As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on January 27, 2006
Registration No. 333-
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
StockerYale, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Massachusetts | | 04-2114473 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I. R. S. Employer Identification Number) |
32 Hampshire Road
Salem, New Hampshire 03079
(603) 893-8778
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Marianne Molleur
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
StockerYale, Inc.
32 Hampshire Road
Salem, New Hampshire 03079
(603) 893-8778
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With a copy to:
Thomas B. Rosedale, Esq.
BRL Law Group LLC
31 St. James Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
(617) 399-6931
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as possible after the registration statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x
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, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. ¨
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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TITLE OF SHARES TO BE REGISTERED | | AMOUNT TO BE REGISTERED | | PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE(2) | | PROPOSED MAXIMUM AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE(2) | | AMOUNT OF REGISTRATION FEE |
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share | | 900,000(1) | | $0.89 | | $801,000 | | $86 |
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(1) | The Registrant has completed two separate transactions in which it issued shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share and a warrant to purchase shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock. The Registrant is registering for resale: (i) 750,000 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock and (ii) 150,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a warrant. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, the shares being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock as may be issuable with respect to the shares being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions affecting the shares to be offered by a selling stockholder. |
(2) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee and based on the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market on January 25, 2006 in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
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. The selling stockholders 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 the selling stockholders are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, dated January 27, 2006
PROSPECTUS
StockerYale, Inc.
900,000 Shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
This prospectus relates to resales from time to time of:
| • | | 750,000 shares of our Common Stock issued and sold by the Company to a selling stockholder; and |
| • | | 150,000 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of a warrant issued by the Company to a selling stockholder. |
All of the shares being offered by this prospectus are being offered by the selling stockholders named in this prospectus. This offering is not being underwritten. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares of our Common Stock in this offering. Upon any exercise of the warrant by payment of cash, however, we will receive the exercise price of the warrant, at $0.90 per share. The selling stockholders identified in this prospectus, or their pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors-in-interest, may offer the shares of Common Stock or interests therein from time to time through public or private transactions at prevailing market prices, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices.
Our Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “STKR.” On January 25, 2006, the closing sale price of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market was $0.91 per share. You are urged to obtain current market quotations for the Common Stock.
INVESTING IN OUR COMMON STOCK INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. SEE “RISK FACTORS” BEGINNING ON PAGE 4.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2006.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained in this prospectus in connection with the offering made hereby, and if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by StockerYale or any of the selling stockholders. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date hereof or that the information contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security other than the securities covered by this prospectus, nor does it constitute an offer to, or solicitation of, any person in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation may not lawfully be made.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
Our Business
This summary highlights important features of this offering and the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our Common Stock. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, especially the risks of investing in our Common Stock discussed under “Risk Factors.”
Overview
StockerYale, Inc. was incorporated on March 27, 1951 under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In December 1995, we completed the registration of our Common Stock with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and our Common Stock now trades on the Nasdaq National Market under the trading symbol “STKR”.
We are an independent designer and manufacturer of structured light lasers, light emitting diodes and fluorescent illumination technologies as well as specialty optical fiber, phase masks and advanced optical sub-components. We operate within two segments, illumination products and optical components. Illumination products include structured light lasers, fluorescent and light-emitting diode products for the machine vision, industrial inspection and defense and security industries. The optical components segment includes specialty optical fiber and diffractive optics/phase masks for the telecommunications, defense and medical industries.
Our principal executive offices are located at 32 Hampshire Road, Salem, New Hampshire 03079 and our telephone number is (603) 893-8778. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “StockerYale”, “the Company”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to StockerYale, Inc.
The Offering
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Common Stock offered by the selling stockholders | | 750,000 shares of Common Stock, $.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) issued and sold by the Company to a selling stockholder; and |
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| | 150,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a certain warrant issued by the Company to a selling stockholder. |
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| | The warrant and shares of Common Stock were issued in the transactions described below under “The Transactions.” |
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Use of Proceeds | | We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares in this offering. Upon any exercise of the warrant by payment of cash, however, we will receive the exercise price of the warrant, which is $0.90 per share for 150,000 shares of Common Stock. To the extent we receive cash upon any exercise of the warrant, we expect to use that cash for general working capital purposes. |
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Nasdaq National Market symbol for the Common Stock | | STKR |
All of the shares being offered by this prospectus are being offered by the selling stockholders listed herein under “Selling Stockholders” below. The selling stockholders identified in this prospectus, or their pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors-in-interest, may offer the shares or interests therein from time to time through public or private transactions at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices
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prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at prices otherwise negotiated, as described in greater detail under “Plan of Distribution” below.
The Transactions
Securities Purchase Agreement
On December 30, 2005, pursuant to the terms of a Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company issued a secured term note (the “Note”), in the aggregate principal amount of $4,000,000, to Laurus Master Fund, Ltd. The Note is due on December 30, 2008. The Company must make monthly payments of principal and interest on the Note beginning on April 1, 2006. The outstanding principal on the Note accrues interest at an annual rate of 2% above the prime rate, subject to a minimum annual interest rate of 8% (subject to certain adjustments). The Company may elect to prepay the Note provided that (i) if such prepayment occurs during the first year of the date of issuance, the Company shall pay a 15% prepayment penalty, (ii) if such prepayment occurs during the second year of the date of issuance, the Company shall pay a 10% prepayment penalty and (iii) if such prepayment occurs during the third year of the date of issuance, the Company shall pay a 5% prepayment penalty.
Also, pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company sold and issued to Laurus Master Fund, Ltd. an aggregate of 750,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company at a per share purchase price of $.01, for an aggregate purchase price of $7,500. The Note and the shares of common stock issued and sold pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement were issued and sold pursuant to the exemption from the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 under Section 4(2) thereof and Rule 506 of Regulation D as a sale by the Company not involving a public offering.
The Company used the net proceeds from the Securities Purchase Agreement to repay the outstanding balance and prepayment penalty of $3,093,750 and $177,683, respectively, on a convertible note issued to Laurus Master Fund, Ltd. on June 10, 2004. Any remaining net proceeds will be used for working capital purposes.
Issuance of Warrant
On December 15, 2005, the Company and The Eureka Interactive Fund Limited (the “Holder”) entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Senior Promissory Note issued by the Company to the Holder on May 12, 2005, in the original principal amount of $1,500,000 (the “Eureka Note”). Pursuant to the amendment, the maturity date of the Company’s obligations under the Eureka Note was extended from December 15, 2005 to January 15, 2007. In connection with the amendment, on December 15, 2005, the Company issued a Common Stock Purchase Warrant (the “Warrant”) to the Holder to purchase 150,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company for a purchase price of $0.90 per share. The Warrant expires on the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance. The Eureka Note and Warrant were issued pursuant to the exemption from the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 under Section 4(2) thereof as a sale by the Company not involving a public offering.
We are registering the shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus in order to fulfill our contractual obligations to the selling stockholders contained in the agreements relating to the Securities Purchase Agreement and the Warrant. Registration of the shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus does not necessarily mean that all or any portion of such shares will be offered for sale by the selling stockholders.
Recent Developments
Issuance of Warrant
Please see The Transactions section above.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada Property Sale
On December 20, 2005, StockerYale Canada Inc. (“StockerYale Canada”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, closed a sale and leaseback of property owned by StockerYale Canada and located at 275 Kesmark Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (the “Montreal Property”) to The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada. The terms of the Agreement of Purchase and Sale, dated November 22,
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2005, between StockerYale Canada and the buyer were that (i) StockerYale Canada agreed to sell the Montreal Property to the buyer, and the buyer agreed to purchase the Montreal Property from StockerYale Canada, for Cdn.$4,150,000 and (ii) StockerYale Canada agreed to lease from the buyer approximately 59,433 square feet of the Montreal Property for an initial term of ten years. The agreed-upon base rent during the initial term ranges from approximately Cdn.$416,031 to Cdn.$469,521 per year plus all operating costs. Pursuant to the lease agreement, StockerYale Canada paid to the buyer a security deposit in the amount of Cdn.$502,915. The lease agreement grants StockerYale Canada the option to extend the initial term for a period of five years.
The Company used the net proceeds from the sale transaction as working capital and to (i) pay the outstanding amount of Cdn.$974,999 on the mortgage on the Montreal Property held by the National Bank of Canada, and (ii) repay the outstanding balance and prepayment penalty of $378,125 on a convertible note issued to Smithfield Fiduciary LLC on June 10, 2004, in the original principal amount of $500,000.
Salem, New Hampshire Property Sale
On December 30, 2005, the Company closed the sale and leaseback of the real estate and building owned by the Company located at 32 Hampshire Road in Salem, New Hampshire (the “Salem Property”) to 55 Heritage (Salem) LLC. The terms of the Real Estate Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2005, between the Company and the buyer were that (i) the Company agreed to sell the Salem Property to the buyer, and the buyer agreed to purchase the Salem Property from the Company, for $4,700,000 and (ii) the Company agreed to lease from the buyer (a) approximately 32,000 square feet of the Salem Property for an initial term of five years with a rental rate during such period of $192,000 per year in base rent and (b) approximately 63,000 square feet of the Salem Property for an initial term of five years with rental rates during such period ranging from approximately $220,500 to $315,000 per year in base rent, plus a pro rata share of all operating costs of the Salem Property. The Company plans to sublease all or part of the 63,000 square feet block of space. At the time an opportunity arises to enter into a sublease agreement with a third party, either (i) the Company will enter into a sublease agreement with such third party or (ii) the buyer will enter into a direct lease with such third party. Pursuant to the lease agreement, the Company paid to the buyer a security deposit in the amount of $770,500. The lease agreement grants the Company the option to extend the initial term for a period of five years.
The Company used the net proceeds from the sale transaction to (i) repay the outstanding balance of $2,139,880 on a convertible note issued to Laurus Master Fund, Ltd. on February 20, 2004, in the original principal amount of $4,000,000, (ii) repay the outstanding balance of $409,370 on a convertible note issued to Laurus Master Fund, Ltd. on December 7, 2004, in the original principal amount of $500,000 and (iii) repay the outstanding balance and prepayment penalty of $454,922 on a convertible note issued to Smithfield Fiduciary LLC on December 7, 2004, in the original principal amount of $500,000. Any remaining net proceeds will be used for working capital purposes.
Securities Purchase Agreement
Please see The Transactions section above.
Exit of Product Lines and Singapore and Malaysia operations
On December 20, 2005, management and the Board of Directors of the Company approved the exit of certain of the Company’s mature product lines, specifically its fiber optic illumination and galvanometers lines. The fiber optic illumination operation consists of products that provide shadow-free, glare-free, cool illumination by way of a halogen light source (the fiber optic illuminator) and the fiber optic light guides that carry illumination output to the intended location. The galvanometer operation consists of the manufacture at the Company’s Salem facility of galvanometers used as beam positioning elements in laser optical systems.
In addition, management and the Board of Directors of the Company approved plans to close or sell the operations located in Singapore and Malaysia. The sales and service operations in Asia consist of two leased facilities, one for 2,733 square feet in Singapore and one for 200 square feet in Malaysia, employing ten people in total.
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The primary reasons for the decisions to exit the product lines and the Singapore and Malaysia operations were to: (i) accelerate growth of the Company’s highest gross margin businesses by better leveraging the Company’s technology and products; (ii) reduce the Company’s overall cost structure; (iii) improve customer focus and responsiveness of the Company; and (iv) accelerate new product development through more focused R&D. The Company expects to complete the exit of the product lines and the Singapore and Malaysia operations by the end of the fiscal first quarter of 2006.
RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the risks described below before making an investment decision. Our business could be harmed by any of these risks. The trading price of our Common Stock could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. In assessing these risks, you should also refer to the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes.
We have a history of losses and may never achieve or sustain profitability and may not continue as a going concern.
We have experienced operating losses over the last several years and may continue to incur losses and negative operating cash flows. We cannot predict the size or duration of any future losses. We have historically financed our operations with proceeds from debt financings and the sale of equity securities. The audit report from Vitale, Caturano & Company Ltd., our independent registered public accounting firm, regarding our 2004 financial statements contains Vitale Caturano’s opinion that our recurring losses from operations and our need to obtain additional financing raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We anticipate that we will continue to incur net losses in the future. As a result, we can give no assurance that we will achieve profitability or be capable of sustaining profitable operations. If we are unable to reach and sustain profitability, we risk depleting our working capital balances and our business may not continue as a going concern.
Our ability to continue as a going concern may be dependent on raising additional capital, which we may not be able to do on favorable terms, or at all.
As of September 30, 2005, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $1,894,000. In December 2005, we (i) completed the sale in a private placement of 750,000 shares of our Common Stock to Laurus Master Fund, Ltd. for aggregate gross proceeds of $7,500, (ii) completed the sale of the Montreal Property for aggregate gross proceeds of Cdn.$4,150,000, (iii) completed the sale of the Salem Property for aggregate gross proceeds of $4,700,000 and (iv) issued the Note, in the aggregate principal amount of $4,000,000, to Laurus Master Fund, Ltd. From time to time, we may need to raise additional capital and such capital may not be available on favorable terms or at all. If we do not raise additional capital, our business may not continue as a going concern. Even if we do find outside funding sources, we may be required to issue securities with greater rights than those currently possessed by holders of our Common Stock. We may also be required to take other actions that may lessen the value of our Common Stock or dilute our common stockholders, including borrowing money on terms that are not favorable to us or issuing additional equity securities. If we experience difficulties raising money in the future, our business and liquidity will be materially adversely affected.
Failure to comply with credit facility covenants may result in an acceleration of substantial indebtedness.
Our financing agreements with National Bank of Canada and Laurus Master Fund, Ltd. require us to comply with various financial and other operating covenants, such as maintaining a certain level of working capital and net worth, limiting our capital expenditures and meeting certain financial coverage ratios and maximum inventory levels. If we breach our financing agreements with National Bank of Canada and Laurus Master Fund, Ltd., a default could result. A default, if not waived, could result in, among other things, all or a portion of our outstanding amounts becoming due and payable on an accelerated basis, which would adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to manage our business.
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Securities we issue to fund our operations could dilute or otherwise adversely affect our stockholders.
We will likely need to raise additional funds through public or private debt or equity financings to fund our operations. If we raise funds by issuing equity securities, or if we issue additional equity securities to acquire assets, a business or another company, the percentage ownership of current stockholders will be reduced. If we raise funds by issuing debt securities, we may be required to agree to covenants that substantially restrict our ability to operate our business. We may not obtain sufficient financing on terms that are favorable to investors or us. We may delay, limit or eliminate some or all of our proposed operations if adequate funds are not available.
In addition, on issuance of the shares of Common Stock upon exercise of outstanding warrants or other convertible or derivative securities, the percentage ownership of current stockholders will be diluted substantially.
We may be unable to fund the initiatives required to achieve our business strategy.
In 2002, we began to focus our resources on opportunities that would result in near-term revenue and simultaneously reduced our operating expenses by 40% on an annualized basis. In 2003, 2004 and 2005, we continued to reduce costs and we are currently restructuring our product lines. While we believe these efforts will assist us in improving our financial condition, we can give no assurances as to whether our cost reduction and product restructuring efforts will be successful. If our cost reduction strategies are unsuccessful, we may be unable to fund our operations.
We face risks related to securities litigation that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Beginning in May 2005, three putative securities class action complaints were filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire against us and several of our current and former directors and officers, purportedly on behalf of certain of the Company’s stockholders. The complaints, which assert claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, allege that certain disclosures made by us in press releases dated April 19, 2004 and April 21, 2004 were materially false or misleading. The complaints seek unspecified damages, as well as interest, costs, and attorneys fees. The three complaints were consolidated into one action and assigned to a single federal judge. The Court also appointed a group of lead plaintiffs and plaintiffs’ counsel, who filed a consolidated amended complaint, to supersede the previously filed complaints. The consolidated amended complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b), 20(a), and 20A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder.
Additionally, on June 17, 2005, a purported stockholder derivative action was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire against us (as a nominal defendant) and several of our current and former directors and officers. The plaintiff derivatively claims breaches of fiduciary duty by the defendant directors and officers in connection with the disclosures made by us in press releases dated April 19, 2004 and April 21, 2004, the awarding of executive bonuses, and trading in Company Common Stock while allegedly in possession of material, non-public information. Plaintiff did not make pre-suit demand on the Board of Directors prior to commencing this derivative action. Upon the joint motion of the parties to the derivative action, the court has stayed the derivative action indefinitely. However, the derivative action may be revived upon the motion of any party.
We intend to vigorously contest the allegations in the securities and derivative complaints. However, due to the preliminary nature of these cases, we are not able to predict the outcome of this litigation or the application of, or coverage provided by, our insurance carriers. There is no assurance we and our current and former directors and officers will prevail in defending these actions or that our insurance policies will cover all or any expenses or financial obligations arising from the lawsuits. If our defenses are ultimately unsuccessful, or if we are unable to achieve a favorable settlement or coverage from our insurance carriers, we could be liable for large damage awards that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. The Company believes it has adequate insurance coverage for these expenses.
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A small number of affiliated stockholders control more than 10% of our stock.
Our executive officers and directors as a group own or control approximately twelve percent (12%) of our Common Stock. Accordingly, these stockholders, if they act together, will be able to influence our management and affairs and all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. In addition, this concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company and might adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock.
The unpredictability of our quarterly results may cause the trading price of our Common Stock to fluctuate or decline.
Our operating results have varied on a quarterly basis during our operating history and are likely to continue to vary significantly from quarter-to-quarter and period-to-period as a result of a number of factors, many of which are outside of our control and any one of which may cause our stock price to fluctuate.
Such factors include the implementation of our new business strategy, which makes prediction of future revenues difficult. Our ability to accurately forecast revenues from sales of our products is further limited by the development and sales cycles related to our products, which make it difficult to predict the quarter in which sales will occur. In addition, our expense levels are based, in part, on our expectations regarding future revenues, and our expenses are generally fixed, particularly in the short term. We may be unable to adjust spending in a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected revenue shortfall. Any significant shortfall of revenues in relation to our expectations could cause significant declines in our quarterly operating results.
Due to the above factors, we believe that quarter-to-quarter or period-to-period comparisons of our operating results may not be a good indicator of our future performance. Our operating results for any particular quarter may fall short of our expectations or those of stockholders or securities analysts. In this event, the trading price of our Common Stock would likely fall.
Our stock price has been volatile and may fluctuate in the future.
Our Common Stock has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations in recent years. Since January 2004, our Common Stock has closed as low as $0.66 per share and as high as $7.75 per share. These fluctuations often have no direct relationship to our operating performance. The market price for our Common Stock may continue to be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a variety of factors, some of which are beyond our control. Some of these factors include:
| • | | the results and affects of litigation; |
| • | | our performance and prospects; |
| • | | sales by selling stockholders of shares issued and issuable in connection with our private placements; |
| • | | changes in earnings estimates or buy/sell recommendations by analysts; |
| • | | general financial and other market conditions; and |
| • | | domestic and international economic conditions. |
In addition, some companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have been the subject of securities class action litigation or other litigation or investigations. In May 2005, the Company and certain of its current and former directors and officers were sued in several purported class action lawsuits. Such litigation often results in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources and could harm our business, prospects, results of operations, or financial condition.
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Our Common Stock price may be negatively impacted if it is delisted from the NASDAQ National Market.
Our Common Stock is currently listed for trading on the NASDAQ National Market. We must continue to satisfy NASDAQ’s continued listing requirements, including a minimum bid price for our Common Stock of $1.00 per share, or risk delisting which would have a material adverse affect on our business. A delisting of our Common Stock from the NASDAQ National Market could materially reduce the liquidity of our Common Stock and result in a corresponding material reduction in the price of our Common Stock. In addition, any such delisting could harm our ability to raise capital through alternative financing sources on terms acceptable to us, or at all, and may result in the potential loss of confidence by investors, suppliers, customers and employees.
On November 21, 2005, we received a notice from the NASDAQ Stock Market indicating that we were not in compliance with NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 4450(a)(5) (the “Minimum Bid Price Rule”) because, for 30 consecutive business days, the bid price of our Common Stock had closed below the minimum $1.00 per share. In order to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule, our Common Stock has to close at or above $1.00 for 10 consecutive business days. In accordance with NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 4450(e)(2), we were provided 180 calendar days, or until May 22, 2006, to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule. This notification has no effect on the listing of our Common Stock at this time. There is no assurance that we will regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule by May 22, 2006. If we do not regain compliance by May 22, 2006, our Common Stock may ultimately be delisted from the NASDAQ National Market. In the past, we have received notices from the NASDAQ Stock Market indicating that we were not in compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule but have always regained compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule within the stated cure period.
In the event we receive notice that our Common Stock is being delisted from the Nasdaq Stock Market, NASDAQ rules permit us to appeal any delisting determination by the NASDAQ staff to a Nasdaq Listings Qualifications Panel. In addition, in the event that such a delisting determination was solely on non-compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule, NASDAQ may permit us to transfer our Common Stock to the NASDAQ Capital Market if we satisfy all criteria for initial inclusion on such market other than compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule. In the event of such a transfer, we would have an additional 180 calendar days to comply with the Minimum Bid Price Rule in order to remain on the NASDAQ Capital Market.
An impairment of goodwill and/or long-lived assets could affect net income.
We record goodwill on our balance sheet as a result of business combinations consummated in prior years. We have also made a significant investment in long-lived assets. In accordance with applicable accounting standards, we periodically assess the value of both goodwill and long-lived assets in light of current circumstances to determine whether impairment has occurred. If an impairment should occur, we would reduce the carrying amount to our fair market value and record an amount of that reduction as a non-cash charge to income, which could adversely affect our net income reported in that quarter in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. We recorded a $1,905,000 impairment charge in 2003 and $173,000 in 2004. In addition, during the Company’s second quarter of 2005, we recorded a non-cash asset impairment charge of $618,000. Currently, the Company expects that it will record charges (primarily non-cash) of approximately $0.8 to $1.2 million in its fourth fiscal quarter of 2005, subject to further analysis of management and an audit by the Company’s auditors. We cannot definitively determine whether impairment will occur in the future, and if impairment does occur, what the timing or the extent of any such impairment would be.
The loss of key personnel or the inability to recruit additional personnel may harm our business.
Our success depends to a significant extent on the continued service of our executive officers, our senior and middle management and our technical and research personnel. In particular, the loss of Mark W. Blodgett, our President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, or other key personnel, could harm us significantly. Hiring qualified management and technical personnel will be difficult due to the limited number of qualified professionals in the work force in general and the intense competition for these types
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of employees. The loss of key management personnel or an inability to attract and retain sufficient numbers of qualified management personnel could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition or future prospects.
We depend on a limited number of suppliers and may not be able to ship products on time if we are unable to obtain an adequate supply of raw materials and equipment on a timely basis.
We depend on a limited number of suppliers for raw materials and equipment used to manufacture our products. We depend on our suppliers to supply critical components in adequate quantities, consistent quality and at reasonable costs. If our suppliers are unable to meet our demand for critical components at reasonable costs, and if we are unable to obtain an alternative source, or the price for an alternative source is prohibitive, our ability to maintain timely and cost-effective production of our products would be harmed. We generally rely on purchase orders rather than long-term agreements with our suppliers; therefore, our suppliers may stop supplying materials and equipment to us at any time. If we are unable to obtain components in adequate quantities we may incur delays in shipment or be unable to meet demand for our products, which could harm our revenues and damage our relationships with customers and prospective customers.
We have many competitors in our field and our technologies may not remain competitive.
We participate in a rapidly evolving field in which technological developments are expected to continue at a rapid pace. We have many competitors in the United States and abroad, including various fiber optic component manufacturers, universities and other private and public research institutions. In the industrial fluorescent lighting market, the Company has two primary competitors. MicroLite markets a product similar in appearance to the Company’s circular fluorescent microscope illuminator. Techni-Quip Corporation offers industrial fluorescent lighting as part of its product line but as a whole, its lighting product line is limited and represents a small percentage of that company’s total business.
Our major competitors in the specialty fiber optic market segment are Furukawa OFS, Fiberforce, and Corning. In the laser market, we compete against Power Technology, Inc. in the United States, Schafter GMBH and Kirchoff GMBH in Europe and several other smaller laser manufacturers.
Our success depends upon our ability to develop and maintain a competitive position in the product categories and technologies on which we focus. To be successful in the illumination and optical components industries, we will need to keep pace with rapid changes in technology, customer expectations, new product introductions by competitors and evolving industry standards, any of which could render our existing products obsolete if we fail to respond in a timely manner. We could experience delays in introduction of new products. If others develop innovative proprietary illumination products or optical components that are superior to ours, or if we fail to accurately anticipate technology and market trends and respond on a timely basis with our own innovations, our competitive position may be harmed and we may not achieve sufficient growth in our revenues to attain or sustain profitability.
Many of our competitors have greater capabilities and experience and greater financial, marketing and operational resources than us. Competition is intense and is expected to increase as new products enter the market and new technologies become available. To the extent that competition in our markets intensifies, we may be required to reduce our prices in order to remain competitive. If we do not compete effectively, or if we reduce our prices without making commensurate reductions in our costs, our revenues and profitability, and our future prospects for success, may be harmed.
Our customers are not obligated to buy material amounts of our products and may cancel or defer purchases on short notice.
Our customers typically purchase our products under individual purchase orders rather than pursuant to long-term contracts or contracts with minimum purchase requirements. Therefore, our customers may cancel, reduce or defer purchases on short notice without significant penalty. Accordingly, sales in a particular period are difficult to predict. Decreases in purchases, cancellations of purchase orders or deferrals of purchases may have a material adverse effect on us, particularly if we do not anticipate them. There can be no assurance that our revenue from key customers will not decline in future periods.
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Our products could contain defects, which could result in reduced sales of those products or in claims against us.
Despite testing both by us and our customers, errors have been found and may be found in the future in our existing or future products. These defects may cause us to incur significant warranty, support and repair costs, divert the attention of our technical personnel from our product development efforts and harm our relationship with our customers. Defects, integration issues or other performance problems in our illumination and optical products could result in personal injury or financial or other damages to our customers or could damage market acceptance of our products. Our customers could also seek damages from us for their losses. A product liability claim brought against us, even if unsuccessful, would likely be time consuming and costly to defend.
We are subject to risks of operating internationally.
We distribute and sell some of our products internationally, and our success depends in part on our ability to manage our international operations. Sales outside the United States accounted for 49% of our total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2004 and 49% in the first half of 2005. We are subject to risks associated with operating in foreign countries, including:
| • | | foreign currency risks; |
| • | | costs of customizing products for foreign countries; |
| • | | imposition of limitations on conversion of foreign currencies into dollars; |
| • | | remittance of dividends and other payments by foreign subsidiaries; |
| • | | imposition or increase of withholding and other taxes on remittances and other payments on foreign subsidiaries; |
| • | | hyperinflation and imposition or increase of investment and other restrictions by foreign governments; |
| • | | compliance with multiple, conflicting and changing governmental laws and regulations; |
| • | | longer sales cycles and problems collecting accounts receivable; |
| • | | labor practices, difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations, political instability and potentially adverse tax consequence; and |
| • | | import and export restrictions and tariffs. |
If we are unable to manage these risks, we may face significant liability, our international sales may decline and our financial results may be adversely affected.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This prospectus includes and incorporates 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. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or incorporated in this prospectus regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. We have included important factors in
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the cautionary statements included or incorporated in this prospectus, particularly under the heading “Risk Factors,” that we believe could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments we may make. Except as otherwise required by law, we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholders of any shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus. The selling stockholders will receive all of the proceeds from any sales of such shares. The selling stockholders will pay any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred by the selling stockholders for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses incurred by the selling stockholders in disposing of such shares. We will bear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the shares covered by this prospectus, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, Nasdaq listing fees and filing fees, and fees and expenses of our counsel and our accountants.
A portion of the shares covered by this prospectus are, prior to their resale pursuant to this prospectus, issuable upon exercise of the warrant. The exercise price for the warrant may be paid by means of an exchange of the warrant, shares of Common Stock and/or shares of Common Stock receivable upon exercise of the warrant, each also known as a “cashless exercise.” However, the exercise price for the warrant may also be paid in cash, in which case, we will receive such cash remitted in payment of the exercise price, which exercise price is $0.90 per share for 150,000 shares of Common Stock subject to the warrant. To the extent we receive cash upon any exercise of the warrant, we expect to use that cash for general working capital purposes.
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The shares of Common Stock that may be offered for sale from time to time by the selling stockholders listed below consist of 900,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 150,000 shares are issuable upon exercise of the warrant issued pursuant to the amendment to the Eureka Note.
The actual number of shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus, and included in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, includes additional shares of Common Stock that may be issued as a result of stock splits, stock dividends, reclassifications, recapitalizations, combinations or similar events.
Based on information provided to us by the selling stockholders, the following table sets forth certain information regarding the selling stockholders named below as of December 30, 2005, including: (i) the name of each selling stockholder, (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each selling stockholder, (iii) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock which the selling stockholders can sell pursuant to this prospectus, and (iv) the number and percentage of shares of Common Stock that the selling stockholders would own if they sold all their shares which they may sell pursuant to this prospectus. The percentage ownership shown in the table is based on a total of 28,377,966 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of December 30, 2005. Unless otherwise indicated below, to our knowledge, each selling stockholder named in the table below has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown below as beneficially owned by such stockholder. The inclusion of any shares in this table does not constitute an admission of beneficial ownership by the selling stockholders named below.
For purposes of the following table, beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under such rules, shares of our Common Stock issuable under warrants that are currently exercisable, or exercisable within 60 days after December 30, 2005, are deemed outstanding and are included in the number of shares beneficially owned by a party named in the table and are used to compute the percentage ownership of that party.
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To our knowledge, none of the selling stockholders, nor any of their respective affiliates, has held any position or office or has had any material relationship with us or any of our predecessors or affiliates during the three years prior to the date of this prospectus other than being an existing investor in debt and equity securities of the Company at the time of the transactions consummated in connection with the Warrant or the Securities Purchase Agreement. The selling stockholders have previously participated in the private placement of the Company’s securities, including the private placement of convertible promissory notes, secured promissory notes, warrants and shares of Common Stock.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Name of Selling Stockholder
| | Number of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering
| | | Number of Shares of Common Stock Being Offered
| | Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned After the Offering(3)
| |
| | | Number
| | | Percent
| |
Laurus Master Fund, Ltd. | | 2,132,446 | (1) | | 750,000 | | 1,382,446 | (1) | | 4.8 | % |
The Eureka Interactive Fund Limited | | 4,437,963 | (2) | | 150,000 | | 4,287,963 | (2) | | 15.1 | % |
(1) | Includes 407,446 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants. Mr. Eugene Grin, Mr. David Grin and Laurus Capital Management, LLC may each be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the securities held by Laurus Master Fund, Ltd. |
(2) | Includes 1,265,741 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants. Marshall Wace LLP serves as investment manager or adviser to The Eureka Interactive Fund Limited. Mr. Ian Wace and Mr. Mark Hawtin are each equity owners of Marshall Wace LLP, and as such they are each responsible for the investment decisions of Marshall Wace LLP. Accordingly, Marshall Wace LLP and Messrs. Wace and Hawtin share voting and investment power with respect to the shares and warrants held by The Eureka Interactive Fund Limited, and they each may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the securities held by The Eureka Interactive Fund Limited. |
(3) | We do not know when or in what amounts a selling stockholder may dispose of the shares or interests therein. The selling stockholders may choose not to dispose of any or all of the shares offered by this prospectus. Because the selling stockholders may offer all or some of the shares or interests therein pursuant to this offering, and because, to our knowledge, there are currently no agreements, arrangements or understandings with respect to the sale of any of the shares, we cannot estimate the number of shares that will be held by the selling stockholders after completion of the offering. However, for purposes of this table, we have assumed that, after completion of the offering, none of the shares covered by this prospectus will be held by the selling stockholders. |
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering 750,000 shares of Common Stock and 150,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant issued and sold by the Company in connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement and the Eureka Note on behalf of the selling stockholders for sale from time to time by the selling stockholders for their own accounts. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of such shares of Common Stock by the selling stockholders.
Persons who are pledgees, donees, transferees, or any successors in interest of the selling stockholders who receive the shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus from a selling stockholder as a gift, pledge, distribution or other non-sale related transfer after the date of this prospectus may also use this prospectus and are included when we refer to “selling stockholders” in this prospectus. From time to time, one or more of the selling stockholders may pledge, hypothecate or grant a security
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interest in some or all of the shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus that are owned by them. The pledgees, secured parties or persons to whom such shares have been hypothecated will, upon foreclosure in the event of default, be deemed to be selling stockholders. The number of a selling stockholder’s shares offered under this prospectus will decrease as and when it makes such non-sale related transfer or upon such a foreclosure. The plan of distribution for that selling stockholder’s shares will otherwise remain unchanged. In addition, a selling stockholder may, from time to time, sell the shares short, and, in those instances, this prospectus may be delivered in connection with the short sales and the shares offered under this prospectus may be used to cover short sales.
Sales by selling stockholders may be effected on the Nasdaq National Market, any other stock exchange or automated interdealer quotation system on which the securities are listed or in the over-the-counter market. The shares offered by each selling stockholder may be sold at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at prices otherwise negotiated. Each selling stockholder may sell the securities by one or more of the following methods, without limitation:
| • | | block trades in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| • | | purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by the broker or dealer for its own account pursuant to this prospectus; |
| • | | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of any stock exchange on which the securities are listed; |
| • | | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchases; |
| • | | privately negotiated transactions; |
| • | | through the writing of options on the securities, whether the options are listed on an options exchange; |
| • | | through the distribution of the securities by any selling stockholder to its partners, members or stockholders; |
| • | | one or more underwritten offerings on a firm commitment or best efforts basis; and |
The selling stockholders may engage brokers and dealers, and any such brokers or dealers may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate in effecting sales of the shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus. These brokers, dealers or underwriters may act as principals, or as an agent of a selling stockholder. Broker-dealers may agree with a selling stockholder to sell a specified number of shares at a stipulated price per share. If the broker-dealer is unable to sell the shares acting as agent for a selling stockholder, it may purchase as principal any unsold shares at the stipulated price. Broker-dealers who acquire shares as principals may thereafter resell the shares from time to time in transactions in any stock exchange or automated interdealer quotation system on which the shares are then listed, at prices and on terms then prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the then-current market price or in negotiated transactions. Broker-dealers may use block transactions and sales to and through broker-dealers, including transactions of the nature described above. The selling stockholders may also sell the shares in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, provided they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of Rule 144, rather than pursuant to this prospectus, regardless of whether the shares are covered by this prospectus.
The selling stockholders may be, and any underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents that participate in the distribution of the shares are, deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any discounts, concessions, commissions or fees received by them and any profit on the resale of the shares sold by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions.
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A selling stockholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers and the broker-dealers may engage in short sales of the shares in the course of hedging the positions they assume with that selling stockholder, including, without limitation, in connection with distributions of the shares by those broker-dealers. A selling stockholder may enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers that involve the delivery of the shares offered hereby to the broker-dealers, who may then resell or otherwise transfer those shares. A selling stockholder may also loan or pledge the shares offered hereby to a broker-dealer and the broker-dealer may sell the shares offered hereby so loaned or upon a default may sell or otherwise transfer the pledged shares offered hereby.
The selling stockholders and other persons participating in the sale or distribution of the shares will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the related rules and regulations adopted by the SEC, including Regulation M. This regulation may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares by the selling stockholders and any other person. The anti-manipulation rules under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of shares in the market and to the activities of the selling stockholders and their affiliates. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares to engage in market-making activities with respect to the particular shares being distributed for a period of up to five business days before the distribution. These restrictions may affect the marketability of the shares and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares.
We cannot assure you that the selling stockholders will sell all or any portion of the shares offered hereby. We will supply the selling stockholders and any stock exchange upon which the shares are listed with reasonable quantities of copies of this prospectus. To the extent required by the Securities Act in connection with any resale or redistribution by a selling stockholder, we will file a prospectus supplement setting forth:
| • | | the aggregate number of shares to be sold; |
| • | | the public offering price; |
| • | | if applicable, the names of any underwriter, agent or broker-dealer; and |
| • | | any applicable commissions, discounts, concessions, fees or other items constituting compensation to underwriters, agents or broker-dealers with respect to the particular transaction (which may exceed customary commissions or compensation). |
If a selling stockholder notifies us that a material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of shares through a block trade, special offering, exchange, distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, the prospectus supplement will include any other facts that are material to the transaction. If applicable, this may include a statement to the effect that the participating broker-dealers did not conduct any investigation to verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
The selling stockholders may agree to indemnify any agent, dealer or broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving sales of the shares against liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. We have agreed to indemnify the certain selling stockholders and certain selling stockholders have agreed to indemnify us against certain liabilities in connection with the offering of the shares, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
The selling stockholders will pay any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses incurred by the selling stockholders in disposing of the shares. We will bear all other reasonable costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the shares covered by this prospectus, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, all national shares exchange or automated quotation system application and filing fees, blue sky registration and filing fees, and fees and expenses of our counsel and our accountants.
Computershare Investor Services serves as transfer agent and registrar for our Common Stock.
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LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the shares offered hereby has been passed upon by BRL Law Group LLC.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules in Item 15a(2) as of and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from StockerYale’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB filed on March 31, 2005 for the year ended December 31, 2004, have been audited by Vitale, Caturano & Company, Ltd., an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the substantial doubt with respect to StockerYale’s ability to continue as a going concern), which is incorporated herein by reference, and has been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy any document we file at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of such public reference room. You also can request copies of such documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the Securities and Exchange Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The Securities and Exchange Commission maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding our company. The address of this website is http://www.sec.gov.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The registration statement contains more information than this prospectus regarding us and our Common Stock, including certain exhibits and schedules. You can obtain a copy of the registration statement from the Securities and Exchange Commission at the address listed above or from the SEC’s Internet site.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The Securities and Exchange Commission requires us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus certain information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information we incorporate herein by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and information that we file later with the Securities and Exchange Commission automatically will update and supersede such information. We incorporate herein by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the termination of the offering of the securities covered by this prospectus, as amended:
| (1) | Our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 as filed on March 31, 2005; |
| (2) | Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2005, June 30, 2005 and September 30, 2005; |
| (3) | Our Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated December 7, 2004 (filed on January 14, 2005), our Current Reports on Form 8-K dated March 8, 2005, April 6, 2005 and April 15, 2005, our Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated April 15, 2005 (filed April 20, 2005), our Current Reports on Form 8-K dated May 12, 2005, May 23, 2005, May 24, 2005, May 27, 2005, July 11, 2005, August 1, 2005, August 16, 2005, September 13, 2005, October 13, 2005, October 27, 2005, November 21, 2005, November 29, 2005, December 15, 2005, our Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated December 15, 2005 (filed December 22, 2005) and our Current Reports on Form 8-K dated December 20, 2005 (filed January 13, 2006) and December 30, 2005; |
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| (4) | The description of our Common Stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating that description; and |
| (5) | All of our filings pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of filing the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement. |
We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents). Requests for such copies should be directed to StockerYale, Inc., 32 Hampshire Road, Salem, New Hampshire 03079, Attention: Investor Relations. The Investor Relations Department can be reached via telephone at (603) 870-8229 or via email at fpilon@stockeryale.com.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, including information incorporated by reference as described above, or any prospectus supplement or that we have specifically referred you to. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents or that any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than its filing date. You should not consider this prospectus to be an offer or solicitation relating to the securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation relating to the securities is not authorized. Furthermore, you should not consider this prospectus to be an offer or solicitation relating to the securities if the person making the offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so, or if it is unlawful for you to receive such an offer or solicitation.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution |
The following table sets forth the various expenses to be incurred in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered hereby, all of which will be borne by the Company (except any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred by the selling stockholders for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses incurred by the selling stockholders in disposing of the shares). All amounts shown are estimates except the SEC registration fee.
| | | |
Item
| | Amount
|
Filing Fee – Securities and Exchange Commission | | $ | 86 |
Legal fees and expenses | | | 7,500 |
Accounting fees and expenses | | | 5,000 |
Miscellaneous fees and expenses | | | 2,414 |
Total | | $ | 15,000 |
Item 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Section 8.52 of Chapter 156D of the Massachusetts General Laws provides that a corporation shall indemnify a director who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he was a party because he was a director of the corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with the proceeding. Section 8.51 of Chapter 156D of the Massachusetts General Laws provides that a corporation may indemnify a director against liability if:
(1) (i) | he conducted himself in good faith; and |
| (ii) | he reasonably believed that his conduct was in the best interests of the corporation or that his conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and |
| (iii) | in the case of any criminal proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; or |
(2) | he engaged in conduct for which he shall not be liable under a provision of the corporation’s articles of organization authorized by Section 2.02(b)(4) of Chapter 156D of the Massachusetts General Laws. |
Section 8.56 of Chapter 156D of the Massachusetts General Laws provides that a corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer of the corporation who is a party to a proceeding because he is an officer of the corporation:
(1) | to the same extent as a director; and |
(2) | if he is an officer but not a director, to such further extent as may be provided by the articles of organization, the bylaws, a resolution of the board of directors, or contract except for liability arising out of acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law. |
Section 8.56 also provides that an officer of a corporation who is not a director is entitled to mandatory indemnification under Section 8.52, and that the officer may apply to a court for indemnification or an advance for expenses, in each case to the same extent to which a director may be entitled to indemnification or advance under those provisions.
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Section 8.57 of the Massachusetts General Laws also affords a Massachusetts corporation the power to obtain insurance on behalf of its directors and officers against liabilities incurred by them in these capacities.
The Company’s By-laws provide that directors and officers of the Company shall be indemnified by the Company against liabilities and expenses arising out of service as a director or officer of the Company. Our By-laws provide that such indemnification shall not be provided if (i) it is adjudicated or determined that the action giving rise to the liability was not taken in good faith and in the reasonable belief that the action was in the best interests of the Company, or (ii) in a criminal matter, it is adjudicated or determined that the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. No indemnification shall be provided for any director or officer with respect to any proceeding by or in the right of the Company or alleging that a director or officer received an improper personal benefit if he is adjudged liable to the Company in such proceeding. The By-laws provide that the indemnification provision in the By-laws does not limit any other right to indemnification existing independently of the By-laws. The By-laws also provide that the right of directors and officers to indemnification is a contract right. The Company’s Restated Articles of Organization (the “Restated Articles”) contain the same provisions regarding indemnification of officers and directors as those contained in the By-laws described in this paragraph.
Under the Company’s Restated Articles and By-laws, indemnification of officers and directors shall include payment by the Company of expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding, upon receipt of any undertaking by the person indemnified to repay such payment if he shall be adjudicated or determined to be not entitled to such indemnification under the Company’s Restated Articles and By-laws, which undertaking may be accepted without reference to the financial ability of such person to make repayment. Any such indemnification may be provided even if the person to be indemnified is no longer an officer, director, or employee of the Company.
The Company’s Restated Articles and By-laws provide that the Company is authorized to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any of its directors, officers, employees or agents, whether or not it would have power to indemnify him against liability or cost incurred by them in such capacities or arising out of their status as such. The Company currently carries a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy covering its directors and officers.
Section 2.02(b)(4) of Chapter 156D of the Massachusetts General Laws provides that the articles of organization of a corporation may include a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to a corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided, however, that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (a) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omission not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) for improper distributions to stockholders, or (d) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. The Company has included such a provision in its Restated Articles.
| | |
Exhibit Number
| | Description of Document
|
| |
4.1 | | Restated Articles of Organization of the Registrant are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 000-27372). |
| |
4.2 | | Amendment to the Restated Articles of Organization of the Registrant are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 (File No. 000-27372). |
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| | |
| |
4.3 | | Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB filed on March 31, 2005 (File No. 000-27372). |
| |
*5.1 | | Opinion of BRL Law Group LLC. |
| |
10.1 | | Senior Promissory Note, dated May 12, 2005, issued to The Eureka Interactive Fund, Limited is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 16, 2005 (File No. 000-27372). |
| |
10.2 | | Amendment No. 2 to Senior Promissory Note entered into by and between the Registrant and The Eureka Interactive Fund, Limited, dated as of December 15, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Registration’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 20, 2005 (File No. 000-27372). |
| |
10.3 | | Securities Purchase Agreement entered into by and between the Registrant and Laurus Master Fund, Ltd., dated as of December 30, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 4, 2006 (File No. 000-27372). |
| |
10.4 | | Registration Rights Agreement entered into by and between the Registrant and Laurus Master Fund, Ltd., dated as of December 30, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 4, 2006 (File No. 000-27372). |
| |
10.5 | | Secured Term Note issued the Registrant to Laurus Master Fund, Ltd., dated as of December 30, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 4, 2006 (File No. 000-27372). |
| |
*10.6 | | Common Stock Purchase Warrant, dated December 15, 2005, issued by the Registrant to The Eureka Interactive Fund. |
| |
*10.7 | | Agreement of Purchase and Sale, dated November 22, 2005, by and between StockerYale Canada Inc. and The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada. |
| |
*10.8 | | Lease Agreement, dated December 20, 2005, by and between StockerYale Canada Inc. and The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada. |
| |
*10.9 | | Real Estate Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2005, by and between the Registrant and 55 Heritage LLC. |
| |
*10.10 | | First Amendment to Real Estate Purchase Agreement, dated December 22, 2005, by and between the Registrant and 55 Heritage LLC. |
| |
*10.11 | | Lease, dated December 29, 2005, by and between the Registrant and 55 Heritage LLC. |
| |
*23.1 | | Consent of Vitale Caturano & Company, Ltd. |
| |
*23.2 | | Consent of BRL Law Group LLC (included in Exhibit 5.1). |
| |
*24.1 | | Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this Registration Statement). |
18
(a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
| (1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
| (i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
| (ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events, arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or together, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or any 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 the volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and |
| (iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. |
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in 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 of 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 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. |
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(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 Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
20
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 on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Salem and State of New Hampshire on the 27th day of January 2006.
| | |
StockerYale, Inc. |
| |
By: | | /s/ MARIANNE MOLLEUR |
| | Marianne Molleur |
| | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, each of the undersigned officers and directors of StockerYale, Inc. hereby severally constitutes each of Mark W. Blodgett and Marianne Molleur, with full power of substitution, his or her true and lawful attorney with full power to him, to sign for the undersigned and in his or her name in the capacity indicated below, the registration statement filed herewith and any and all amendments to said registration statement (including amendments pursuant to Rule 462), and generally to do all such things in his or her name and in his or her capacity as an officer or director to enable StockerYale, Inc. to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming his or her signature as it may be signed by his or her said attorney, or any of them, to said registration statement and any and all amendments thereto.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement on Form S-3 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| | | | |
Signature
| | Title
| | Date
|
| | |
/s/ MARK W. BLODGETT
Mark W. Blodgett | | President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board (Principal Executive Officer) | | January 27, 2006 |
| | |
/s/ MARIANNE MOLLEUR
Marianne Molleur | | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | | January 27, 2006 |
| | |
/s/ PATRICK J. ZILVITIS
Patrick J. Zilvitis | | Director | | January 27, 2006 |
| | |
/s/ STEVEN E. KAROL
Steven E. Karol | | Director | | January 27, 2006 |
| | |
/s/ RAYMOND J. OGLETHORPE
Raymond J. Oglethorpe | | Director | | January 27, 2006 |
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| | | | |
| | |
/s/ DIETMAR KLENNER
Dietmar Klenner | | Director | | January 27, 2006 |
| | |
/s/ MARK ZUPAN
Mark Zupan | | Director | | January 27, 2006 |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| | |
Exhibit Number
| | Description of Document
|
| |
4.1 | | Restated Articles of Organization of the Registrant are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 000-27372). |
| |
4.2 | | Amendment to the Restated Articles of Organization of the Registrant are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 (File No. 000-27372). |
| |
4.3 | | Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB filed on March 31, 2005 (File No. 000-27372). |
| |
*5.1 | | Opinion of BRL Law Group LLC. |
| |
10.1 | | Senior Promissory Note, dated May 12, 2005, issued to The Eureka Interactive Fund, Limited is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 16, 2005 (File No. 000-27372). |
| |
10.2 | | Amendment No. 2 to Senior Promissory Note entered into by and between the Registrant and The Eureka Interactive Fund, Limited, dated as of December 15, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Registration’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 20, 2005 (File No. 000-27372). |
| |
10.3 | | Securities Purchase Agreement entered into by and between the Registrant and Laurus Master Fund, Ltd., dated as of December 30, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 4, 2006 (File No. 000-27372). |
| |
10.4 | | Registration Rights Agreement entered into by and between the Registrant and Laurus Master Fund, Ltd., dated as of December 30, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 4, 2006 (File No. 000-27372). |
| |
10.5 | | Secured Term Note issued the Registrant to Laurus Master Fund, Ltd., dated as of December 30, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 4, 2006 (File No. 000-27372). |
| |
*10.6 | | Common Stock Purchase Warrant, dated December 15, 2005, issued by the Registrant to The Eureka Interactive Fund. |
| |
*10.7 | | Agreement of Purchase and Sale, dated November 22, 2005, by and between StockerYale Canada Inc. and The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada. |
| |
*10.8 | | Lease Agreement, dated December 20, 2005, by and between StockerYale Canada Inc. and The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada. |
| |
*10.9 | | Real Estate Purchase Agreement, dated November 29, 2005, by and between the Registrant and 55 Heritage LLC. |
| |
*10.10 | | First Amendment to Real Estate Purchase Agreement, dated December 22, 2005, by and between the Registrant and 55 Heritage LLC. |
| |
*10.11 | | Lease, dated December 29, 2005, by and between the Registrant and 55 Heritage LLC. |
| |
*23.1 | | Consent of Vitale Caturano & Company, Ltd. |
| |
*23.2 | | Consent of BRL Law Group LLC (included in Exhibit 5.1). |
| |
*24.1 | | Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this Registration Statement). |