As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2023
Registration No. 333‐-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
___________________
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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BEL FUSE INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New Jersey | 22-1463699 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
206 Van Vorst Street
Jersey City, New Jersey 07302
(201) 432-0463
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Daniel Bernstein
President and Chief Executive Officer
Bel Fuse Inc.
206 Van Vorst Street
Jersey City, New Jersey 07302
(201) 432-0463
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number
including area code, of agent for service)
Please send copies of all notices, orders and communications (including notices, orders and communications sent to the agent for service), to:
Alan Wovsaniker, Esq.
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
One Lowenstein Drive
Roseland, New Jersey 07068
Tel: (973) 597-2500
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. ☐
Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☒ | Non-accelerated filer ☐ | Smaller reporting company ☒ | Emerging growth company ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
The Registrant hereby amends this 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.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 10, 2023
PROSPECTUS
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BEL FUSE INC.
___________________
$250,000,000
Class A Common Stock
Class B Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Debt Securities
Depositary Shares
Units
___________________
Bel Fuse Inc. may offer, issue and sell from time to time, together or separately, in one or more offerings, any combination of (i) our Class A common stock, (ii) our Class B common stock, (iii) our preferred stock, which we may issue in one or more series, (iv) warrants, (v) senior or subordinated debt securities, (vi) depositary shares and (vii) units, up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $250,000,000. The debt securities may consist of debentures, notes, or other types of debt. The debt securities, preferred stock and warrants may be convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, Class A common stock, Class B common stock, preferred stock or other securities of ours. The preferred stock may be represented by depositary shares. The units may consist of any combination of the securities listed above.
We may offer and sell these securities in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of the offering. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in this prospectus, carefully before you make your investment decision. Our Class A common stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System under the symbol “BELFA” and our Class B common stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System under the symbol “BELFB.” On May 9, 2023, the last reported sale prices of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System were $44.00 per share and $44.10 per share, respectively. You are urged to obtain current market quotations of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock in connection with any offering involving these securities. We have no preferred stock, warrants, debt securities, depositary shares or units listed on any market. Each prospectus supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will be listed on any securities exchange.
This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
We may offer to sell these securities on a continuous or delayed basis, through agents, dealers or underwriters, or directly to purchasers. The prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering. If our agents or any dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of the securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the names of the agents, dealers or underwriters and any applicable commissions or discounts. Our net proceeds from the sale of securities will also be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.
Investing in these securities involves substantial risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 2 herein and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference herein, updated and supplemented by our periodic reports and other information filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated by reference herein. The prospectus supplement applicable to each type or series of securities we offer may contain a discussion of additional risks applicable to an investment in us and the particular type of securities we are offering under that prospectus supplement.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR REGULATORY BODY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this prospectus is , 2023.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY | 1 |
RISK FACTORS | 2 |
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | 2 |
USE OF PROCEEDS | 3 |
DESCRIPTIONS OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER | 3 |
DESCRIPTION OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK AND CLASS B COMMON STOCK | 3 |
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK | 6 |
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS | 8 |
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES | 10 |
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES | 17 |
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS | 20 |
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION | 20 |
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE | 24 |
LEGAL MATTERS | 25 |
EXPERTS | 25 |
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION | 25 |
We have not authorized any person to give any information or make any statement that differs from what is in this prospectus. If any person does make a statement that differs from what is in this prospectus, you should not rely on it. This prospectus is not an offer to sell, nor is it a solicitation of an offer to buy, these securities in any state in which the offer or sale is not permitted. The information in this prospectus is complete and accurate as of its date, but the information may change after that date. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date after its date.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
The registration statement containing this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. You should read the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits for further information. The registration statement, including the exhibits and the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated herein by reference, can be read and are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Each time we sell securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of a particular offering by us. That prospectus supplement may include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations that apply to those securities. The prospectus supplement may add to, update or change information in this prospectus. If the information in the prospectus is inconsistent with a prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and, if applicable, any prospectus supplement. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for more information.
We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. This prospectus and any prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus and any prospectus supplement constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of such document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus and any prospectus supplement is delivered or securities are sold on a later date.
Unless this prospectus indicates otherwise or the context otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “our,” “us,” “Bel” or the “Company” as used in this prospectus refer to Bel Fuse Inc. and its subsidiaries, except that such terms refer to only Bel Fuse Inc. and not its subsidiaries in the sections entitled “Description of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock,” “Description of Preferred Stock,” “Description of Warrants,” “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Depositary Shares” and “Description of Units.”
Company Overview
Bel Fuse Inc. designs, manufactures and markets a broad array of products that power, protect and connect electronic circuits. These products are primarily used in the networking, telecommunications, computing, general industrial, high-speed data transmission, military, commercial aerospace, transportation and eMobility industries. Bel's portfolio of products also finds application in the automotive, medical, broadcasting and consumer electronics markets. Bel's product groups include Magnetic Solutions (integrated connector modules, power transformers, power inductors and discrete components), Power Solutions and Protection (front-end, board-mount and industrial and transportation power products, module products and circuit protection), and Connectivity Solutions (expanded beam fiber optic, copper-based, RF and RJ connectors and cable assemblies).
With more than 70 years in operation, Bel has reliably demonstrated the ability to participate in a variety of product areas across a global platform. The Company has a strong track record of technical innovation working with the engineering teams of market leaders. Bel has proven itself a valuable supplier to world-class companies by developing new products with cost effective solutions.
Acquisitions have played a critical role in the growth of Bel and the expansion of both our product portfolio and our customer base and continue to be an important element in our growth strategy. We frequently evaluate possible acquisition candidates that would expand our product and technology offerings to our customers and/or optimize our overall cost structure. The Company may, from time to time, purchase equity positions in companies that are potential merger candidates.
Corporate Information
Bel was incorporated in 1949 and is organized under New Jersey law. Bel operates in one industry with three reportable operating segments, which represent the Company’s three product groups, and a corporate segment. The segments consist of Connectivity Solutions, Power Solutions and Protection, Magnetic Solutions and a Corporate segment. Bel's principal executive offices are located at 206 Van Vorst Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302, and Bel's telephone number is (201) 432-0463. The Company operates facilities in North America, Europe and Asia and trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (ticker symbols “BELFA” and “BELFB”). We maintain a corporate website at www.belfuse.com. The contents of our website are not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and should not be considered to be a part of this prospectus or relied upon in connection herewith.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves risks. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in our updates to those Risk Factors in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q following the most recent Form 10-K, and in all other information appearing in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect us will be described in those documents. In addition to those risk factors, there may be additional risks and uncertainties of which management is not aware or focused on or that management deems immaterial. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of our securities could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. This prospectus is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, including the documents that we incorporate by reference, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plans,” “projects,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expects,” “management believes,” “we believe,” “we intend” and similar words or phrases. Accordingly, these statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in them. Any forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the risk factors discussed in this prospectus, discussed in a supplement to this prospectus or discussed in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which change over time, and are based on management’s expectations and assumptions at the time the statements are made, and are not guarantees of future results. Our actual results may differ materially from those expressed or anticipated in the forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the factors described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, in any risk factors described in a supplement to this prospectus or in other filings.
You should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events after the date of this prospectus or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should, however, review the factors and risks we describe in the reports we file from time to time with the SEC after the date of this prospectus. We undertake no obligation to revise or update the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus at any time.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus used to offer specific securities, we expect to use the net proceeds from any offering of securities by us for general corporate purposes, which may include, without limitation, application towards purposes and uses such as acquisitions, capital expenditures, investments, and the repayment, redemption or refinancing of all or a portion of any indebtedness or other securities outstanding at a particular time. When particular securities are offered, the prospectus supplement relating to that offering will set forth our intended use of the net proceeds received from the sale of those securities we sell. Pending the application of the net proceeds, we expect to invest the proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing instruments or other investment-grade securities.
DESCRIPTIONS OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
This prospectus contains summary descriptions of the Class A common stock, Class B common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt securities, depositary shares and units that we may offer and sell from time to time. We may issue the debt securities as exchangeable and/or convertible debt securities exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock or preferred stock. The preferred stock may also be exchangeable for and/or convertible into shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock or another series of preferred stock. When one or more of these securities are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement will explain the particular terms of the securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. These summary descriptions and any summary descriptions in the applicable prospectus supplement do not purport to be complete descriptions of the terms and conditions of each security and are qualified in their entirety by reference to our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (our “restated certificate of incorporation”) and our amended and restated by-laws and by applicable New Jersey law and any other documents referenced in such summary descriptions and from which such summary descriptions are derived. If any particular terms of a security described in the applicable prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described herein, then the terms described herein will be deemed superseded by the terms set forth in that prospectus supplement.
We may issue securities in book-entry form through one or more depositaries, such as The Depository Trust Company, Euroclear or Clearstream, named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each sale of a security in book-entry form will settle in immediately available funds through the applicable depositary, unless otherwise stated. We will issue the securities only in registered form, without coupons, although we may issue the securities in bearer form if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. If any securities are to be listed or quoted on a securities exchange or quotation system, the applicable prospectus supplement will say so.
DESCRIPTION OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK AND CLASS B COMMON STOCK
General
The following is a description of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock, as well as a description of the terms of such other securities of Bel as may materially limit or qualify the rights evidenced by, or any amounts payable with respect to, our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock.
Our restated certification of incorporation, as amended, provides that we may issue up to 41,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which (1) 40,000,000 shares are designated as common stock, par value $0.10 per share, consisting of (a) 10,000,000 shares of Class A common stock and (b) 30,000,000 shares of Class B common stock and (2) 1,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock, no par value. In this prospectus we sometimes refer to our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock collectively as our “common stock.” Our board of directors is authorized to issue the preferred stock from time to time in one or more series, with such designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions, and special or relative rights as the board shall determine. We may increase our authorized shares of capital stock subsequent to the date of this prospectus. The number of authorized shares common stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the outstanding shares of the Class A common stock. As of May 1, 2023, there were 2,141,589 shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding, 10,632,260 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding, and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. Our Class A common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, under the symbol “BELFA.” Our Class B common stock is also listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, under the symbol “BELFB.”
Voting Rights
Class B Common Stock. Our Class B common stock has no voting rights on any matters except as otherwise required by law or expressly provided in our restated certificate of incorporation.
Class A Common Stock. Except as otherwise provided by our board of directors in fixing the voting rights of any series of preferred stock or as otherwise required by law or expressly provided in our restated certificate of incorporation, voting power in the election of directors and for all other purposes is vested exclusively in the holders of our Class A common stock, with each holder of Class A common stock entitled to one vote for each share of Class A common stock held on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders. The quorum for shareholders’ meetings is a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote. Generally, actions and authorizations to be taken or given by shareholders require the approval of a majority of the votes cast by holders of our Class A common stock at a meeting at which a quorum is present; subject to certain exceptions for matters requiring a greater threshold for approval as specified in our restated certificate of incorporation, including certain business combinations, asset transfers and other transactions, in each case with “related persons” (as defined in our restated certificate of incorporation), or the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of our Company, in each case which neither (i) was approved in advance by a majority of our “continuing directors” (defined generally as a member of our board of directors who was first elected to our board prior to the date as of which a related person proposing, or involved in, a business combination became a related person; was designated at the time of his initial election as a “continuing director” by a majority of the then continuing directors or was a director at the time our certificate of incorporation was amended to include the provisions regarding business combinations), nor (ii) satisfies certain requirements as to the consideration and other matters concerning the transaction as specified in our restated certificate of incorporation. There is no cumulative voting.
In addition, our restated certificate of incorporation contains a provision that notwithstanding any other provision therein, no action may be taken without the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the outstanding shares of our Class A common stock with respect to any (i) amendment of our restated certificate of incorporation, (ii) merger or consolidation of our Company with one or more other corporations, (iii) sale, conveyance, lease, mortgage, pledge, or exchange of all or substantially all of our Company’s property or assets or (iv) liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, except as otherwise provided in the New Jersey Business Corporation Act.
Dividend and Other Distribution and Liquidation Rights
Cash Dividends. Holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock are entitled to dividends if, as and when determined by our board of directors in its sole discretion out of funds lawfully available for the payment of dividends. Subject to the foregoing, our restated certificate of incorporation provides that cash dividends declared on shares of our Class B common stock in any calendar year will not be less than 5% higher per share annually than the annual amount of cash dividends per share declared in such calendar year on shares of our Class A common stock. Without limiting the provisions of the preceding sentence, our board of directors may not declare a cash dividend on shares of our Class A common stock unless at the same time it declares a cash dividend on shares of our Class B common stock (payable on the same payment date as the dividends then being declared on our Class A common stock) in an amount which, together with all prior cash dividend payments in the calendar year, is at least 5% greater than the cash dividend then being declared on our Class A common stock, together with all prior cash dividend payments declared on our Class A common stock in such calendar year. Our board of directors may at any time declare a cash dividend on shares of our Class B common stock without declaring a cash dividend on shares of our Class A common stock. The only statutory limitations on cash dividends is that we may not pay a dividend if, after giving effect to the dividend, we would be unable to pay our debts as they become due in the usual course of business or our total assets would be less than our total liabilities. The respective amounts of future dividends, if any, to be declared on each class of common stock depends on circumstances existing at the time, including our Company's financial condition, capital requirements, earnings, legally available funds for the payment of dividends and other relevant factors.
Other Dividends and Distributions. Each share of our Class A common stock and each share of our Class B common stock shall have identical rights with respect to dividends (other than cash, as described above) and distributions (including distributions in connection with any recapitalization, and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our Company) when and as declared in the form of stock or other property of the Company; provided that dividends or other distributions payable on common stock in shares of common stock shall be made to all holders of common stock and may be made only as follows: (i) in shares of our Class B common stock to the record holders of our Class A common stock and to the record holders of our Class B common stock; or (ii) in shares of our Class A common stock to the record holders of our Class A common stock and in shares of our Class B common stock to the record holders of our Class B common stock.
Subject to Preferred Stock. The dividend rights of holders of our common stock are qualified and subject to the dividend rights of holders of any outstanding preferred stock.
Merger and Consolidation
In the event of a merger or consolidation of our Company with or into another entity (whether or not our Company is the surviving entity), the holders of our Class B common stock shall be entitled to receive the same amount and form of consideration per share as the per-share consideration, if any, received by any holder of our Class A common stock in such merger or consolidation.
Convertibility
Neither our Class B common stock nor our Class A common stock is convertible into another class of common stock or any other security of our Company, except as follows:
● | All outstanding shares of our Class B common stock may be converted into shares of our Class A common stock on a share-for-share basis by resolution of our board of directors if, as a result of the existence of our Class B common stock, either our Class A common stock or our Class B common stock is, or both are, excluded from quotation on NASDAQ or, if such shares are quoted on another national quotation system or listed on a national securities exchange, from trading on the principal national quotation system or principal national securities exchange on which such securities are traded. |
● | All outstanding shares of our Class B common stock shall be immediately converted into shares of our Class A common stock on a share-for-share basis if at any time the number of outstanding shares of our Class A common stock as reflected on the stock transfer records of our Company falls below 10% of the aggregate number of outstanding shares of our common stock. For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, any shares of our common stock repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Company and held as treasury shares shall not be deemed “outstanding” from and after the date of acquisition. |
● | In the event of any conversion of our Class B common stock in the manner specified in the two preceding bullet points, certificates that formerly represented outstanding shares of our Class B common stock will thereafter be deemed to represent a like number of shares of our Class A common stock and all shares of common stock authorized by our restated certificate of incorporation shall be deemed to be shares of our Class A common stock. |
Class B Protective Provision
Our restated certificate of incorporation provides that if a shareholder, other than shareholders subject to specific exceptions, acquired (after the date of the Company’s 1998 recapitalization) 10% or more of our outstanding Class A common stock and does not own an equal or greater percentage of all then outstanding shares of both Class A and Class B common stock (all of which must have been acquired after the date of the 1998 recapitalization), such shareholder must, within 90 days of the trigger date, purchase shares of our Class B common stock in an amount and at a price determined in accordance with a formula described in our restated certificate of incorporation, or forfeit its right to vote its shares of Class A common stock. As of the date of this prospectus, to the Company’s knowledge, there is one holder, GAMCO Investors, Inc. et al. (“GAMCO”), that beneficially owned in excess of 10% of the outstanding shares of our Class A common stock without requisite ownership of our Class B common stock and with no basis for exception from the operation of these provisions. In order to vote its shares, this shareholder would be required to either purchase the required number of shares of our Class B common stock or sell or otherwise transfer shares of Class A common stock until its Class A holdings are under 10%. To the Company’s knowledge, as of the date of this prospectus, GAMCO has not taken the required actions and, accordingly, the voting rights of GAMCO are currently suspended.
Subdivision of Shares
If our Company in any manner splits, subdivides or combines the outstanding shares of our Class A common stock or our Class B common stock, the outstanding shares of the other such class of our common stock shall be proportionately split, subdivided or combined in the same manner and on the same basis as the outstanding shares of the other class of our common stock have been split, subdivided or combined.
Assessment and Redemption
All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. Our common stock is not redeemable at the option of the issuer or the holders thereof.
Other Matters
Certain provisions in our restated certificate of incorporation and applicable New Jersey corporate law may have the effect of discouraging a change of control of Bel, even if such a transaction is favored by some of our shareholders and could result in shareholders receiving a substantial premium over the current market price of our shares. These provisions include our blank check preferred stock that may be issued by our board of directors; our classified or “staggered” board of directors; and the supermajority voting provisions contained in our restated certificate of incorporation with respect to certain transactions with related persons described above under the caption “Description of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock – Voting Rights.” The primary purpose of these provisions is to encourage negotiations with our management by persons interested in acquiring control of our corporation. These provisions may also tend to perpetuate present management and make it difficult for shareholders owning less than a majority of the shares to be able to elect even a single director.
Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company is presently the transfer agent and registrar for our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
“Blank Check” Preferred Stock
The 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock that our restated certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue (none of which are issued and outstanding as of the date of this prospectus) are typically referred to as “blank check” preferred stock. This term refers to stock for which the rights and restrictions are determined by the board of directors of a corporation. In general, our restated certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to issue new shares of our common stock or preferred stock without further shareholder action, provided that there are sufficient authorized shares.
The issuance of additional common or preferred stock may be viewed as having adverse effects upon the holders of common stock. Holders of our common stock do not have preemptive rights with respect to any newly issued stock. Our board could adversely affect the voting power of holders of our common stock by issuing shares of preferred stock with certain voting, conversion and/or redemption rights. In the event of a proposed merger, tender offer or other attempt to gain control of Bel that the board of directors does not believe to be in the best interests of its shareholders, the board could issue additional preferred stock which could make any such takeover attempt more difficult to complete. Our board of directors does not intend to issue any preferred stock except on terms that the board deems to be in the best interests of our company and our shareholders.
Terms of the Preferred Stock That We May Offer and Sell to You
We have summarized below some of the provisions that will apply to the preferred stock that we may offer to you unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. This summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete terms of the preferred stock will be contained in the prospectus supplement. You should read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.
Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the shareholders, to issue preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the number of shares, dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights, liquidation preferences, sinking funds, and any other rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions applicable to each such series of preferred stock. Any preferred stock that we may offer may be subject to certain restrictions, including without limitation in respect of the payment of dividends, pursuant to the terms of contractual covenants to which the Company is subject. For example, our Amended and Restated Credit and Security Agreement, dated as of September 2, 2021, as conformed with changes implemented pursuant to the First Amendment Agreement dated as of January 12, 2023, with KeyBank National Association (“KeyBank”), as administrative agent, swing line lender and issuing lender, and the other lenders identified therein (as amended, the “Credit and Security Agreement”), governing our $175 million 5-year senior secured revolving credit facility (with a sublimit of up to $10 million for letters of credit and a sublimit of up to $5 million for swing line loans), generally prohibits us from making certain “restricted payments” (defined to include (i) any payment made, liability incurred or other consideration given by us or any of our subsidiaries to any person, other than us or our subsidiaries, for the purchase, acquisition, redemption, repurchase, payment or retirement of any capital stock or other equity interest of our Company or any of our subsidiaries, or as a dividend, return of capital or other distribution, (ii) any amount paid in repayment, redemption, retirement or repurchase, directly or indirectly, of any subordinated indebtedness, or (iii) any amount paid in respect of any management, consulting or other similar arrangement with any equity holder (other than us) of us, our subsidiaries or our affiliates), except that, as long as immediately before and after giving effect thereto (i) no “default” or “event of default” shall then exist or begin to exist under the Credit and Security Agreement and (ii) we are in compliance with certain financial covenants pursuant to the Credit and Security Agreement, our Company and our subsidiaries may make “capital distributions” (defined to include any payment made, liability incurred or other consideration given by us or our subsidiaries to any other person, (a) as a dividend, return of capital or other distribution in respect of our or any of our subsidiaries’ capital stock or other equity interests or (b) for the purchase, acquisition, redemption, repurchase, payment or retirement of any capital stock or other equity interest of our Company or of any of our subsidiaries).
Prior to the issuance of a new series of preferred stock, we will amend our restated certificate of incorporation, designating the stock of that series and the terms of that series. The issuance of any preferred stock could adversely affect the rights of the holders of common stock and, therefore, reduce the value of the common stock. The ability of our board of directors to issue preferred stock could discourage, delay or prevent a takeover or other corporate action.
The terms of any particular series of preferred stock will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that particular series of preferred stock, including, where applicable:
● | the designation, stated value and liquidation preference of such preferred stock and the amount of stock offered; |
● | the offering price; |
● | the dividend rate or rates (or method of calculation), the date or dates from which dividends shall accrue, and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative and, if cumulative, the dates from which dividends shall commence to cumulate; |
● | any redemption or sinking fund provisions; |
● | the amount that shares of such series shall be entitled to receive in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up; |
● | the terms and conditions, if any, on which shares of such series shall be convertible or exchangeable for shares of our stock of any other class or classes, or other series of the same class; |
● | the voting rights, if any, of shares of such series; |
● | the status as to reissuance or sale of shares of such series redeemed, purchased or otherwise reacquired, or surrendered to us upon conversion or exchange; |
● | the conditions and restrictions, if any, on the payment of dividends or on the making of other distributions on, or the purchase, redemption or other acquisition by us or any subsidiary, of the common stock or of any other class of our shares ranking junior to the shares of such series as to dividends or upon liquidation; |
● | the conditions and restrictions, if any, on the creation of indebtedness by us or by any subsidiary, or on the issuance of any additional stock ranking on a parity with or prior to the shares of such series as to dividends or upon liquidation; and |
● | any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking or retirement fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions of such preferred stock. |
The description of the terms of a particular series of preferred stock in the applicable prospectus supplement will not be complete. You should refer to the applicable amendment to our restated certificate of incorporation for complete information regarding a series of preferred stock.
The preferred stock will, when issued against payment of the consideration payable therefor, be fully paid and nonassessable. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of preferred stock will, upon issuance, rank senior to the common stock and on a parity in all respects with each other outstanding series of preferred stock. The rights of the holders of our preferred stock will be subordinate to that of our general creditors.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We have summarized below some of the provisions that will apply to the warrants unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. This summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete terms of the warrants will be contained in the applicable warrant certificate and warrant agreement. These documents have been or will be included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the warrant certificate and the warrant agreement. You should also read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.
General
We may issue, together with other securities or separately, warrants to purchase debt securities, Class A common stock, Class B common stock, preferred stock or other securities. We may issue the warrants under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent would act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of the series being offered and would not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms, where applicable, of warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
● | the title of the warrants; |
● | the designation, amount and terms of the securities for which the warrants are exercisable and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such warrants; |
● | the designation and terms of the other securities, if any, with which the warrants are to be issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security; |
● | the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued; |
● | the aggregate number of warrants; |
● | any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the warrants or the exercise price of the warrants; |
● | the price or prices at which the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased; |
● | if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants will be separately transferable; |
● | if applicable, a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the warrants; |
● | any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants; |
● | the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on which the right shall expire; |
● | if applicable, the maximum or minimum number of warrants which may be exercised at any time; |
● | the identity of the warrant agent; |
● | any mandatory or optional redemption or call provision; |
● | whether the warrants are to be issued in registered or bearer form; |
● | whether the warrants are extendible and the period or periods of such extendibility; |
● | information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and |
● | any other terms of the warrants. |
Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive dividends, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up or to exercise voting rights, if any.
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase the amount of such principal amounts of debt securities or such number of shares of Class A common stock, Class B common stock or preferred stock or other securities at the exercise price as will in each case be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void. Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered thereby. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the purchased securities. If less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants.
Enforceability of Rights of Holders of Warrants
Each warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, that holder’s warrant(s).
Modification of the Warrant Agreement
The warrant agreement will permit us and the warrant agent, without the consent of the warrant holders, to supplement or amend the agreement in the following circumstances:
● | to cure any ambiguity; |
● | to correct or supplement any provision which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions; or |
● | to add new provisions regarding matters or questions that we and the warrant agent may deem necessary or desirable and which do not adversely affect the interests of the warrant holders. |
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
This prospectus describes certain general terms and provisions of debt securities that we may offer. The debt securities may be issued pursuant to, in the case of senior debt securities, a senior indenture, and in the case of subordinated debt securities, a subordinated indenture, in each case in the forms filed as exhibits to this registration statement, which we refer to as the “indentures.” The indentures will be entered into between us and a trustee to be named prior to the issuance of any debt securities, which we refer to as the “trustee.” The indentures will not limit the amount of debt securities that can be issued thereunder and will provide that the debt securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series pursuant to the terms of one or more securities resolutions or supplemental indentures creating such series. Our ability to issue debt securities is limited as a result of certain covenants in our Credit and Security Agreement with KeyBank, which prohibit certain “restricted payments” (defined to include repayments, redemptions, retirements or repurchases, directly or indirectly, of subordinated indebtedness), and include certain financial covenants with regard to our subordinated indebtedness.
We have summarized below the material provisions of the indentures and the debt securities or indicated which material provisions will be described in the related prospectus supplement for any offering of debt securities. These descriptions are only summaries, and you should refer to the relevant indenture for the particular offering of debt securities itself which will describe completely the terms and definitions of the offered debt securities and contain additional information about the debt securities.
Terms
When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the securities in a prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will set forth the following terms, as applicable, of the debt securities offered thereby:
● | the designation, aggregate principal amount, currency or composite currency and denominations; |
● | the price at which such debt securities will be issued and, if an index formula or other method is used, the method for determining amounts of principal or interest; |
● | the maturity date and other dates, if any, on which principal will be payable; |
● | whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt; |
● | whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination; |
● | the interest rate (which may be fixed or variable), if any; |
● | the date or dates from which interest will accrue and on which interest will be payable, and the record dates for the payment of interest; |
● | the manner of paying principal and interest; |
● | the place or places where principal and interest will be payable; |
● | the terms of any mandatory or optional redemption by us or any third party including any sinking fund; |
● | the terms of any conversion or exchange; |
● | the terms of any redemption at the option of holders or put by the holders; |
● | any tax indemnity provisions; |
● | if the debt securities provide that payments of principal or interest may be made in a currency other than that in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner for determining such payments; |
● | the portion of principal payable upon acceleration of a Discounted Debt Security (as defined below); |
● | whether and upon what terms debt securities may be defeased; |
● | any events of default or covenants in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in the indentures; |
● | provisions for electronic issuance of debt securities or for the issuance of debt securities in uncertificated form; and |
● | any additional provisions or other special terms not inconsistent with the provisions of the indentures, including any terms that may be required or advisable under United States or other applicable laws or regulations, or advisable in connection with the marketing of the debt securities. |
Debt securities of any series may be issued as registered debt securities or uncertificated debt securities, in such denominations as specified in the terms of the series.
Securities may be issued under the indentures as Discounted Debt Securities to be offered and sold at a substantial discount from the principal amount thereof. Special United States federal income tax and other considerations applicable thereto will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such Discounted Debt Securities. “Discounted Debt Security” means a security where the amount of principal due upon acceleration is less than the stated principal amount.
We are not obligated to issue all debt securities of one series at the same time and, unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, we may reopen a series, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of that series, for the issuance of additional debt securities of that series. Additional debt securities of a particular series will have the same terms and conditions as outstanding debt securities of such series, except for the date of original issuance and the offering price, and will be consolidated with, and form a single series with, such outstanding debt securities.
Ranking
The senior debt securities will rank equally with all of our other senior and unsubordinated debt. Our secured debt, if any, will be effectively senior to the senior debt securities to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of our present and future senior indebtedness to the extent and in the manner described in the prospectus supplement and as set forth in the board resolution, officer’s certificate or supplemental indenture relating to such offering.
We have only a stockholder’s claim on the assets of our subsidiaries. This stockholder’s claim is junior to the claims that creditors of our subsidiaries have against our subsidiaries. Holders of our debt securities will be our creditors and not creditors of any of our subsidiaries. As a result, all the existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries, including any claims of their creditors, will effectively be senior to the debt securities with respect to the assets of our subsidiaries. In addition, to the extent that we issue any secured debt, the debt securities will be effectively subordinated to such secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such secured debt.
The debt securities will be obligations exclusively of Bel Fuse Inc. To the extent that our ability to service our debt, including the debt securities, may be dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries, our ability to do so will be dependent on the ability of our subsidiaries to distribute those earnings to us as dividends, loans or other payments.
Certain Covenants
Any covenants that may apply to a particular series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.
Successor Obligor
The indentures provide that, unless otherwise specified in the securities resolution or supplemental indenture establishing a series of debt securities, we shall not consolidate with or merge into, or transfer all or substantially all of our assets to, any person in any transaction in which we are not the survivor, unless:
● | the person is organized under the laws of the United States or a jurisdiction within the United States; |
● | the person assumes by supplemental indenture all of our obligations under the relevant indenture, the debt securities and any coupons; |
● | immediately after the transaction no Default (as defined below) exists; and |
● | we deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate and opinion of counsel stating that the transaction complies with the foregoing requirements and that all conditions precedent provided for in the indenture relating to the transaction have been complied with. |
In such event, the successor will be substituted for us, and thereafter all of our obligations under the relevant indenture, the debt securities and any coupons will terminate.
The indentures provide that these limitations shall not apply if our board of directors makes a good faith determination that the principal purpose of the transaction is to change our state of incorporation.
Exchange of Debt Securities
Registered debt securities may be exchanged for an equal aggregate principal amount of registered debt securities of the same series and date of maturity in such authorized denominations as may be requested upon surrender of the registered debt securities at an agency of the Company maintained for such purpose and upon fulfillment of all other requirements of such agent.
Default and Remedies
Unless the securities resolution or supplemental indenture establishing the series otherwise provides (in which event the prospectus supplement will so state), an “Event of Default” with respect to a series of debt securities will occur if:
(1) we default in any payment of interest on any debt securities of such series when the same becomes due and payable and the default continues for a period of 30 days;
(2) we default in the payment of all or any part of the principal and premium, if any, of any debt securities of such series when the same becomes due and payable at maturity or upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise and such default shall continue for five or more days;
(3) we default in the performance of any of our other agreements applicable to the series and the default continues for 30 days after the notice specified below;
(4) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law (as defined below) that:
A) is for relief against us in an involuntary case,
B) appoints a Custodian (as defined below) for us or for any substantial part of our property, or
C) orders the winding up or liquidation of us, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 consecutive days;
(5) we, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
A) commence a voluntary case,
B) consent to the entry of an order for relief against us in an involuntary case,
C) consent to the appointment of a Custodian for us or for any substantial part of our property, or
D) make a general assignment for the benefit of our creditors; or
(6) there occurs any other Event of Default provided for in such series.
The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the United States Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or a similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time would be, an Event of Default. A Default under subparagraph (3) above is not an Event of Default until the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the series notify us of the Default and we do not cure the Default within the time specified after receipt of the notice.
The trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it before it enforces the indentures or the debt securities of the series. Subject to certain limitations, holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the series may direct the trustee in its exercise of any trust or power with respect to such series. Except in the case of Default in payment on a series, the trustee may withhold from securityholders of such series notice of any continuing Default if the trustee determines that withholding notice is in the interest of such securityholders. We are required to furnish the trustee annually a brief certificate as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under the indentures.
The indentures do not have cross-default provisions. Thus, a default by us on any other debt, including any other series of debt securities, would not constitute an Event of Default.
Amendments and Waivers
The indentures and the debt securities or any coupons of the series may be amended, and any Default may be waived as follows:
Unless the securities resolution or supplemental indenture otherwise provides (in which event the applicable prospectus supplement will so state), the debt securities and the indentures may be amended with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of all series affected voting as one class. Unless the securities resolution or supplemental indenture otherwise provides (in which event the applicable prospectus supplement will so state), a Default other than a Default in payment on a particular series may be waived with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the series. However, without the consent of each securityholder affected, no amendment or waiver may:
● | change the fixed maturity of or the time for payment of interest on any debt security; |
● | reduce the principal, premium or interest payable with respect to any debt security; |
● | change the place of payment of a debt security or the currency in which the principal or interest on a debt security is payable; |
● | change the provisions for calculating any redemption or repurchase price with respect to any debt security; |
● | adversely affect any holder’s right to receive payment of principal and interest or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment; |
● | reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment or waiver; |
● | make any change that materially adversely affects the right to convert any debt security; |
● | waive any Default in payment of principal of or interest on a debt security; or |
● | adversely affect any holder’s rights with respect to redemption or repurchase of a debt security. |
Without the consent of any securityholder, the indentures or the debt securities may be amended to:
● | provide for assumption of our obligations to securityholders in the event of a merger or consolidation requiring such assumption; |
● | cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency; |
● | conform the terms of the debt securities to the description thereof in the prospectus and prospectus supplement offering such debt securities; |
● | create a series and establish its terms; |
● | provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee or to facilitate the administration of the trusts by more than one trustee; |
● | provide for uncertificated or unregistered securities; |
● | make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any securityholder; |
● | add to our covenants; or |
● | make any other change to the indentures so long as no debt securities are outstanding. |
Conversion Rights
Any securities resolution or supplemental indenture establishing a series of debt securities may provide that the debt securities of such series will be convertible at the option of the holders thereof into or for our common stock or other equity or debt instruments. The securities resolution or supplemental indenture may establish, among other things, (1) the number or amount of shares of common stock or other equity or debt instruments for which $1,000 aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series is convertible, as may be adjusted pursuant to the terms of the relevant indenture and the securities resolution; and (2) provisions for adjustments to the conversion rate and limitations upon exercise of the conversion right. The indentures provide that we will not be required to make an adjustment in the conversion rate unless the adjustment would require a cumulative change of at least 1% in the conversion rate. However, we will carry forward any adjustments that are less than 1% of the conversion rate and take them into account in any subsequent adjustment of the conversion rate.
Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
Debt securities of a series may be defeased in accordance with their terms and, unless the securities resolution or supplemental indenture establishing the terms of the series otherwise provides, as set forth below. We at any time may terminate as to a series all of our obligations (except for certain obligations, including obligations with respect to the defeasance trust and obligations to register the transfer or exchange of a debt security, to replace destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities and coupons and to maintain paying agencies in respect of the debt securities) with respect to the debt securities of the series and any related coupons and the relevant indenture, which we refer to as legal defeasance. We at any time may terminate as to a series our obligations with respect to any restrictive covenants which may be applicable to a particular series, which we refer to as covenant defeasance.
We may exercise our legal defeasance option notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option. If we exercise our legal defeasance option, a series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If we exercise our covenant defeasance option, a series may not be accelerated by reference to any covenant which may be applicable to a series.
To exercise either defeasance option as to a series, we must (1) irrevocably deposit in trust with the trustee (or another trustee) money or U.S. Government Obligations (as defined below), deliver a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations, without reinvestment, plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay the principal and interest when due on all debt securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be; and (2) comply with certain other conditions. In particular, we must obtain an opinion of tax counsel that the defeasance will not result in recognition of any gain or loss to holders for federal income tax purposes.
“U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations of the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the United States, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed by the United States, which, in either case, have the full faith and credit of the United States pledged for payment and which are not callable at the issuer’s option, or certificates representing an ownership interest in such obligations.
Regarding the Trustee
Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, the trustee will also act as depository of funds, transfer agent, paying agent and conversion agent, as applicable, with respect to the debt securities. In certain circumstances, we or the securityholders may remove the trustee as the trustee under a given indenture. The indenture trustee may also provide additional unrelated services to us as a depository of funds, registrar, trustee and similar services.
Governing Law
The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by New York law, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is applicable.
Forms of Securities
Each debt security 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 the series of debt securities. 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 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 have explained more fully below.
Global Securities
We may issue the registered debt securities in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its custodian identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or its 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 the participants. Any dealers, underwriters 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 indenture. 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 indenture. 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 that 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 indenture. 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 indenture, 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.
Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. Neither we nor the trustee or any other agent of ours or the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to 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 payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.
If the depositary for any of these 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 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 trustee 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.
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
We have summarized below some of the provisions that will apply to depositary shares unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. This summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete terms of the depositary shares will be contained in the depositary agreement and depositary receipt applicable to any depositary shares. These documents have been or will be included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the depositary agreement and the depositary receipt. You should also read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.
General
We may offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we do so, we may issue receipts for depositary shares that each represents a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock. The prospectus supplement will indicate that fraction. The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a depositary agreement between us and a bank or trust company that meets certain requirements and is selected by us, which we refer to as the “bank depositary.” Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the depositary agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering.
The following summary description of certain common provisions of a depositary agreement and the related depositary receipts and any summary description of the depositary agreement and depositary receipts in the applicable prospectus supplement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all of the provisions of such depositary agreement and depositary receipts. The forms of the depositary agreement and the depositary receipts relating to any particular issue of depositary shares will be filed with the SEC each time we issue depositary shares, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you.
Dividends and Other Distributions
If we pay a cash distribution or dividend on a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the bank depositary will distribute such dividends to the record holders of such depositary shares. If the distributions are in property other than cash, the bank depositary will distribute the property to the record holders of the depositary shares. However, if the bank depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution of property, the bank depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to the record holders of the depositary shares.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
If we redeem a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the bank depositary will redeem the depositary shares from the proceeds received by the bank depositary in connection with the redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will equal the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share of the preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as the bank depositary may determine.
Voting the Preferred Stock
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock represented by depositary shares are entitled to vote, the bank depositary will mail the notice to the record holder of the depositary shares relating to such preferred stock. Each record holder of these depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock, may instruct the bank depositary as to how to vote the preferred stock represented by such holder’s depositary shares. The bank depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of the preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will take all action that the bank depositary deems necessary in order to enable the bank depositary to do so. The bank depositary will abstain from voting shares of the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing such preferred stock.
Amendment and Termination of the Depositary Agreement
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement or required by law, the form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the depositary agreement may be amended by agreement between the bank depositary and us. The depositary agreement may be terminated by the bank depositary or us only if:
● | all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed, or |
● | there has been a final distribution in respect of the preferred stock in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts. |
Charges of Bank Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the bank depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts, as are expressly provided in the depositary agreement for their accounts.
Withdrawal of Preferred Stock
Except as may be provided otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the bank depositary, subject to the terms of the depositary agreement, the owner of the depositary shares may demand delivery of the number of whole shares of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by those depositary shares. Partial or fractional shares of preferred stock will not be issued. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holders evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the bank depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Holders of preferred stock thus withdrawn may not thereafter deposit those shares under the depositary agreement or receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares therefor.
Miscellaneous
The bank depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the bank depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.
Neither the bank depositary nor we will be liable if we are prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing our obligations under the depositary agreement. The obligations of the bank depositary and us under the depositary agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of our duties thereunder, and we will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
Resignation and Removal of Bank Depositary
The bank depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the bank depositary. Any such resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor bank depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. The successor bank depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company meeting the requirements of the depositary agreement.
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date. The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:
● | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
● | any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; |
● | the terms of the unit agreement governing the units; |
● | United States federal income tax considerations relevant to the units; and |
● | whether the units will be issued in fully registered global form. |
This summary of certain general terms of units and any summary description of units in the applicable prospectus supplement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all provisions of the applicable unit agreement and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements relating to such units. The forms of the unit agreements and other documents relating to a particular issue of units will be filed with the SEC each time we issue units, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Initial Offering and Sale of Securities
Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, we may sell the securities being offered hereby, from time to time, by one or more of the following methods:
● | to or through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters; |
● | through one or more underwriters without a syndicate for them to offer and sell to the public; |
● | through dealers or agents; and |
● | to investors directly in negotiated sales or in competitively bid transactions. |
Offerings of securities covered by this prospectus also may be made into an existing trading market for those securities in transactions at other than a fixed price, either:
● | on or through the facilities of the NASDAQ or any other securities exchange or quotation or trading service on which those securities may be listed, quoted, or traded at the time of sale; and/or |
● | to or through a market maker otherwise than on the securities exchanges or quotation or trading services set forth above. |
Those at-the-market offerings, if any, will be conducted by underwriters acting as principal or agent of the Company, who may also be third-party sellers of securities as described above. The prospectus supplement with respect to the offered securities will set forth the terms of the offering of the offered securities, including:
● | the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents; |
● | the purchase price of the offered securities and the proceeds to us from such sale; |
● | any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation; |
● | any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
● | any securities exchange on which such offered securities may be listed. |
Any underwriter, agent or dealer involved in the offer and sale of any series of the securities will be named in the prospectus supplement.
The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions:
● | at fixed prices, which may be changed; |
● | at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale; |
● | at varying prices determined at the time of sale; or |
● | at negotiated prices. |
Each prospectus supplement will set forth the manner and terms of an offering of securities including:
● | whether that offering is being made by us, or certain holders of our securities; |
● | whether that offering is being made to underwriters or through agents or directly; |
● | the rules and procedures for any auction or bidding process, if used; |
● | the securities’ purchase price or initial public offering price; and |
● | the proceeds we anticipate from the sale of the securities, if any. |
In addition, we may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in the event of a default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.
Sales Through Underwriters
If underwriters are used in the sale of some or all of the securities covered by this prospectus, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities, either directly to the public or to securities dealers, at various times in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions. Unless indicated otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are purchased.
Any initial public offering price and any concessions allowed or reallowed to dealers may be changed intermittently.
Sales Through Agents
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, when securities are sold through an agent, the designated agent will agree, for the period of its appointment as agent, to use its best efforts to sell the securities for our account and will receive commissions from us as will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Securities bought in accordance with a redemption or repayment under their terms also may be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing by one or more firms acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities remarketed by them.
If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain specified institutions to purchase securities at a price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date specified in the prospectus supplement. These contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth the commissions payable for solicitation of these contracts.
Direct Sales
We may also sell offered securities directly to institutional investors or others. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. The terms of such sales will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
General Information
Broker-dealers, agents or underwriters may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from us and/or the purchasers of securities for whom such broker-dealers, agents or underwriters may act as agents or to whom they sell as principal, or both (this compensation to a particular broker-dealer may be in excess of customary commissions).
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in any distribution of the offered securities may be deemed “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act; so, any discounts or commissions they receive in connection with the distribution may be deemed to be underwriting compensation. Those underwriters and agents may be entitled, under their agreements with us, to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments that they may be required to make in respect of those civil liabilities. Certain of those underwriters or agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of business. We will identify any underwriters or agents, and describe their compensation, in a prospectus supplement. Any institutional investors or others that purchase offered securities directly, and then resell the securities, may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
We will file a supplement to this prospectus, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, if we enter into any material arrangement with a broker, dealer, agent or underwriter for the sale of securities through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer. Such prospectus supplement will disclose:
● | the name of any participating broker, dealer, agent or underwriter; |
● | the number and type of securities involved; |
● | the price at which such securities were sold; |
● | any securities exchanges on which such securities may be listed; |
● | the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to any such broker, dealer, agent or underwriter where applicable; and |
● | other facts material to the transaction. |
In order to facilitate the offering of certain securities under this prospectus or an applicable prospectus supplement, certain persons participating in the offering of those securities may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of those securities during and after the offering of those securities. Specifically, if the applicable prospectus supplement permits, the underwriters of those securities may over-allot or otherwise create a short position in those securities for their own account by selling more of those securities than have been sold to them by us and may elect to cover any such short position by purchasing those securities in the open market.
In addition, the underwriters may stabilize or maintain the price of those securities by bidding for or purchasing those securities in the open market and may impose penalty bids, under which selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers participating in the offering are reclaimed if securities previously distributed in the offering are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions or otherwise. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. The imposition of a penalty bid may also affect the price of securities to the extent that it discourages resales of the securities. No representation is made as to the magnitude or effect of any such stabilization or other transactions. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the securities must be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle (a) in two business days, prior to May 28, 2024 and (b) in one business day starting on May 28, 2024. The applicable prospectus supplement may provide that the original issue date for your securities may be more than two scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities. Accordingly, in such a case, if you wish to trade securities on any date prior to the third business day (prior to May 28, 2024) or second business day (on or after May 28, 2024) before the original issue date for your securities, you will be required, by virtue of the fact that your securities initially are expected to settle in more than three scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities, to make alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
This prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement in electronic format may be made available on the Internet sites of, or through other online services maintained by, us and/or one or more of the agents and/or dealers participating in an offering of securities, or by their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may be able to view offering terms online and, depending upon the particular agent or dealer, prospective investors may be allowed to place orders online.
Other than this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement in electronic format, the information on our or any agent’s or dealer’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by any agent or dealer:
●is not part of this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement or the registration statement of which they form a part;
●has not been approved or endorsed by us or by any agent or dealer in its capacity as an agent or dealer, except, in each case, with respect to the respective website maintained by such entity; and
●should not be relied upon by investors.
There can be no assurance that we will sell all or any of the securities offered by this prospectus.
This prospectus may also be used in connection with any issuance of Class A common stock, Class B common stock or preferred stock upon exercise of a warrant if such issuance is not exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
In addition, we may issue the securities as a dividend or distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders. In some cases, we or dealers acting with us or on our behalf may also purchase securities and reoffer them to the public by one or more of the methods described above. This prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of our securities through any of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we have filed with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. Any information that we file subsequently with the SEC will automatically update this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information contained in the documents listed below, which is considered to be a part of this prospectus:
● | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 4, 2023 and April 4, 2023 (except for the disclosures made under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any such Current Report on Form 8-K, including the related exhibits, which are deemed furnished, and not filed, in accordance with the SEC’s regulations); |
● | our proxy statement for our 2023 annual meeting of shareholders, filed with the SEC on April 10, 2023; and |
● | the description of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on July 7, 1998 pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and any further amendment or report filed thereafter for the purpose of updating such description. |
We also incorporate by reference all documents we file under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (a) after the initial filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and before the effectiveness of the registration statement and (b) after the effectiveness of the registration statement and before the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that the securities offered by this prospectus have been sold or that deregisters the securities covered by this prospectus then remaining unsold. The most recent information that we file with the SEC automatically updates and supersedes older information. The information contained in any such filing will be deemed to be a part of this prospectus, commencing on the date on which the document is filed.
You may request a copy of the information incorporated by reference, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Bel Fuse Inc.
Attention: Ms. Lynn Hutkin
Vice President of Financial Reporting and Investor Relations
206 Van Vorst Street
Jersey City, New Jersey 07302
(201) 432-0463
LEGAL MATTERS
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Roseland, New Jersey. If the validity of the securities offered hereby in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel for the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, such counsel will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering.
EXPERTS
The audited consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3, including exhibits, under the Securities Act with respect to the securities being offered under this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. This prospectus contains descriptions of certain agreements or documents that are exhibits to the registration statement. The statements as to the contents of such exhibits, however, are brief descriptions and are not necessarily complete, and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to such agreement or document. For further information about us, please refer to the registration statement and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The SEC’s website contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding issuers, such as Bel Fuse Inc., that file electronically with the SEC. We make available free of charge through our web site our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Proxy Statements on Schedule 14A and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Our website address is http://www.belfuse.com. Please note that our website address is provided as an inactive textual reference only. Information contained on or accessible through our website is not part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and is therefore not incorporated by reference unless such information is otherwise specifically referenced elsewhere in this prospectus or the prospectus supplement.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. No one has been authorized to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, as well as information we filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the date of those documents only. Our business, financial condition and results of operations described in those documents may have changed since those dates.
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BEL FUSE INC.
![img02.jpg](https://capedge.com/proxy/S-3/0001437749-23-013663/img02.jpg)
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$250,000,000
Class A Common Stock
Class B Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Debt Securities
Depositary Shares
Units
___________________
PROSPECTUS
, 2023
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution. |
The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by us in connection with the offering, sale and distribution of the securities being registered. All the amounts shown are estimates, except for the SEC registration fee and FINRA filing fee.
SEC registration fee | $ | 12,122 | ||
FINRA filing fee | 38,000 | |||
Accounting fees and expenses | * | |||
Legal fees and expenses | * | |||
Transfer agent fees and expenses | * | |||
Trustee fees and expenses | * | |||
Printing and engraving fees and expenses | * | |||
Miscellaneous fees and expenses | * | |||
Total | $ | * |
* Estimated fees and expenses are not presently known. These fees and expenses 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. |
The Registrant is incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey. Subsection (2) of Section 3-5,Title 14A of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act empowers a corporation to indemnify a corporate agent who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) against reasonable costs (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. For purposes of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act, a “corporate agent” means any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or a person serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise.
Subsection (3) of Section 3-5 empowers a corporation to indemnify a corporate agent against reasonable costs (including attorneys' fees) incurred by him in connection with any proceeding by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor which involves such corporate agent by reason of the fact that he is or was a corporate agent if he acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Superior Court of New Jersey or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine that despite the adjudication of liability, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.
Subsection (4) of Section 3-5 provides that to the extent that a corporate agent has been successful in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (2) and (3) or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by him in connection therewith.
Subsection (5) of Section 3-5 provides that a corporation may indemnify a corporate agent in a specific case if it is determined that indemnification is proper because the corporate agent met the applicable standard of conduct, and such determination is made by any of the following: (a) the board of directors or a committee thereof, acting by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of disinterested directors; (b) independent legal counsel, if there is no quorum of disinterested directors or if the disinterested directors empowers counsel to make the determination; or (c) the shareholders.
Subsection (8) of Section 3-5 provides that the indemnification provisions in the law shall not exclude any other rights to indemnification that a director or officer may be entitled to under a provision of the certificate of incorporation, a by-law, an agreement, a vote of shareholders, or otherwise. That subsection explicitly permits indemnification for liabilities and expenses incurred in proceedings brought by or in the right of the corporation (derivative proceedings). The only limit on indemnification of directors and officers imposed by that subsection is that a corporation may not indemnify a director or officer if a judgment has established that the director's or officer's acts or omissions were a breach of his or her duty of loyalty, not in good faith, involved a knowing violation of the law, or resulted in receipt by the corporate agent of an improper personal benefit.
Subsection (9) of Section 3-5 provides that a corporation is empowered to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a director or officer against any expenses or liabilities incurred in any proceeding by reason of that person being or having been a director or officer, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify that person against expenses and liabilities under other provisions of the law.
The Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, contains the following provisions:
“ARTICLE XIII Every person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or any such person who serves or served in any similar capacity with any other enterprise at the request of the Corporation, shall be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by or imposed upon him in connection with any proceeding to which he may be made, or threatened to be made, a party, or in which he may become involved by reason of his being or having been a director or officer of the Corporation, or of serving or having served such other enterprise in such capacity, whether or not he is a director or officer of the Corporation, or continues to serve such other enterprise in such capacity, at the time the expenses or liabilities are incurred.”
“ARTICLE XIV So long as permitted by law, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for damages for breach of any duty owed by such person to the Corporation or its shareholders; provided, however, that this Article XIV shall not relieve any person from liability to the extent provided by applicable law for any breach of duty based upon an act or omission (a) in breach of such person's duty or loyalty to the Corporation or its shareholders, (b) not in good faith or involving a knowing violation of law or (c) resulting in receipt by such person of an improper personal benefit. No amendment to or repeal of this Article XIV and no amendment, repeal or termination of effectiveness of any law authorizing this Article XIV shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment, repeal or termination of effectiveness.”
“ARTICLE XV So long as permitted by law, no senior officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for damages for breach of any duty owed by such person to the Corporation or its shareholders; provided, however, that this Article XV shall not relieve any person from liability to the extent provided by applicable law for any breach of duty based upon an act or omission (a) in breach of such person's duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its shareholders, (b) not in good faith or involving a knowing violation of law or (c) resulting in receipt by such person of an improper personal benefit. No amendment to or repeal of this Article XV and no amendment, repeal or termination of effectiveness of any law authorizing this Article XV shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any senior officer for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such senior officer occurring prior to such amendment, repeal or termination of effectiveness. For purposes of this Article XV, the term ‘senior officer’ shall mean the President and any Vice President of the Corporation.”
The Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws contain the following provision at ARTICLE III, SECTION 6 thereof:
“Indemnification of Directors and Officers. Every person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or any such person who serves or served in any similar capacity with any other enterprise at the request of the corporation, shall be indemnified by the corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by or imposed upon him in connection with any proceeding to which he may be made, or threatened to be made, a party, or in which he may become involved by reason of his being or having been a director or officer of the corporation, or of serving or having served such other enterprise in such capacity, whether or not he is a director or officer of the corporation, or continues to serve such other enterprise in such capacity, at the time the expenses or liabilities are incurred.”
The Registrant maintains liability insurance which covers certain liabilities of our directors and officers arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or otherwise.
Item 16. | Exhibits. |
A list of exhibits filed with this registration statement on Form S-3 is set forth on the Exhibit Index and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 17. | Undertakings.
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(a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
(1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
(i) | to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
(ii) | to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this 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 this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% 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 this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement; |
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if this registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B:
| 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 to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date. |
(ii) If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. 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 first use, 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 date of first use. |
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) | any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
(ii) | any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
(iii) | the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
(iv) | any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
(b) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(c) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
|
(d) | If this registration statement is permitted by Rule 430A, the registrant undertakes that:
(i) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(ii) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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. |
(e) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act. |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number | Description | |||
1.1 | Form of Underwriting Agreement for Class A common stock* | |||
1.2 | Form of Underwriting Agreement for Class B common stock* | |||
1.3 | Form of Underwriting Agreement for preferred stock* | |||
1.4 | Form of Underwriting Agreement for debt securities* | |||
4.1 | Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, is incorporated by reference to (i) Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed as Exhibit 3.1 of Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1998 and (ii) Certificate of Amendment to Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed as Exhibit 3.2 of Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 | |||
4.2 | ||||
4.3 | Form of certificate of amendment of the Registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, with respect to any preferred stock issued hereunder* | |||
4.4 | Form of stock certificate evidencing ownership of Class A Common Stock* | |||
4.5 | Form of stock certificate evidencing ownership of Class B Common Stock, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on July 7, 1998 | |||
4.6 | Form of Warrant Agreement* | |||
4.7 | Form of Warrant Certificate (to be included in Exhibit 4.6)* | |||
4.8 | Specimen of Preferred Stock Certificate* | |||
4.9 | ||||
4.10 | ||||
4.11 | ||||
4.12 | ||||
4.13 | Form of Depositary Agreement* | |||
4.14 | Form of Depositary Receipt (to be included in Exhibit 4.13)* | |||
4.15 | Form of Unit Agreement* | |||
5.1 | ||||
23.1 | ||||
23.2 | Consent of Lowenstein Sandler LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)** | |||
24.1 | Power of Attorney (included on the signature page to this Registration Statement)** | |||
25.1 | Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of the Trustee for the Senior Debt Indenture*** | |||
25.2 | Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of the Trustee for the Subordinated Debt Indenture*** | |||
107 | ||||
* | To be filed, if applicable, by an amendment to this Registration Statement or by a report filed under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference. | |
** | Filed herewith. | |
*** | To be filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. |
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 Jersey City, State of New Jersey, on the 10th day of May, 2023.
BEL FUSE INC.
By:/s/ Daniel Bernstein
Daniel Bernstein
President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Daniel Bernstein and Farouq Tuweiq, and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for such person in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments or post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement, or any Registration Statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with exhibits hereto and other documents in connection therewith or in connection with the registration of the securities under the Securities Act of 1933, with the SEC, granting unto such 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 in connection with such matters and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his or their substitute or substitutes may 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.
Signatures | Title | Date | ||||
/s/ Daniel Bernstein | Director, President and Chief Executive | May 10, 2023 | ||||
Daniel Bernstein | Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||
/s/ Peter Gilbert | Director | May 10, 2023 | ||||
Peter Gilbert | ||||||
/s/ John Tweedy | Director | May 10, 2023 | ||||
John Tweedy | ||||||
/s/ Mark Segall | Director | May 10, 2023 | ||||
Mark Segall | ||||||
/s/ Eric Nowling | Director | May 10, 2023 | ||||
Eric Nowling | ||||||
/s/ Vincent Vellucci | Director | May 10, 2023 | ||||
Vincent Vellucci | ||||||
/s/ Thomas E. Dooley | Director | May 10, 2023 | ||||
Thomas E. Dooley | ||||||
/s/ Rita V. Smith | Director | May 10, 2023 | ||||
Rita V. Smith |
/s/ Jacqueline Brito | Director | May 10, 2023 | ||||
Jacqueline Brito | ||||||
/s/ Farouq Tuweiq | Chief Financial Officer | May 10, 2023 | ||||
Farouq Tuweiq | (Principal Financial Officer) | |||||
/s/ Lynn Hutkin | Vice President of Financial Reporting & Investor Relations | May 10, 2023 | ||||
Lynn Hutkin | (Principal Accounting Officer) |