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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2009
Registration No. 333-127534
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Post-Effective Amendment No. 2
to Form S-1 on
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| Delaware | 87-0361799 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
15378 Avenue of Science, Suite 100
San Diego, California 92128
(858) 679-2114
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
registrant’s principal executive offices)
| THOMAS R. BROWN President and Chief Executive Officer, AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 15378 Avenue of Science, Suite 100 San Diego, California 92128 (858) 676-1112 |
Copies to: JOSHUA E. LITTLE, ESQ. Durham Jones & Pinegar, P.C. 192 E. 200 N., Third Floor St. George, Utah 84770 (435) 674-0400 | |
| (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable 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 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.
| Large accelerated filer ¨ | Accelerated filer x | |
| Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company x |
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
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EXPLANATORY NOTE
We initially registered on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-127534) the resale of up to 4,603,270 shares of our common stock by the selling stockholders identified in the prospectus related thereto. Due to the late filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules we no longer qualified for the use of a registration statement on Form S-3. To assure that the shares of our common stock held by the selling stockholders could be sold pursuant to an effective registration statement, we filed a Post-Effective Amendment to Form S-3 on Form S-1 to the registration statement described above on February 15, 2008. We have timely filed all reports required to be filed during the 12 calendar months preceding the filing of this registration statement. Consequently, the Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-1 on Form S-3, of which this prospectus is a part, is being filed to convert the registration statement of American Technology Corporation described above on Form S-1 into a registration statement on Form S-3. This prospectus registers the sale of our common stock issued to the selling stockholders named herein.
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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
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SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 13, 2009
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
2,217,010 Shares
Common Stock
This prospectus may be used only for the sale or other disposition of up to 2,217,010 shares of common stock or interests therein by the selling stockholders identified in this prospectus.
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares of our common stock by the selling stockholders. We will, however, receive the proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock to certain selling stockholders to the extent they exercise for cash their warrants identified in this prospectus. We will pay the expenses incurred in registering the shares, including legal and accounting fees.
The price or prices at which the selling stockholders may sell the shares will be determined by the prevailing market price for the shares or in negotiated transactions. The selling stockholders may sell shares directly to purchasers or through brokers or dealers. Brokers or dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders. See the “Plan of Distribution” on page 6.
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ATCO.” On March 9, 2009, the last reported sales price for the common stock was $0.65 per share.
INVESTING IN THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED IN THIS PROSPECTUS INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. SEE “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 2 OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this Prospectus is March [ ], 2009.
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You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. The selling stockholders are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this registration statement or any related prospectus, including any information incorporated herein by reference, is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the applicable document, or such earlier date as is expressly stated or otherwise apparent with respect to such incorporated information in the applicable document, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of our common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since any such date.
The terms “we,” “us,” “our” and the “company,” as used in this prospectus, refer to American Technology Corporation, unless otherwise indicated.
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. We use words like “anticipates,” “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “future,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “estimates” and similar expressions to identify these forward-looking statements.
You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. However, our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of numerous risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control, including those we discuss in “Risk Factors, ” the information incorporated therein by reference and elsewhere in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The information in this prospectus speaks only as of the date of this prospectus and the information incorporated herein by reference speaks only as of its date. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should not rely on these statements without also considering the risks and uncertainties associated with these statements and our business.
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This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference. This summary does not contain all the information that you should consider before investing in our common stock. You should read this entire prospectus, including all documents incorporated by reference, carefully, especially “Risk Factors” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference herein. Please see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 7 of this prospectus.
Our Business
American Technology Corporation develops and delivers innovative directed acoustic products that beam, focus and control sound over short and long distances. By placing sound only where needed, we not only enhance many typical speaker applications, but we offer novel sound applications that conventional speakers cannot achieve. We offer a variety of directional sound products for applications ranging from focusing digital signage advertising on a customer at ten feet to protecting assets by communicating with and deterring threats over distances greater than 500 meters. Since 1996, we have been at the forefront developing new acoustic innovations to project, focus, shape and control sound and we believe we have established a significant competitive advantage in our principal markets. Our Long Range Acoustic Device or LRAD® is pioneering a new worldwide market for directional long-range acoustic hailing and warning devices capable of communicating with authority and clarity over 500 meters. We also believe we are the leader in commercializing parametric speakers, branded as HyperSonic® sound or HSS®.
We have 41 patents issued worldwide covering our various sound technologies, of which 38 are patents issued in the United States. We also have 46 pending patent applications worldwide, of which 25 are pending patent applications in the United States.
Our shares of common stock trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “ATCO.” We had 30,535,207 shares issued and outstanding by 1,045 holders of record of our common stock as of March 9, 2009.
Our address is 15378 Avenue of Science, Suite 100, San Diego, California, 92128, our telephone number is (858) 676-1112, and our internet website is located at www.atcsd.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this report nor is it part of this report. See the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 7 of this prospectus.
The Offering
This prospectus covers securities which we issued in two separate transactions.
July 2005 Financing. We entered into a securities purchase agreement, dated as of July 14, 2005, with some of the selling stockholders. We refer to these selling stockholders as the July 2005 Financing stockholders. The July 2005 Financing stockholders paid us an aggregate of $14 million in gross proceeds in consideration for 2,868,851 shares of our common stock at a price of $4.88 per share. In connection with this financing, we issued two warrants to each July 2005 Financing stockholder. The “A” Warrants are exercisable for an aggregate of 717,213 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $6.36 per share (adjusted to $5.44 per share as described below). These warrants are exercisable from January 18, 2006 until July 18, 2009. The “B” Warrants were exercisable for an aggregate of 864,706 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $7.23 per share. These warrants were exercisable from September 28, 2005 until March 28, 2006, but none of such warrants were exercised.
The exercise price of the outstanding “A” warrants, and the number of shares of our common stock for which these warrants may be exercised, is subject to adjustment if we sell shares of our common stock for, or issue options, warrants or convertible securities which may be exercised or converted into shares of our common stock at an exercise or conversion price, less than their respective effective exercise prices. As a result of a financing we completed in August 2006 (the August 2006 Financing), the holders of the “A” warrants had the right to elect to reduce the exercise price of such warrants from $6.36 to $5.44 per share, and to increase the number of shares purchasable under such warrants in inverse proportion to the exercise price change. Each holder elected to receive the benefit of this adjustment. The additional 121,276 shares purchasable under such warrants by such holders were registered under a registration statement that was initially declared effective by the SEC on or about September 25, 2006.
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We also agreed to file a registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, prior to August 17, 2005 to register for resale the shares purchased under the securities purchase agreement as well as the shares that may be purchased under the warrants. We also agreed to have this registration statement declared effective as soon as possible and in any event within ninety days after July 18, 2005. Once the registration statement is declared effective, we have agreed to use our best efforts to keep it effective for five years after the date the registration statement is declared effective, or the earlier date when all of the shares covered by this prospectus have been sold or may be sold without volume restrictions in accordance with Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act of 1933. If we do not comply with our registration obligations, we have agreed to pay to each selling stockholder liquidated damages of up to 1% of its investment amount per month that we are out of compliance with our registration obligations. We have also agreed to pay liquidated damages in that amount during any time that the exercisability of the warrants is suspended.
December 2004 Financing. We entered into a promissory note and warrant purchase agreement, dated as of December 23, 2004, with some of the selling stockholders. We refer to these selling stockholders as the December 2004 Financing stockholders. The December 2004 Financing stockholders paid us an aggregate of $2 million in gross proceeds in consideration for 8% unsecured subordinated promissory notes due December 31, 2006. In connection with this financing, we issued warrants to each December 2004 Financing stockholder exercisable for an aggregate of 75,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $9.28 per share (for purchases by our directors, officers, employees or consultants, or affiliates of such persons), and for an aggregate of 75,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $8.60 per share (for other purchasers). These warrants are exercisable until December 31, 2009. We granted the December 2004 Financing stockholders the right to be included on any registration statement we file, subject to customary exceptions and cut-back rights.
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of securities by the selling stockholders. See “Use of Proceeds” on page 3 of this prospectus.
Before deciding to purchase, hold or sell our common stock, you should carefully consider the risks, cautionary statements and other information contained in this prospectus and in our other filings with the SEC that we incorporate by reference, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008. The risks and uncertainties described in these documents are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business. If any of these known or unknown risks or uncertainties actually occurs with material adverse effects on our company, our business, financial condition, results of operation and/or liquidity could be seriously harmed. In that event, the market price for our common stock will likely decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
We have elected to “incorporate by reference” certain information into this prospectus. By incorporating by reference, we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document we have filed with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except for information incorporated by reference that is superseded by information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC:
| • | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 filed with the SEC on December 4, 2008; |
| • | Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2008 filed with the SEC on February 5, 2009; |
| • | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 10, 2008 and January 9, 2009; and |
| • | The description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 10-SB, effective August 1, 1994, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
You should read the information relating to us in this prospectus together with the information in the documents incorporated by reference.
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You may obtain a copy of any of the above-referenced documents, at no cost, from our website at www.atcsd.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus. We will also furnish without charge to you, on written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference, including exhibits to these documents. You should direct your requests for documents to:
Director, Investor Relations
American Technology Corporation
15378 Avenue of Science, Suite 100
San Diego, California 92128
(858) 676-1112
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale or other disposition of the shares of common stock or interests therein offered by this prospectus. We will issue an aggregate of 822,213 shares of common stock potentially offered by this prospectus only upon the exercise of stock purchase warrants by certain of the selling stockholders. If the selling stockholders exercise the stock purchase warrants for cash, we could receive proceeds of up to $4,845,439. There can be no assurance that the selling stockholders will exercise any of these warrants, or, if exercised, that they will be exercised for cash, that any of the underlying shares of common stock will be sold under this prospectus, or that we will receive any proceeds from the exercise of the stock purchase warrants.
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We are registering for sale or other disposition shares of our common stock held by the selling stockholders. The term “selling stockholders” includes the stockholders listed below and their transferees, pledgees, donees or other successors.
The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock which is based on information provided by the selling stockholders as of January 15, 2008 (except as otherwise noted), This information is based upon information provided by the selling stockholders. The selling stockholders identified below may have sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of all or a portion of their shares of common stock in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act since the date as of which they provided this information.
Except as described below, none of the selling stockholders has held any position or office or had any other material relationship with us or any of our predecessors or affiliates within the past three years other than as a result of the ownership of our securities. We may amend or supplement this prospectus from time to time to update the disclosure set forth in it.
Each of the selling stockholders that is affiliated with a registered broker-dealer purchased the securities offered hereby in the ordinary course of business and, at the time of purchase of those securities, did not have any plans to dispose of the shares offered by this prospectus.
| Name of Selling Stockholder |
Common Stock Acquired in July 2005 Offering |
Common Stock Underlying Warrant Acquired in July 2005 Offering |
Common Stock Underlying December 2004 Warrants |
Common Stock Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering |
Common Stock to be Offered Pursuant to this Prospectus (1) |
Common Stock Beneficially Owned After the Offering (2) | ||||||
| Special Situations Fund III |
— | 14,450 | — | 77,797 | 14,450 | — | ||||||
| Special Situations Private Equity Fund, L.P.(3)(14) |
294,229 | 75,307 | — | 741,245 | 369,536 | — | ||||||
| Special Situations Fund III QP, L.P.(4)(14) |
632,641 | 164,853 | — | 2,140,002 | 797,494 | — | ||||||
| Special Situations Technology Fund, L.P.(3)(14) |
55,377 | 14,344 | — | 243,589 | 69,721 | — | ||||||
| Special Situations Technology Fund II, L.P.(3)(14) |
347,606 | 89,651 | — | 1,514,685 | 437,257 | — | ||||||
| SDS Capital Group SPC, Ltd.(5) |
— | 51,230 | — | 59,892 | 51,230 | — | ||||||
| Iroquois Master Fund Ltd. (6) |
64,944 | 153,689 | — | 816,886 | 218,633 | — | ||||||
| Pequot Scout Fund, L.P.(7) |
— | 101,256 | — | 118,378 | 101,256 | — | ||||||
| Pequot Mariner Master Fund, |
— | 52,433 | — | 61,299 | 52,433 | — | ||||||
| E. H. Hitchcock Charitable Foundation(8) |
— | — | 3,750 | 3,750 | 3,750 | — | ||||||
| George A. Long(9)(15) |
— | — | 7,500 | 42,500 | 7,500 | — | ||||||
| James & Josephine Zolin(9) |
— | — | 7,500 | 438,254 | 7,500 | — | ||||||
| Patience Partners LP(10)(15) |
— | — | 3,750 | 8,750 | 3,750 | — | ||||||
| Richard G. Daniels(9) |
— | — | 3,750 | 138,586 | 3,750 | — | ||||||
| Robert D. van Roijen Jr.(9) |
— | — | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | — | ||||||
| Urban LaRiccia(9) |
— | — | 3,750 | 3,750 | 3,750 | — | ||||||
| Norris Family 1997 Trust(11) |
— | — | 37,500 | 4,767,374 | 37,500 | — | ||||||
| Sunrise Capital, Inc.(12) |
— | — | 7,500 | 318,400 | 7,500 | — | ||||||
| Sunrise Management, Inc. |
— | — | 7,500 | 318,400 | 7,500 | — | ||||||
| Philip & Thea Putnam(13)(15) |
— | — | 7,500 | 41,000 | 7,500 | — | ||||||
| Total |
1,394,797 | 717,213 | 105,000 | 2,217,010 | ||||||||
| (1) | Includes the shares of common stock which are the subject of this prospectus as follows: 1,394,797 shares of common stock previously issued and reported as still held by the July 2005 Financing stockholders and 822,213 shares of common stock that may be acquired by the selling stockholders upon exercise of their respective warrants or options. Does not include 121,276 additional shares of common stock that may be acquired by the July 2005 Financing stockholders upon exercise of their respective warrants as a result of warrant adjustments following the August 2006 Financing, which shares have been registered under a separate registration statement. |
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| (2) | Assumes that all shares included in this prospectus and any other shares held before the commencement of the offering are sold and that the selling stockholders do not acquire any additional shares of our common stock. |
| (3) | Each of these selling stockholders is a July 2005 Financing stockholder. MGP Advisors Limited Partnership, or MGP, is the general partner of the Special Situations Fund III, L.P. and the Special Situations Fund III QP, L.P. AWM Investment Company, Inc., or AWM, is the general partner of MGP. SST Advisers, L.L.C., or SSTA, is the general partner of the Special Situations Technology Fund, L.P. and Special Situations Technology Fund II, L.P. MG Advisers, L.L.C., or MG, is the general partner of the Special Situations Private Equity Fund, L.P. AWM is the investment adviser to Special Situations Fund III QP, L.P., Special Situations Technology Fund, L.P., Special Situations Technology Fund II, L.P. and Special Situations Private Equity Fund, L.P. Austin W. Marxe and David M. Greenhouse are the principal owners of MGP, AWM, SSTA and MG, and are principally responsible for the selection, acquisition, voting and disposition of the portfolio securities by each investment adviser on behalf of its fund. Both Messrs. Marxe and Greenhouse share voting and dispositive power with respect to shares held by these selling stockholders. |
| (4) | Shares and warrants transferred from Special Situations Fund III, L.P., a July 2005 Financing stockholder. |
| (5) | A July 2005 Financing stockholder. SDS Management, LLC, or SDSM, is the investment manager of SDS Capital Group SPC, Ltd. Mr. Steve Derby is the Managing Member of SDSM. Mr. Steve Derby and SDSM each may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power with respect to shares held by SDS Capital Group SPC, Ltd. Mr. Derby disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by SDSM, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest. |
| (6) | A July 2005 Financing stockholder. Mr. Joshua Silverman has voting and dispositive power with respect to shares held by Iroquois Master Fund Ltd. Mr. Silverman disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by Iroquois Master Fund Ltd. |
| (7) | Pequot Capital Management, Inc., or PCM, is the Investment Manager/Advisor (as applicable) of and the beneficial owner of the listed securities and has sole investment, voting and dispositive power with respect to all the shares held by Pequot Scout Fund, L.P. and Pequot Mariner Master Fund, L.P. Mr. Arthur J. Samberg is the controlling shareholder of PCM and disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares except for his pecuniary interest. The information regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock held by Pequot Scout Fund, L.P. and Pequot Mariner Master Fund, L.P. is as of August 15, 2006. |
| (8) | A December 2004 Financing stockholder. Mr. Harrison H. Augur is the trustee of E. H. Hitchcock Charitable Foundation and has both voting and dispositive power with respect to shares held by E. H. Hitchcock Charitable Foundation. |
| (9) | A December 2004 Financing stockholder. |
| (10) | A December 2004 Financing stockholder. Messrs. Robert D. van Roijen Jr. and Harrison Augor are the general partners of Patience Partners LP and share voting and dispositive power with respect to shares held by Patience Partners LP. |
| (11) | The Norris Family 1997 Trust is a December 2004 Financing stockholder. The trust has two trustees, Mr. Elwood G. Norris and Ms. Stephanie A. Norris, who share voting and dispositive power with respect to shares held by the Norris Family 1997 Trust. Mr. Elwood G. Norris has been one of our directors since August 1990 and currently serves as the chairman of our board. Ms. Stephanie A. Norris is the wife of Mr. Elwood G. Norris. Information regarding beneficial ownership is provided as of January 27, 2009 and includes shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options and warrants within 60 days of January 27, 2009. |
| (12) | Each of these selling stockholders is a December 2004 Financing stockholder. Mr. James Barnes and Ms. Takako Barnes are the sole trustees of Sunrise Management, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan and are officers and directors of Sunrise Capital, Inc. Mr. James Barnes and Ms. Takako Barnes are also trustees of the Palermo Trust. Mr. James Barnes and Ms. Takako Barnes share voting and dispositive power with respect to shares held by these selling stockholders and the Palermo Trust. |
| (13) | A December 2004 Financing stockholder. Mr. Philip Putnam is a principal of Flagstone Securities, a broker-dealer admitted to membership in the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. |
| (14) | Information regarding beneficial ownership is provided as of December 31, 2008. Includes, as applicable, shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options and warrants within 60 days of December 31, 2008. |
| (15) | Information regarding beneficial ownership provided from the original filing and is as of July 18, 2005. |
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The selling stockholders may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. The selling stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares:
| • | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
| • | block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| • | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
| • | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
| • | privately negotiated transactions; |
| • | short sales; |
| • | through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; |
| • | broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share; and |
| • | a combination of any such methods of sale. |
The selling stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
The selling stockholders may also engage in short sales against the box, puts and calls and other transactions in our securities or derivatives of our securities and may sell or deliver shares in connection with these trades.
Broker-dealers engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated. The selling stockholders do not expect these commissions and discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved. Any profits on the resale of shares of common stock by a broker-dealer acting as principal might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. Discounts, concessions, commissions and similar selling expenses, if any, attributable to the sale of shares will be borne by the applicable selling stockholder. The selling stockholders may agree to indemnify any agent, dealer or broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving sales of the shares if liabilities are imposed on that person under the Securities Act.
In connection with the sale of our common stock or interests therein, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of our common stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
The selling stockholders may from time to time pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock from time to time under this prospectus after we have filed an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act of 1933 amending the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus.
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The selling stockholders also may transfer the shares of common stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus and may sell the shares of common stock from time to time under this prospectus after we have filed an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act of 1933 amending the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus.
The selling stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the shares of common stock may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares of common stock purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.
We are required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the registration of the shares of common stock. We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
The selling stockholders have advised us that they have not entered into any agreements, understandings or arrangements with any underwriters or broker-dealers regarding the sale of their shares of common stock, nor is there an underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with a proposed sale of shares of common stock by any selling stockholder. If we are notified by any selling stockholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of shares of common stock, if required, we will file a supplement to this prospectus. If the selling stockholders use this prospectus for any sale of the shares of common stock, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
The anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 may apply to sales of our common stock and activities of the selling stockholders.
The validity of our common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Durham, Jones & Pinegar, St. George, Utah.
Squar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda and Williamson, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the years ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 as set forth in their report dated December 4, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance on Squar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda and Williamson, LLP’s aforementioned report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus. Certain information in the registration statement has been omitted from this prospectus in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to the company and the common stock offered by this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and its exhibits. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or any other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and in each instance, we refer you to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Each of these statements is qualified in all respects by this reference.
We electronically file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy and information statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.
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INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
| Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution. |
The following table lists the costs and expenses payable by the registrant in connection with the sale of the common stock covered by this prospectus other than any sales commissions or discounts, which expenses will be paid by the selling stockholders. All amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee.
| Commission Registration Fee |
$ | 2,874.27 | |
| Printing and Related Fees |
3,000.00 | ||
| Legal Fees and Expenses |
25,000.00 | ||
| Accounting Fees and Expenses |
34,000.00 | ||
| Miscellaneous fees and expenses |
1,125.73 | ||
| Total |
$ | 66,000.00 | |
| Item 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that we will indemnify our officers, directors, employees and agents against attorneys’ fees and other expenses, fines, settlements and liabilities he or she incurs to defend, settle or satisfy any administrative, civil or criminal action brought against him or her arising out of his or her association with or activities on our behalf, so long as he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our interests and, in the case of a criminal proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. In addition, if the officer, director, employee or agent is successful on the merits or otherwise, we are obligated to indemnify him or her against his or her costs, charges and expenses, including attorneys’ fees. We may also advance the expenses of any litigation to any of these persons upon his or her promise to repay the advances if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification. These expenditures could be substantial and may not be recouped, even if we are so entitled. The foregoing provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation are similar to the provisions of Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, our Certificate of Incorporation excludes personal liability on the part of our directors to our company or our stockholders for monetary damages based upon any violation of their fiduciary duties as directors, except as to liability for any breach of the duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, acts in violation of Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or any transaction from which a director receives an improper personal benefit. This exclusion of liability does not limit any right which a director may have to be indemnified and does not affect any director’s liability under federal or applicable state securities laws. If any amendment to the Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes the further elimination of liability of our directors, then the liability of our directors will be limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as so amended.
We currently have directors’ and officers’ liability insurance to provide our directors and officers with insurance coverage for losses arising from claims based on breaches of duty, negligence, errors and other wrongful acts.
| Item 16. | Exhibits. |
| Exhibit Number |
Description of Document | |
| 5.1 | Opinion of Durham, Jones & Pinegar, P.C. | |
| 23.1 | Consent of Squar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda & Williamson, LLP. | |
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney. Included on signature page. |
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| Item 17. | Undertakings. |
| (a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
| (1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
| (i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); |
| (ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; |
| (iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; |
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
| (2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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 to any purchaser: |
| (i) | If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B (§230.430B of this chapter): |
(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 4115(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 statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement 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; or
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| (ii) | If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness; provided, however, that no statement made in the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use. |
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of San Diego, State of California, on March 13, 2009.
| AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION | ||
| By: | /s/ THOMAS R. BROWN | |
| Thomas R. Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below authorizes Thomas R. Brown, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments (including post-effective amendments or supplements) to this registration statement and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC.
| Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
| /s/ THOMAS R. BROWN | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | March 13, 2009 | ||
| Thomas R. Brown | ||||
| /s/ KATHERINE H. MCDERMOTT | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | March 13, 2009 | ||
| Katherine H. McDermott | ||||
| /s/ ELWOOD G. NORRIS | Chairman of the Board and Director | March 13, 2009 | ||
| Elwood G. Norris | ||||
| /s/ LAURA M. CLAGUE | Director | March 13, 2009 | ||
| Laura M. Clague | ||||
| /s/ DANIEL HUNTER | Director | March 13, 2009 | ||
| Daniel Hunter | ||||
| /s/ RAYMOND C. SMITH | Director | March 13, 2009 | ||
| Raymond C. Smith | ||||
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit Number |
Description of Document | |
| 5.1 | Opinion of Durham, Jones & Pinegar, P.C. | |
| 23.1 | Consent of Squar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda & Williamson, LLP. | |
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney. Included on signature page. |