
Miscellaneous  $(1)
      
Total:  $* 

 

     

(1)These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Officers and Directors

 

Section 145 of the Delaware Corporation Law provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and certain other persons serving at the request of the corporation in related capacities against amounts paid and expenses incurred in connection with an action or proceeding to which he is or is threatened to be made a party by reason of such position, if such person shall have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal proceeding, if such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided that, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstance of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

Article EIGHTH of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, provides as follows with respect to the indemnification of our officers and directors:

 

All persons who the Corporation is empowered to indemnify pursuant to the provisions of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (or any similar provision or provisions of applicable law at the time in effect), shall be indemnified by the Corporation to the full extent permitted thereby. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. No repeal or amendment of this Article EIGHTH shall adversely affect any rights of any person pursuant to this Article EIGHTH which existed at the time of such repeal or amendment with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or amendment.

 

Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, provides that no director shall be personally liable to us or its stockholders for any monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware; or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

II-1
 

 

The indemnification discussed in this Item 15 is not exclusive of any other rights the party seeking indemnification may possess. We carry officer and director liability insurance with respect to certain matters, including matters arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Item 16. Exhibits.

 

See the Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 17. Undertakings

 

(a)The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1)To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

  (i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
     
  (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.
     
  (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

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

 

(2)That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
   
(3)To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

II-2
 

 

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

 

  (i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
     
  (ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

(5)That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

  (i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
     
  (ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
     
  (iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
     
  (iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

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

 

(c)The undersigned registrants hereby undertake to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.

 

(d)Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrants pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrants have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrants of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrants in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrants will, unless in the opinion of counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-3
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, on the 2nd day of December, 2024.

 

 

    PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Ben Naccarato
   

Ben Naccarato,

    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Mark Duff and Ben Naccarato, and each of them acting individually and without the other, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments, exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them individually, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By /s/ Mark Duff   Date December 1, 2024
 

Mark Duff, President and Chief Executive Officer; Director

     
  (Principal Executive Officer)      
         
By /s/ Ben Naccarato   Date December 2, 2024
  Ben Naccarato, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer      
  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)      

 

By /s/ Thomas Bostick   Date December 1, 2024
  Thomas P. Bostick, Director      
         
By /s/ Louis Centofanti   Date December 1, 2024
  Dr. Louis F. Centofanti, Director      
         
By /s/ Kerry Duggan   Date December 1, 2024
  Kerry C. Duggan, Director      
         
By /s/ Joseph Grumski   Date December 1, 2024
  Joseph T. Grumski, Director      
         
By /s/ Joe Reeder   Date December 2, 2024
  Joe R. Reeder, Director      
         
By /s/ Larry Shelton   Date December 2, 2024
  Larry M. Shelton, Chairman of the Board      
         
By /s/ Zach Wamp   Date December 1, 2024
  Zach P. Wamp, Director      
         
By /s/ Mark Zwecker   Date December 1, 2024
  Mark A. Zwecker, Director      

 

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PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.   Description
1.1*   Form of Underwriting Agreement for Debt Securities.
1.2*   Form of Underwriting Agreement for Equity Securities.
1.3*   Form of Underwriting Agreement for Depositary Shares
1.4*   Form of Underwriting Agreement for Purchase Contracts
1.5*   Form of Underwriting Agreement for Units
3.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc., incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3(i) to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended March 21, 2021 filed on May 6, 2021.
3.2   Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc., as amended effective April 20, 2023, incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3(ii) to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 26, 2023.
4.1**   Form of Indenture.
4.2*   Form of Certificate of Designation.
4.3*   Form of Deposit Agreement.
4.4*   Form of Depositary Receipt.
4.5*   Form of Warrant Agreement.
4.6*   Form of Warrant.
4.7*   Form of Rights Agent Agreement.
4.8*   Form of Purchase Contract.
4.9*   Form of Unit Agreement.
4.10*   Specimen certificate evidencing shares of common stock.
4.11*   Form of Preferred Stock and Certificate of Designation of Preferred Stock.
4.12*   Form of Note
4.13*   Form of Rights Certificate.
5.1**   Opinion of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC.
23.1**   Consent of Grant Thornton LLP.
23.2**   Consent of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1**   Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereof)
25.1*   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee to act as trustee under the Indenture.
107**   Calculation of Filing Fee Table.
     
*   To be filed, if necessary, by an amendment to the registration statement or as an exhibit to a report filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference.
     
**   Filed herewith.

 

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