Canada
(State of other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
|
33-1084375
(I.R.S. employer
identification number)
|
Terry
Copeland
Chief
Executive Officer
Altair
Nanotechnologies Inc.
204
Edison Way
Reno,
Nevada 89502
(775)
858-3770
(Name,
address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including
area code, of agent for service)
|
copies
to:
Bryan
T. Allen, Esq.
Parr
Brown Gee & Loveless
185
South State Street, Suite 800
Salt
Lake City, Utah 84111
Phone:
(801) 257-7963
Facsimile:
(801) 532-7750
|
Title
of each class of securities to be registered(1)
|
|
Proposed maximum
aggregate offering price(2)
|
|
Amount of
registration fee(3)
|
||||
Common
shares, without par value (4)
|
||||||||
Rights
associated with common shares (4)
|
||||||||
Warrants
to purchase common shares (4)
|
||||||||
Units
of common shares (4) and warrants to purchase
common
shares (4)
|
||||||||
Total
|
$150,000,000
|
$8,370
|
(1)
|
There
are being registered hereunder such indeterminate number of common
shares , associated
rights and warrants to purchase common shares, and such
indeterminate number of units of warrants and common shares, as shall have
an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed
$150,000,000. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold
separately or as units with other securities registered
hereunder. In addition, the securities being registered
hereunder include such indeterminate number of common shares and associated rights as may be issuable with
respect to the securities being registered hereunder as a result of stock
splits, stock dividends or similar transactions, in each case determined
in accordance with to Rule 416 under the Securities Act.
|
(2)
|
The
proposed maximum aggregate offering price per class of security will be
determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the
issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is
not specified as to each class of security pursuant to General Instruction
II.D. of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.
|
(3)
|
Previously paid. Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o)
under the Securities Act.
|
(4)
|
Each
common share includes an associated right
arising under, and subject to the terms described in, the Amended and
Restated Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement dated October 15, 1999, as
amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 dated October
6, 2008 and any additional amendments , between the Registrant and
Equity Transfer Services, Inc., as the Rights Agent. Until the occurrence of events described in such agreement,
the rights are not exercisable, are evidenced by the Registrant's common
shares and transfer automatically with, and only with, the common
shares.
|
PROSPECTUS (Subject to Completion)
|
Dated October
14 , 2009
|
●
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common
shares
|
●
|
warrants
to purchase common shares and
|
●
|
units
of warrants and common
shares.
|
|
Page
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Overview
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1
|
About
this Prospectus
|
|
1
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Risk
Factors
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2
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Forward-Looking
Statements
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|
10
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Use
of Proceeds
|
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10
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The
Securities We May Offer
|
|
10
|
Plan
of Distribution
|
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15
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Incorporation
of Certain Information by Reference
|
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19
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Where
You Can Find More Information
|
|
19
|
Legal
Matters
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19
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Experts
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20
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Disclosure
of Commission Position on Indemnification for Securities Act
Liabilities
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20
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●
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fluctuations
in the size and timing of customer orders from one quarter to the
next;
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●
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timing
of delivery of our services and
products;
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●
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additions
of new customers or losses of existing
customers;
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●
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positive
or negative business or financial developments announced by our key
customers;
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●
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our
ability to commercialize and obtain orders for products we are
developing;
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costs
associated with developing our manufacturing
capabilities;
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new
product announcements or introductions by our competitors or potential
competitors;
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●
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the
effect of variations in the market price of our common shares on our
equity-based compensation expenses;
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●
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technology
and intellectual property issues associated with our products;
and
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●
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general
political, social, geopolitical and economic trends and
events.
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●
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o ur pending patent applications may not be granted
for various reasons, including the existence of conflicting patents or
defects in our applications;
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●
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t he patents we have been granted may be challenged,
invalidated or circumvented because of the pre-existence of similar
patented or unpatented intellectual property rights or for other
reasons;
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●
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p arties to the confidentiality and invention
agreements may have such agreements declared unenforceable or, even if the
agreements are enforceable, may breach such
agreements;
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●
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t he costs associated with enforcing patents,
confidentiality and invention agreements or other intellectual property
rights may make aggressive enforcement cost
prohibitive;
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●
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e ven if we enforce our rights aggressively,
injunctions, fines and other penalties may be insufficient to deter
violations of our intellectual property rights;
and
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●
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o ther persons may independently develop proprietary
information and techniques that, although functionally equivalent or
superior to our intellectual proprietary information and techniques, do
not breach our patented or unpatented proprietary
rights.
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●
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we
may not be able to enter into development, licensing, supply and other
agreements with commercial partners with appropriate resources, technology
and expertise on reasonable terms or at
all;
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●
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our
commercial partners may not place the same priority on a project as we do,
may fail to honor contractual commitments, may not have the level of
resources, expertise, market strength or other characteristics necessary
for the success of the project, may dedicate only limited resources to,
and/or may abandon, a development project for reasons, including reasons,
such as a shift in corporate focus, unrelated to its
merits;
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●
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our
commercial partners may be in the early stages of development and may not
have sufficient liquidity to invest in joint development projects, expand
their businesses and purchase our products as expected or honor
contractual commitments;
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●
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our
commercial partners may terminate joint testing, development or marketing
projects on the merits of the projects for various reasons, including
determinations that a project is not feasible, cost-effective or likely to
lead to a marketable end product;
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●
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at
various stages in the testing, development, marketing or production
process, we may have disputes with our commercial partners, which may
inhibit development, lead to an abandonment of the project or have other
negative consequences; and
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●
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even
if the commercialization and marketing of jointly developed products is
successful, our revenue share may be limited and may not exceed our
associated development and operating
costs.
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●
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economic
conditions and capital financing and liquidity
constraints;
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●
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short-term
and long-term trends in the supply and price of gasoline, diesel, coal,
natural gas and other fuels;
|
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●
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the
anticipated or actual granting or elimination by governments of tax and
other financial incentives favoring electric or hybrid electric vehicles
and renewable energy production;
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●
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the
anticipated or actual funding, or elimination of funding for, programs
that support renewable energy programs, electric grid improvements,
certain military electric vehicle initiatives and related
programs;
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●
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changes
in public and investor interest, for financial and/or environmental
reasons, in supporting or adopting alternatives to gasoline and diesel for
transportation and other purposes;
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●
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the
overall economic environment and the availability of credit to assist
customers in purchasing our large battery
systems;
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●
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the
expansion or contraction of private and public research and development
budgets as a result of global and U.S. economic trends;
and
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●
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the
speed of incorporation of renewable energy generating sources into the
electric grid.
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●
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we
may find that the acquired company or technology does not further our
business strategy, that we overpaid for the company or technology or that
the economic conditions underlying our acquisition decision have
changed;
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●
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we
may have difficulty integrating the assets, technologies, operations or
personnel of an acquired company, or retaining the key personnel of the
acquired company;
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●
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our
ongoing business and management's attention may be disrupted or diverted
by transition or integration issues and the complexity of managing
geographically or culturally diverse
enterprises;
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●
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we
may encounter difficulty entering and competing in new product or
geographic markets or increased competition, including price competition
or intellectual property litigation;
and
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●
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we
may experience significant problems or liabilities associated with product
quality, technology and legal contingencies relating to the acquired
business or technology, such as intellectual property or employment
matters.
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●
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Further
testing of potential life science products using our technology may
indicate that such products are less effective than existing products,
unsafe, have significant side effects or are otherwise not
viable;
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●
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The
licensees may be unable to obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for
technical, political or other reasons or, even if it obtains such
approval, may not obtain such approval on a timely basis; in this regard,
we note that Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the licensee of RenaZorb, has
been significantly delayed in testing on RenaZorb;
and
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●
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End
products for which FDA approval is obtained, if any, may fail to obtain
significant market share for various reasons, including questions about
efficacy, need, safety and side effects or because of poor marketing by
the licensee.
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●
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If
we fail to supply products in accordance with contractual terms, including
terms related to time of delivery and performance specifications, we may
be required to repair or replace defective products and may become liable
for direct, special, consequential and other damages, even if
manufacturing or delivery was
outsourced;
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●
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Raw
materials used in the manufacturing process, labor and other key inputs
may become scarce and expensive, causing our costs to exceed cost
projections and associated
revenues;
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●
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Manufacturing
processes typically involve large machinery, fuels and chemicals, any or
all of which may lead to accidents involving bodily harm, destruction of
facilities and environmental contamination and associated
liabilities;
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●
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As
our manufacturing operations expand, we expect that a significant portion
of our manufacturing will be done overseas, either by third-party
contractors or in a plant owned by the company. Any
manufacturing done overseas presents risks associated with quality
control, currency exchange rates, foreign laws and customs, timing and
loss risks associated with overseas transportation and potential adverse
changes in the political, legal and social environment in the host county;
and
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●
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We
may have made, and may be required to make, representations as to our
right to supply and/or license intellectual property and to our compliance
with laws. Such representations are usually supported by indemnification
provisions requiring us to defend our customers and otherwise make them
whole if we license or supply products that infringe on third-party
technologies or violate government
regulations.
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●
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market
factors affecting the availability and cost of capital generally,
including recent increases or decreases in major stock market indexes, the
stability of the banking and investment banking systems and general
economic stability or instability;
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●
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the
price, volatility and trading volume of our common
shares;
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●
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our
financial results, particularly the amount of revenue we are generating
from operations;
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●
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the
amount of our capital needs;
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●
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the
market's perception of companies in one or more of our lines of
business;
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●
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the
economics of projects being pursued;
and
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●
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the
market's perception of our ability to execute our business plan and any
specific projects identified as uses of
proceeds.
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●
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intentional
manipulation of our stock price by existing or future
shareholders;
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●
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a
reaction by investors to trends in our stock rather than the fundamentals
of our business;
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●
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a
single acquisition or disposition, or several related acquisitions or
dispositions, of a large number of our shares, including by short sellers
covering their position;
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●
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the
interest of the market in our business sector, without regard to our
financial condition, results of operations or business
prospects;
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●
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positive
or negative statements or projections about our company or our industry,
by analysts, stock gurus and other
persons;
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●
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the
adoption of governmental regulations or government grant programs and
similar developments in the United States or abroad that may enhance or
detract from our ability to offer our products and services or affect our
cost structure; and
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economic
and other external market factors, such as a general decline in market
prices due to poor economic conditions, investor distrust or a financial
crisis.
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●
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the
title of the warrants;
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●
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the
aggregate number of the warrants;
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●
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the
price or prices at which the warrants will be
issued;
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●
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the
designation, amount, and terms of the common shares purchasable upon
exercise of the warrants;
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●
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if
applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the common shares
purchasable upon exercise of the warrants will be separately
transferable;
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●
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the
price or prices at which the common shares purchasable upon exercise of
the warrants may be purchased;
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●
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the
date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the
date on which the right shall
expire;
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●
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the
minimum or maximum amount of the warrants which may be exercised at any
one time;
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●
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information
with respect to book-entry procedures, if
any;
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●
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in
the case of warrants to purchase our common shares, any provisions for
adjustment of the number or amount of shares of our common shares
receivable upon exercise of the warrants or the exercise price of the
warrants; and
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●
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any
other material terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures, and
limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the
warrants.
|
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●
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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;
|
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●
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any provisions of the governing
unit agreement that differ from those described below;
and
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●
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any
provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of
the units or of the securities comprising the
units.
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●
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through
underwriters;
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●
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through
dealers;
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●
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through
agents; or
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●
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directly
to purchasers.
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●
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the
names of any underwriters, dealers, or
agents;
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●
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the
public offering or purchase price of the offered securities and the net
proceeds that we will receive from the
sale;
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●
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any
underwriting discounts and commissions or other items constituting
underwriters' compensation;
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●
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any
discounts, commissions, or fees allowed or paid to dealers or agents;
and
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●
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any
securities exchange or market on which the offered securities may be
listed.
|
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●
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block
trades;
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|
●
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at-the-market
offerings;
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●
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negotiated
transactions;
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●
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put
or call option transactions relating to the
securities;
|
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●
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under
delayed delivery contracts or other contractual
commitments;
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●
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a
combination of such methods of sale;
and
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|
●
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any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable
law.
|
|
●
|
Our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed
with the SEC on March 16, 2009;
|
|
●
|
Our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, filed
with the SEC on May 8, 2009, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 2009, filed with the SEC on August 7,
2009;
|
●
|
Our
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 4, 2009, April 1,
2009, May 22, 2009, May 29, 2009, June 10, 2009, September 4,
2009, September 10, 2009 and October 13,
2009;
|
|
●
|
The
description of our common shares contained in our Registration Statement
on Form 10-SB, SEC File No. 1-12497 filed with the SEC pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including any amendment or report filed
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the purpose of updating such
description.
|
Amount
|
||||
SEC
registration fee
|
$ | 8,370 | ||
Accounting
fees and expenses*
|
30,000 | |||
Legal
fees and expenses*
|
40,000 | |||
Printing
expenses*
|
10,000 | |||
Blue
sky fees and expenses*
|
10,000 | |||
Transfer
agent fees and expenses*
|
1,000 | |||
Miscellaneous
expenses*
|
15,630 | |||
Total
|
$ | 115,000 |
1.1
|
Form
of underwriting agreement*
|
|
3.1
|
Articles
of Continuance (1)
|
|
3.3
|
Bylaw
No. 1 (1)
|
|
4.1
|
Instruments
defining the rights of securities*
|
|
4.2
|
Form
of Warrant*
|
|
4.3
|
Specimen
Stock Certificate of the registrant(2)
|
|
4.4
|
Amended
and Restated Shareholder Rights Plan dated October 15, 1999, between the
Company and Equity Transfer Services, Inc. (3)
|
|
4.5
|
Amendment
No. 1 to Amended and Restated Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement dated
October 6, 2008(4)
|
|
4.6
|
Form
of Unit Agreement*
|
|
5.1
|
Opinion
of Cassels Brock & Blackwell, LLP
|
|
23.1
|
Consent
of Cassels Brock & Blackwell, LLP
|
|
23.2
|
Consent
of Perry-Smith, LLP
|
|
24.1
|
Power
of attorney (included on signature page of this registration
statement)
|
*
|
To
be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference prior to the offering
of securities if applicable.
|
(1)
|
Incorporated
by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
SEC on July 18, 2002, File No. 001-12497.
|
(2)
|
Incorporated
by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10-SB filed
with the SEC on November 25, 1996, File No. 001-12497.
|
(3)
|
Incorporated
by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
SEC on November 19, 1999, File No. 001-12497.
|
(4)
|
Incorporated
by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
SEC on October 6, 2008, File No.
001-12497.
|
ALTAIR
NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC.
By:
/s/
Terry M.
Copeland
Terry
M. Copeland,
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
||
/s/ Terry M.
Copeland
Terry
M. Copeland
|
President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
October
14, 2009
|
||
/s/ John
Fallini
John
Fallini
|
Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary
(Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)
|
October
14, 2009
|
||
/s/ Jon N.
Bengston *
Jon
N. Bengston
|
Director
|
October
14, 2009
|
||
/s/ Eqbal Al
Yousuf*
Eqbal
Al Yousuf
|
Director
|
October
14, 2009
|
||
/s/ Hossein Asrar
Haghighi*
Hossein
Asrar Haghighi
|
Director
|
October
14, 2009
|
||
/s/ George
Hartman*
George
Hartman
|
Director
|
October
14, 2009
|
||
/s/ Robert F. Hemphill
Jr.*
Robert
F. Hemphill Jr.
|
Director
|
October
14, 2009
|
||
/s/ Robert G. can
Schoonenberg*
Robert
G. van Schoonenberg
|
Director
|
October
14, 2009
|
||
/s/ Pierre
Lortie*
Pierre
Lortie
|
Director
|
October
14, 2009
|
||
*By: /s/ Terry M.
Copeland
Terry
M. Copeland
Attorney-in-Fact
|
1.1
|
Form
of underwriting agreement*
|
|
3.1
|
Articles
of Continuance (1)
|
|
3.3
|
Bylaw
No. 1 (1)
|
|
4.1
|
Instruments
defining the rights of securities*
|
|
4.2
|
Form
of Warrant*
|
|
4.3
|
Specimen
Stock Certificate of the registrant(2)
|
|
4.4
|
Amended
and Restated Shareholder Rights Plan dated October 15, 1999, between the
Company and Equity Transfer Services, Inc. (3)
|
|
4.5
|
Amendment
No. 1 to Amended and Restated Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement dated
October 6, 2008(4)
|
|
4.6
|
Form
of Unit Agreement*
|
|
5.1
|
Opinion
of Cassels Brock & Blackwell, LLP
|
|
23.1
|
Consent
of Cassels Brock & Blackwell, LLP
|
|
23.2
|
Consent
of Perry-Smith, LLP
|
|
24.1
|
Power
of attorney (included on signature page of this registration
statement)
|
*
|
To
be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference prior to the offering
of securities if applicable.
|
(1)
|
Incorporated
by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
SEC on July 18, 2002, File No. 001-12497.
|
(2)
|
Incorporated
by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10-SB filed
with the SEC on November 25, 1996, File No. 001-12497.
|
(3)
|
Incorporated
by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
SEC on November 19, 1999, File No. 001-12497.
|
(4)
|
Incorporated
by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
SEC on October 6, 2008, File No.
001-12497.
|