altair_s3a1-111009.htm
As
Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 10 , 2009
Registration
No. 333- 162310
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT
NO. 1
TO
FORM
S-3
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT
UNDER
THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Altair
Nanotechnologies Inc.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Canada
(State
or other jurisdiction of
incorporation
or organization)
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33-1084375
(I.R.S.
employer
identification
number)
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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)
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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
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Approximate
date of commencement of the proposed sale to the public: From time to time after
the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the
only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box.
¨
If any of
the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other
than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. 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, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration
statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering.
¨
If this
Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a
post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with
the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the
following box.
¨
If this
Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to
General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional
classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check
the following box. ¨
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,”
“accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large
accelerated filer o
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Accelerated
filer x
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Non-accelerated
filer o
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Smaller
reporting company o
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CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title
of each class of securities to be registered(1)
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Proposed maximum
aggregate offering price(2)
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Amount of registration
fee(3)
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Common
shares, without par value (4)
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$
6,596,958 |
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$
369 |
Rights
associated with common shares (4)
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(1)
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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.
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(2)
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The
common shares and associated rights registered hereunder are issuable upon
the exercise of warrants to purchase an aggregate of 6,596,958 common
shares at an exercise price of $1.00 per share, for an aggregate exercise
price of $6,596,958 if all such warrants are exercised. The
warrants were issued and previously registered pursuant to Registration
Statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-137099 and Registration Statement on
Form S-3MEF File No. 333-159436 filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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(3)
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The
warrants, and the common shares and associated rights issuable upon the
exercise of such warrants, were previously registered pursuant to
Registration Statement No. 333-137099 and Registration Statement on Form
S-3MEF File No. 333-159436 filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended. Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under
the Securities Act, the filing fees previously paid in connection with the
securities being registered hereunder will continue to be applied to the
same.
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(4)
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Each
common share purchasable upon the exercise of warrants previously
registered includes an attached 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.
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The
Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as
may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a
further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement
shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the
Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.
The
Registrant has an existing “shelf” registration statement, File No. 333-137099,
that was declared effective on October 3, 2006 and which expires on October 3,
2009 pursuant to Rule 415(a)(5) under the Securities Act. Warrants to
purchase 6,596,958 common shares issued under such registration statement remain
outstanding. The Registrant is filing this new Registration Statement
for the sole purpose of ensuring that an effective Registration Statement covers
the exercise of such previously issued warrants. Pursuant to Rule
415(a)(6) promulgated under the Securities Act, the filing fees previously paid
in connection with the securities being registered hereunder will continue to be
applied to such securities. In accordance with SEC rules, the
Registrant may continue to offer and sell the securities being registered
hereunder during the grace period afforded by Rule 415(a)(5). If the
Registrant sells any securities being registered hereunder during the grace
period, the Registrant will identify in a pre-effective amendment to this
Registration Statement the new amount of securities to be carried forward to
this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 415(a)(6).
ALTAIR
NANOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
6,596,958
COMMON
SHARES
We are offering up to 6,596,958 common
shares that are issuable upon the exercise of warrants previously offered and
sold by us on May 28, 2009. Each warrant represents the right to
purchase one common share at any time, and from time to time through May 28,
2016 at an exercise price of $1.00 per share. Each common share
includes an associated right arising under an 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. Until the occurrence of events described in such
agreement, the rights are not exercisable, are evidenced by our common shares
and transfer automatically with, and only with, the common
shares.
Our common shares are listed on the
NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “ALTI.” On November 6, 2009,
the last reported sale price of our common shares was $0.98 per
share.
Investing in the securities offered by
this prospectus involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page
2.
Neither
the Securities Exchange Commission nor any other government body has approved or
disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy of this prospectus.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This
prospectus is dated November 10 ,
2009
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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Explanatory
Statement
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1
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Overview
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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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Dilution
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10
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Description
of Securities
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11
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Plan
of Distribution
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16
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Incorporation
of Certain Information by Reference
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17
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Where
You Can Find More Information
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17
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Legal
Matters
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17
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Experts
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18
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Disclosure
of Commission Position on Indemnification for Securities Act
Liabilities
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18
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EXPLANATORY
STATEMENT
We have an existing “shelf”
registration statement, file no. 333-137099, that was declared effective on
October 3, 2006 and which expired on October 3, 2009 pursuant to Rule 415(a)(5)
under the Securities Act, subject to an up to 180 grace period pending the
effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a
part. Of the securities issued under such registration statement,
warrants to purchase 6,596,958 common shares remain outstanding and
unexercised. We have filed the registration statement of which this
prospectus is a part for the sole purpose of ensuring that an effective
registration statement covers the exercise of such warrants.
OVERVIEW
We are a Canadian corporation, with
principal assets and operations in the United States, whose primary business is
developing and commercializing nanomaterial technologies. Our
research, development, production and marketing efforts are currently directed
toward the design, development, and production of our nano-lithium titanate
battery cells, batteries, and battery packs, as well as related design and test
services. We are currently focused on the commercialization of our
nano-lithium titanate electrode materials and batteries for use in the power and
energy storage industries. We also continue developing and testing
efforts of our nano-lithium titanate electrode materials and batteries for use
in military applications and in the transportation segment.
Our other operations as of the date of
this prospectus include supporting AlSher Titania, LLC in the development and
production of high quality titanium dioxide pigment for use in paint and
coatings, and nano titanium dioxide materials for use in a variety of
applications including those related to removing contaminants from air and
water. In this area, we are seeking to identify and qualify an
interested third party to purchase our interest in the AlSher joint
venture. We are also providing limited support to Spectrum
Pharmaceuticals Inc. pursuant to our obligations under the amended and restated
agreement for development of RenaZorb and Renalan, which are pre-clinical
pharmaceutical ingredients designed to be useful in the treatment of chronic
kidney disease, hyperphosphatemia, and high phosphate levels in blood,
associated with end-stage renal disease.
You should rely only on the information
incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus. We have authorized no
one to provide you with different information.
Unless we indicate otherwise, the terms
“Altair,” “we,” “our” and “us” as used in this prospectus refers to Altair
Nanotechnologies Inc. and its subsidiaries as a combined entity, except where it
is made clear that the term only means the parent company or an identified
subsidiary. Our principal executive offices are located at 204 Edison Way, Reno,
NV, and our phone number is (775) 856-2500. Our website is www.altairnano.com.
Information contained on our website is not a part of this
prospectus.
You
should carefully consider the risks described in this prospectus, in addition to
the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus
before making an investment decision. Any of these risks could materially and
adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In
such case, you may lose all or part of your investment. Some factors in this
section are forward-looking statements.
We have
experienced a net loss in every fiscal year since our inception. Our losses from
operations were $30.1 million in 2008, and $16.3 million for the nine months
ended September 30, 2009. Even if we do generate operating income in one or more
quarters in the future, subsequent developments in the economy, our industry,
customer base, business or cost structure, or an event such as significant
litigation or a significant transaction, may cause us to again experience
operating losses. We may never become profitable.
Our
quarterly operating results have fluctuated significantly in the past and will
continue to fluctuate in the future, which could cause our stock price to
decline.
Our
quarterly operating results have fluctuated significantly in the past, and we
believe that they will continue to fluctuate in the future, due to a number of
factors, many of which are beyond our control. Factors that may affect our
quarterly operating results include the following:
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fluctuations
in the size and timing of customer orders from one quarter to the
next;
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timing
of delivery of our services and
products;
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additions
of new customers or losses of existing
customers;
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positive
or negative business or financial developments announced by our key
customers;
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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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the
effect of variations in the market price of our common shares on our
equity-based compensation expenses;
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technology
and intellectual property issues associated with our products;
and
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general
political, social, geopolitical and economic trends and
events.
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If in
future periods our operating results do not meet the expectations of investors
or analysts who choose to follow our company, our stock price may
fall.
A
majority of our revenue has historically been generated from low-margin contract
research and development services; if we cannot expand revenues from other
products and services, our business will fail.
Historically,
a majority of our revenue has come from contract research and development
services for businesses and government agencies. During the years ended December
31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, contract service revenues comprised 87%, 55% and 67%
respectively, of our operating revenues. Contract services revenue is low
margin, or has negative margins, and is unlikely to grow at a rapid pace. Our
business plan anticipates revenues from product sales and licensing, both of
which have potential for higher margins than contract services and have
potential for rapid growth, increasing in coming years. If we are not successful
in significantly expanding our revenues, or if we are forced to accept low or
negative margins in order to achieve revenue growth, we may fail to reach
profitability in the future.
Adverse
economic conditions and government initiatives could reduce, delay or harm
demand for our products.
The
current financial markets and general economic environment are substantially
weaker at present than they were during 2008. Our products are
targeted primarily at large power producers, the U.S. and British military,
military contractors and, to a lesser extent, automobile
manufacturers. Due to declining revenues and concerns about
liquidity, companies and branches of the military in our target market have
reduced, delayed or eliminated many research and development initiatives,
including those related to energy storage. This reduction or delay in
development spending is harming our development and productions efforts and will
continue to harm such efforts unless and until development spending increases to
prior levels.
In
addition, certain of our customers or potential customers who have the liquidity
to fund development projects have deferred orders in anticipation of qualifying
for funds dispensed in accordance with the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009. We are likely to experience reduced product demand
until companies seeking funding under these energy initiatives within the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 receive funding and/or learn that
they will not receive funding.
We
depend upon several sole-source third-party suppliers.
We rely
on certain suppliers as the sole-source of certain services, raw materials and
other components of our products. We do not have long-term supply or
service agreements with most of them. As a result, the providers of
such services and components could terminate or alter the terms of service or
supply with little or no advance notice. If our arrangements with any
sole-source supplier were terminated or such a supplier failed to provide
essential services or deliver essential components on a timely basis or
introduced unacceptable price increases, our production schedule would be
delayed, possibly by as long as six months. Any such delay in our
production schedule would result in delayed product delivery and may also result
in additional production costs, customer losses and litigation.
Our
patents and other protective measures may not adequately protect our proprietary
intellectual property, and we may be infringing on the rights of
others.
We regard
our intellectual property, particularly our proprietary rights in our
nanomaterials technology, as critical to our success. We have received various
patents, and filed other patent applications, for various applications and
aspects of our nanomaterials technology and other intellectual property. In
addition, we generally enter into confidentiality and invention agreements with
our employees and consultants. Such patents and agreements and various other
measures we take to protect our intellectual property from use by others may not
be effective for various reasons, including the following:
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our
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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the
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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parties
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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the
costs associated with enforcing patents, confidentiality and invention
agreements or other intellectual property rights may make aggressive
enforcement cost prohibitive;
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even
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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other
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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Because
the value of our company and common shares is rooted primarily in our
proprietary intellectual property rights, our inability to protect our
proprietary intellectual property rights or gain a competitive advantage from
such rights could harm our ability to generate revenues and, as a result, our
business and operations.
In
addition, we may inadvertently be infringing on the proprietary rights of other
persons and may be required to obtain licenses to certain intellectual property
or other proprietary rights from third parties. Such licenses or proprietary
rights may not be made available under acceptable terms, if at all. If we do not
obtain required licenses or proprietary rights, we could encounter delays in
product development or find that the development or sale of products requiring
such licenses is foreclosed.
The
commercialization of many of our technologies is dependent upon the efforts of
commercial partners and other third parties over which we have no or little
control.
We do not
have the expertise or resources to commercialize all potential applications of
our nanomaterials and titanium dioxide pigment technology. For
example, transportation applications of our nano-lithium titanate batteries are
likely to be developed only in conjunction with the manufacturer of all-electric
or hybrid-electric cars, trucks or buses, and stationary power applications are
likely to be developed only in cooperation with utility companies or other
potential users of the technology. With respect to these and
substantially all other applications of our technology, the commercialization of
a potential application of our technology is dependent, in part, upon the
expertise, resources and efforts of our commercial partners. This presents
certain risks, including the following:
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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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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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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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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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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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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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As a
result of the actions or omissions of our commercial partners, or our inability
to identify and enter into suitable arrangements with qualified commercial
partners, we may be unable to commercialize apparently viable products on a
timely and cost-effective basis, or at all.
Interest
in our nano-lithium titanate battery materials and batteries is affected by
energy supply and pricing, political events, popular consciousness and other
factors over which we have no control.
Currently,
our marketing and development efforts for our batteries and battery materials
are focused primarily on transportation, military and stationary power
applications. In the transportation and military markets, batteries
containing our nano-lithium titanate materials are designed to replace or
supplement gasoline and diesel engines. In the stationary power
applications, our batteries are designed to conserve and regulate the stable
supply of electricity, including from renewable sources. The interest
of our potential customers and business partners in our products and services is
affected by a number of factors beyond our control, including:
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economic
conditions and capital financing and liquidity
constraints;
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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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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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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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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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the
overall economic environment and the availability of credit to assist
customers in purchasing our large battery
systems;
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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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the
speed of incorporation of renewable energy generating sources into the
electric grid.
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Our
government grants and contracts are subject to termination or delays by the
government.
The
grants and contracts we enter into with governmental entities are subject to
termination or delay of funding at the election of the government. A
substantial portion of our revenue is derived from government grants and
contracts. As a result, any termination of such agreements would
significantly reduce revenue and the capital to sustain operations and
research.
Our
success is primarily dependent upon our nano-lithium titanate battery materials
and batteries business.
We
recently determined to focus our financial and other resources primarily on our
Power and Energy Group, in which our principal products are our nano-lithium
titanate battery materials and batteries. As a result, we ceased
devoting financial and human resources to any new development in our former
Performance Materials Group, in which our principal focus (through Alsher) had
been the development of titanium dioxide pigment and various coatings, and in
our former Life Sciences Group, in which our principal focus had been supporting
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. in the development of RenaZorb under a licensing
agreement. Because we are not expending significant resources
on any of our historical products or lines of business other than our
nano-lithium titanate battery materials and batteries, such other products and
lines of business are unlikely to generate substantial revenue in the
future. As a result, our success is primarily dependent upon our
ability to develop, market and sell our nano-lithium titanate battery materials
and batteries.
Our
nano-lithium titanate battery materials and battery business is currently
dependent upon a few customers and potential customers, which presents various
risks.
Our
nano-structure LTO battery materials and battery business has historically been
dependent upon a few customers, including the U.S. government, affiliates of The
AES Corporation and smaller companies developing electric or hybrid electric
cars and buses. In addition, most of these customers are development
partners, who are subsidizing the research and development of products for which
they may be the sole, or one of a few, potential purchasers. As a
result of the small number of potential customers and partners, our existing
customers and partners may have significant leverage on pricing terms,
exclusivity terms and other economic and noneconomic terms. This may
harm our attempts to sell products at prices that reflect desired gross
margins. In addition, the decision by a single customer to abandon
use or development of a product, or budget cutbacks and other events harming the
ability of a single customer to continue to purchase products or continue
development, may significantly harm both our financial results and the
development track of one or more products.
If
we acquire or invest in other companies, assets or technologies and we are not
able to integrate them with our business, or we do not realize the anticipated
financial and strategic goals for any of these transactions, our financial
performance may be impaired.
As part
of our growth strategy, we routinely consider acquiring or making investments in
companies, assets or technologies that we believe are strategic to our business.
We do not have extensive experience in conducting diligence on, evaluating,
purchasing or integrating new businesses or technologies, and if we do succeed
in acquiring or investing in a company or technology, we will be exposed to a
number of risks, including:
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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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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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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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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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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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In
addition, from time to time we may enter into negotiations for acquisitions or
investments that are not ultimately consummated. These negotiations could result
in significant diversion of management time, as well as substantial
out-of-pocket costs. If we were to proceed with one or more significant
acquisitions or investments in which the consideration included cash, we could
be required to use a substantial portion of our available cash. To the extent we
issue shares of capital stock or other rights to purchase capital stock,
including options and warrants, existing stockholders would be diluted. In
addition, acquisitions and investments may result in the incurrence of debt,
large one-time write-offs, such as acquired in-process research and development
costs, and restructuring charges.
We
intend to expand our operations and increase our expenditures in an effort to
grow our business. If we are unable to achieve or manage significant growth and
expansion, or if our business does not grow as we expect, our operating results
may suffer.
During
the past several years, we have increased our research and development
expenditures in an attempt to accelerate the commercialization of certain
products, particularly our nano-lithium titanate electrode materials and battery
systems. Our business plan anticipates continued expenditure on development,
manufacturing and other growth initiatives. We may fail to achieve significant
growth despite such expenditures. If achieved, significant growth would place
increased demands on our management, accounting systems, network infrastructure
and systems of financial and internal controls. We may be unable to expand
associated resources and refine associated systems fast enough to keep pace with
expansion, especially as we expand into multiple facilities at distant
locations. If we fail to ensure that our management, control and other systems
keep pace with growth, we may experience a decline in the effectiveness and
focus of our management team, problems with timely or accurate reporting, issues
with costs and quality controls and other problems associated with a failure to
manage rapid growth, all of which would harm our results of
operations.
Our
competitors have more resources than we do, and may be supported by more
prominent partners, which may give them a competitive advantage.
We have
limited financial, personnel and other resources and, because of our early stage
of development, have limited access to capital. We compete or may compete
against entities that are much larger than we are, have more extensive resources
than we do and have an established reputation and operating history. In
addition, certain of our early stage competitors may be partnered with,
associated with or supported by larger business or financial
partners. This may increase their ability to raise capital, attract
media attention, develop products and attract customers despite their short
operating history and small size. Because of their size, resources,
reputation and history (or that of their business and financial partners)
certain of our competitors may be able to exploit acquisition, development and
joint venture opportunities more rapidly, easily or thoroughly than we can. In
addition, potential customers may choose to do business with our more
established competitors, without regard to the comparative quality of our
products, because of their perception that our competitors are more stable, are
more likely to complete various projects, are more likely to continue as a going
concern and lend greater credibility to any joint venture.
We
will not generate substantial milestone and royalty revenues from life science
products unless proposed products receive FDA approval and achieve substantial
market penetration.
We have
assigned ownership of RenazorbTM and RenalanTM to Spectrum
Pharmaceuticals. These are potential drug candidates for humans and
animals respectively with kidney disease. These potential life
science applications are subject to regulation by the FDA and similar regulatory
bodies. Our agreement with Spectrum calls for milestone payments as certain
milestones related to the development of the products and the obtaining of
regulatory approval are met. The agreement also calls for the payment
of royalties to us; however, our receipt of such royalties is subject to the
receipt by Spectrum of substantial recurring revenues which are generally tied
to the receipt of marketing approval from the FDA and the amount of revenue
generated from the sale of end products. There are substantial risks associated
with this agreement, including the following:
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Further
testing of potential life science products using this 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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Spectrum
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 has been significantly delayed in testing on RenazorbTM;
and
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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
Spectrum.
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If any of
the foregoing risks, or other risks associated with these products were to
occur, we would not receive substantial, recurring revenue from this agreement
with Spectrum, which would adversely affect our overall business, operations and
financial condition.
We
and Sherwin-Williams may be unable to find a new investor to participate in
AlSher, and consequently terminate the joint venture disposing of its remaining
assets.
We are
currently working with Sherwin-Williams to identify an interested third party to
invest in AlSher and undertake the next phase in the proposed development of our
titanium dioxide pigment manufacturing process, which is the construction of an
approximately 5,000 ton per year demonstration plant. Neither
Sherwin-Williams nor Altair has indicated a willingness to fund this next phase
of development. Should the parties be unable to find an acceptable
third party investor, the AlSher joint venture will in all likelihood be
terminated and its remaining assets sold or written off. If this
joint venture is terminated, it is unlikely that we will realize any material
revenue from its titanium dioxide pigment production process.
If
manufacturing becomes a larger part of our operations, we will become exposed to
accompanying risks and liabilities.
We have
not produced any products using our nanomaterials and titanium dioxide pigment
technology and equipment on a sustained commercial basis. In-house or outsourced
manufacturing is expected to become an increasingly significant part of our
business over the next few years. As a result, we expect to become increasingly
subject to various risks associated with the manufacturing and supply of
products, including the following:
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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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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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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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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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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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Any
failure to adequately manage risks associated with the manufacture and supply of
materials and products could lead to losses (or small gross profits) from that
segment of our business and/or significant liabilities, which would harm our
business, operations and financial condition.
We
may not be able to raise sufficient capital to meet future
obligations.
As of
June 30, 2009, we had approximately $28.7 million in cash and cash
equivalents. As we take additional steps to enhance our
commercialization and marketing efforts, or respond to acquisition and joint
venture opportunities or potential adverse events, our use of working capital
may increase. In any such event, absent a comparatively significant increase in
revenue, we will need to raise additional capital in order to sustain our
ongoing operations, continue unfinished testing and additional development work
and, if certain of our products are commercialized, construct and operate
facilities for the production of those products.
We may
not be able to obtain the amount of additional capital needed or may be forced
to pay an extremely high price for capital. Factors affecting the availability
and price of capital may include the following:
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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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the
price, volatility and trading volume of our common
shares;
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our
financial results, particularly the amount of revenue we are generating
from operations;
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the
amount of our capital needs;
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the
market's perception of companies in one or more of our lines of
business;
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the
economics of projects being pursued;
and
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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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If we are
unable to obtain sufficient capital or are forced to pay a high price for
capital, we may be unable to meet future obligations or adequately exploit
existing or future opportunities. If we are unable to obtain
sufficient capital in the long run, we may be forced to curtail or discontinue
operations.
Our
past and future operations may lead to substantial environmental
liability.
Virtually
any prior or future use of our nanomaterials and titanium dioxide pigment
technology is subject to federal, state and local environmental laws. In
addition, we are in the process of reclaiming mineral property that we leased in
Tennessee. Under applicable environmental laws, we may be jointly and severally
liable with prior property owners for the treatment, cleanup, remediation and/or
removal of any hazardous substances discovered at any property we use. In
addition, courts or government agencies may impose liability for, among other
things, the improper release, discharge, storage, use, disposal or
transportation of hazardous substances. If we incur any significant
environmental liabilities, our ability to execute our business plan and our
financial condition would be harmed.
Certain
of our experts and directors reside in Canada or Dubai and may be able to avoid
civil liability.
We are a
Canadian corporation, and two of our directors and our Canadian legal counsel
are residents of Canada. Two additional directors are residents of the United
Arab Emirates. As a result, investors may be unable to effect service
of process upon such persons within the United States and may be unable to
enforce court judgments against such persons predicated upon civil liability
provisions of the U.S. securities laws. It is uncertain whether Canadian or
United Arab Emirates courts would enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained
against us or such directors, officers or experts predicated upon the civil
liability provisions of U.S. securities laws or impose liability in original
actions against us or our directors, officers or experts predicated upon U.S.
securities laws.
We
are dependent on key personnel.
Our
continued success will depend, to a significant extent, on the services of our
executive management team and certain key scientists and engineers. We do not
have key man insurance on any of these individuals. Nor do we have agreements
requiring any of our key personnel to remain with our company. The
loss or unavailability of any or all of these individuals could harm our ability
to execute our business plan, maintain important business relationships and
complete certain product development initiatives, which would harm our
business.
We
may issue substantial amounts of additional shares without stockholder
approval.
Our
articles of incorporation authorize the issuance of an unlimited number of
common shares that may be issued without any action or approval by our
stockholders. In addition, we have various stock option plans that have
potential for diluting the ownership interests of our stockholders. The issuance
of any additional common shares would further dilute the percentage ownership of
our company held by existing stockholders.
The
market price of our common shares is highly volatile and may increase or
decrease dramatically at any time.
The
market price of our common shares is highly volatile. Our stock price may change
dramatically as the result of announcements of product developments, new
products or innovations by us or our competitors, uncertainty regarding the
viability of our technology or any of our product initiatives, significant
customer contracts, significant litigation or other factors or events that would
be expected to affect our business, financial condition, results of operations
and future prospects.
The
market price for our common shares may be affected by various factors not
directly related to our business or future prospects, including the
following:
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intentional
manipulation of our stock price by existing or future
shareholders;
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a
reaction by investors to trends in our stock rather than the fundamentals
of our business;
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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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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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positive
or negative statements or projections about our company or our industry,
by analysts, stock gurus and other
persons;
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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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We
may be delisted from the NASDAQ Capital Market if the closing bid price of our
common shares does not remain above $1.00 per share.
Under
NASDAQ rules, a stock listed on NASDAQ Capital Market must maintain a minimum
per share closing bid price of at least $1.00 per share. During 2009,
the minimum per share closing bid price for our common shares has fallen below
$1.00 on several occasions. As a matter of practice, NASDAQ generally
gives a company a notice of delisting if the per share closing bid price of its
common shares is below $1.00 for 30 consecutive trading days. After receiving
the notice, the company will generally be delisted if the per share
closing bid price for its common stock has not exceeded $1.00 for
10 consecutive days within 180 days of the date of the
notice. If the price of our common shares trades below $1.00 for a
sustained period of time, or if NASDAQ decides to delist our common shares based
upon a one-time violation of the bid-price rule or any other rule, we may be
delisted from the NASDAQ Capital Market.
Following
any such delisting, our common shares would likely be eligible for quotation on
the OTC Bulletin Board or other quotation service. Nonetheless, even if our
common shares are quoted on an alternative quotation service, the fact of being
delisted from the NASDAQ Capital Market will likely harm the price and trading
volume for our common shares. Once delisted, our common shares would not be
eligible for relisting until, among other things, our common shares traded at or
above $4.00 per share.
We
have never declared a cash dividend and do not intend to declare a cash dividend
in the foreseeable future.
We have
never declared or paid cash dividends on our common shares. We currently intend
to retain any future earnings, if any, for use in our business and, therefore,
do not anticipate paying dividends on our common shares in the foreseeable
future.
We
are subject to various regulatory regimes, and may be adversely affected by
inquiries, investigations and allegations that we have not complied with
governing rules and laws.
In light
of our status as a public company and our lines of business, we are subject to a
variety of laws and regulatory regimes in addition to those applicable to all
businesses generally. For example, we are subject to the reporting
requirements applicable to Canadian and United States reporting issuers, such as
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the rules of the NASDAQ Capital Market and
certain state and provincial securities laws. We are also subject to state and
federal environmental, health and safety laws, and rules governing department of
defense contracts. Such laws and rules change frequently and are often
complex. In connection with such laws, we are subject to periodic audits,
inquiries and investigations. Any such audits, inquiries and
investigations may divert considerable financial and human resources and
adversely affect the execution of our business plan.
Through
such audits, inquiries and investigations, we or a regulator may determine that
we are out of compliance with one or more governing rules or laws.
Remedying such non-compliance diverts additional financial and human
resources. In addition, in the future, we may be subject to a formal
charge or determination that we have materially violated a governing law, rule
or regulation. We may also be subject to lawsuits as a result of
alleged violation of the securities laws or governing corporate laws. Any
charge or allegation, and particularly any determination, that we had materially
violated a governing law would harm our ability to enter into business
relationships, recruit qualified officers and employees and raise
capital.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
prospectus contains and incorporates by reference certain forward-looking
statements regarding our anticipated financial condition, results of operations
and businesses in the future, including management’s beliefs, projections and
assumptions concerning future results and events. These forward-looking
statements generally are in the future tense and may, but do not necessarily,
include words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,”
“estimates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “predicts,” “potential,”
“continue” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not
guarantees. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be
materially different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Our future results may
differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Some
of the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those
contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
those identified under “Risk Factors” above and in the annual and quarterly
reports we file with the SEC.
Given
these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of the document
in which they are contained. We do not undertake any obligation to update any
forward-looking statement or to publicly announce any revision of any
forward-looking statement to reflect the occurrence of any future developments
or events.
USE
OF PROCEEDS
The
amounts and timing of the expenditure of the net proceeds from this offering may
vary significantly, based on the expenses of our operations and depending on
numerous factors, including the success of our commercialization activities with
third parties and the scope and amount of our research and development
activities, among other things. Accordingly, our management will have broad
discretion in the application of the net proceeds and investors will be relying
on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of
this offering. We reserve the right to change the use of these proceeds as a
result of certain contingencies such as the results of our research and
development and third-party commercialization activities, competitive
developments, opportunities to acquire technologies or businesses and other
factors.
DILUTION
If you
exercise your warrants in this offering, your ownership interest will be
immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the exercise price
per warrant and the net tangible book value per share of our common shares as
adjusted to give effect to our sale of the units offered hereby. Our historical
net tangible book value as of September 30, 2009 was $42 million, or $.40 per
common share. Historical net tangible book value per share represents the amount
of our total tangible assets less total liabilities, divided by the number of
outstanding common shares.
Dilution
in net tangible book value per share represents the difference between the
amount per share paid by purchasers of our common shares in this offering and
the as-adjusted net tangible book value per common share immediately after
completion of this offering. After giving effect to the exercise of warrants to
purchase 6,596,958 common shares in this offering at the exercise price of $1.00
per share, our as-adjusted net tangible book value at September 30, 2009 would
have been $49 million, or $.43 per common share. This amount represents an
immediate increase in net tangible book value of $.03 per share to our existing
shareholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of
$.57 per share to purchasers of shares in this
offering.
The
following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:
Exercise
price per share
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$ |
1.00 |
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Net
tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2009
|
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$ |
.40 |
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Increase
in net tangible book value per share attributable to this
offering
|
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$ |
.03 |
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As
adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering
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$ |
.43 |
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Dilution
per share to new investors
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$ |
.57 |
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The above
discussion and table are based on 105,519,855 common shares issued and
outstanding as of September 30, 2009 and exclude:
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4,962,209
common shares issuable upon exercise of options outstanding under our
equity incentive plans as of September 30,
2009;
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·
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431,482
common shares issuable upon exercise of additional warrants outstanding as
of September 30, 2009; and
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·
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4,085,317
common shares reserved as of September 30, 2009 for future grants under
our equity incentive plans.
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DESCRIPTION
OF SECURITIES
We are
offering a maximum of 6,596,958 common shares, including associated rights, upon
the exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase common shares. The
following briefly summarizes the general terms and provisions of our common
shares, their associated rights, and the warrants pursuant to which such common
shares may be issued. You should read the provisions of our articles
of continuance, bylaws and any other relevant instrument and agreement relating
to our securities before you make an investment decision with respect to our
common shares.
The
Outstanding Warrants Pursuant to which the Offered Common Shares may be
Issued
Exercisability. The warrants
are exercisable beginning on the date of original issuance and at any time up to
May 28, 2016. The warrants are exercisable, at the option of each holder, in
whole or in part by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice accompanied
by payment in full for the number of common shares purchased upon such exercise
(except in the case of a cashless exercise as discussed below). Unless otherwise
specified in the warrant, except upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from
the holder to us, the holder will not have the right to exercise any portion of
the warrant if the holder (together with its affiliates) would beneficially own
in excess of 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of the number of common shares
outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage
ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the
warrants.
Cashless Exercise. In the
event that a registration statement covering common shares underlying the
warrants, or an exemption from registration, is not available for the issuance
or resale of such common shares underlying the warrants, the holder may, in its
sole discretion, exercise the warrant in whole or in part and, in lieu of making
the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to us upon such exercise in
payment of the aggregate exercise price, elect instead to receive upon such
exercise the net number of common shares determined according to the formula set
forth in the warrant.
Exercise Price. The exercise
price per common share purchasable upon exercise of the warrants is $1.00 per
common share being purchased. The exercise price is subject to appropriate
adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock
splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our
common shares and also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock
or other property to our shareholders. The exercise price per share will also be
subject to adjustment on a weighted average basis for certain dilutive issuances
of equity securities.
Fractional
Shares. No fractional common shares will be issued in
connection with the exercise of a warrant. In lieu of fractional shares, we will
pay the holder an amount in cash equal to the fractional amount multiplied by
the exercise price of the warrant.
Transferability. Subject to
applicable laws, the warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or
assigned without our consent.
Exchange Listing. We do not
plan on making an application to list the warrants on the NASDAQ Capital Market,
any other national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading
system.
Fundamental Transactions. We
will not enter into or be party to a fundamental transaction, which is a merger
or other change of control transaction, as described in the warrants, unless the
successor entity, as described in the warrants, assumes the warrants and
delivers new warrants that are substantially similar. If we enter into, or are a
party to, a fundamental transaction pursuant to which our shareholders are
entitled or required to receive securities issued by another company or cash or
other assets in exchange for common shares, which we refer to as a fundamental
transaction, a holder of a warrant will have the right to receive, upon an
exercise of the warrant, consideration as if the holder had exercised its
warrant immediately prior to such fundamental transaction. In the event of a
fundamental transaction, at the request of a holder of a warrant delivered
before the 15th day after such fundamental transaction, we (or the successor
entity) will purchase the warrant by paying to the holder, cash in an amount
equal to the Black-Scholes value, as described in the warrant, of the remaining
unexercised portion of the warrant on the date of consummation of such
fundamental transaction.
Restrictions on Market-Based
Convertible Securities and Rights. In the subscription
agreement related to the purchase of the warrants, we agreed that, for so long
as any warrants remain outstanding, we will not issue or sell any rights,
warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase common shares, or directly or
indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for common shares at a price which
resets as a function of market price of the common shares, unless the
conversion, exchange or exercise price of any such security cannot be less than
the then exercise price of the warrants (other than as a result in the ordinary
course of business of the issuance of common stocks under our stock plans or
employee stock purchase plans).
Rights as a Stockholder.
Except as otherwise provided in the warrants or by virtue of such holder’s
ownership of common shares, the holder of a warrant does not have the rights or
privileges of a holder of our common shares, including any voting rights, until
the holder exercises the warrant.
Waivers and Amendments.
Subject to the 61-day prior notice requirement with respect to certain
ownership limitations, any term of the warrants may be amended or waived with
our written consent and the written consent of the holders of
warrants.
Common
Shares
Our
authorized capital stock consists of an unlimited number of shares of common
stock, no par value. The rights of our stockholders are governed by
our charter documents and that certain Amended and Restated Shareholder Rights
Plan Agreement, dated October 15, 1999, by and between the Company and Equity
Transfer Services Inc. (the “Rights Agent”), as further amended by that certain
Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement dated
October 6, 2008 (collectively, the “Rights Agreement”). As of
September 30, 2009, there were 105,519,855 common shares issued and
outstanding.
Holders
of common shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted
on by our shareholders. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the
election of directors. The holders of common shares are entitled to receive
dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our Board of
Directors in its discretion from funds legally available therefor. Upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company, the holders of common
shares are entitled to receive ratably any assets available for distribution to
shareholders. The common shares have no preemptive or other subscription rights,
and there are no conversion rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions with
respect to such shares. All of the outstanding common shares are fully paid and
nonassessable. Each common share includes an associated right arising
under, and subject to the terms described in, the Rights
Agreement. The terms of such rights are summarized in “Change of
Control Provisions Applicable to Our Common Shares” below.
As of
September 30, 2009, we had issued and outstanding options to acquire 4,962,209
common shares issued pursuant to our stock incentive plans, had 4,085,317 shares
reserved for future grants under our stock incentive plans and 7,028,440 common
shares were issuable and reserved for issuance pursuant to other securities
exercisable for, or convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of capital
stock of the Company (including the warrants to purchase 6,596,958 common shares
to which this prospectus relates). In addition, pursuant to a Warrant Issuance
Agreement dated July 20, 2007, we agreed to issue to an affiliate of The AES
Corporation additional warrants (each, a “Milestone Warrant”) to purchase
Company common shares based on a formula derived from revenue received from
sales of energy storage systems to AES and its affiliates during the term of a
Joint Development Agreement. The number of Milestone Warrants the
Company may be required to issue is subject to an aggregate cap of 1.8 million
Milestone Warrants. The Milestone Warrants are to be issued annually by March 31
with respect to the prior year, have a four-year term and have an exercise price
equal to the greater of (i) $3.64 and (ii) the closing price on January 31 of
the year of issuance less $5.00.
Change
of Control Provisions Applicable to Our Common Shares
Neither
our articles of continuance nor our bylaws contain any provision that would
delay, defer or prevent a change in control of the company. We have,
however, adopted the Rights Agreement.
Pursuant
to the Rights Agreement, on November 27, 1998, which is the record date, our
Board of Directors authorized and declared a distribution of one right with
respect to each common share issued and outstanding as of the record date and
each common share issued thereafter prior to the expiration time (as defined
below). The rights are subject to the terms and conditions of the
Rights Agreement. A copy of the Amended and Restated Shareholder
Rights Plan Agreement is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form
8-K filed with the SEC on November 18, 1999 and a copy of the Amendment No. 1 to
such agreement is attached as Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on October 6, 2008. A copy of the Rights Agreement
is also available upon written request to us. Because it is a
summary, the following description of the rights and the Rights Agreement
necessarily omits certain terms, exceptions, or qualifications to the
affirmative statements made therein. The reader is advised to review
the entire Rights Agreement prior to making any investment
decision.
Certain Key Terms of the Rights Prior
to Flip-In Date.
Prior to
the date a transaction or event occurs by which a person, called an acquiring
person, becomes the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding common shares and
other shares entitled to vote for the election of directors, which event is a
Flip-in Event, each right entitles the holder thereof to purchase one-half
common share for the price of $20 (which exercise price and number are subject
to adjustment as set forth in the Rights Agreement). Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no Right shall be exercisable prior to the commencement
date. The commencement date is the close of business on the eighth
business day after the earlier of (a) the date of a public announcement or
disclosure by the company or an acquiring person of facts indicating that a
person has become an acquiring person, or (b) the date of commencement of, or
first public announcement of, the intent of any person to commence a bid for a
number of voting shares that would give the bidder beneficial ownership of 15%
of more of the issued and outstanding voting shares, referred to as a Take-over
Bid.
Certain Key Terms of the Rights
Following Flip-In Date.
Section
3.1 of the Rights Agreement includes a provision, referred to as a conversion
provision, which provides that, subject to certain exceptions, upon the
occurrence of a Flip-in Event, each right shall be adjusted so as to constitute
a right to purchase from us for $20, as adjusted, a number of common shares
having an aggregate market price of four times $20 (as adjusted). The
market price is determined by averaging the closing price of the common shares
on the primary exchange for the common shares for the 20 trading days preceding
the date of determination. In addition, upon the occurrence of any
Flip-in Event (if not subsequently deemed not to have occurred under the Rights
Agreement), any rights owned by the acquiring person, its affiliates, or certain
assignees become null and void. Any rights certificate subsequently
issued upon transfer, exchange, replacement, adjustment, or otherwise with
respect to common shares owned by any of the foregoing persons shall bear a
legend indicating the extent to which such rights are void. Rights
held by us or our subsidiaries are also void.
Exceptions, Redemption and
Waiver.
The
definitions of Flip-in Event and certain related terms are subject to
exceptions, certain of which are summarized below. Nevertheless, to
understand each such exception and how they may interrelate, the reader is
advised to review the Rights Agreement. Despite a person's
acquisition of 15% or more of our voting shares, a Flip-in Event shall be deemed
not to have occurred or shall have no effect if:
(1)
the acquiring person is the company or an entity controlled by the
company;
(2)
the acquiring person is an underwriter who becomes the beneficial owner of 15%
or more voting shares in connection with a distribution of securities pursuant
to an underwriting agreement with us;
(3)
the transaction by which the person becomes an acquiring person is a voting
share reduction, which is an acquisition or redemption of voting shares by us
which, by reducing the number of outstanding common shares, has the incidental
effect of increasing the acquiring person's ownership percentage;
(4)
the transaction by which the person becomes an acquiring person is an
acquisition with respect to which our Board of Directors has waived the
conversion provision because:
(a) our
Board of Directors has determined prior to the commencement date that a person
became an acquiring person by inadvertence and, within 10 days of such
determination, such person has reduced its beneficial ownership of common shares
so as not to be an acquiring person;
(b) our
Board of Directors acting in good faith has determined, prior to the occurrence
of a Flip-in Event, to waive application of the conversion provision, referred
to as a discretionary waiver;
(c) our
Board of Directors determines within a specified time period to waive
application of the conversion provision to a Flip-in Event, provided that the
acquiring person has reduced, or agreed to reduce, its beneficial ownership of
voting shares to less than 15% of the outstanding issue of voting shares,
referred to as a waiver following withdrawal.
(5)
the acquisition by which the person becomes an acquiring person is an
acquisition pursuant to (a) a dividend reinvestment plan or share purchase plan
made available to all holders of voting shares; (b) a stock dividend, stock
split or similar event pursuant to which the acquiring person receives common
shares on pro rata basis with all members of the same class or series; (c) the
acquisition or exercise of rights to purchase voting shares distributed to all
holders of voting shares; (d) a distribution of voting shares or securities
convertible into voting shares offered pursuant to a prospectus or by way of a
private placement, provided the acquiring person does not thereby acquire a
greater percentage of the voting shares or convertible securities offered than
the person's percentage of voting shares beneficially owned immediately prior to
such acquisition.
(6)
such person is Al Yousuf, LLC, a United Arab Emirates limited liability company
(“Al Yousuf”); provided, however, such exception is not applicable to Al Yousuf
in the event that Al Yousuf shall, after its execution of that certain Stock
Purchase and Settlement Agreement (the “Purchase and Settlement Agreement”),
dated October 6, 2008, by and between the Company and Al Yousuf (a) increase its
beneficial ownership percentage of voting shares by more than 1% above its
beneficial ownership percentage of voting shares as a result of its execution of
the Purchase and Settlement Agreement, other than through the issuance of shares
pursuant to the Purchase and Settlement Agreement, a voting share reduction, an
exempt acquisition or a pro rata acquisition, or (b) commence a Take-over Bid
that would, if consummated, increase its beneficial ownership percentage of
voting shares by more than 1% above its beneficial ownership percentage of
voting shares as a result of its execution of the Purchase and Settlement
Agreement
In
addition, (i) when a Take-over Bid is withdrawn or otherwise terminated after
the commencement date has occurred, but prior to the occurrence of a Flip-in
Date, or (ii) if the Board of the Directors grants a waiver following
withdrawal, our Board of Directors may elect to redeem all outstanding rights at
the price of Cdn. $.0000001 per right (as adjusted). Upon the rights
being redeemed pursuant to the foregoing provision, all provisions of the Rights
Agreement shall continue to apply as if the commencement date had not occurred,
and we shall be deemed to have issued replacement rights to the holders of its
then outstanding common shares.
In
addition, our Board of Directors may, at any time prior to the first date of
public announcement or disclosure by us or an acquiring person of facts
indicating that a person has become an acquiring person, or announcement date,
elect to redeem all, but not less than all, of the then outstanding rights at
the $.0000001 per share (as adjusted). Moreover, in the event a
person acquires voting shares pursuant to a discretionary waiver, our Board of
Directors shall be deemed to have elected to redeem the rights at $.0000002 per
share (as adjusted). Within 10 days after our Board of Directors
elects, or is deemed to have elected, to redeem the rights, our Board of
Directors shall give notice of redemption to the holders of the then outstanding
rights and, in such notice, described the method of payment by which the
redemption price will be paid. The rights of any person under the
Rights Agreement or any right, except rights to receive cash or other property
that have already accrued, shall terminate at the expiration time, which is the
date of a discretionary redemption or a deemed redemption described in this
paragraph.
Exercise of the Rights.
The
rights shall not be exercisable prior to the commencement date. Until
the commencement date, each right shall be evidenced by the certificate for the
associated common share and will be transferable only together with, and will be
transferred by the transfer of, its associated common share. New
common share certificates issued after the effective date of the Rights
Agreement will contain a legend incorporating the Rights Agreement by
reference. Certificates issued and outstanding at the effective date
of the Rights Agreement shall evidence one right for each common share evidenced
thereby, notwithstanding the absence of a legend incorporating the Rights
Agreement, until the earlier of the commencement date or the expiration
time. Each common share issued for new value after the effective date
of the Rights Agreement, but prior to the expiration time, shall automatically
have one new right associated with it and shall bear the appropriate
legend.
From and
after the commencement date, the rights may be exercised, and the registration
and transfer of the rights shall be separate from and independent of the common
shares. Following the commencement date, we shall mail to each holder
of common shares as of the commencement date, or such holder's nominee, a rights
certificate representing the number of rights held by such holder at the
commencement date and a disclosure statement describing the rights.
Rights
may be exercised in whole or in part on any business day after the commencement
date and prior to the expiration time by submitting to the rights certificate,
an election to exercise, and payment of the sum equal to $.0000001 per share (as
adjusted) multiplied by the number of rights being exercised. Upon
receipt of such materials, the Rights Agent will promptly deliver certificates
representing the appropriate number of common shares to the registered holder of
the relevant rights certificate and, if not all rights were exercised, issue a
new rights certificate evidencing the remaining unexercised rights.
The
foregoing descriptions do not purport to be complete and are qualified by
reference to the definitive Rights Agreement.
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION PROSPECTUS
We are
offering up to 6,596,958 common shares and associated rights issuable upon the
exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase common shares. We
are not offering any new warrants or any other shares pursuant to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a
part.
Exercise of
Warrants. The warrants were issued on May 28, 2009 and are
exercisable at any time up through May 28, 2016. The warrants are
exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part by delivering to
us a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full for the number
of common shares purchased upon such exercise (except in the case of a cashless
exercise as discussed below). Unless otherwise specified in the warrant, except
upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from the holder to us, the holder will
not have the right to exercise any portion of the warrant if the holder
(together with its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or
9.99%, as applicable, of the number of common shares outstanding immediately
after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined
in accordance with the terms of the warrants.
In the
event that a registration statement covering common shares underlying the
warrants, or an exemption from registration, is not available for the issuance
or resale of such common shares underlying the warrants, the holder may, in its
sole discretion, exercise the warrant in whole or in part and, in lieu of making
the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to us upon such exercise in
payment of the aggregate exercise price, elect instead to receive upon such
exercise the net number of common shares determined according to the formula set
forth in the warrant.
Prior Offer and Sale of the
Warrants. The warrants were offered and sold pursuant to a
prospectus supplement dated May 22, 2009 filed with the SEC via EDGAR on May 26,
2009, which is part of Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-137099
and part of Registration Statement on Form S-3MEF File No. 333-159436 filed
pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
In
connection with the offering identified in the prospectus supplement dated May
22, 2009, we agreed to indemnify the placement agent and its affiliates against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and liabilities arising from breaches of representations and warranties
contained in the placement agent agreement. We have also agreed to contribute to
payments the placement agent and its affiliates may be required to make in
respect of such liabilities. The placement agent agreement is included as an
exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K field with the SEC on May 22,
2009.
Transfer
Agent. The transfer agent for our common shares is Equity
Transfer Services, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada. Our common shares are
listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "ALTI."
INCORPORATION
OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
As
permitted by SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information
that prospective investors can find in the registration statement of which it is
a part or the exhibits to the registration statement. The SEC permits us to
incorporate by reference, into this prospectus, information filed separately
with the SEC.
This
prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that we
previously have filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (File no. 001-12497). These documents contain important information about
us and our financial condition.
|
·
|
Our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed
with the SEC on March 16, 2009;
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|
·
|
Our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, filed
with the SEC on May 8, 2009, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 2009, filed with the SEC on August 7, 2009 and our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009
filed with the SEC on November 9,
2009;
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|
·
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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;
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|
·
|
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.
|
All
documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act after the date of this registration statement, and prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered
hereby have been sold or which de-registers all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration
statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any
statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement
to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently
filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded
shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part
of this prospectus.
Upon
written or oral request, we will provide without charge to each person to whom a
copy of this prospectus is delivered, including any beneficial owner, a copy of
the information that has been or may be incorporated by reference in this
prospectus. Direct any request for copies to John Fallini, Chief Financial
Officer, at our corporate headquarters, located at 204 Edison Way, Reno, NV
89502, telephone number (775) 858-3750.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file
annual, quarterly and current reports, information statements and other
information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or other
information that we file at the SEC’s public reference rooms at 100 F Street,
N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of this information by
mail from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, DC 20549 at prescribed rates. Please call the SEC at 1
(800) SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. The
SEC also maintains a web site at http://www.sec.gov, at which reports, proxy and
information statements and other information regarding our company are
available.
The
validity of the securities offered by us are being passed upon for us by Cassels
Brock & Blackwell, LLP, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and additional legal
matters are being passed upon for us by Parr Brown Gee & Loveless, PC, of
Salt Lake City, Utah.
EXPERTS
The
consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting appearing in this prospectus and registration statement by
reference have been audited by Perry-Smith LLP, independent registered public
accounting firm, as stated in their reports appearing elsewhere herein, and are
included in reliance upon such reports and upon the authority of such firm as
experts in accounting and auditing.
DISCLOSURE
OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT
LIABILITIES
Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant, we have
been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is therefore
unenforceable.
6,596,958 Shares
Issuable
upon Exercise of Outstanding Warrants
Common
Shares
PROSPECTUS
November
10, 2009
PART
II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14.
Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The
registrant will bear all expenses of this offering. The estimated expenses in
connection with the offering are as follows:
|
|
Amount
|
|
SEC
registration fee
|
|
$ |
369 |
|
Accounting
fees and expenses*
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
Legal
fees and expenses*
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
Printing
expenses*
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
Transfer
agent fees and expenses*
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
Miscellaneous
expenses*
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
31,369 |
|
*Estimated
Item 15.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Our
Bylaws
The
Registrant’s Bylaws provide that, to the maximum extent permitted by law, the
Registrant shall indemnify a director or officer of the Registrant, a former
director or officer of the Registrant, or another individual who acts or acted
at the Registrant’s request as a director or officer, or an individual acting in
a similar capacity, of another entity, against all costs, charges and expenses,
including any amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, reasonably
incurred by the individual in respect of any civil, criminal, administrative,
investigative or other proceeding in which the individual is involved because of
that association with the Registrant or other entity. In addition,
the Registrants Bylaws require the Registrant to advance monies to an
indemnifiable officer, director or similar person in connection with threatened
or pending litigation.
The
Canada Business Corporations Act
Section
124 of the Canada Business Corporations Act provides as follows with respect to
the indemnification of directors and officers:
(1) A
corporation may indemnify a director or officer of the corporation, a former
director or officer of the corporation or another individual who acts or acted
at the corporation's request as a director or officer, or an individual acting
in a similar capacity, of another entity, against all costs, charges and
expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment,
reasonably incurred by the individual in respect of any civil, criminal,
administrative, investigative or other proceeding in which the individual is
involved because of that association with the corporation or other
entity.
(2) A
corporation may advance moneys to a director, officer or other individual for
the costs, charges and expenses of a proceeding referred to in subsection
(1). The individual shall repay the moneys if the individual does not
fulfill the conditions of subsection (3).
(3) A
corporation may not indemnify an individual under subsection (1) unless the
individual
(a) acted
honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the corporation,
or, as the case may be, to the best interests of the other entity for which the
individual acted as director or officer or in a similar capacity at the
corporation's request; and
(b) in
the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced
by a monetary penalty, the individual had reasonable grounds for believing that
the individual’s conduct was lawful.
(4) A
corporation may with the approval of a court, indemnify an individual referred
to in subsection (1), or advance moneys under subsection (2), in respect of an
action by or on behalf of the corporation or other entity to procure a judgment
in its favor, to which the individual is made a party because of the
individual's association with the corporation or other entity as described in
subsection (1) against all costs, charges and expenses reasonably incurred by
the individual in connection with such action, if the individual fulfills the
conditions set out in subsection (3).
(5) Despite
subsection (1), an individual referred to in that subsection is entitled to
indemnity from the corporation in respect of all costs, charges and expenses
reasonably incurred by the individual in connection with the defense of any
civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other proceeding to which the
individual is subject because of the individual's association with the
corporation or other entity as described in subsection (1), if the individual
seeking indemnity
(a) was
not judged by the court or other competent authority to have committed any fault
or omitted to do anything that the individual ought to have done;
and
(b) fulfills the conditions
set out in subsection (3).
(6) A
corporation may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of an individual
referred to in subsection (1) against any liability incurred by the
individual
(a) in the individual's
capacity as a director or officer of the corporation; or
(b) in
the individual's capacity as a director or officer, or similar capacity, of
another entity, if the individual acts or acted in that capacity at the
corporation's request.
(7) A
corporation, an individual or an entity referred to in subsection (1) may apply
to a court for an order approving an indemnity under this section and the court
may so order and make any further order that it sees fit.
(8) An
applicant under subsection (7) shall give the Director notice of the application
and the Director is entitled to appear and be heard in person or by
counsel.
(9) On
an application under subsection (7) the court may order notice to be given to
any interested person and the person is entitled to appear and be heard in
person or by counsel.
Other
Indemnification Information
Indemnification
may be granted pursuant to any other agreement, bylaw, or vote of shareholders
or directors. In addition to the foregoing, the Registrant maintains
insurance through a commercial carrier against certain liabilities which may be
incurred by its directors and officers. The foregoing description is
necessarily general and does not describe all details regarding the
indemnification of officers, directors or controlling persons of the
Registrant.
Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Registrant has been
informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the 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 Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
The rights of indemnification described
above are not exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which the
persons indemnified may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of
stockholders or directors or otherwise.
Item 16.
List of Exhibits.
3.1
|
|
Articles
of Continuance (1)
|
3.2
|
|
Bylaw
No. 1 (1)
|
4.1
|
|
Form
of Common Share Purchase Warrant(2)
|
4.2
|
|
Specimen
Stock Certificate of the registrant(3)
|
4.3
|
|
Amended
and Restated Shareholder Rights Plan dated October 15, 1999, between the
Company and Equity Transfer Services, Inc. (4)
|
4.4
|
|
Amendment
No. 1 to Amended and Restated Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement dated
October 6, 2008(5)
|
5.1
|
|
Opinion
of Cassels Brock & Blackwell, LLP
|
23.1
|
|
Consent
of Cassels Brock & Blackwell, LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1
Opinion)
|
23.2
|
|
Consent
of Perry-Smith, LLP
|
24.1
|
|
Power
of attorney (6)
|
(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 Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
SEC on May 22, 2009, File No. 001-12497
|
(3)
|
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.
|
(4)
|
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.
|
(5)
|
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.
|
(6)
|
Included
on the signature page of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3
filed with the SEC on October 2, 2009, File No.
333-162310
|
Item 17.
Undertakings.
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 in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Rule 424(b)
if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20%
change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of
Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
and
provided, however, that
paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by a Registrant
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the “Securities Exchange Act”), that are incorporated by
reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus
filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration
statement.
(2) That,
for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such
post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
offering thereof.
(3) To
remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
(4) That,
for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any
purchaser:
(a) each
prospectus filed by a Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to
be part of this registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was
deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(b) each
prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as
part of this registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an
offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose
of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act
shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of
the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after
effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the
offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability
purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such
date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration relating to
the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide
offering thereof. Provided, however
, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part
of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed
incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is
part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of
contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement
that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the
registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such
effective date.
(5) That,
for the purpose of determining liability of a Registrant under the Securities
Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, in a
primary offering of securities of an 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:
(a) any
preliminary prospectus or prospectus of an undersigned Registrant relating to
the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(b) any
free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of a
Registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned Registrant;
(d) any
other communication that is an offer in the offering made by an undersigned
Registrant to the purchaser.
(6) The
undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company’s annual report
pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(7)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may
be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of a Registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by a Registrant for expenses the
incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person 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 Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
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 Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3 to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Reno, State of Nevada on November 10, 2009.
|
|
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ALTAIR
NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
/s/
Terry M. Copeland
|
|
Terry
M. Copeland,
|
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
ADDITIONAL
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
/s/ Terry M.
Copeland
Terry
M. Copeland
|
|
President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive
Officer)
|
|
November
10, 2009
|
/s/ John
Fallini
John
Fallini
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting
Officer)
|
|
|
/s/ Jon N.
Bengston*
Jon
N. Bengston
|
|
Director
|
|
|
/s/ Eqbal Al
Yousuf*
Eqbal
Al Yousuf
|
|
Director
|
|
|
/s/ Hossein
Asrar Haghighi*
Hossein
Asrar Haghighi
|
|
Director
|
|
|
/s/ George
Hartman*
George
Hartman
|
|
Director
|
|
|
/s/ Robert F. Hemphill
Jr.*
Robert
F. Hemphill Jr.
|
|
Director
|
|
|
/s/ Robert G. van
Schoonenberg*
Robert
G. van Schoonenberg
|
|
Director
|
|
|
/s/ Pierre
Lortie*
Pierre
Lortie
|
|
Director
|
|
|
* By: /s/
Terry M. Copeland
Terry M. Copeland,
Attorney-in-Fact
EXHIBIT
INDEX
3.1
|
|
Articles
of Continuance (1)
|
3.2
|
|
Bylaw
No. 1 (1)
|
4.1
|
|
Form
of Common Share Purchase Warrant(2)
|
4.2
|
|
Specimen
Stock Certificate of the registrant(3)
|
4.3
|
|
Amended
and Restated Shareholder Rights Plan dated October 15, 1999, between the
Company and Equity Transfer Services, Inc. (4)
|
4.4
|
|
Amendment
No. 1 to Amended and Restated Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement dated
October 6, 2008(5)
|
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 (6)
|
(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 Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
SEC on May 22, 2009, File No. 001-12497
|
(3)
|
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.
|
(4)
|
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.
|
(5)
|
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.
|
(6)
|
Included
on the signature page of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3
filed with the SEC on October 2, 2009, File No.
333-162310
|