sv3
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 2008
Registration Number 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Converted Organics Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
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20-4075963
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
7A Commercial Wharf West
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 624-0111
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code of registrants principal executive offices)
Edward J. Gildea
Chief Executive Officer
Converted Organics Inc.
7A Commercial Wharf West
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 624-0111
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code of agent for service)
Copies to:
Marc J. Ross, Esq.
Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP
61 Broadway, 32nd Floor
New York, New York 10006
Tel: (212) 930-9700
Fax: (212) 930-9725
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the
effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this form are to be offered pursuant to dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. o
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.
þ
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. o
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities
Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of
the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the
following box. o
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):
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Large accelerated filer o
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Accelerated filer o
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Non-accelerated filer o
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Smaller reporting
company þ |
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(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Each Class of |
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Amount to be |
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Proposed Maximum Offering |
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Proposed Maximum |
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Amount of Registration |
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Securities to be Registered |
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Registered |
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Price Per Share |
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Aggregate Offering Price |
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Fee |
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Common Stock, $.0001 par value |
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750,000 |
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9.94 |
(1) |
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$ |
7,455,000 |
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$ |
292.98 |
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Redeemable Class A warrants |
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375,000 |
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$ |
3.77 |
(2) |
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$ |
1,413,750 |
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$ |
55.56 |
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Non-redeemable Class B warrants |
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375,000 |
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$ |
3.90 |
(3) |
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$ |
1,462,500 |
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$ |
57.48 |
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Total |
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$ |
10,331,250 |
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$ |
406.02 |
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(1) |
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Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule
457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, using the average of the high and low prices as reported
on the Nasdaq Capital Market on February 8, 2008, which was $9.94 per share. |
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(2) |
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Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule
457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, using the average of the high and low prices as reported
on the Nasdaq Capital Market on February 8, 2008, which was $3.77 per warrant. |
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(3) |
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Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule
457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, using the average of the high and low prices as reported
on the Nasdaq Capital Market on February 8, 2008, which was $3.90 per warrant. |
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or date(s) 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, as amended, or until the registration
statement shall become effective on such date as the commission acting pursuant to said Section
8(a) may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The securities may not be
sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is
effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an
offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 13, 2008
PROSPECTUS
CONVERTED ORGANICS INC.
750,000 Shares of Common Stock
375,000 Class A Warrants
375,000 Class B Warrants
This prospectus relates to the offer and resale by certain of our stockholders and
warrantholders, referred to as Selling Securityholders, of up to 750,000 shares of our common
stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 750,000 redeemable Class A warrants, and 750,000
non-redeemdable Class B warrants that they own or that they may acquire pursuant to the exercise of
warrants; and to the initial issuance of shares of our common stock upon the exercise of the Class
A and Class B warrants acquired from the Selling Securityholders pursuant to this prospectus. We
will not receive any proceeds from the sale of these securities. We will bear all expenses in
connection with the registration of the securities.
Holders of the Class A warrants and Class B warrants may purchase one share of common stock
for each warrant exercised. The Class A warrants and the Class B warrants are exercisable at $8.25
per share and $11.00 per share, respectively, at any time on or before February 13, 2012.
Our common stock, Class A warrants, and Class B warrants are quoted on The Nasdaq Capital
Market under the symbols COIN, COINW and COINZ, respectively. The last sale price of the
common stock, Class A warrants and Class B warrants on February 8, 2008 was $9.82, $3.70, and
$3.91, respectively.
The securities offered in this prospectus involve a high degree of risk. See Risk Factors
beginning on page 6 of this prospectus to read about factors you should consider before buying our
securities.
The Selling Securityholders are offering these securities. The Selling Securityholders may
sell all or a portion of these securities from time to time in market transactions through any
market on which the securities are then traded, in negotiated transactions or otherwise, and at
prices and on terms that will be determined by the then prevailing market price or at negotiated
prices directly or through a broker or brokers, who may act as agent or as principal or by a
combination of such methods of sale. The Selling Securityholders will receive all proceeds from the
sale of the securities. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the
section entitled Plan of Distribution.
Neither the Securities and
Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has
approved or disapproved of these securities or determined whether this prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this Prospectus is , 2008
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
You may only rely on the information contained in this prospectus or that we have referred you to.
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. This prospectus does not
constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the
securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any circumstances in which such offer or
solicitation is unlawful. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made in connection
with this prospectus shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no
change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus or that the information contained by
reference to this prospectus is correct as of any time after its date.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed on Form S-3 with the Securities
and Exchange Commission or SEC. This prospectus does not contain all of the information in the
registration statement and the exhibits and schedules that were filed with the registration
statement. You should refer to the registration statement for additional information about us and
the securities being offered in this prospectus. Statements made in this prospectus regarding the
contents of any contract, agreement or other document that is filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement or any document incorporated by reference into the registration statement
are not necessarily complete, and you should review the referenced document itself for a complete
understanding of its terms.
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.
You may read and copy any document that we file at the SECs public reference facilities located at
100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of all or any part of the registration statement
may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the prescribed fee. Information regarding the
operation of the public reference rooms may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our
SEC filings are also available to you free of charge at the SECs web site at http://www.sec.gov.
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information into this prospectus. This means
that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed
separately with the SEC. The information that we incorporate by reference is considered to be part
of this prospectus. Because we are incorporating by reference our future filings with the SEC, this
prospectus is continually updated and those future filings may modify or supersede some or all of
the information included or incorporated in this prospectus. This means that you must look at all
of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this
prospectus or in any document previously incorporated by reference have been modified or
superseded. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any future
filings we will make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 until the Selling Securityholders sell all of our securities registered under
this prospectus.
Converted Organics Inc. Filings (File No. 001-33304)
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our annual report on Form 10-KSB for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 filed with the SEC on April 2, 2007; |
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our quarterly report on Form 10-QSB for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2007
filed with the SEC on November 13, 2007; |
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our quarterly report on Form 10-QSB for the
quarter ended June 30, 2007 filed with the SEC on August 14, 2007; |
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our quarterly report on Form 10-QSB for the
quarter ended March 31, 2007 filed with the SEC on May 15, 2007; |
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our current reports on Form 8-K filed on
February 16, 2007, April 4, 2007, April 30, 2007, May 25, 2007, June 13, 2007,
September 10, 2007, January 15, 2008, January 24, 2008, and January 29, 2008. |
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the description of our common stock, Class A
warrants, and Class B warrants, contained in Item 1 of our Registration Statement on Form
8-A, filed with the SEC on February 8, 2007. |
The information about us contained in this prospectus should be read together with the information
in the documents incorporated by reference. You may request a copy of any or all of these filings,
at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at Converted Organics Inc., 7A Commercial Wharf West,
Boston, MA 02110, attention: chief executive officer, telephone: (617) 624-0111.
SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. You should read the
entire prospectus carefully, including, the section entitled Risk Factors before deciding to
invest in our securities. Converted Organics Inc. is referred to throughout this prospectus as
Converted Organics, we, us, or the Company.
Our Company
Converted Organics is a development stage company seeking to use organic food waste as raw material
to manufacture all-natural soil amendment products combining both nutritional and disease
suppression characteristics. We plan to sell and distribute our products in the agribusiness, turf
management, and retail markets. Our proposed process, which has been demonstrated in a pilot
manufacturing facility, uses heat and bacteria to transform food waste into a natural fertilizer.
A substantial portion of the $8.9 million net proceeds of the initial public offering of our equity
securities, which closed on February 16, 2007, together with the net proceeds of an approximately
$17.5 million bond issue of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (the New Jersey EDA
Bond) that closed simultaneously with the closing of the initial public offering, are being used
to develop and construct an organic waste conversion facility in Woodbridge, New Jersey. We expect
this facility to become operational during the second quarter of 2008.
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We anticipate that our revenue will come from two sources: tip fees and product sales. Waste
haulers will pay us tip fees for accepting food waste generated by food distributors such as
grocery stores, produce docks, fish markets and food processors, and by hospitality venues such as
hotels, restaurants, convention centers and airports. Revenue will also come from the customers who
purchase our products. Our planned products will possess a combination of nutritional, disease
suppression and soil amendment characteristics. The products will be sold in both dry and liquid
form and will be stable with an extended shelf life compared to other organic fertilizers. Among
other uses, the liquid product is expected to be used to mitigate powdery mildew, a leaf fungus
that restricts the flow of water and nutrients to the plant. These products can be used either on a
stand-alone basis or in combination with more traditional petrochemical-based fertilizers and crop
protection products. Based on growth trial performance, increased environmental awareness, trends
in consumer food preferences and company-sponsored research, we believe our products will have
substantial demand in the agribusiness, turf management and retail markets. We also expect to
benefit from increased regulatory focus on organic waste processing and on environmentally friendly
growing practices.
Our initial facility will collect raw material from the New York-Northern New Jersey metropolitan
area. It is located near the confluence of two major highways in northern New Jersey, providing
efficient access for the delivery of feedstock from throughout this geographic area. The facility
is within a special recycling zone and has been approved for inclusion in the Middlesex County New
Jersey Solid Waste Management Plan. When fully operational, the Woodbridge facility is expected to
process approximately 78,000 tons of organic food waste, which will be diverted from landfills, and
produce approximately 7,500 tons of dry product and 6,700 tons of liquid concentrate annually. We
are in the process of negotiating options to lease property for additional facilities in Rhode
Island, Massachusetts, and New York. Completion of these additional facilities will require
additional capital.
Our principal business office is located at 7A Commercial Wharf West, Boston, Massachusetts 02110,
and our telephone number is (617) 624-0111. Our website address is www.convertedorganics.com.
Information contained on our website or any other website does not constitute part of this
prospectus.
This Offering
On January 24, 2008, we entered into a private financing with three investors (the Investors) for
a total amount of $4,500,000 (the Financing). The Financing was offered at an original issue
discount of 10%. A placement fee of $225,000 was paid out of the proceeds. We received net proceeds
of approximately $3,825,000, prior to deducting our attorneys fees, printing fees and other
miscellaneous expenses of the Financing. We used the proceeds from the acquisition to finance an
asset acquisition, to fund further development activities, and to provide working capital. As
consideration for the Financing, the Investors received a note issued by us in the aggregate amount
of $4,500,000 with interest accruing at 10% per annum to be paid monthly and with the principal
balance to be paid in full one year from the closing date (the Note). In addition, we issued the
Investors 750,000 Class A warrants and 750,000 Class B warrants, which may be exercised at $8.25
and $11.00 per warrant share, respectively (the Warrants). One half of the Warrants were
delivered to the Investors, and one half are held in escrow (the Escrow Warrants). We agreed not
to call any Warrants until a registration statement registering all of the Warrants is declared
effective.
Within 75 days of the closing date, we will seek to gain shareholder approval for the issuance of a
convertible debenture with an interest rate of 10% per annum and convertible to common stock at the
conversion price of $6.00 per share (the Convertible Debenture). Upon shareholder approval, the
Note will be replaced by the Convertible Debenture and the Escrow Warrants will be returned to the
Company.
We agreed to file a registration statement covering the Warrants and the common stock underlying
the Warrants (in an amount permissible under Rule 415 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended) within 30 days of the closing date. We also entered into a Security
Agreement with the Investors whereby we granted the Investors with a security interest in our
subsidiary Converted Organics of California, LLC and any and all assets that are acquired by the
use of the funds from the Financing. In addition, the Company granted the Investors a security
interest in our subsidiary Converted Organics of Woodbridge, LLC and all assets subordinate only to
the current lien held by the holder of the current debt issued in connection with the initial plant
of approximately $17,500,000.
The securities included in this prospectus represent 375,000 Class A Warrants (representing that
portion of the Class A Warrants that have been delivered to the Investors pursuant to the
Financing), 375,000 B Warrants (representing that portion of the Class B Warrants that have been
delivered to the Investors pursuant to the Financing), and 750,000 shares of common stock issuable
upon exercise of the 375,000 Class A Warrants and 375,000 Class B Warrants included in this
prospectus. The 750,000 shares of common stock included in this prospectus represent approximately
31.25% of our public float of approximately 2,400,000 shares of common stock.
The Offering
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Common stock outstanding prior to the offering
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4,229,898* |
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Securities offered by selling securityholders
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750,000 shares of common
stock (issuable upon
exercise of 375,000
Series A Warrants and
375,000 Series B
Warrants), 375,000
Series A Warrants, |
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375,000 Series B
Warrants |
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Common stock to be outstanding after the offering
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4,979,898** |
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Use of proceeds
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We will not receive any
proceeds from the sale
of the securities
hereunder. See Use of
Proceeds for a complete
description. |
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As of December 31, 2007. |
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Assumes the full exercise of the Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants included in this
prospectus. |
RISK FACTORS
AN INVESTMENT IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. BEFORE MAKING AN INVESTMENT
DECISION, YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER ALL OF THE RISKS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS. IF ANY OF
THE RISKS DISCUSSED IN THIS PROSPECTUS ACTUALLY OCCUR, OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS COULD BE MATERIALLY AND ADVERSELY AFFECTED. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, THE PRICE
OF OUR SECURITIES COULD DECLINE SIGNIFICANTLY AND YOU MAY LOSE ALL OR A PART OF YOUR INVESTMENT.
OUR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS IN THIS PROSPECTUS ARE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES. OUR ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE ANTICIPATED BY OUR
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF THE RISK FACTORS BELOW. SEE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.
Risks Relating to Our Business
We are an early-stage venture with no operating history, and our prospects are difficult to
evaluate.
We have not operated any facility, nor have we sold any products. Our activities to date have been
limited to developing our business, and consequently there is no historical financial information
related to operations available upon which you may base your evaluation of our business and
prospects. The revenue and income potential of our business is unproven. We face all the risks
inherent in a new business, including the expenses, difficulties, complications and delays
frequently encountered in connection with conducting operations, including capital requirements and
managements potential underestimation of initial and ongoing costs. We also face the risk that we
not be able to effectively implement our business plan. If we are not effective in addressing these
risks, we will not operate profitably and we may not have adequate working capital to meet our
obligations as they become due.
We expect to incur significant losses until we commence operations and perhaps for some time
thereafter, and we may never operate profitably.
For the period from May 2, 2003 (inception of our predecessor companies) through September 30,
2007, we incurred an accumulated net loss of approximately $9,300,000. We will continue to incur
significant losses, and assuming we successfully complete construction of our proposed Woodbridge,
New Jersey facility and have become fully operational in early 2008, we do not expect to achieve
profitability until early 2009. There is no assurance that we will be successful in our efforts to
build and operate an organic waste conversion facility, or enter into agreements with waste haulers
to receive tip fees for the organic food waste we use as our raw material, or customers to
purchase our soil amendment products. Even if we successfully meet our objectives and begin
operations at the Woodbridge facility, there is no assurance that we will be able to operate
profitably, thereby potentially causing our securityholders to lose their investment.
If we are unable to manage our transition to an operating company effectively, our operating
results will be adversely affected.
Failure to manage effectively our transition to an operating company will harm our business. To
date, substantially all of our activities and resources have been directed at developing our
business plan, arranging financing, licensing technology, obtaining permits and approvals, and
securing a lease for our first facility and options for additional facilities. The transition to a
converter of waste and manufacturer and vendor of fertilizer products will require effective
planning and management. Our management does not have extensive experience in operating a
manufacturing facility. In addition, future expansion will be expensive and will likely strain our
management and other resources. We may not be able to transfer our skills to operating a facility
or otherwise effectively manage our transition to an operating company.
Our plan to develop relationships with strategic partners and vendors may not be successful.
As part of our business strategy, we will need to develop short- and long-term relationships with
strategic partners and vendors to conduct growth trials and other research and development
activities, to assess technology, to engage in marketing activities, and to enter into waste
collection, real estate development and construction agreements. For these efforts to succeed, we
must identify partners and vendors whose competencies complement ours. We must also enter into
agreements with them on attractive terms and integrate and coordinate their resources
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and capabilities with our own. If we are unsuccessful in our collaborative efforts, our ability to
develop and market products could be severely limited or delayed.
If we fail to finalize important agreements or the final agreements are unfavorable compared with
what we currently anticipate, the development of our business may be harmed in ways which may have
a material negative effect on our financial performance.
The definitive versions of those anticipated agreements, permits, plans or proposals may not
materialize or, if they do materialize, may not prove profitable to us, which may have a material
negative effect on our financial performance.
We may be unable to effectively implement new transaction accounting, operational and financial
systems.
To manage our operations, we will be required to implement complex transaction accounting,
operational and financial systems, procedures and controls, and to retain personnel experienced in
the use of these systems. Deficiencies in the design and operation of our systems, procedures and
controls, including internal controls, could adversely affect our ability to record, process,
summarize and report material financial information. Our planned systems, procedures and controls
may be inadequate to support our future operations.
Our future success is dependent on our existing key employees, and hiring and assimilating new key
employees, and our inability to attract or retain key personnel in the future would materially harm
our business and results of operations.
Our success depends on the continuing efforts and abilities of our current management team,
particularly Edward J. Gildea, our president, chief executive officer, and chairman, David R.
Allen, our chief financial officer, and John A. Walsdorf, our vice president and chief operating
officer.. In addition, our future success will depend, in part, on our ability to attract and
retain highly skilled employees, including management, technical and sales personnel. The loss of
services of any of our key personnel, the inability to attract or retain key personnel in the
future, or delays in hiring required personnel could materially harm our business and results of
operations. We may be unable to identify and attract highly qualified employees in the future. In
addition, we may not be able to successfully assimilate these employees or hire qualified personnel
to replace them.
Constructing and equipping our manufacturing facility may take longer and cost more than we expect.
Equipping and completing our initial facility will require a significant investment of capital and
substantial engineering expenditures, and is subject to significant risks, including risks of
delays, equipment problems, cost overruns, including the cost of raw materials such as stainless
steel, and other start-up and operating difficulties. Our conversion processes will use
custom-built, patented equipment that may not be delivered and installed in our facility in a
timely manner for many reasons, including but not limited to the inability of the supplier of this
equipment to perform. In addition, this equipment may take longer and cost more to debug than
planned and may never operate as designed. If we experience any of these or similar difficulties,
we may be unable to complete our facilities, and our results may be materially affected.
We have little or no experience in the organic waste or fertilizer industries, which increases the
risk of our inability to build and operate our facilities.
We are currently, and are likely for some time to continue to be, dependent upon our present
management team. Most of these individuals are experienced in business generally, but not
organizing the construction, equipping and start up of an organic waste conversion facility, and
governing and operating a public company. In addition, none of our directors has any experience in
the organic waste or fertilizer products industries. As a result, we may not develop our business
successfully.
We will depend on contractors unrelated to us to build our organic waste conversion facility, and
their failure to perform could harm our business, and hinder our ability to operate profitably.
We have entered into guaranteed maximum price contracts with construction, mechanical, and
electrical contractors to build our Woodbridge facility. Although we believe each of these
companies is qualified, we have no prior experience with any of them. If any company were to fail
to perform, there is no assurance that we would be able to obtain a suitable replacement on a
timely basis.
We license technology from a third party, and our failure to perform under the terms of the license
could result in material adverse consequences.
We intend to use certain licensed technology and patented pieces of process equipment in our
Woodbridge facility that will be obtained from International Bio-Recovery Corporation (IBRC). The
license contains various performance criteria, and if we fail to perform under the terms of the
license, the license may be terminated by the licensor, and we will have to modify our process and
employ other equipment that may not be available on a timely basis or at all. If we are unable to
use different technology and equipment, we may not be able to operate the Woodbridge facility
successfully. If the license agreement is terminated or held invalid for any reason, or if it is
determined that IBRC has improperly licensed its process to us, the occurrence of such event will
adversely affect our operations and revenues.
The technology we will use to operate our facilities is unproven at the scale we intend to operate.
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While IBRC has operated a facility in British Columbia using the Enhanced Autothermal Thermophilic
Aerobic Digestion process, its plant is smaller than our planned Woodbridge facility. IBRC
developed the initial drawings for our Woodbridge facility, but neither IBRC nor we have operated a
plant of the proposed size.
Our Woodbridge facility site may have unknown environmental problems that could be expensive and
time consuming to correct, which may delay construction and delay our ability to generate revenue.
There can be no assurance that we will not encounter hazardous environmental conditions at the
Woodbridge facility site or any additional facility sites that may delay the construction of our
organic waste conversion facilities. Upon encountering a hazardous environmental condition, our
contractor may suspend work in the affected area. If we receive notice of a hazardous environmental
condition, we may be required to correct the condition prior to continuing construction. The
presence of a hazardous environmental condition will likely delay construction of the particular
facility and may require significant expenditures to correct the environmental condition. If we
encounter any hazardous environmental conditions during construction that require time or money to
correct, such event could delay our ability to generate revenue.
We may not be able to successfully operate our manufacturing facility.
Although we intend to hire a firm with substantial operational experience to operate our Woodbridge
facility, we have not developed or operated any manufacturing facilities of any kind. Our
Woodbridge facility, if completed, would be the first commercial facility of its kind in the United
States and may not function as anticipated. In addition, the control of the manufacturing process
will require operators with extensive training and experience which may be difficult to attain.
Our lack of business diversification may have a material negative effect on our financial
performance.
We expect to have only two planned products to sell to customers to generate revenue: dry and
liquid soil amendment products. We do not expect to have any other products. Although we also
expect to receive tip fees, our lack of business diversification could have a material adverse
effect on our operations.
We may not be able to manufacture our products in commercial quantities or sell them at competitive
prices.
To date, we have not produced any products. We may not be able to manufacture the planned products
in commercial quantities or sell them at prices competitive with other similar products.
We may be unable to establish marketing and sales capabilities necessary to commercialize and gain
market acceptance for our potential products.
We currently have limited sales and marketing capabilities. We will need to either hire sales
personnel with expertise in the markets we intend to address or contract with others to provide
sales support. Co-promotion or other marketing arrangements to commercialize our planned products
could significantly limit the revenues we derive from our products, and these parties may fail to
commercialize these products successfully. Our planned products address different markets and can
be offered through multiple sales channels. Addressing each market effectively will require sales
and marketing resources tailored to the particular market and to the sales channels that we choose
to employ, and we may not be able to develop such specialized marketing resources.
Pressure by our customers to reduce prices and agree to long-term supply arrangements may adversely
affect our net sales and profit margins.
Our potential customers, especially large agricultural companies, are often under budgetary
pressure and are very price sensitive. Our customers may negotiate supply arrangements with us well
in advance of delivery dates, thereby requiring us to commit to product prices before we can
accurately determine our final costs. If this happens, we may have to reduce our conversion costs
and obtain higher volume orders to offset lower average sales prices. If we are unable to offset
lower sales prices by reducing our costs, our gross profit margins will decline, which could have a
material negative effect on our financial performance.
The fertilizer industry is highly competitive, which may adversely affect our ability to generate
and grow sales.
Chemical fertilizers are manufactured by many companies and are plentiful and relatively
inexpensive. In addition, the number of fertilizer products registered as organic with the
Organic Materials Review Institute increased by approximately 50% from 2002 to 2005. If we fail to
keep up with changes affecting the markets that we intend to serve, we will become less
competitive, adversely affecting our financial performance.
Defects in our products or failures in quality control could impair our ability to sell our
products or could result in product liability claims, litigation and other significant events with
substantial additional costs.
8
Detection of any significant defects in our products or failure in our quality control procedures
may result in, among other things, delay in time-to-market, loss of sales and market acceptance of
our products, diversion of development resources, and injury to our reputation. The costs we may
incur in correcting any product defects may be substantial. Additionally, errors, defects or other
performance problems could result in financial or other damages to our customers, which could
result in litigation. Product liability litigation, even if we prevail, would be time consuming and
costly to defend. We do not presently maintain product liability insurance, and any product
liability insurance we may obtain may not be adequate to cover claims.
Energy and fuel cost variations could adversely affect operating results and expenses.
Energy costs, particularly electricity and natural gas, are expected to constitute a substantial
portion of our operating expenses. The price and supply of energy and natural gas are unpredictable
and fluctuate based on events outside our control, including demand for oil and gas, weather,
actions by OPEC and other oil and gas producers, and conflict in oil-producing countries. Price
escalations in the cost of electricity or reductions in the supply of natural gas could increase
operating expenses and negatively affect our results of operations. We may not be able to pass
through all or part of the increased energy and fuel costs to our customers.
We may not be able to obtain sufficient organic material.
Competing disposal outlets for organic food waste and increased demand for applications such as
biofuels may develop and adversely affect our business. To fully utilize the tip floor and to
manufacture our products, we are dependent on a stable supply of organic food waste. Insufficient
food waste feedstock will adversely affect our efficiency and may cause us to increase our tip fee
discount from prevailing rates, likely resulting in reduced revenues and net income.
Our license agreement with IBRC restricts the territory into which we may sell our planned products
and grants a cooperative a right of first refusal to purchase our products.
We have entered into a license agreement with IBRC which among other terms contains a restriction
on our right to sell our planned products outside a territory defined generally as the Eastern
Seaboard of the United States. The license agreement also grants a proposed cooperative of which
IBRC is a member a right of first refusal to purchase the products sold from our Woodbridge
facility under certain circumstances. While we believe that the territory specified in the license
agreement is broad enough to easily absorb the amount of product we plan to produce and that the
right of first refusal will not impair our ability to sell our products, these restrictions may
have a material adverse effect on the volume and price of our product sales. We may in addition
become completely dependent on a third party for the sale of our products.
Our fertilizer products will be sold under an unproven name.
Our licensing agreement with IBRC requires that we market our planned products from our
Woodbridge facility under the brand name Genica. No fertilizer products have been sold in our
geographic market under that name, and the name may not be accepted in our marketplace.
Successful infringement claims by third parties could result in substantial damages, lost product
sales and the loss of important proprietary rights.
We may have to defend ourselves against patent and other infringement claims asserted by third
parties regarding the technology we have licensed, resulting in diversion of management focus and
additional expenses for the defense of claims. In addition, as a result of a patent infringement
suit, we may be forced to stop or delay developing, manufacturing or selling potential products
that are claimed to infringe a patent covering a third partys intellectual property unless that
party grants us rights to use its intellectual property. We may be unable to obtain these rights on
terms acceptable to us, if at all. If we cannot obtain all necessary licenses on commercially
reasonable terms, we may be unable to continue selling such products. Even if we are able to obtain
rights to a third partys patented intellectual property, these rights may be non-exclusive, and
therefore our competitors may obtain access to the same intellectual property. Ultimately, we may
be unable to commercialize our potential products or may have to cease some or all of our business
operations as a result of patent infringement claims, which could severely harm our business.
Our license agreement with IBRC imposes obligations on us related to infringement actions that may
become burdensome or result in termination of our license agreement.
If our use of the licensed technology is alleged to infringe the intellectual property of a third
party, we may become obligated to defend such infringement action. Although IBRC has agreed to bear
the costs of such defense, if the licensed technology is found by a court to be infringing, IBRC
may terminate the license agreement, which may prevent us from continuing to operate our conversion
facility. In such an event, we may become obligated to find alternative technology or to pay a
royalty to a party other than IBRC to continue to operate.
If a third party is allegedly infringing any of the licensed technology, then either we or IBRC may
attempt to enforce the IBRC intellectual property rights. In general, our possession of rights to
use the know-how related to the licensed technology will not be sufficient to prevent others from
employing similar technology that we believe is infringing. Any such enforcement action against
alleged infringers, whether by us
9
or by IBRC, may be required to be maintained at our expense under the terms of the license
agreement. The costs of such an enforcement action may be prohibitive, reduce our net income, if
any, or prevent us from continuing operations.
Because we have limited liquidity and capital resources, we will need significant additional
capital to finance working capital in early 2008, which we may be unable to obtain.
As of September 30, 2007, we had approximately $465,000 of indebtedness (excluding the $17,500,000
New Jersey EDA Bond), $375,000 of which matures on December 31, 2008. We believe that we have
sufficient capital resources to complete the construction of the Woodbridge, NJ facility; however,
we anticipate needing additional funds to finance working capital in early 2008. The source of
additional funds may be (a) new debt and equity financing, (b) release of approximately $1,000,000
of funds held at our subsidiary upon completion of the construction of the Woodbridge, NJ facility,
or (c) drawings under $1,825,000 letter of credit. The occurrence of additional debt is subject to
the consent of the holder of the New Jersey EDA Bond, and the terms of the letter of credit may
limit the amount of drawings based upon the our stock price at the time of borrowing under the
letter of credit. There can be no assurance that such financing will be available in amounts or on
terms acceptable to us, if at all.
We will need to obtain additional debt and equity financing to complete subsequent stages of our
business plan.
We will need to obtain additional debt and equity financing to complete subsequent phases of our
business plan. We may issue additional securities in the future with rights, terms and preferences
designated by our Board of Directors, without a vote of stockholders, which could adversely affect
your rights. Additional financing will likely cause dilution to our stockholders and could involve
the issuance of securities with rights senior to the outstanding shares. There is no assurance that
such funds will be sufficient, that the financing will be available on terms acceptable to us and
at such times as required, or that we will be able to obtain the additional financing required, if
any, for the continued operation and growth of our business. Any inability to raise necessary
capital will have a material adverse effect on our ability to meet our projections, deadlines and
goals and will have a material adverse effect on our revenues and net income.
Our agreements with our bond investor may hinder our ability to operate our business by imposing
restrictive loan covenants, which may prohibit us from borrowing additional funds, repaying other
indebtedness or paying dividends or taking other actions to manage or expand our business.
The terms of the bond guaranty executed by us as manager of Converted Organics of Woodbridge LLC.,
in connection with the issuance of the New Jersey EDA Bond, prohibit us from paying debt and other
obligations that funded our working capital until certain ratios of Earnings Before Interest,
Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) to debt service are met. As of September 30, 2007,
we had approximately $375,000 and $90,000 of indebtedness, other than the New Jersey EDA Bond,
which mature on December 31, 2008 and May 2, 2009, respectively.
Mandatory redemption of our bonds could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and cash
resources.
The New Jersey EDA Bond is subject to mandatory redemption by us if the Woodbridge facility is
condemned, we cease to operate the facility, the New Jersey EDA Bond becomes taxable, a change in
control of the Company occurs and under certain other circumstances. Depending upon the
circumstances, such an event could require a payment to our bondholder ranging between 100% and
110% of the principal amount of the New Jersey EDA Bond, plus interest. If we are unable to obtain
additional financing from other sources, the requirement that we pay cash in connection with such
mandatory redemption will have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and cash resources, and
may impair our ability to continue to operate.
The communities where our facilities may be located may be averse to hosting waste handling and
manufacturing facilities.
Local residents and authorities in communities where our facilities may be located may be concerned
about odor, vermin, noise, increased truck traffic, air pollution, decreased property values, and
public health risks associated with operating a manufacturing facility in their area. These
constituencies may oppose our permitting applications or raise other issues regarding our proposed
facilities, which may prevent us from having the facilities constructed, or operating the
facilities according to our business plan.
Our facilities will require certain permits to operate, which we may not be able to obtain or
obtain on a timely basis.
For our Woodbridge facility, we must obtain various permits and approvals to operate a recycling
center and a manufacturing facility, including among others a Class C recycling permit, land use
and site plan approval, an air quality permit, a water discharge permit, a storm water runoff
permit, and building construction permits. We may not be able to secure all the necessary permits
on a timely basis or at all, which may prevent us from operating the facility according to our
business plan.
For our additional facilities, we may need certain permits to operate solid waste or recycling
facilities as well as permits for our sewage connection, water supply, land use, air emission, and
wastewater discharge. The specific permit and approval requirements are set by the state and the
various local jurisdictions, including but not limited to city, town, county, township and state
agencies having control over the specific properties. Lack of permits to construct, operate or
maintain our facilities will severely and adversely affect our business.
10
Changes in environmental regulations or violations of such regulations could result in increased
expense and could have a material negative effect on our financial performance.
We will be subject to extensive air, water and other environmental regulations and will need to
obtain a number of environmental permits to construct and operate our planned facilities. If for
any reason any of these permits are not granted, construction costs for our organic waste
conversion facilities may increase, or the facilities may not be constructed at all. Additionally,
any changes in environmental laws and regulations, both at the federal and state level, could
require us to invest or spend considerable resources in order to comply with future environmental
regulations. The expense of compliance could be significant enough to reduce our net income and
have a material negative effect on our financial performance.
Risks Related to Investment in Our Securities
As a public company, we will be subject to complex legal and accounting requirements that will
require us to incur substantial expense and will expose us to risk of non-compliance.
As a public company, we will be subject to numerous legal and accounting requirements that do not
apply to private companies. The cost of compliance with many of these requirements is substantial,
not only in absolute terms but, more importantly, in relation to the overall scope of the
operations of a small company. Our inexperience with these requirements may increase the cost of
compliance and may also increase the risk that we will fail to comply. Failure to comply with these
requirements can have numerous adverse consequences including, but not limited to, our inability to
file required periodic reports on a timely basis, loss of market confidence, delisting of our
securities, and governmental or private actions against us. We cannot assure you that we will be
able to comply with all of these requirements or that the cost of such compliance will not prove to
be a substantial competitive disadvantage vis-à-vis our privately held competitors as well as our
larger public competitors.
The Class A Warrants may be redeemed on short notice, which may have an adverse effect on their
price.
We may redeem the Class A Warrants for $0.25 per Warrant (subject to adjustment in the event of a
stock split, dividend or the like) on 30 days notice at any time after (i) August 8, 2007 and (ii)
the date on which the last reported sale price per share of our common stock as reported by the
principal exchange or trading facility on which our common stock trades equals or exceeds $9.35 for
five consecutive trading days. If we give notice of redemption, holders of our Class A Warrants
will be forced to sell or exercise the Class A Warrants they hold or accept the redemption price.
The notice of redemption could come at a time when, under specific circumstances or generally, it
is not advisable or possible for holders of our public Warrants to sell or exercise the Class A
Warrants they hold.
While the Class A and Class B Warrants are outstanding, it may be more difficult to raise
additional equity capital.
During the term that the Class A Warrants and Class B Warrants are outstanding, the holders of
those Warrants are given the opportunity to profit from a rise in the market price of our common
stock. In addition, the Class B Warrants are not redeemable by us. We may find it more difficult to
raise additional equity capital while these Warrants are outstanding. At any time during which
these Warrants are likely to be exercised, we may be able to obtain additional equity capital on
more favorable terms from other sources.
If we issue shares of preferred stock, your investment could be diluted or subordinated to the
rights of the holders of preferred stock.
Our Board of Directors is authorized by our Certificate of Incorporation to establish classes or
series of preferred stock and fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of
each such class or series without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Any shares of
preferred stock so issued could have priority over our common stock with respect to dividend or
liquidation rights. Although we have no plans to issue any shares of preferred stock or to adopt
any new series, preferences or other classification of preferred stock, any such action by our
Board of Directors or issuance of preferred stock by us could dilute your investment in our common
stock and warrants or subordinate your holdings to the shares of preferred stock.
Future issuances or sales, or the potential for future issuances or sales, of shares of our common
stock may cause the trading price of our securities to decline and could impair our ability to
raise capital through subsequent equity offerings.
We have agreed to pay a 5% common stock dividend to holders of record of our common stock at the
end of each calendar quarter, beginning with the first quarter of 2007, until the Woodbridge
facility has commenced commercial operations. The additional shares of our common stock distributed
pursuant to such stock dividends could cause the market price of our common stock to decline and
could have an adverse effect on our earnings per share, if and when we become profitable. In
addition, future sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock or other securities in
the public markets, or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of
our common stock and our Class A and Class B Warrants to decline, and could materially impair our
ability to raise capital through the sale of additional securities.
If we do not maintain an effective registration statement or comply with applicable state
securities laws, you may not be able to exercise the Class A or Class B Warrants.
11
For you to be able to exercise the Class A or Class B Warrants, the shares of our common stock to
be issued to you upon exercise of the Class A or Class B Warrants must be covered by an effective
and current registration statement and qualify or be exempt under the securities laws of the state
or other jurisdiction in which you live. We cannot assure you that we will continue to maintain a
current registration statement relating to the shares of our common stock underlying the Class A or
Class B Warrants. If at their expiration date the Warrants are not currently exercisable, the
expiration date will be extended for 30 days following notice to the holders of the Warrants that
the Warrants are again exercisable. If we cannot honor the exercise of Warrants, and the securities
underlying the Warrants are listed on a securities exchange or if there are three independent
market makers for the underlying securities, we may, but are not required to, settle the Warrants
for a price equal to the difference between the closing price of the underlying securities and the
exercise price of the Warrants. In summary, you may encounter circumstances in which you will be
unable to exercise the Class A or Class B Warrants. In those circumstances, we may, but are not
required to, redeem the Warrants by payment in cash. Consequently, there is a possibility that you
will never be able to exercise the Class A or Class B Warrants, and that you will never receive
shares or payment of cash in settlement of the Warrants. This potential inability to exercise the
Class A or Class B Warrants, and the possibility that we will never elect to settle Warrants in
shares or cash, may have an adverse effect on demand for the Warrants and the prices that can be
obtained from reselling them.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
We make forward-looking statements in this prospectus and other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, reports to our stockholders and news releases, that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed
future results of our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and
objectives. In some cases, you may identify forward-looking statements by words such as may,
should, plan, intend, potential, continue, believe, expect, predict, anticipate
and estimate, the negative of these words or other comparable words. These statements are not
guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are
difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is
expressed or forecasted in or suggested by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking
statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance, taking
into account information currently available to us. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can
change as a result of many possible events or factors, including those events and factors described
in Risk Factors, not all of which are known to us.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will not receive any proceeds upon the sale of any of the securities registered on behalf of the
Selling Securityholders.
Should the Class A Warrants and Class B Warrants included in this prospectus be exercised, we will
receive total proceeds of approximately $7,218,750. If received, we expect to use these proceeds to
fund working capital and general corporate expenses. There is no assurance that any of the Warrants
will be exercised.
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
Below is information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our securities by the Selling
Securityholders as of February 11, 2008. Except as described below, the Selling Securityholders do
not have, or have had, any position, office or other material relationship with us or any of our
affiliates beyond their investment in, or receipt of, our securities. See Plan of Distribution
for additional information about the Selling Securityholders and the manner in which the Selling
Securityholders may dispose of their securities. Beneficial ownership has been determined in
accordance with the rules of the SEC, and includes voting or investment power with respect to the
securities. Our registration of these securities does not necessarily mean that the Selling
Securityholders will sell any or all of the securities covered by this prospectus.
We are registering 375,000 Class A Warrants, 375,000 Class B Warrants, and 750,000 shares of common
stock underlying the Warrants included in this prospectus, for resale from time to time by the
Selling Securityholders identified in this prospectus. The aggregate 750,000 Warrants included in
this prospectus represent the portion of the aggregate 1,500,000 Warrants issued to the Selling
Securityholders in a private placement completed in January 2008, which has been delivered to the
Selling Securityholders. The remaining portion of the Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants
issued to the Selling Securityholders, consisting of an aggregate 750,000 Warrants, are held in
escrow. Within 75 days of the closing of the private placement, we will seek to gain shareholder
approval for the issuance of a convertible debenture with an interest rate of 10% per annum and
convertible to common stock at the conversion price of $6.00 per share. If shareholder approval is
obtained, the note issued in the private placement will be replaced by the convertible debenture
and the Warrants held in escrow will be returned to the Company, upon such shareholder approval.
The 750,000 shares of common stock included in this prospectus represents approximately 31.25% of
our public float of approximately 2,400,000 shares.
The Warrants cannot be exercised prior to the shares of common stock underlying the Warrants being
covered by an effective registration statement.
12
The information set forth in the following table regarding the beneficial ownership after resale of
securities assumes that the Selling Stockholder will purchase the maximum number of shares of
common stock provided for by the Warrants and will sell all of the shares of common stock owned by
that Selling Stockholder covered by this prospectus. There is no assurance that any of the Warrants
will be exercised.
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Selling |
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Number of Series A |
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% of Series A |
|
Securities included |
|
Number of Series A |
|
% of Series A |
Securityholder |
|
Warrants, Series B |
|
Warrants, Series B |
|
in this prospectus |
|
Warrants, Series B |
|
Warrants, Series B |
|
|
Warrants, and |
|
Warrants, and |
|
|
|
Warrants, and |
|
Warrants, and |
|
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shares of common |
|
shares of common |
|
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shares of common |
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common stock owned |
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stock owned prior |
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stock owned prior |
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stock owned after |
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after offering (1) |
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to offering |
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to offering |
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offering (1) |
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Professional
Offshore
Opportunity Fund,
Ltd. 1400 Old Country
Road, Suite 206
Westbury, NY 11590
(2)
|
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600,000 Series A
Warrants, 600,000
Series B Warrants,
0 shares of common
stock (3)
|
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15.9% of Series A
Warrants, 15.9% of
Series B Warrants,
0% of common stock
|
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300,000 Series A
Warrants, 300,000
Series B Warrants,
600,000 shares of
common stock (4)
|
|
300,000 Series A
Warrants, 300,000
Series B Warrants,
0 shares of common
stock
|
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9.9% of Series A
Warrants, 9.9% of
Series B Warrants,
0% of common stock |
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Professional
Traders Fund, LLC 1400 Old Country
Road, Suite 206
Westbury, NY 11590
(5)
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67,500 Series A
Warrants, 67,500
Series B Warrants,
0 shares of common
stock (6)
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1.8% of Series A
Warrants, 1.8% of
Series B Warrants,
0% of common stock
|
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33,750 Series A
Warrants, 33,750
Series B Warrants,
67,500 shares of
common stock (4)
|
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33,750 Series A
Warrants, 33,750
Series B Warrants,
0 shares of common
stock
|
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1.1% of Series A
Warrants, 1.1% of
Series B Warrants,
0% of common stock |
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High Capital
Funding, LLC 333 Sandy Springs
Circle, Suite 230
Atlanta, GA 30328
(7)
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209,090 Series A
Warrants, 209,090
Series B Warrants,
259,456 shares of
common stock (8)
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5.5% of Series A
Warrants, 5.5% of
Series B Warrants,
5.9% of common
stock
|
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41,250 Series A
Warrants, 41,250
Series B Warrants,
82,500 shares of
common stock (4)
|
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167,840 Series A
Warrants, 167,480
Series B Warrants,
259,456 shares of
common stock
|
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5.6% of Series A
Warrants, 5.6% of
Series B Warrants,
5.0% of common
stock |
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(1) |
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Assuming that all securities offered here are sold. |
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(2) |
|
Howard Berger is the manager of Professional Offshore Opportunity Fund, Ltd., and in
accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended may be deemed
to be a control person with voting and investment control (directly or with others), of the
securities of Converted Organics owned by Professional Offshore Opportunity Fund, Ltd. Mr.
Berger disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities. The Selling Securityholder has
informed us that it is not a broker-dealer or an affiliate of a broker-dealer. |
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(3) |
|
Includes 300,000 Series A Warrants and 300,000 Series B Warrants held in escrow. Does not
include 1,200,000 shares of common stock underlying the Warrants owned by the Selling
Securityholder. The Warrants cannot be exercised prior to the underlying shares being covered
by an effective registration statement. Does not include securities beneficially owned by
Professional Traders Fund, LLC. Professional Traders Fund, LLC is an affiliate of Professional
Offshore Opportunity Fund, Ltd. |
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(4) |
|
Represents the Warrants that have been delivered to the Selling Securityholder pursuant to
the January 2008 Financing and the shares of common stock underlying such Warrants. |
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(5) |
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Howard Berger is the manager of Professional Traders Fund, LLC, and in accordance with Rule
13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended may be deemed to be a control
person with voting and investment control (directly or with others), of the securities of
Converted Organics owned by Professional Traders Fund, LLC. Mr. Berger disclaims beneficial
ownership of these securities. The Selling Securityholder has informed us that it is not a
broker-dealer or an affiliate of a broker-dealer. |
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(6) |
|
Includes 33,750 Series A Warrants and 33,750 Series B Warrants held in escrow. Does not
include 135,000 shares of common stock underlying the Warrants owned by the Selling
Securityholder. The Warrants cannot be exercised prior to the underlying shares being covered
by an effective registration statement. Does not include securities beneficially owned by
Professional Offshore Opportunity Fund, Ltd. Professional Offshore Opportunity Fund, Ltd. is
an affiliate of Professional Traders Fund, LLC. |
|
(7) |
|
High Capital Funding, LLC is managed by Profit Concepts, Ltd. Frank E. Hart is President,
David A Rapaport is Executive Vice President and General Counsel, and Fred A. Brasch is the
Chief Financial Officer, of Profit Concepts, Ltd. Mr. Hart, Mr. Rapaport, and Mr. Brasch, in
accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended may be deemed
to be control persons with voting and investment control (directly or with others), of the
securities of Converted Organics owned by High Capital |
13
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Funding, LLC. Mr. Hart, Mr. Rapaport, and Mr. Brasch disclaim beneficial ownership of these
securities. The Selling Securityholder has informed us that it is not a broker-dealer or an
affiliate of a broker-dealer. |
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(8) |
|
Includes 41,250 Series A Warrants and 41,250 Series B Warrants held in escrow. Includes
200,000 shares of common stock underlying exercisable warrants. Does not include 218,180
shares of common stock underlying warrants (including 82,500 Warrants included in this
prospectus, and 82,500 Warrants held in escrow), the underlying shares of which have not been
registered, as of February 11, 2008. The warrants cannot be exercised prior to the underlying
shares being covered by an effective registration statement. Does not include 15,470 shares of
common stock, 20,000 Class A warrants, and 20,000 Class B warrants, held by affiliates of High
Capital Funding, LLC. High Capital Funding, LLC disclaims beneficial ownership of the
securities held by its affiliates. High Capital Funding, LLC has contractually agreed not to
exercise warrants to the extent that such exercise would cause High Capital Funding, LLC to be
deemed to beneficially own more than 9.95% of Converted Organics common stock. |
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering the Series A Warrants, Series B Warrants, and shares of common stock underlying
the Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants on behalf of the Selling Securityholders. For the
present holders of the Class A Warrants and Class B Warrants listed as Selling Securityholders to
exercise the Warrants, there must be a current registration statement covering the common stock
underlying the Class A Warrants and Class B Warrants on file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. We intend to maintain a current registration while the Class A Warrants and Class B
Warrants are exercisable. The Class A Warrants and Class B Warrants expire on February 13, 2012. We
are paying all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of securities offered
by this prospectus. Brokerage commissions, if any, attributable to the sale of securities will be
borne by the Selling Securityholders.
We are also registering the initial issuance of shares of our common stock upon the exercise of the
Class A and Class B Warrants acquired from the Selling Securityholders pursuant to this prospectus.
The Selling Securityholders or their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time
to time, sell any or all of their securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market, Boston Stock Exchange,
or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which our securities are traded or in
private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. The Selling Securityholders
may use any one or more of the following methods when selling securities:
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ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
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block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may
position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
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purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
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an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
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short sales; |
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privately negotiated transactions; |
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broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Securityholders to sell a specified number of such
securities at a stipulated price per security; |
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a combination of any such methods of sale; |
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through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an
options exchange or otherwise; or |
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any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law and the Subscription Agreement. |
The Selling Securityholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or
all of the securities owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured
obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the securities, from time to time,
under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other
applicable provision of the Securities Act amending the list of Selling Securityholders to include
the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as Selling Securityholders under this
prospectus. The Selling Securityholders also may transfer the securities 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.
In connection with the sale of our securities or interests therein, the Selling Securityholders may
enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in
turn engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume.
The Selling Securityholders may also sell our securities short and deliver these securities to
close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the securities to broker-dealers that in turn
may sell these securities. The Selling Securityholders 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 securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other
financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect
such transaction).
The aggregate proceeds to the Selling Securityholders from the sale of the securities offered by
them will be the purchase price of the securities less discounts or commissions, if any. Each of
the Selling Securityholders reserves the right to accept and, together with their agents from time
to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of securities to be made directly or
through agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering. Upon any exercise of
the Class A Warrants or Class B Warrants, by payment of cash, however, we will receive the
14
exercise price of the Class A Warrants or Class B Warrants, as applicable.
The Selling Securityholders also may resell all or a portion of the securities in open market
transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, provided that they meet
the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule.
The Selling Securityholders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents that participate in the
sale of the securities or interests therein may be underwriters within the meaning of Section
2(11) of the Securities Act. Any discounts, commissions, concessions or profit they earn on any
resale of the securities may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
Selling Securityholders who are underwriters within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the
Securities Act will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
To the extent required, the securities to be sold, the names of the Selling Securityholders, the
respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the names of any agents, dealer or
underwriter, any applicable commissions or discounts with respect to a particular offer will be set
forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to
the registration statement that includes this prospectus.
In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the securities may be
sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in
some states the securities may not be sold unless it has been registered or qualified for sale or
an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.
The anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
may apply to sales of securities in the market and to the activities of the Selling Securityholders
and their affiliates.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED
This prospectus includes 750,000 shares of common stock, 375,000 Class A Warrants, and 375,000
Class B Warrants. Our authorized capital stock consists of 75,000,000 shares of common stock,
$0.0001 par value, and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value. As of December 31,
2007, we had 4,229,898 shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock outstanding. The
following is a summary of the securities included in this prospectus. For more detailed
information, please see our Certificate of Incorporation, bylaws, as amended (Bylaws), Form of
Series A Warrant, and Form of Series B Warrant, which have been filed as exhibits to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Common Stock
Each outstanding share of common stock has one vote on all matters requiring a vote of the
stockholders. There is no right to cumulative voting; thus, the holder of fifty percent or more of
the shares outstanding can, if they choose to do so, elect all of the directors. In the event of a
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, all stockholders are entitled to a pro rata distribution
after payment of liabilities and after provision has been made for each class of stock, if any,
having preference over the common stock. The holders of the common stock have no preemptive rights
with respect to future offerings of shares of common stock.
Holders of record of our common stock at the end of each calendar quarter, beginning with the first
quarter of 2007, will receive a 5% common stock dividend until the Woodbridge facility has
commenced commercial operations. We will not issue fractional shares as a part of the dividend
program or shares with respect to the calendar quarter in which we commence commercial operations.
We have not declared or paid any cash dividends and do not intend to pay any cash dividends in the
foreseeable future. We intend to retain any future earnings for use in the operation and expansion
of our business. The terms of our New Jersey bond issue restrict our ability to pay cash dividends.
Any future decision to pay cash dividends on common stock will be at the discretion of our board of
directors and will depend upon, in addition to the terms of the New Jersey bond financing as well
as any future bond or bank financings, our financial condition, results of operation, capital
requirements and other factors our board of directors may deem relevant. Holders of common stock
are entitled to dividends if, as and when declared by the Board out of the funds legally available
therefore. It is our present intention to retain earnings, if any, for use in its business. The
payment of cash dividends on the common stock is, therefore, unlikely in the foreseeable future.
Class A Warrants
General. As of February 11, 2008, there are 3,773,629 Class A Warrants issued and outstanding.
The Class A Warrants may be exercised until the expiration date, which is February 13, 2012. Each
Class A Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of
$8.25 per share. This exercise price will be adjusted if specific events, summarized below, occur.
A holder of Warrants will not be deemed a holder of the underlying stock for any purpose until the
Warrant is exercised. If at their expiration date the Class A Warrants are not currently
exercisable, the expiration date will be extended for 30 days following notice to the holders of
the Warrants that the Warrants are again exercisable. If we cannot honor the exercise of Class A
Warrants and the securities underlying the Warrants are listed on a securities exchange or if there
are three independent market makers for the underlying securities, we may, but are not required to,
settle the Warrants for a price equal to the difference between the closing price of the underlying
securities and the exercise price of the Warrants. Because we are not required to settle the
Warrants by payment of cash, and because there is a possibility that Warrant holders will not be
able to exercise the
15
Warrants when they are in-the -money or otherwise, there is a risk that the Warrants will never be
settled in shares or payment of cash. This may have an adverse effect on the demand for the
Warrants and the prices that can be obtained from reselling them.
Redemption. We have the right to redeem the Class A Warrants at a price of $0.25 per Warrant,
after providing 30 days prior written notice to the Class A Warrantholders, at any time. We will
send a written notice of redemption by certified or registered mail to holders of the Class A
Warrants at their last known addresses appearing on the registration records maintained by the
transfer agent. No other form of notice or publication will be required. If we call the Warrants
for redemption, the holders of the Warrants will then have to decide whether to sell Warrants,
exercise them before the close of business on the business day preceding the specified redemption
date or hold them for redemption.
Class B Warrants
General. As of February 11, 2008, there are 3,773,629 Class B Warrants issued and outstanding.
The Class B Warrants may be exercised until the expiration date, which is February 13, 2012. Each
Class B Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of
$11.00 per share. This exercise price will be adjusted if specific events, summarized below, occur.
A holder of Warrants will not be deemed a holder of the underlying stock for any purpose until the
Warrant is exercised. If at their expiration date the Class B Warrants are not currently
exercisable, the expiration date will be extended for 30 days following notice to the holders of
the Warrants that the Warrants are again exercisable. If we cannot honor the exercise of Class B
Warrants and the securities underlying the Warrants are listed on a securities exchange or if there
are three independent market makers for the underlying securities, we may, but are not required to,
settle the Warrants for a price equal to the difference between the closing price of the underlying
securities and the exercise price of the Warrants. Because we are not required to settle the
Warrants by payment of cash, and because there is a possibility that Warrant holders will not be
able to exercise the Warrants when they are in-the -money or otherwise, there is a risk that the
Warrants will never be settled in shares or payment of cash. This may have an adverse effect on the
demand for the Warrants and the prices that can be obtained from reselling them.
No Redemption. The Class B Warrants are non-redeemable.
Provisions Applicable to the Class A and Class B Warrants
Exercise. The holders of the Warrants may exercise them only if an appropriate registration
statement is then in effect. To exercise a Warrant, the holder must deliver to our transfer agent
the Warrant certificate on or before the expiration date or the redemption date, as applicable,
with the form on the reverse side of the certificate executed as indicated, accompanied by payment
of the full exercise price for the number of Warrants being exercised. Fractional shares of common
stock will not be issued upon exercise of the Warrants.
Adjustments in Certain Events. We will make adjustments to the terms of the Warrants if
certain events occur. If we distribute to our stockholders additional shares of common stock
through a dividend or distribution, or if we effect a stock split of our common stock, we will
adjust the total number of shares of common stock purchasable on exercise of a Warrant so that the
holder of a Warrant thereafter exercised will be entitled to receive the number of shares of common
stock the holder would have owned or received after such event if the Warrant holder had exercised
the Warrant before the event causing the adjustment. The aggregate exercise price of the Warrant
will remain the same in that circumstance, but the effective purchase price per share of common
stock purchasable upon exercise of the Warrant will be proportionately reduced because a greater
number of common stock shares will then be purchasable upon exercise of the adjusted Warrant. We
will make equivalent changes in Warrants if we effect a reverse stock split.
In the event of a capital reorganization or reclassification of our common stock, the Warrants
will be adjusted so that thereafter each Warrant holder will be entitled to receive upon exercise
the same number and kind of securities that such holder would have received if the Warrant had been
exercised before the capital reorganization or reclassification of our common stock and the
securities received on such exercise had been held through the record date of the reorganization or
recapitalization.
If we merge or consolidate with another corporation, or if we sell our assets as an entirety
or substantially as an entirety to another corporation, we will make provisions so that Warrant
holders will be entitled to receive upon exercise of a Warrant the kind and number of securities,
cash or other property that would have been received as a result of the transaction by a person who
was our stockholder immediately before the transaction and who owned the same number of shares of
common stock for which the Warrant was exercisable immediately before the transaction. No
adjustment to the Warrants will be made, however, if a merger or consolidation does not result in
any reclassification or change in our outstanding common stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws
Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws contain a number of provisions that could make our
acquisition by means of a tender or exchange offer, a proxy contest or otherwise more difficult.
These provisions are summarized below.
Removal of Directors. Our Bylaws provide that our directors may only be removed by the
affirmative vote of the shares entitled to vote at an election of directors; provided, however,
that if less than the entire board of directors is to be removed, no one director may be removed if
the vote cast against his removal would be sufficient to elect him if then cumulatively voted at an
election of the entire Board of Directors. Although our Bylaws do not give the Board the power to
approve or disapprove stockholder nominations for the election of directors or of any
16
other business stockholders desire to conduct at an annual or any other meeting, the Bylaws may
have the effect of precluding a nomination for the election of directors or precluding the conduct
of business at a particular annual meeting if the proper procedures are not followed, or
discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own
slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control, even if the conduct of that
solicitation or attempt might be beneficial to our stockholders.
Staggered Board. Staggered terms tend to protect against sudden changes in management and may
have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control without further action
by our stockholders. Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes, with one class of
directors elected at each years annual stockholder meeting.
Special Meetings. Our Bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders can be called by
the President, at the request of a majority of the Board of Directors at the written request of
holders of at least 50% of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote.
Undesignated Preferred Stock. The ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock makes it
possible for our Board of Directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or
preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to acquire us. The ability to issue
preferred stock may have the effect of deferring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control
or management of our Company.
Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute. We will be subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law regulating corporate takeovers. In general, Section 203 prohibits
a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging under certain circumstances in a business
combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date the
person became an interested stockholder unless:
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Prior to the date of the transaction, the board of directors of the corporation approved
either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder
becoming an interested stockholder. |
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Upon completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an
interested stockholder, the stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the
corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of
determining the number of shares outstanding (1) shares owned by persons who are directors
and also officers and (2) shares owned by employee stock plans in which employee
participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject
to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer. |
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On or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination is approved by
the board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by
written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting
stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Generally, a business combination includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction
resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An interested stockholder is a
person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, within three years prior to the
determination of interested stockholder status, did own 15% or more of a corporations outstanding
voting securities. We expect the existence of this provision to have an anti-takeover effect with
respect to transactions our Board of Directors does not approve in advance. We also anticipate that
Section 203 may also discourage attempted acquisitions that might result in a premium over the
market price for the shares of common stock held by stockholders.
The provisions of Delaware law, our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws could have the
effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may
also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from
actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions may also have the effect of
preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more
difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best
interests.
Transfer Agent, Warrant Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock and warrant agent for the Warrants is
Computershare Shareholder Services, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary, Computershare Trust
Company, N.A., 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.
Listing
Our common stock, Class A Warrants and Class B Warrants are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market and
the Boston Stock Exchange.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities will be passed upon by Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP, New
York, New York.
17
EXPERTS
The financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been audited by Carlin,
Charron & Rosen, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, to the extent and for the
periods set forth in their report, and are incorporated herein in reliance upon such report given
upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
Our Certificate of Incorporation contains provisions that limit the liability of our directors for
monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Consequently, our directors will
not be personally liable to us or our shareholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary
duties as directors, except liability for the following:
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Any breach of their duty of loyalty to our Company or our stockholders. |
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Acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law. |
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Unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided
in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. |
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Any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. |
Our Bylaws, as amended (Bylaws) provide that we are required to indemnify our directors and
officers and may indemnify our employees and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by
Delaware law. Our Bylaws also provide that we shall advance expenses incurred by a director or
officer before the final disposition of any action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking
from or on behalf of that director or officer to repay the advance if it is ultimately determined
that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified. We have entered and expect to continue to enter
into agreements to indemnify our directors, executive officers and other employees as determined by
the Board of Directors. These agreements provide for indemnification for related expenses including
attorneys fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any of these individuals in
any action or proceeding. We believe that these provisions and indemnification agreements are
necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. We also maintain
directors and officers liability insurance.
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of
their fiduciary duty. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our
directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and other
stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholders investment may be adversely affected to the extent that
we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers as required by
these indemnification provisions. At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding
involving any of our directors, officers or employees regarding which indemnification is sought,
and we are not aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.
Insofar as we may permit indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act to
directors, officers, and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we
have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy, as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and is, therefore, unenforceable.
18
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
The following table sets forth an estimate of the costs and expenses payable by us in connection
with the offering described in this registration statement. All of the amounts shown are estimates
except the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registration fee:
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Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee |
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$ |
406 |
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Accounting Fees and Expenses |
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5,000 |
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Legal Fees and Expenses |
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50,000 |
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Miscellaneous |
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4,000 |
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Total |
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$ |
59,400 |
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II-1
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Our Certificate of Incorporation contains provisions that limit the liability of our directors for
monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Consequently, our directors will
not be personally liable to us or our shareholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary
duties as directors, except liability for the following:
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Any breach of their duty of loyalty to our Company or our stockholders. |
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Acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law. |
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Unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided
in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. |
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Any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. |
Our bylaws, as amended (Bylaws) provide that we are required to indemnify our directors and
officers and may indemnify our employees and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by
Delaware law. Our Bylaws also provide that we shall advance expenses incurred by a director or
officer before the final disposition of any action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking
from or on behalf of that director or officer to repay the advance if it is ultimately determined
that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified. We have entered and expect to continue to enter
into agreements to indemnify our directors, executive officers and other employees as determined by
the Board of Directors. These agreements provide for indemnification for related expenses including
attorneys fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any of these individuals in
any action or proceeding. We believe that these provisions and indemnification agreements are
necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. We also maintain
directors and officers liability insurance.
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of
their fiduciary duty. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our
directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and other
stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholders investment may be adversely affected to the extent that
we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers as required by
these indemnification provisions. At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding
involving any of our directors, officers or employees regarding which indemnification is sought,
and we are not aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.
Insofar as we may permit indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act to
directors, officers, and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we
have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy, as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and is, therefore, unenforceable.
II-2
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
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Exhibit |
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Number |
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Description |
4.1
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Certificate of Incorporation (filed as an exhibit to our Registration
Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-135714) filed on June 21, 2006,
and incorporated herein by reference) |
4.2
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Bylaws (filed as an exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form SB-2
(File No. 333-135714) filed on June 21, 2006, and incorporated herein
by reference) |
4.3
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Amendment to Bylaws (filed as an exhibit to our Report on Form 8-K
filed on September 10, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference |
4.4
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Form of common stock certificate (filed as an exhibit to our
Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-135714) filed on June
21, 2006, and incorporated herein by reference) |
4.5
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Form of Class A Warrant (included in Exhibit 4.7) |
4.6
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Form of Class B Warrant (included in Exhibit 4.7) |
4.7
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Form of Warrant Agreement between the Company and Computershare
Shareholder Services, Inc. (filed as an exhibit to our Registration
Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-135714) filed on June 21, 2006,
and incorporated herein by reference) |
5.1
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Opinion of Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP |
23.1
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Consent of Carlin, Charron & Rosen LLP |
23.2
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Consent of Sichenzia Ross Freidman Ference LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) |
24
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Power of Attorney (included on
Page II-6) |
II-3
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;
(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 Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no
more than 20 percent 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 (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the
Registration Statement is on Form S-3 and 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 the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form
of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each
such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each
filing of the registrants annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans 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.
(5) 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 the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of
and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as
part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made
pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information
required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and
included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus
is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in
the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of
the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to
be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the
registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however,
that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the
registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference
into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement
will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date,
supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus
that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to
such effective date.
II-4
(6) 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, each undersigned Registrant
undertakes that 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:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of an undersigned Registrant relating to
the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of an
undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned Registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering
containing material information about an undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by
or on behalf of an undersigned Registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by an undersigned
Registrant to the purchaser.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the 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 Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
II-5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has
reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has
duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Boston, State of Massachusetts, on February 13, 2008.
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Converted Organics Inc.
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By: |
/s/
Edward J. Gildea
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Edward J. Gildea, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
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KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Edward J. Gildea, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this
Registration Statement, and any subsequent registration statements pursuant to Rule 462 of the
Securities Act of 1933 and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
each of said attorney-in-fact or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.
In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration
statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
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Signature |
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Title |
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Date |
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/s/
Edward
J. Gildea
Edward
J. Gildea
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Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
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February 13, 2008 |
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/s/
David
R. Allen
David
R. Allen
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Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
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February 13, 2008 |
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/s/
Ellen
P. Geoffrey
Ellen
P. Geoffrey
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Director of Finance and Accounting
(Principal Accounting Officer)
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February 13, 2008 |
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Director
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February 13, 2008 |
William A. Gildea |
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/s/ Edward A. Stoltenberg
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Director
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February 13, 2008 |
Edward A. Stoltenberg |
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Director
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February 13, 2008 |
Robert E. Cell |
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Director
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February 13, 2008 |
John P. DeVillars |
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II-6