As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 20, 2019July 26, 2021
Registration No. 333-

Registration No. 333-        
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
PERFORMANT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified
(Exact name of registrant as specified in Its Charter)

 its charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdictionother jurisdiction of
Incorporationincorporation or Organization)
organization)
20-0484934
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

333 North Canyons Parkway
Livermore, California 94551
(925) 960-4800
(Address, Including Zip Code,including zip code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)registrant’s principal executive offices)

____________________

Lisa C. Im
Chief Executive Officer
333 North Canyons Parkway
Livermore, California 94551
(925) 960-4800
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code,address, including zip code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,telephone number, including area code, of Agentagent for Service)service)

____________________
Copies to:
Blair W. White, Esq.
David E. Lillevand, Esq.
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
P.O. Box 2824
San Francisco, CA 94111
Telephone: (415) 983-1000

____________________
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective, as determined by market conditions and other factors.

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



If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,”filer” and “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer  ¨
Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company ýx
Emerging growth company ¨
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of Each Class of Securities to be RegisteredProposed Maximum
 Aggregate Offering Price(1)(2)
Amount of
Registration Fee
Debt Securities (3)
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (3)
Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (3)
Depositary Shares (4)
Warrants
Rights
Total$100,000,000(3)$10,910



CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each Class of Securities to be RegisteredAmount to be RegisteredProposed Maximum Offering Price Per ShareProposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price
Amount of
Registration Fee
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share15,432,542(1)$0.83(2)$12,809,009.86(2)$1,662.61(2)
(1)Includes 1,931,664 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants. Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, the shares of common stock being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock as may be issuable with respect to the shares of common stock being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

(2)Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee for the secondary offering, pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, based on the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant’s Common Stock on The NASDAQ Global Select Stock Market on December 18, 2019.
(1)    Such indeterminate number or amount of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants to purchase any combination of the foregoing securities, and rights, as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices with an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $100,000,000. Securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together in any combination with other securities registered hereunder.
(2)    Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee for a primary offering pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933. Pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933 and General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3, the table does not specify by each class information as to the amount to be registered or proposed maximum offering price per unit.
(3)    Subject to footnote (1), there are also being registered hereunder an indeterminate principal amount or number of shares of debt securities, preferred stock or common stock that may be issued upon conversion of, or in exchange for, debt securities or preferred stock registered hereunder or upon exercise of warrants registered hereunder, as the case may be.
(4)    Subject to footnote (1), there are being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of depositary shares to be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to a deposit agreement. If the Registrant elects to offer to the public fractional interests in shares of preferred stock registered hereunder, depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing such fractional interests, and the shares of preferred stock will be issued to the depositary under the deposit agreement.
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 the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.








image_0.jpgSubject To Completion, Dated December 20, 2019
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. Neither we nor any selling stockholder may sell any of these securities until the registration statement filed with Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.July 26, 2021
PROSPECTUS
15,432,542 Shares

image_1.jpg
performantforms3forpa_image1.gif

PERFORMANT FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Debt Securities
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Rights
_________________
The selling stockholdersWe may, from time to time, offer and sell the securities identified above in one or more offerings. The
aggregate initial offering price of all securities sold under this prospectus will not exceed $100,000,000.
This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which these securities will be offered. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements will also describe the manner in which these securities will be offered and may sell upalso add to, an aggregate of 15,432,542 shares of our common stock, including 1,931,664 shares that are issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants previously issued to one of the selling stockholders namedupdate or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read carefully this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement before you invest.
We will not receivemay offer and sell these securities separately or together in any of the proceeds fromcombination for sale directly to investors or through underwriters, dealers or agents. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of the sharesany of our common stock by the selling stockholders. To the extent the warrants are exercised for cash, if at all,these securities, we will receiveset forth their names and describe their compensation in the exercise price for the warrants.
We may specify in an accompanyingapplicable prospectus supplement more specific information about any such offering.
Our registration of the shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus does not mean that the selling stockholders will offer or sell any of the shares of our common stock. The selling stockholders identified in this prospectus may sell the shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus in a number of different ways and at varying prices. For additional information on the possible methods of sale that may be used by the selling stockholders, you should refer to the information under the heading “Plan of Distribution” on page 4 of this prospectus.supplement.
Our common stock is tradedlisted on The NASDAQNasdaq Global Select Stock Market under the symbol “PFMT.” On December 18, 2019,July 23, 2021, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The NASDAQNasdaq Global Select Stock Market was $0.84$4.45 per share.
Investing in our common stocksecurities involves risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 3 of thisincluded in or incorporated by reference into the accompanying prospectus supplement and in the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus.
_________________

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

The date of this prospectus is , 2019.



2021



TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
About This Prospectus Summary
Risk Factors
Performant Financial Corporation
Forward-Looking Statements
Use of Proceeds
Selling StockholdersDescription of Debt Securities
Description of Capital Stock8
Description of Depositary Shares11
Description of Warrants12
Description of Rights13
Forms of Securities14
Plan of Distribution15
Legal Matters16
Experts16
Where You Can Find More Information16

______________


We have not authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any applicable 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. 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 and any applicable prospectus supplement, any applicable free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you, or incorporated by reference, is accurate only as of the dates of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.





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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights selectedprospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration, or continuous offering, process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell separately or together in any combination the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $100,000,000.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the offered securities. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement. The registration statement we filed with the SEC includes exhibits that provide more detail of the matters discussed in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related exhibits filed with the SEC and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” before making your investment decision.
Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this offering. Because it isprospectus to “Performant,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Performant Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries.
RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risk. The prospectus supplement relating to a summary, it does notparticular offering will contain or incorporate by reference a discussion of risks applicable to an investment in the securities offered. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the specific factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” included in or incorporated by reference into the applicable prospectus supplement together with all of the other information that you should consider before investing. Before you decide to investcontained in our common stock, you should read carefully andthe prospectus supplement or appearing in their entiretyor incorporated by reference into this entire prospectus, including the section entitled “Risk Factors,” and the documents we haverisk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in this prospectus, along with our financial statements and accompanying notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus.the offered securities.
Our Company
Performant providesPERFORMANT FINANCIAL CORPORATION

We provide technology-enabled audit, recovery, outsourcingoutsource customer services, and related analytics services in the United States. Performant’sOur services help identify improper payments, and in some markets, restructure and recover delinquent or defaulted assets and improper payments for both government and private clients in a broad range of markets. Our headquarters are locatedclients typically operate in Livermore, California.complex and regulated environments and outsource their audit and recovery needs in order to reduce losses on billions of dollars of improper healthcare payments, delinquent state and federal receivables, defaulted student loans, and other receivables. We also provide complex outsource customer services for clients across our various markets, where we handle many or all aspects of our clients’ recovery processes.
Corporate Information
We commenced our operations in 1976 under the corporate name Diversified Collection Services, Inc., or DCS. We were incorporated in Delaware on October 8, 2003 under the name DCS Holdings, Inc. and subsequently changed our name to Performant Financial Corporation.Corporation.. Our principal executive offices are located at 333 North Canyons Parkway, Livermore, California 94551. OurCA, 94551 and our telephone number at this location is (925)960-4800. Our website address is www.performantcorp.com. We do not incorporate the/www.performantcorp.com. The information contained on, or accessiblethat can be accessed through, our website into this prospectus, and you shouldis not consider any information on, or accessible through, our website as part of, this prospectus.
The Offering
Common stock registered for resale by the selling stockholders15,432,542 shares
Use of proceedsWe will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares of our common stock by the selling stockholders. To the extent the warrants are exercised for cash, if at all, we will receive the exercise price for the warrants.
The NASDAQ Global Select Stock Market symbolPFMT

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “Performant,”, “the Company”, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Performant Financial Corporation and our consolidated subsidiaries.

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An entity affiliated with one of our directors, Mr. Jeffrey S. Stein, is offering the shares of our common stock registered pursuant to this prospectus, which may be sold from time to time. Throughout this prospectus, when we refer to the shares of our common stock being registered on behalf of the selling stockholders, we are referring to certain shares of common stock (including common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase shares thereof) reported to us as held by the selling stockholders as of December 18, 2019. We agreed to file this prospectus pursuant to certain registration rights agreements with the selling stockholders dated August 15, 2012 and August 7, 2017. Additional information with respect to the registration rights agreements is contained in this prospectus under the heading “Selling Stockholders.”
When we refer to the selling stockholders in this prospectus, we are referring to the entities named in this prospectus as the selling stockholders and, as applicable, any donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest selling shares of common stock or interests in shares of common stock received after the date of this prospectus from the selling stockholders as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other non-sale related transfer.








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RISK FACTORS
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors described below, as well as the risk factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Current Report on Form 8-K, as well as any prospectus supplement to this prospectus, and the other information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to this prospectus before deciding to invest in our common stock. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

The number of shares being registered for sale on behalf of the selling stockholders is significant in relation to our trading volume.
We have filed a registration statement of which this prospectus is a part to register the shares offered hereunder for sale into the public market by the selling stockholders. The shares registered under this registration statement, if sold in the market all at once or at about the same time, could depress the market price and also could affect our ability to raise equity capital.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
When used in, this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    When used in the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “may,” “could,” “intends,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or otherwise implied by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We will discuss many of these risks and uncertainties in greater detail in any prospectus supplement under the heading “Risk Factors.” Additional cautionary statements or discussions of risks and uncertainties that could affect our results or the achievement of the expectations described in forward-looking statements may also be contained in the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus.
These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. You
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should, however, review additional disclosures we make in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.
USE OF PROCEEDS
All
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock beingsecurities offered hereby are being sold by the selling stockholders identified in this prospectus. A portion of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus are issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase a total of up to 1,931,664 shares of our common stock, which warrants were originally issued to one of the selling stockholders by us on October 15, 2018, April 5, 2019, May 15, 2019, August 6, 2019, and September 25, 2019 in private placements. Upon any exercise of any of the warrants for cash, the relevant selling stockholder would pay us the exercise price of $1.92 per share, subject to adjustment as provided therein. We expect to use any such warrant exercise proceeds primarily for working capital and general corporate purposes. The warrantsGeneral corporate purposes may also be exercised on a cashless basis byinclude additions to working capital, financing of capital expenditures, repayment or redemption of existing indebtedness, repurchases of stock, and future acquisitions and strategic investment opportunities. Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, pending the application of net exercise. If any ofproceeds, we expect to invest the warrants are exercised on a cashless basis by net proceeds in investment grade, interest-bearing securities.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
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exercise, we would not receive any cash payment from the relevant selling stockholder upon any such exercise of the warrants.

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth, to our knowledge, certain information as of December 18, 2019 regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock by the selling stockholders and the shares being offered by the selling stockholders. Information with respect to beneficial ownership is based upon information obtained from the selling stockholders. Information with respect to shares owned beneficially after the offering assumes the sale of alla summary of the shares offered and no other purchases or sales of our common stock. The selling stockholders may offer and sell some, all or none of their shares.

 Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering(1)Shares Being OfferedShares Beneficially Owned After Offering
Name and AddressNumberPercentNumberNumberPercent
      
Parthenon DCS Holdings, LLC(2)13,500,87825.0%13,500,878

ECMC Group, Inc.(3)6,980,39611.7%1,931,664


(1)Based on 53,899,601 shares of our common stock outstanding on December 18, 2019.
(2)The reported shares are owned of record by Parthenon DCS Holdings, LLC (“DCS Holdings”). PCP Managers GP, LLC is the general partner of PCP Managers, L.P., which is the managing member of PCap II, LLC, which is the managing member of PCap Partners II, LLC, which is the general partner of Parthenon Investors II, L.P., which is the manager of DCS Holdings. David J. Ament, Brian P. Golson and William C. Kessinger are managing members of PCP Managers GP, LLC and also serve as managing partners of Parthenon Capital Partners, a private equity firm and affiliate of PCap Partners II, LLC. Each of the above listed persons may be deemed to beneficially own the shares owned of record by DCS Holdings. However, each expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities, except to the extent of his or its pecuniary interest therein. The business address of DCS Holdings is Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 3610, San Francisco, CA 94111.
(3)The number of shares of common stock offered by ECMC Group, Inc. (“ECMC”) consists of 1,931,664 shares issuable upon exercise by ECMC of the warrants issued to ECMC on October 15, 2018, April 5, 2019, May 15, 2019, August 6, 2019, and September 25, 2019. ECMC has sole voting and dispositive power over all shares beneficially owned by it. The business address of ECMC is 111 South Washington Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401.


Certain Relationships with the Selling Stockholders
Parthenon DCS Holdings, LLC
On January 8, 2004, in connection with our acquisition by investment funds controlled by Parthenon Capital Partners and certain other stockholders, we entered into a registration agreement with Parthenon Capital Partners and certain other stockholders. This agreement was amended, effective upon the closing of our initial public offering in August 2012. The registration agreement, as amended, provides the stockholders party thereto with certain demand registration rights in respect of the shares of our common stock held by them. In addition, following the closing of our initial public offering in August 2012, if we register additional shares of common stock for sale to the public, we are required to give notice of such registration to the stockholders who are party to the registration agreement of our intention to effect such a registration, and, subject to certain limitations, such holders will have piggyback registration rights providing them with the right to require us to include shares of common stock held by them in such registration. We will be required to bear the registration expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, associated with any registration of shares by the stockholders described above. The registration rights agreement includes lock up obligations that restrict the sale of securities during the initial 180 day period, or in certain circumstances 90 day period, following the effective date of any demand registration or piggyback registration effected pursuant to the terms of the registration agreement.debt securities. We are also restricted from engagingwill file a prospectus supplement that may contain additional terms when we issue debt securities. The terms presented here, together with the terms in a related prospectus supplement, together with any public salepricing supplement or term sheet, will be a description of equity securities during the initial 180 day period, or in certain circumstances 90 day period, following the effective date of any demand registration or piggyback registration effected pursuant to thematerial terms of the registration agreement.debt securities.
We may issue, from time to time, debt securities, in one or more series. These debt securities that we may issue include senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities, subordinated debt securities, convertible debt securities and exchangeable debt securities. The registration agreement includes customary indemnification provisionsdebt securities we offer will be issued under an indenture between us and the trustee named in favorthe indenture. The following is a summary of the stockholders who are parties and any person who is or might be deemed a controlling personmaterial provisions of the stockholders within the meaningform of the Securities Act and related parties against liabilities under the Securities Act incurred in connection with the registration of any of our securities. These provisions provide indemnification against certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act and certain liabilities resulting from violations of other applicable laws in connection with any filing or other disclosure made by us under the securities laws relating to any

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such registrations. We have agreed to reimburse such persons for any legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such liability, action or proceeding, except that we will not be required to indemnify any such person or reimburse related legal or other expenses if such loss or expense arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information provided by such person.
In July 2012, we entered into a Director Nomination Agreement with Parthenon Capital Partners that provides Parthenon Capital Partners the right to designate nominees for election to our board of directors for so longindenture filed as Parthenon Capital Partners owns 10% or more of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding. The number of nominees that Parthenon Capital Partners is entitled to designate under this agreement shall bear the same proportionan exhibit to the total number of members of our board of directors as the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by Parthenon Capital Partners bears to the total number of shares of common stock outstanding, rounded up to the nearest whole number. In addition, Parthenon Capital Partners shall be entitled to designate the replacement for any of its board designees whose board service terminates prior to the end of the director’s term regardless of Parthenon Capital Partners’ beneficial ownership at such time. Parthenon Capital Partners shall also have the right to have its designees participate on committees of our board of directors proportionate to its stock ownership, subject to compliance with applicable law and stock exchange rules. This agreement will terminate at such time as Parthenon Capital Partners owns less than 10% of our outstanding common stock. Mr. Jeffrey S. Stein was appointed to and currently serves on the Company’s board of directors as a nominee of Parthenon Capital Partners.
ECMC Group, Inc.
On August 7, 2017, we entered into a credit agreement with ECMC pursuant to which we agreed to issue in private placements warrants to purchase shares of our common stock upon the borrowing of additional funds following the initial term loan. On October 15, 2018, in connection with a delayed draw term loan of $4 million, we issued a warrant to ECMC to purchase up to 309,066 shares of our common stock at a price of $1.92 per share. On April 5, 2019, in connection with a delayed draw term loan of $5 million, we issued a warrant to ECMC to purchase up to 386,333 shares of our common stock at a price of $1.92 per share. On May 15, 2019, in connection with a delayed draw term loan of $6 million, we issued a warrant to ECMC to purchase up to 463,599 shares of our common stock at a price of $1.92 per share. On August 6, 2019, in connection with a delayed draw term loan of $5 million, we issued a warrant to ECMC to purchase up to 386,333 shares of our common stock at a price of $1.92 per share. On September 25, 2019, in connection with a delayed draw term loan of $5 million, we issued a warrant to ECMC to purchase up to 386,333 shares of our common stock at a price of $1.92 per share.
Pursuant to a registration rights agreement with ECMC, we agreed to file a registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. For each series of debt securities, the applicable prospectus supplement for the series may change and supplement the summary below.
As used in this section only, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Performant Financial Corporation excluding our subsidiaries, unless expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.
General Terms of the Indenture
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities for any series of debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our 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 our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us. For each series of debt securities, any restrictive covenants for those debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement for those debt securities.
We 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, for United States federal income tax purposes, be treated as if they were issued with “original issue discount,” or OID, because of interest payment and other characteristics. Special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with original issue discount will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.
You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities for a description of the following terms of the debt securities offered by that prospectus supplement and by this prospectus:
the title of those debt securities;
any limit on the aggregate principal amount of that series of debt securities;
the date or dates on which principal and premium, if any, of the debt securities of that series is payable;
the interest rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) or the method used to determine the rate or rates, and the date or dates from which interest, if any, on the debt securities of that series will accrue, and the dates when interest is payable and related record dates;
the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of the extensions;
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if the amount of payments of principal or interest is to be determined by reference to an index or formula, or based on a coin or currency other than that in which the debt securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which these amounts are determined and the calculation agent, if any, with respect thereto;
the place or places where and the manner in which principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities of that series will be payable and the place or places where those debt securities may be presented for transfer and, if applicable, conversion or exchange;
the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and other terms and conditions upon which those debt securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option or the option of a holder of those securities, if we or a holder is to coverhave that option;
our obligation or right, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase those debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the resaleoption of a holder of those securities, and the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities will be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to that obligation;
the terms, if any, on which the debt securities of that series will be subordinate in right and priority of payment to our other debt;
the denominations in which those debt securities will be issuable;
if other than the entire principal amount of the debt securities when issued, the portion of the principal amount payable upon acceleration of maturity as a result of a default on our obligations;
whether any securities of that series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities and the depositary for those global securities;
if the principal of or any premium or interest on the debt securities of that series is to be payable, or is to be payable at our election or the election of a holder of those securities, in securities or other property, the type and amount of those securities or other property, or the manner of determining that amount, and the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, any such election may be made;
the events of default and covenants relating to the debt securities that are in addition to, modify or delete those described in this prospectus;
conversion or exchange provisions, if any, including conversion or exchange prices or rates and adjustments thereto;
whether and upon what terms the debt securities may be defeased, if different from the provisions set forth in the indenture;
the nature and terms of any security for any secured debt securities;
the terms applicable to any debt securities issued at a discount from their stated principal amount; and
any other specific terms of any debt securities.
The applicable prospectus supplement will present material United States federal income tax considerations for holders of any debt securities and the securities exchange or quotation system on which any debt securities are to be listed or quoted.
Conversion or Exchange Rights
Debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our equity securities or other securities. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:
the conversion or exchange price;
the conversion or exchange period;
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provisions regarding our ability or the ability of any holder to convert or exchange the debt securities;
events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price; and
provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of our redemption of the debt securities.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
We cannot consolidate with or merge with or into, or transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to, any person, unless we are the surviving corporation or the successor person is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture. In addition, we cannot complete such a transaction unless immediately after completing the transaction, no event of default under the indenture, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default under the indenture, has occurred and is continuing. When the successor person has assumed our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture, we will be discharged from all our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture except in limited circumstances.
This covenant would not apply to any recapitalization transaction, a change of control affecting us or a highly leveraged transaction, unless the transaction or change of control were structured to include a merger or consolidation or transfer or lease of all or substantially all of our assets.
Events of Default
The indenture provides that the following will be “events of default” with respect to any series of debt securities:
failure to pay interest for 30 days after the date payment is due and payable;
failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on any debt security when due, either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise and, in the case of technical or administrative difficulties, only if such default persists for a period of more than three business days;
failure to make sinking fund payments when due and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
failure to perform other covenants for 60 days after notice that performance was required;
certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to us; or
any other event of default provided in the applicable officer’s certificate, resolution of our board of directors or the supplemental indenture under which we issue a series of debt securities.
An event of default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture. For each series of debt securities, any modifications to the above events of default will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement for those debt securities.
The indenture provides that if an event of default specified in the first, second, third, fourth or sixth bullets above occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all those debt securities (or, in the case of discount securities or indexed securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) to be due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the fifth bullet above occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all those debt securities (or, in the case of discount securities or indexed securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) will be due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder. In certain cases, holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of holders of all those debt securities, rescind and annul a declaration of acceleration.
The indenture imposes limitations on suits brought by holders of debt securities against us. Except for actions for payment of overdue principal or interest, no holder of debt securities of any series may institute any action against us under the indenture unless:
the holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of default and continuance of such default;
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the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series have requested that the trustee institute the action;
the requesting holders have offered the trustee indemnity for the reasonable expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by bringing the action;
the trustee has not instituted the action within 60 days of the request and offer of indemnity; and
the trustee has not received inconsistent direction by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series.
We will be required to file annually with the trustee a certificate, signed by one of our officers, stating whether or not the officer knows of any default by us in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any condition or covenant of the indenture.
Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
We can discharge or decrease our obligations under the indenture as stated below.
We may discharge obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that have either become due and payable or are by their terms to become due and payable, or are scheduled for redemption, within one year. We may effect a discharge by irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or government obligations denominated in the currency of the debt securities, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities and any mandatory sinking fund payments.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may also discharge any and all of our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities at any time, which we refer to as defeasance. We may also be released from the obligations imposed by any covenants of any outstanding series of debt securities and provisions of the indenture, and we may omit to comply with those covenants without creating an event of default under the trust declaration, which we refer to as covenant defeasance. We may effect defeasance and covenant defeasance only if, among other things:
we irrevocably deposit with the trustee cash or government obligations denominated in the currency of the debt securities, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay at maturity, or upon redemption, the principal (including any mandatory sinking fund payments) of, and any premium and interest on, all outstanding debt securities of the series; and
we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel from a nationally recognized law firm to the effect that the holders of the series of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance or covenant defeasance and that defeasance or covenant defeasance will not otherwise alter the holders’ U.S. federal income tax treatment of principal, and any premium and interest payments on, the series of debt securities.
In the case of a defeasance by us, the opinion we deliver must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service issued, or a change in U.S. federal income tax law occurring, after the date of the indenture, since such a result would not occur under the U.S. federal income tax laws in effect on that date.
Although we may discharge or decrease our obligations under the indenture as described in the two preceding paragraphs, we may not avoid, among other things, our duty to register the transfer or exchange of any series of debt securities, to replace any temporary, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen series of debt securities or to maintain an office or agency in respect of any series of debt securities.
Modification of the Indenture
The indenture provides that we and the trustee may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities to, among other things:
evidence the assumption by a successor entity of our obligations;
add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of debt securities, or to surrender any rights or power conferred upon us;
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add any additional events of default;
add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture in a manner that will become effective only when there is no outstanding debt security which is entitled to the benefit of the provision as to which the modification would apply;
add guarantees with respect to or secure any debt securities;
establish the forms or terms of debt securities of any series;
evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee and add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as is necessary for the administration of the trusts by more than one trustee;
cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency or defect in the indenture;
modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of the indenture as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or under any similar federal statute later enacted, and to add to the indenture such other provisions as may be expressly required by the Trust Indenture Act; and
make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the indenture that will not be inconsistent with any provision of the indenture as long as the new provisions do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any outstanding debt securities of any series created prior to the modification.
The indenture also provides that we and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of each series of debt securities affected by such supplemental indenture then outstanding, add any provisions to, or change in any manner, eliminate or modify in any way the provisions of, the indenture or any supplemental indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities. We and the trustee may not, however, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:
extend the final maturity of any debt security;
reduce the principal amount or premium, if any;
reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest;
reduce the amount of the principal of any debt security issued with an original issue discount that is payable upon acceleration;
change the currency in which the principal, and any premium or interest, is payable;
impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on any debt security when due;
if applicable, adversely affect the right of a holder to convert or exchange a debt security; or
reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities of any series whose consent is required for any modification of the indenture or for waivers of compliance with or defaults under the indenture with respect to debt securities of that series.
The indenture provides that the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series, by notice to the relevant trustee, may on behalf of the holders of the debt securities of that series waive any default and its consequences under the indenture except:
a default in the payment of, any premium and any interest on, or principal of, any such debt security held by a nonconsenting holder; or
a default in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of each series affected.
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Concerning the Trustee
The indenture provides that there may be more than one trustee under the indenture, each for one or more series of debt securities. If there are different trustees for different series of debt securities, each trustee will be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee under that indenture. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, any action permitted to be taken by a trustee may be taken by such trustee only on the one or more series of debt securities for which it is the trustee under the indenture. Any trustee under the indenture may resign or be removed from one or more series of debt securities. All payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery of, the debt securities of a series will be effected by the trustee for that series at an office designated by the trustee in New York, New York.
The indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an event of default, the trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the indenture. During the existence of an event of default, the trustee will exercise those rights and powers vested in it under the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
If the trustee becomes a creditor of ours, the indenture places limitations on the right of the trustee to obtain payment of claims or to realize on property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee may engage in other transactions. If it acquires any conflicting interest relating to any duties concerning the debt securities, however, it must eliminate the conflict or resign as trustee.
No Individual Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers or Directors
The indenture provides that no past, present or future director, officer, stockholder or employee of ours, any of our affiliates, or any successor corporation, in their capacity as such, shall have any individual liability for any of our obligations, covenants or agreements under the debt securities or the indenture.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

This section describes the general terms and provisions of the shares of our common stock, issuable$0.0001 par value per share, and preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share. This description is only a summary. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws have been filed as exhibits to our periodic reports filed with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should read our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws for additional information before you buy any of our common stock, preferred stock or other securities. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Common Stock
We are authorized to issue 500,000,000 shares of common stock. As of July 23, 2021, there were 56,401,154 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. We have not provided for cumulative voting for the election of directors in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. This means that the holders of a majority of the shares voted can elect all of the directors then standing for election. Subject to preferences that may apply to shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of outstanding shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of assets legally available at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may determine from time to time. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of all liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any outstanding preferred stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.
Preferred Stock
We are authorized to issue 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of July 23, 2021, no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding. We may issue preferred stock, in series, with such designations, powers, preferences and other rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions as our board of directors may authorize, without further action by our stockholders, including:
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the distinctive designation of each series and the number of shares that will constitute the series;
the voting rights, if any, of shares of the series and the terms and conditions of the voting rights;
the dividend rate on the shares of the series, the dates on which dividends are payable, any restriction, limitation or condition upon the payment of dividends, whether dividends will be cumulative, and the dates from and after which dividends shall accumulate;
the prices at which, and the terms and conditions on which, the shares of the series may be redeemed, if the shares are redeemable;
the terms and conditions of a sinking or purchase fund for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series, if such a fund is provided;
any preferential amount payable upon shares of the series in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon the distribution of any of our assets; and
the prices or rates of conversion or exchange at which, and the terms and conditions on which, the shares of the series may be converted or exchanged into other securities, if the shares are convertible or exchangeable.
The particular terms of any series of preferred stock, and the transfer agent and registrar for that series, will be described in a prospectus supplement. Any material United States federal income tax consequences and other special considerations with respect to any preferred stock offered under this prospectus will also be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The issuance of preferred stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to holders of our common stock or adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of the holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company, which could depress the market price of our common stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Our Amended and Restated Bylaws
Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us. These provisions, which are summarized below, could discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging such proposals, including proposals that are priced above the then-current market value of our common stock, because, among other reasons, the negotiation of such proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
These provisions include:
Classified Board

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors shall be divided into three classes of directors, with the classes as nearly equal in number as possible. As a result, approximately one-third of our board of directors is elected each year. We believe that the classification of our board of directors facilitates the continuity and stability of our business strategies and policies. However, our classified board could have the effect of making the replacement of incumbent directors more time consuming and difficult. At least two annual meetings of stockholders, instead of one, will generally be required to effect a change in a majority of our board of directors.

Number of Directors; Removal of Directors and Filling of Vacancies

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors has the authority to determine the number of directors within a range of between five and 15 directors. It also provides that (i) vacancies in our board of directors, including vacancies created by an increase in the number of directors, shall be filled solely by a majority vote of the directors then in office, and (ii) directors or the entire board may be removed only for cause.



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Action by Written Consent; Special Meetings of Stockholders

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that stockholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and cannot be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws also provide that, except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of the stockholders can only be called pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the board of directors or at the request of holders of 50% or more of our outstanding shares. Except as described above, stockholders are not permitted to call a special meeting or to require the board of directors to call a special meeting.

Advance Notice Procedures

Our amended and restated bylaws require an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to the board of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting are only able to consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors or by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has given our Secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the stockholder’s intention to bring that business before the meeting. Although our amended and restated bylaws do not give the board of directors the power to approve or disapprove stockholder nominations of candidates or proposals regarding other business to be conducted at a special or annual meeting, our amended and restated bylaws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or deter a potential acquiror from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the Company.

Super Majority Approval Requirements

The Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, generally provides that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless either a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws require a greater percentage. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the total votes eligible to be cast in the election of directors will be required to amend, alter, change or repeal our amended and restated bylaws or specified provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. This requirement of a super majority vote to approve amendments to our amended and restated bylaws and certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation could enable a minority of our stockholders to exercise veto power over any such amendments.

Authorized but Unissued Shares

Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. In addition, preferred stock could be issued with voting, liquidation, dividend and other rights superior to our common stock. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of a majority of our common stock by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Business Combinations with Interested Stockholders

We have elected in our certificate of incorporation not to be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination, such as a merger, with a person or group owning 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless (with certain exceptions) the business combination or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Accordingly, we are not subject to any anti-takeover effects of Section 203. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that have the same effect as Section 203, except that they provide that Parthenon Capital Partners is not deemed to be an “interested stockholder,” regardless of the percentage of our voting stock owned by it and accordingly is not subject to such restrictions.

Transfer Agent

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.


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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

The following description of the depositary shares does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by the relevant deposit agreement and the depositary receipts with respect to the depositary shares relating to any particular series of preferred stock. You should read these documents as they, and not this description, will define your rights as a holder of depositary shares. Forms of these documents will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of depositary shares.
General
If we elect to offer fractional interests in shares of preferred stock, we will provide for the issuance by a depositary to the public of receipts for depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent fractional interests of preferred stock. We will deposit the shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares under a deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company selected by us. The bank or trust company must have its principal office in the United States and a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. The depositary receipts will evidence the depositary shares issued under the deposit agreement.
The deposit agreement will contain terms applicable to the holders of depositary shares in addition to the terms stated in the depositary receipts. Each owner of depositary shares will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in the underlying shares of preferred stock. The depositary will issue the depositary receipts to individuals purchasing the fractional interests in shares of the related preferred stock according to the terms of the offering described in a prospectus supplement.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received for the preferred stock to the entitled record holders of depositary shares in proportion to the number of depositary shares that the holder owns on the relevant record date. The depositary will distribute only an amount that can be distributed without attributing to any holder of depositary shares a fraction of one cent. The depositary will add the undistributed balance to and treat it as part of the next sum received by the depositary for distribution to holders of depositary shares.
If there is a non-cash distribution, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the entitled record holders of depositary shares, in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by the holders, unless the depositary determines, after consultation with us, that it is not feasible to make such distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders. The deposit agreement also will contain provisions relating to how any subscription or similar rights that we may offer to holders of the preferred stock will be available to the holders of the depositary shares.
Conversion, Exchange, Redemption and Liquidation
If any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares may be converted or exchanged, each record holder of depositary receipts will have the right or obligation to convert or exchange the depositary shares represented by the depositary receipts.
The terms on which the depositary shares relating to the preferred stock of any series may be redeemed, and any amounts distributable upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement.
Voting
When the depositary receives notice of a meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the particulars of the meeting to the record holders of the depositary shares. Each record holder of depositary shares on the record date may instruct the depositary on how to vote the shares of preferred stock underlying the holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will try, if practical, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares according to the instructions. We will agree to take all reasonable action requested by the depositary to enable it to vote as instructed.
Amendments
We and the depositary may agree to amend the deposit agreement and the depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares. Any amendment that (a) imposes or increases certain fees, taxes or other charges payable by the holders of the depositary shares as described in the deposit agreement or that (b) otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of holders of depositary shares, will not take effect until 30 days after the depositary has mailed notice of the amendment to the record holders of depositary shares. Any holder of depositary shares that continues to hold its shares at the end of the 30-day period will be deemed to have agreed to the amendment.
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Termination
We may direct the depositary to terminate the deposit agreement by mailing a notice of termination to holders of depositary shares at least 30 days prior to termination. In addition, a deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:
• the depositary has redeemed all related outstanding depositary shares, or
• we have liquidated, terminated or wound up our business and the depositary has distributed the preferred stock of the relevant series to the holders of the related depositary shares.
Payment of Fees and Expenses
We will pay all fees, charges and expenses of the depositary, including the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary shares will pay transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges as are stated in the deposit agreement for their accounts.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
At any time, the depositary may resign by delivering notice to us, and we may remove the depositary. Resignations or removals will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of the appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.
Reports
The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary shares all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the depositary and that we are required by law, the rules of an applicable securities exchange or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock. Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if the depositary is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstances beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. The deposit agreement limits our obligations and the depositary’s obligations to performance in good faith of the duties stated in the deposit agreement. Neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding connected with any depositary shares or preferred stock unless the holders of depositary shares requesting us to do so furnish us with satisfactory indemnity. In performing our obligations, we and the depositary may rely upon the written advice of our counsel or accountants, on any information that competent people provide to us and on documents that we believe are genuine.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, depositary shares, or any combination thereof. We may issue warrants independently or together with any other securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from the other offered securities. Each series of warrants may be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into by us with a warrant agent. The applicable 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. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreements will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any particular issue of warrants will describe the terms of the warrants, including, as applicable, the following:
the title of the warrants;
the aggregate number of the warrants;
the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;
the designation, terms and number of shares of debt securities, preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;
the designation and terms of the offered securities, if any, with which the warrants are issued and the number of the warrants issued with each offered security;
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the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and to keep such registration statement effective until the date onrelated debt securities, preferred stock or common stock will be separately transferable;
the price at which alleach share of the shares issuabledebt securities, preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants have been soldmay be purchased;
the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on which that right shall expire;
the minimum or all shares issuable on maximum amount of the warrants which may be exercised at any one time;
information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
a netdiscussion of certain federal income tax considerations; and
any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise basis can be sold publiclyof the warrants.
We and the applicable warrant agent may amend or supplement the warrant agreement for a series of warrants without restrictionthe consent of the holders of the warrants issued thereunder to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

We may issue rights to purchase common stock or limitation under Rule 144 underpreferred stock. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the Securities Act.material terms and conditions for each right. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the rights as described in this prospectus.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms and conditions of the issue of rights being offered, the rights agreement relating to the rights and the rights certificates representing the rights, including, as applicable:

the title of the rights;

the date of determining the stockholders entitled to the rights distribution;
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The selling stockholders, which as used herein includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest sellingthe title, aggregate number of shares of common stock or interests in sharespreferred stock purchasable upon exercise of common stock received after the rights;
the exercise price;
the aggregate number of rights issued;
the date, if any, on and after which the rights will be separately transferable;
the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the right will expire; and
any other terms of this prospectus from the selling stockholders as a gift, pledge, partnershiprights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, or other non-sale related transfer, may, from timeexchange and exercise of the rights.
Each right will entitle the holder of rights to time, sell, transfer or otherwise disposepurchase for cash the principal amount of any or all of their shares of common stock or interestspreferred stock at the exercise price provided in shares of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These dispositionsapplicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at fixed prices, at prevailing market pricesany 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 be void.
 Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.
The selling stockholders may use any one or morecorporate trust office of the following methods when disposing of sharesrights agent or interests therein:
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;
an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;
privately negotiated transactions;
underwritten transactions;
short sales effected after the date of this prospectus;
through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;
through the distribution of the common stock by the selling stockholders to their partners, members or stockholders;
broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
a combination of any such methods of sale; and
any other method permitted by applicable law.
In addition, any shares covered by thisoffice indicated in the prospectus that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus.
The selling stockholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all ofsupplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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FORMS OF SECURITIES

Each debt security, depositary share, warrant and right will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, certificated securities will be issued in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities, depositary shares, warrants or rights represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor’s beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.
Registered Global Securities

We may issue the registered debt securities, depositary shares, warrants and rights in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.
If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by itthe participants. Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.
So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture, deposit agreement, warrant agreement or rights agreement. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security:
will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the registered global security registered in their names;
will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form; and
will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the applicable indenture, deposit agreement, warrant agreement or rights agreement.
Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that registered global security and, if it defaultsthat person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture, deposit agreement, warrant agreement or rights agreement.
We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, deposit agreement, warrant agreement or rights agreement, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.
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We will make payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities, and any payments to holders with respect to depositary shares, warrants or rights, represented by a registered global security registered in the performancename of a depositary or its secured obligations,nominee to the pledgeesdepositary or secured partiesits nominee, as the case may offerbe, as the registered owner of the registered global security. None of us, the trustees, the depositaries for depositary shares, the warrant agents, the rights agents or any other agent of ours, agent of the trustees, agent of such depositaries, agent of the warrant agents or agent of the rights agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on that registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that standing customer instructions and customary practices will govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through the participants, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street name.” We also expect that any of these payments will be the responsibility of those participants.
If the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee, warrant agent, unit agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the sharessecurities offered by this prospectus to one or more underwriters or dealers for public offering and sale by them or to investors directly or through agents. The accompanying prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of common stock,the offering and the method of distribution and will identify any firms acting as underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering, including:
the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;
the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us from the sale;
any underwriting discounts and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers or agents;
any public offering price;
any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and
any securities exchange or market on which the securities offered in the prospectus supplement may be listed.
Only those underwriters identified in such prospectus supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities offered in the prospectus supplement.
The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time underin one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at prices determined as the applicable prospectus supplement specifies. The securities may be sold through an at the market offering, a rights offering, forward contracts or similar arrangements. In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus or under ato third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement toso indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus

and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or
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amending the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus. The selling stockholders alsothird party may transfer the sharesits economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of common stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.securities.
In connection with the sale of our common stockthe securities, underwriters, dealers or interests therein, the selling stockholdersagents may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common stockbe deemed to have received compensation from us in the courseform of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of our common stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented to reflect such transaction).
The aggregate proceeds to the selling stockholders from the sale of the common stock offered will be the purchase price of the common stock lessunderwriting discounts or commissions if any. The selling stockholders reserveand also may receive commissions from securities purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the rightsecurities to acceptor through dealers, and togetherthe 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 agent.
We will provide in the applicable prospectus supplement information regarding any underwriting discounts or other compensation that we pay to underwriters or agents in connection with theirthe securities offering, and any discounts, concessions or commissions that underwriters allow to dealers. Underwriters, dealers and agents from time to time, to reject,participating in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of common stockthe securities distribution may be deemed to be made directly or through agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering, although we will receive the exercise price of the warrants (assuming the warrants are exercised for cash).
The selling stockholdersunderwriters, and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents that participate in the sale of the common stock or interests therein may be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act. Any discounts, commissions or concessions orthey receive and any profit they earnrealize on anythe resale of the sharessecurities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Selling stockholders who are “underwriters” within the meaningAct of the Securities Act will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.1933. Underwriters and their controlling persons, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, and the selling stockholders, to indemnification against and contribution toward specific civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Some of the underwriters, dealers or agents who participate in the securities distribution may engage in other transactions with, and perform other services for, us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.
Our common stock is currently listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, but any other securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. To facilitate the offering of the shares offered by the selling stockholders,securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the common stock.securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more sharessecurities than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the common stocksecurities by bidding for or purchasing sharessecurities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if sharessecurities 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 common stocksecurities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.

LEGAL MATTERS

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The validity of any securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, San Francisco, California.

LLP.
EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Performant Financial Corporation as of December 31, 20182020 and 2019 and for the yearyears ended December 31, 2018,2020 and 2019, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause,US, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements of Performant Financial Corporation as of December 31, 2017 and for each of the two years in the two year period ended December 31, 2017, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933. This prospectus is part of the registration statement but the registration statement includes and incorporates by reference additional information and exhibits. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding companies, such as ours, that file documents electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov. The information on the SEC’s web sitewebsite is not part of this prospectus, and any references to this website or any other website are inactive textual references only.
The SEC permits us to “incorporate by reference” the information contained in documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents rather than by including them in this prospectus. Information that is incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and you should read it with the same care that you read this prospectus. Later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information that is either contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus, and will be considered to be a part of this prospectus from the date those documents are filed. We have filed with the SEC, and incorporate by reference in this prospectus:
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018;2020;
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our Quarterly ReportsReport on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periodsperiod ended March 31, 2019, June 30, 2019, and September 30, 2019;2021;
our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 2, 2021, March 29, 2021, May 28, 2021, and June 14, 2019, June 7, 2019, July 10, 20192021; and November 20, 2019; and
the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on August 8, 2012.

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2012, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
We also incorporate by reference all additional documents that we file with the SEC under the terms of Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are made after the initial filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the effectiveness of the registration statement, as well as between the date of this prospectus and the termination of any offering of securities offered by this prospectus. We are not, however, incorporating, in each case, any documents or information that we are deemed to furnish and not file in accordance with SEC rules.
You may request a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference but not delivered with this prospectus, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address and number:
Performant Financial Corporation
Attn: Investor Relations
333 North Canyons Parkway,
Suite 100,
Livermore, California 94551
(925) 960-4800
We will not, however, send exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in those documents.


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PART II
Information Not Required In Prospectus
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following is a statement of estimated expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions.
commission.
SEC Registration Feeregistration fee$1,663    10,910
The Nasdaq Stock Market listing fees(1)
Transfer agent and registrar, trustee and depositary fees(1)
Printing expenses(1)
Legal Feesfees and Expenses*expenses$10,000(1)
Accounting Feesfees and Expenses*expenses$45,000(1)
TotalMiscellaneous(1)
$56,663     (1)
_____________
*    Estimated.(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 Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) provides for the indemnification of officers, directors, and other corporate agents in terms sufficiently broad to indemnify such persons under certain circumstances for liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933. Article X of the Registrant’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, (Exhibit 3.1(b) of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed July 23, 2012 (File No. 333-182529) (the “Form S-1”), and Article 6 of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (Exhibit 3.2(b) to the Form S-1), provide for indemnification of the Registrant’s directors, officers, employees and other agents to the extent and under the circumstances permitted by the DGCL. The Registrant has also entered into agreements with its directors and officers that will require the Registrant, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers to the fullest extent not prohibited by law.

The above discussion of Section 145 of the DGCL, our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our Amended and Restated Bylaws and our indemnification agreements is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by the actual provisions of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, the DGCL and the indemnification agreements.



Item 16. Exhibits.

Exhibit No.Description
1.1*DescriptionForm of Underwriting Agreement.
4.1
4.2*Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated asForm of August 15, 2012, amongsupplemental indenture or other instrument establishing the issuance of one or more series of debt securities (including the form of such debt security).
4.3Specimen Common Stock Certificate of the Registrant and the persons listed thereon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to4.1 filed with the Company’sRegistrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed July 23, 2012)2012 (File No. 333-182529).
4.24.4*Form of Specimen Preferred Stock Certificate.
4.5*RegistrationForm of Deposit Agreement.
4.6*Form of Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.4).
4.7*Form of Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate.
4.8*Form of Rights Agreement dated as of August 11, 2017, by and between the Company and ECMC Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed August 17, 2017)Rights Certificate.
23.1Consent of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereof).
25.1+Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of the trustee for the debt securities

___________
II – 1*    To be filed by amendment or pursuant to a report to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if applicable, and incorporated herein by reference.




+    To be filed by amendment or pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 305(b)(2), if applicable.
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a)     The undersigned registrantRegistrant 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 sectionSection 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii)    To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)    To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrantRegistrant pursuant to sectionSection 13 or sectionSection 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.



(2)    That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)    To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4)    That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(A)    Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B)    Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating

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to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by sectionSection 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 registrantRegistrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrantRegistrant 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 registrantRegistrant 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 registrantRegistrant 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 registrantRegistrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;Registrant;
(iii)    The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrantRegistrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant;Registrant; and
(iv)    Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrantRegistrant to the purchaser.
(6)    That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’sRegistrant’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 sectionSection 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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(7)    To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b)    The undersigned registrantRegistrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period (if any), 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.
(c)    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrantRegistrant pursuant to any charter provision, by law or otherwise, the registrantRegistrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than payment by the registrantRegistrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrantRegistrant 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 registrantRegistrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Livermore, State of California, on December 20, 2019.July 26, 2021.                 
PERFORMANT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Lisa C. Im    
Lisa C. Im
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature to this registration statement on Form S-3 appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Lisa C. Im orand Ian Johnston, and each of them.them, his or her true and lawful attorneys‑in‑factattorneys in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this Registration Statement, and any registration statement relating to the offering covered by this Registration Statement and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange 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, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys in fact and agents or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
NameTitleDate

/s/ Lisa C. Im
Lisa C. Im

Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Board Chair

December 20, 2019
July 26, 2021

/s/ Ian Johnston
Ian Johnston

Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

December 20, 2019
July 26, 2021

/s/ James LaCampBradley M. Fluegel    
James LaCampBradley M. Fluegel

Director

December 20, 2019
July 26, 2021

/s/ Jeffrey S. Stein
Jeffrey S. Stein

Director

December 20, 2019

/s/ William D. Hansen
William D. Hansen

Director

December 20, 2019
July 26, 2021

/s/ Bradley M. FluegelJames LaCamp    
Bradley M. FluegelJames LaCamp

Director
July 26, 2021

December 20, 2019/s/ Eric Yanagi    
Eric Yanagi

Director
July 26, 2021


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