As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 2025.
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 36741 | 20-3672603 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
12300 Grant Street
Thornton, CO 80241
(720) 872-5000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Jin Jo
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.
12300 Grant Street
Thornton, Colorado 80241
(720) 872-5000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
James H. Carroll, Esq. | Rick A. Werner, Esq. | |
Carroll Legal LLC | Jayun Koo, Esq. | |
1449 Wynkoop Street, Suite 507 | Haynes and Boone, LLP | |
Denver, CO 80202 | 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 26th Floor | |
(303) 888-4859 |
New York, New York 10112 (212) 659-7300 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
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, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ | |||
Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information contained in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Preliminary Prospectus,
Subject to Completion, dated June 25, 2025
ASCENT SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
UP TO 3,205,129 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
AND 3,205,129 ACCOMPANYING WARRANTS TO PURCHASE UP TO 3,205,129 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
OR
UP TO 3,205,129 PRE-FUNDED WARRANTS TO PURCHASE UP TO 3,205,129 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
AND ACCOMPANYING WARRANTS TO PURCHASE UP TO 3,205,129 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
UP TO 224,359 PLACEMENT AGENT WARRANTS TO PURCHASE UP TO 224,359 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
UP TO 6,634,617 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THE WARRANTS, PRE-FUNDED WARRANTS AND PLACEMENT AGENT WARRANTS
We are offering up to 3,205,129 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), together with warrants to purchase up to 3,205,129 shares of common stock (the “Warrants”), pursuant to this prospectus. The assumed combined public offering price for each share of Common Stock, together with an accompanying Warrant to purchase one (1) share of Common Stock, is $1.56, which is equal to the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on June 23, 2025. The shares of Common Stock and accompanying Warrants will be separately issued, but the shares of Common Stock and accompanying Warrants will be issued to purchasers in the ratio of one-for-one (1 for 1). Each Warrant will have an exercise price of $1.56 per share, will be exercisable beginning on the effective date of stockholder approval of the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the Warrants (the “Warrant Stockholder Approval”), provided however, if the Pricing Conditions (as defined below) are met, the Warrant Stockholder Approval will not be required and the Warrants will be exercisable upon issuance (the “Initial Exercise Date”). The Warrants will expire on the five (5) year anniversary of the Initial Exercise Date or the effective date of the Warrant Stockholder Approval, as applicable. As used herein “Pricing Conditions” means that the combined public offering price per share and accompanying Warrant is such that the Warrant Stockholder Approval is not required under the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) because either (i) the offering is an at-the-market offering under Nasdaq rules and such price equals or exceeds the sum of (a) the applicable “Minimum Price” per share under Nasdaq Rule 5635(d) plus (b) $0.125 per whole share of Common Stock underlying the Warrants or (ii) the offering is a discounted offering where the pricing and discount (including attributing a value of $0.125 per whole share of Common Stock underlying the Warrants) meet the pricing requirements under Nasdaq’s rules.
We are also offering up to 3,205,129 pre-funded warrants (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”) to those purchasers whose purchase of shares of Common Stock in this offering would result in the purchaser, together with its affiliates and certain related parties, beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding Common Stock following the consummation of this offering in lieu of the shares of our Common Stock that would result in ownership in excess of 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 9.99%). Each Pre-Funded Warrant will be exercisable for one (1) share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.0001 per share. Each Pre-Funded Warrant is being issued together with the same Warrants described above being issued with each share of Common Stock. The assumed combined public offering price for each such Pre-Funded Warrant, together with an accompanying Warrant to purchase one (1) share of Common Stock, is $1.5599, which is equal to the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on June 23, 2025, minus $0.0001, the exercise price of the Pre-Funded Warrants. Each Pre-Funded Warrant will be exercisable upon issuance and may be exercised at any time until all of the Pre-Funded Warrants are exercised in full. The Pre-Funded Warrants and accompanying Warrants are immediately separable and will be issued separately in this offering, but the Pre-Funded Warrants and Warrants will be issued to purchasers in the ratio of one-for-one (1 for 1). This prospectus also relates to the offering of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, Pre-Funded Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants (as defined herein). For each Pre-Funded Warrant sold, the number of shares of Common Stock sold will be reduced on a one-for-one basis.
There is no established public trading market for the Warrants or the Pre-Funded Warrants, and we do not expect a market to develop. We do not intend to apply for listing of the Warrants or the Pre-Funded Warrants on any securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the Warrants and the Pre-Funded Warrants will be limited.
This offering will terminate on July 31, 2025, unless we decide to terminate the offering (which we may do at any time in our discretion) prior to that date. We will have one closing for all the securities purchased in this offering. The combined public offering price per share of Common Stock (or Pre-Funded Warrant in lieu thereof) and accompanying Warrant will be fixed for the duration of this offering.
We have engaged H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (the “Placement Agent”), to act as our exclusive placement agent in connection with this offering. The Placement Agent has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to arrange for the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus. The Placement Agent is not purchasing or selling any of the securities we are offering and the Placement Agent is not required to arrange the purchase or sale of any specific number of securities or dollar amount. We have agreed to pay to the Placement Agent the Placement Agent fees set forth in the table below, which assumes that we sell all of the securities offered by this prospectus. There is no minimum number of securities or amount of proceeds required as a condition to closing in this offering. In addition, because there is no escrow trust or similar arrangement and no minimum offering amount, investors could be in a position where they have invested in our company, but we are unable to fulfill all of our contemplated objectives due to a lack of interest in this offering. Investors in this offering will not receive a refund in the event that we do not sell an amount of securities sufficient to pursue our business goals described in this prospectus. Further, any proceeds from the sale of securities offered by us will be available for our immediate use, despite uncertainty about whether we would be able to use such funds to effectively implement our business plan. We will bear all costs associated with the offering. See “Plan of Distribution” on page 23 of this prospectus for more information regarding these arrangements.
Our Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ASTI.” On June 23, 2025, the closing price for our Common Stock, as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market, was $1.56 per share.
The assumed combined offering price used throughout this prospectus has been included for illustration purposes only, and may not be indicative of the final offering price. The actual combined public offering price per share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrant and the combined public offering price per Pre-Funded Warrant and accompanying Warrant we are offering and the exercise price and other terms of the Warrants will be negotiated between us and the purchasers, in consultation with the Placement Agent based on the trading of our Common Stock prior to this offering, among other factors. Other factors considered in determining the offering price of the securities we are offering and the exercise price and other terms of the Warrants include the history and prospects of our company, the stage of development of our business, our business plans for the future and the extent to which they have been implemented, an assessment of our management, general conditions of the securities markets at the time of the offering and such other factors as were deemed relevant. The combined public offering price per share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrant and the combined public offering price per Pre-Funded Warrant and accompanying Warrant may be at a discount to the current market price of our Common Stock. Therefore, the recent market price used throughout this prospectus may differ substantially from the combined public offering price.
You should read this prospectus, together with additional information described under the headings “Information Incorporated by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information” carefully before you invest in any of our securities.
We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined under the federal securities laws and, as such, have elected to be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. See “Prospectus Summary- Smaller Reporting Company Status.”
Per Share and Accompanying Warrant | Per Pre-Funded Warrant and Accompanying Warrant | Total | |||||||||||||||
Combined public offering price | |||||||||||||||||
Placement Agent fees(1) | |||||||||||||||||
Proceeds to us, before expenses(2) |
__________________
(1) Represents a cash fee equal to 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds raised in this offering. In addition, we have also agreed to pay the Placement Agent a management fee equal to 1.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds raised in this offering and to reimburse the Placement Agent for its non-accountable expenses in the amount of $15,000, for its legal fees and expenses and other out-of-pocket expenses in an amount of up to $100,000, and for its clearing expenses in the amount of $15,950. In addition, we have agreed to issue to the Placement Agent, or its designees, warrants (the “Placement Agent Warrants”) as compensation in connection with this offering to purchase a number of shares of our Common Stock equal to 7.0% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants being offered at an exercise price equal to 125% of the combined public offering price per share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrant. See the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” of this prospectus for a description of the compensation to be received by the Placement Agent.
(2) Because there is no minimum number of securities or amount of proceeds required as a condition to closing in this offering, the actual offering amount, Placement Agent fees, estimated expenses and net proceeds to us, if any, are not presently determinable and may be substantially less than the total maximum offering amounts set forth above. The amount of the proceeds to us presented in this table does not give effect to any exercise of the Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants offered hereby.
We anticipate that delivery of the securities against payment will be made on or about , 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before buying any shares, you should carefully read the discussion of material risks of investing in our securities in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed on the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
H.C. Wainwright & Co.
The date of this prospectus is , 2025
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) includes exhibits that provide more detail of the matters discussed in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related exhibits filed with the SEC, together with the additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference” before making your investment decision. You should rely only on the information provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, in any prospectus supplement or in a related free writing prospectus, or documents to which we otherwise refer you. In addition, this prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information.
This prospectus includes important information about us, the securities being offered and other information you should know before investing in our securities. You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference this prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front cover of this prospectus, even though this prospectus is delivered or securities are sold or otherwise disposed of on a later date. It is important for you to read and consider all information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus in making your investment decision. All of the summaries in this prospectus are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, is filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
Neither we nor the Placement Agent has authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We and the placement agent take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any applicable free writing prospectus is current only as of its date, regardless of its time of delivery or any sale of shares of our securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus, on the one hand, and the information contained in any document incorporated by reference filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, before the date of this prospectus, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus. If any statement in a document incorporated by reference is inconsistent with a statement in another document incorporated by reference having a later date, the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
No action is being taken in any jurisdiction outside the United States to permit a public offering of our securities or possession or distribution of this prospectus in that jurisdiction. Persons who come into possession of this prospectus in jurisdictions outside the United States are required to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions as to this public offering and the distribution of this prospectus applicable to that jurisdiction.
Unless otherwise indicated, information contained in this prospectus concerning our industry and the markets in which we operate, including our general expectations and market position, market opportunity and market share, is based on information from our own management estimates and research, as well as from industry and general publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third-parties. Management estimates are derived from publicly available information, our knowledge of our industry and assumptions based on such information and knowledge, which we believe to be reasonable. Our management estimates have not been verified by any independent source, and we have not independently verified any third-party information. In addition, assumptions and estimates of our and our industry’s future performance are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in “Risk Factors.” These and other factors could cause our future performance to differ materially from our assumptions and estimates. See “Risk Factors” and “Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.
We may also provide a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the registration statement to add information to, or update or change information contained in, this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the registration statement together with the additional information to which we refer you in the sections of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
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The following summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus from our filings with the SEC listed in the section entitled “Information Incorporated by Reference.” This summary is not complete and may not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our securities. You should read this entire prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus carefully, especially the risks of investing in our securities discussed under the heading “Risk Factors,” and our financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus before making an investment decision. Except as otherwise indicated herein or as the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus to “ASTI”, “Ascent”, “Ascent Solar”, “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. This prospectus includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. See “Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
This prospectus includes trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or other companies. All trademarks, service marks and trade names included in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.
Except as otherwise noted, all information in this prospectus reflects and assumes (i) no sale of Pre-Funded Warrants in this offering, which, if sold, would reduce the number of shares of common stock that we are offering on a one-for-one basis and (ii) no exercise of the Warrants issued in this offering.
Overview
We were incorporated in 2005 from the separation by ITN Energy Systems, Inc. (“ITN”) of its Advanced Photovoltaic Division and all of that division’s key personnel, core technologies, and certain trade secrets and royalty free licenses to use in connection with the manufacturing, developing marketing, and commercializing Copper-Indium-Gallium-diSelenide (“CIGS”) photovoltaic (“PV”) products.
We are a solar technology company that manufactures and sells PV solar modules that are flexible, durable, and possess attractive power to weight and power to area performance. Our technology provides renewable power solutions to high-value production and specialty solar markets where traditional rigid solar panels are not suitable, including space power beaming, aerospace, satellites, near earth orbiting vehicles, fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAV”), and agrivoltaics. We operate in these target markets because they have highly specialized needs for power generation and offer attractive pricing due to the significant technological requirements.
We believe the value proposition of Ascent’s proprietary solar technology not only aligns with the needs of customers in our target markets, but also overcomes many of the obstacle’s other solar technologies face in space, aerospace and other markets. Ascent designs and develops finished products for end users in these areas and collaborates with strategic partners to design and develop integrated solutions for products like satellites, spacecraft, airships and UAV. Ascent sees significant overlap in the needs of end users across some of these markets and believes it can achieve economies of scale in sourcing, development, and production in commercializing products for these customers.
The integration of Ascent's solar modules into space, near space, and aeronautic vehicles with ultra-lightweight and flexible solar modules is an important market opportunity for the Company. Customers in this market have historically required a high level of durability, high voltage and conversion efficiency from solar module suppliers, and we believe our products are well suited to compete in this premium market and will fill a void in the satellite market with a lower cost, lighter module and a product that, if struck by an object in space, will create limited space debris.
Commercialization and Manufacturing Strategy
We manufacture our products by affixing a thin CIGS layer to a flexible, plastic substrate using a large format, roll-to-roll process that permits us to fabricate our flexible PV modules in an integrated sequential operation. We use proprietary monolithic integration techniques which enable us to form complete PV modules with little to no costly back-end assembly of inter-cell connections. Traditional PV manufacturers assemble PV modules by bonding or soldering discrete PV cells together. This manufacturing step typically increases manufacturing costs and, at times, proves detrimental to the overall yield and reliability of the finished product. By reducing or eliminating this added step, using our proprietary monolithic integration techniques, we believe we can achieve cost savings in, and increase the reliability of, our PV modules.
Advantages of CIGS on a Flexible Plastic Substrate
Thin film PV solutions differ based on the type of semiconductor material chosen to act as a sunlight absorbing layer, and also on the type of substrate on which the sunlight absorbing layer is affixed. To the best of our knowledge, we believe we are the only company in the world currently focused on commercial scale production of PV modules using CIGS on a flexible, plastic substrate with monolithic integration. We utilize CIGS as a semiconductor material because, at the laboratory level, it has a higher demonstrated cell conversion efficiency than amorphous silicon (“a-Si”) and cadmium telluride (“CdTe”). We also believe CIGS offers other compelling advantages over both a-Si and CdTe, including:
· | CIGS versus a-Si: Although a-Si, like CIGS, can be deposited on a flexible substrate, its conversion efficiency, which already is generally much lower than that of CIGS, measurably degrades when it is exposed to ultraviolet light, including natural sunlight. To mitigate such degradation, manufacturers of a-Si solar cells are required to implement measures that add cost and complexity to their manufacturing processes. |
· | CIGS versus CdTe: Although CdTe modules have achieved conversion efficiencies that are generally comparable to CIGS in production, we believe CdTe has never been successfully applied to a flexible substrate on a commercial scale. We believe the use of CdTe on a rigid, transparent substrate, such as glass, is unsuitable for a number of our applications. We also believe CIGS can achieve higher conversion efficiencies than CdTe in production. |
We also believe that, although over time, Gallium Arsenide ("GaSa") modules have achieved conversion efficiencies that are generally comparable to CIGS, GaSa is more expensive than our CIGS products and that CIGS has a more advantageous weight per watt output when compared to GaSa.
We believe our choice of substrate material further differentiates us from other thin-film PV manufacturers. We believe the use of a flexible, lightweight, insulating substrate that is easier to install provides clear advantages for our target markets, especially where rigid substrates are unsuitable. We also believe our use of a flexible, plastic substrate provides us significant cost advantages because it enables us to employ monolithic integration techniques on larger components, which we believe are unavailable to manufacturers who use flexible, metal substrates. Accordingly, we are able to significantly reduce part count, thereby reducing the need for costly back end assembly of inter cell connections. As the only company, to our knowledge, focused on the commercial production of PV modules using CIGS on a flexible, plastic substrate with monolithic integration, we believe we have the opportunity to address the aerospace, agrivoltaics and other weight-sensitive markets with transformational high quality, value added product applications. It is these same unique features and our overall manufacturing process that enable us to produce extremely robust, light and flexible products.
Competitive Strengths
We believe we possess a number of competitive strengths that provide us with an advantage over our competitors.
· | We are a pioneer in CIGS technology with a proprietary, flexible, lightweight, high power PV thin film product that positions us to penetrate a wide range of attractive high value added markets such as aerospace, power beaming, and agrivoltaics. In addition, we have provided renewable power solutions for off grid, portable power, transportation, defense, and other markets. By applying CIGS to a flexible plastic substrate, we have developed a PV module that is efficient, lightweight and flexible; with the highest power-to-weight ratio in at-scale commercially available solar. Relative to our thin film competitors, we believe our advantage in thin film CIGS on plastic technology provides us with a superior product offering for these strategic market segments. |
· | We have the ability to manufacture PV modules for different markets and for customized applications without altering our production processes. Our ability to produce PV modules in customized shapes and sizes, or in a variety of shapes and sizes simultaneously, without interrupting production flow, provides us with flexibility in addressing target markets and product applications, and allows us to respond quickly to changing market conditions. Many of our competitors are limited by their technology and/or their manufacturing processes to a more restricted set of product opportunities. |
· | Our integrated, roll-to-roll manufacturing process and proprietary monolithic integration techniques provide us a potential cost advantage over our competitors. Historically, manufacturers have formed PV modules by manufacturing individual solar cells and then interconnecting them. Our large format, roll-to-roll manufacturing process allows for integrated continuous production. In addition, our proprietary monolithic integration techniques allow us to utilize laser patterning to create interconnects, thereby creating PV modules at the same time we create PV cells. In so doing, we are able to reduce or eliminate an entire back end processing step, saving time as well as labor and manufacturing costs relative to our competitors. |
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· | Our lightweight, powerful, and durable solar panels provide a performance advantage over our competitors. For applications where a premium is placed on the weight and profile of the product, our ability to integrate our PV modules into portable packages offers the customer a lightweight and durable solution. |
· | Our proven research and development capabilities position us to continue the development of next generation PV modules and technologies. Our ability to produce CIGS based PV modules on a flexible plastic substrate is the result of a concerted research and development effort that began more than 20 years ago. We continue to pursue research and development in an effort to drive efficiency improvements in our current PV modules and to work toward next generation technologies and additional applications. |
· | Our manufacturing process can be differentiated into two distinct functions; a front-end module manufacturing process and a back-end packaging process. Our ability to produce finished unpackaged rolls of CIGS material for shipment worldwide to customers for encapsulation and integration into various products enhances our ability to work with partners internationally and domestically. |
Markets and Marketing Strategy
We target high-value specialty solar markets including space power beaming, aerospace, satellites, near earth orbiting vehicles, fixed wing UAV, and agrivoltaics applications. This strategy enables us to fully leverage the unique advantages of our technology, including flexibility, durability and attractive power to weight and power to area performance. We operate in these target markets because they have highly specialized needs for power generation and offer attractive pricing due to the significant technological requirements.
We believe the value proposition of Ascent’s proprietary solar technology not only aligns with the needs of customers in our target markets, but also overcomes many of the obstacle’s other solar technologies face in space, aerospace and other markets. Ascent designs and develops finished products for end users in these areas and collaborates with strategic partners to design and develop integrated solutions for products like satellites, spacecraft, airships and UAV. Ascent sees significant overlap in the needs of end users across some of these markets and believes it can achieve economies of scale in sourcing, development, and production in commercializing products for these customers.
ASTI is in early discussions with several satellite companies, which could realize multiple sources of revenue. There is no assurance that these early discussions will ultimately lead to significant new revenue.
Product Update
The Company continues to focus on cell and aerial efficiency improvements on our Copper-Indium-Gallium-diSelenide ("CIGS")-based solar cells. With the incorporation of Zn(O,S) as a buffer layer, the Company learned that reintroducing CdS as a combined hybrid buffer layer improved overall performance and efficiencies by minimizing optical losses and improving overall short-circuit current and open-circuit voltages. These efforts resulted in Ascent’s engineering and production teams consistently achieving increases in device efficiency and overall performance since September 2023. In the last 18 months, Ascent has reached significant milestones in efficiency testing, with the latest achievement of 15.7% representing a significant increase from Q1 2024:
· | Q3 2023: 11.6 watts |
· | Q4 2023: 13.3 watts |
· | Q1 2024: 14.0 watts |
· | Q2 2025: 15.7 watts |
The Company will continue to focus its R&D efforts on increasing aerial efficiencies and power to weight ratios in the AM0 spectrum.
Due to the high durability enabled by the monolithic integration employed by our technology, the capability to customize modules into different form factors and what we believe is the industry leading light weight and flexibility provided by our modules, we believe that the potential applications for our products are extensive, including integrated solutions anywhere that may need power generation such as power beaming solutions, vehicles in space or in flight or dual-use installations on agricultural land.
Risks associated with our business
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 before making a decision to invest in our securities. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects would likely be materially, adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment.
Going Concern Opinion
Our working capital deficiency, stockholders’ deficit, and recurring losses from operations raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. As a result, our independent registered public accounting firm included an explanatory paragraph in its report on our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 with respect to this uncertainty. Our ability to continue as a going concern will require us to obtain additional funding.
Smaller Reporting Company Status
We are a “smaller reporting company” meaning that the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700 million and our annual revenue was less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company if either (i) the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250 million or (ii) our annual revenue was less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700 million. As a smaller reporting company, we may rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are available to smaller reporting companies. Specifically, as a smaller reporting company we may choose to present only the two most recent fiscal years of audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and smaller reporting companies have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation.
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We have taken advantage of these reduced reporting requirements in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Accordingly, the information contained herein may be different from the information you receive from other public companies that are not smaller reporting companies.
Our corporate information
We were incorporated under the laws of Delaware in October 2005. Our principal business office is located at 12300 Grant Street, Thornton, Colorado 80241, and our telephone number is (720) 872-5000. Our website address is www.ascentsolar.com. Information contained on our website or any other website does not constitute, and should not be considered, part of this prospectus.
INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus include forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “seek,” “predict,” “continue,” “possible,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” would” or “should” or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, our product candidates, research and development, commercialization objectives, prospects, strategies, the industry in which we operate and potential collaborations. We derive many of our forward-looking statements from our operating budgets and forecasts, which are based upon many detailed assumptions. While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and, of course, it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and may not be accurate indications of when such performance or results will be achieved. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable laws. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.
You should read this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us on the date of this prospectus.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. We caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition, business and prospects may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition, business and prospects are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained (or incorporated by reference) in this prospectus, those results may not be indicative of results in subsequent periods.
Forward-looking statements necessarily involve risks and uncertainties, and our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements due to several factors, including those set forth below under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. The factors set forth below under “Risk Factors” and other cautionary statements made in this prospectus should be read and understood as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this prospectus. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus represent our judgment as of the date of this prospectus. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on such statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained above and throughout this prospectus.
You should read this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
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Securities we are offering | Up to 3,205,129 shares of Common Stock and accompanying Warrants to purchase up to 3,205,129 shares of Common Stock, or Pre-Funded Warrants in lieu of shares of Common Stock to purchase shares of Common Stock and accompanying 3,205,129 Warrants to purchase shares up to 3,205,129 shares of Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock, or Pre-Funded Warrants, and in each case the accompanying Warrants will be separately transferable immediately upon issuance, but the shares of Common Stock, or Pre-Funded Warrants, and in each case the accompanying Warrants will be issued to purchasers in the ratio of one-for-one (1 for 1). There is no established trading market for the Warrants or the Pre-Funded Warrants, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply for the listing of the Warrants or the Pre-Funded Warrants on any national securities exchange or other trading market. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants will be limited. |
Description of Warrants: |
Each Warrant will be exercisable for one (1) share of Common Stock, will have an exercise price of $1.56 per share, and will be exercisable beginning on the effective date of the Warrant Stockholder Approval, provided however, if the Pricing Conditions are met, the Warrants will be exercisable upon the Initial Exercise Date. The Warrants will expire on the five (5) year anniversary of the Initial Exercise Date or the effective date of the Warrant Stockholder Approval, as applicable.
To better understand the terms of the Warrants, you should carefully read the “Description of Securities We Are Offering” section of this prospectus. You should also read the form of Warrant, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus. This prospectus also relates to the offering of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.
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Description of Pre-Funded Warrants: |
If the issuance of shares of our Common Stock to a purchaser in this offering would result in such purchaser, together with its affiliates and certain related parties, beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding Common Stock following the consummation of this offering, then such purchaser may purchase, if they so choose, in lieu of the shares of our Common Stock that would result in such excess ownership, a Pre-Funded Warrant to purchase shares of our Common Stock for a purchase price per share of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such Pre-Funded Warrant equal to the per share combined public offering price for the Common Stock to be sold in this offering less $0.0001. Each Pre-Funded Warrant will have an exercise price of $0.0001 per share, will be exercisable upon issuance and may be exercised at any time until all of the Pre-Funded Warrants are exercised in full. Purchasers of Pre-Funded Warrants will also receive accompanying Warrants as if such purchasers were buying shares of our Common Stock in this offering. This prospectus also relates to the offering of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of these Pre-Funded Warrants. For each Prefunded Warrant we sell, the number of shares of Common Stock we are offering will be decreased on a one-for-one basis. Because we will issue a Warrant for each share of our Common Stock and for each Pre-Funded Warrant sold in this offering, the number of Warrants sold in this offering will not change as a result of a change in the mix of the shares of our Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants sold.
To better understand the terms of the Pre-Funded Warrants, you should carefully read the “Description of Securities We Are Offering” section of this prospectus. You should also read the form of Pre-Funded Warrant, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.
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Description of Placement Agent Warrants: |
We have also agreed to issue to the Placement Agent or its designees as compensation in connection with this offering, the Placement Agent Warrants to purchase up to shares of Common Stock. The Placement Agent Warrants will be exercisable beginning on the effective date of the Warrant Stockholder Approval, provided however, if the Pricing Conditions are met, such Placement Agent Warrants will be exercisable upon issuance and will have substantially the same terms as the Warrants, except that the Placement Agent Warrants will have an exercise price of $ per share (representing 125% of the combined public offering price per share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrant) and a termination date that will be five (5) years from the commencement of the sales of securities pursuant to this offering. See “Plan of Distribution” below.
To better understand the terms of the Placement Agent Warrants, you should carefully read the descriptions of the Placement Agent Warrants in the “Description of Securities We Are Offering” and “Plan of Distribution” sections of this prospectus. You should also read the form of Placement Agent Warrant, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus. This prospectus also relates to the offering of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Placement Agent Warrant.
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Common stock to be outstanding prior to this offering |
1,924,980 shares.
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Common stock to be outstanding after this offering |
5,130,109 shares of Common Stock, assuming no sale of Pre-Funded Warrants in this offering and no exercise of the Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants being issued in this offering and an assumed combined public offering price of $1.56 per share and accompanying Warrant, which is equal to the last reported sale price per share of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on June 23, 2025.
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Use of Proceeds |
We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering based upon an assumed combined public offering price of $1.56 per share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrant, which was the closing price of our Common Stock on Nasdaq on June 23, 2025, after deducting Placement Agent fees and estimated offering expenses, will be approximately $4.36 million, assuming no sale of the Pre-Funded Warrants offered hereby and no exercise of the Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants.
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital, product development activities, general and administrative expenses and other general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.”
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Nasdaq Capital Market Symbol | Our Common Stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ASTI”. |
Risk Factors |
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our securities.
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Best Efforts Offering |
We have agreed to offer and sell the securities offered hereby to the purchasers through the Placement Agent. The Placement Agent is not required to buy or sell any specific number or dollar amount of the securities offered hereby, but it will use its reasonable best efforts to solicit offers to purchase the securities offered by this prospectus. See “Plan of Distribution” on page 23 of this prospectus.
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Lock-up | We, each of our officers and directors have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to sell, offer, agree to sell, contract to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale of, or otherwise dispose of or hedge, directly or indirectly, any shares of our capital stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock, for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus, without the prior written consent of the placement agent. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” and “Plan of Distribution” for additional information. |
The number of shares outstanding after this offering is based on 1,924,980 shares of our common stock outstanding as of June 23, 2025, and excludes:
· | 9 shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under outstanding restricted stock units (“RSUs”) granted as employment inducement award to our CEO, | |
· | 630,628 shares of our common stock reserved for issuance in connection with outstanding grants under our 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, | |
· | 102 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding common stock warrants, at an exercise price of $74,086 per share, | |
· | 85,543 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding common stock warrants, at an exercise price of $11.68 per share, | |
· | 43,044 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding common stock warrants, at an exercise price of $240.30 per share, | |
· | 1,292 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding common stock warrants, at an exercise price of $327.91 per share, | |
· | 13,136 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding common stock warrants, at an exercise price of $14.60 per share, | |
· | 825,091 shares reserved for issuance upon the conversion of our outstanding shares of preferred stock, | |
· | 513,121 shares reserved for issuance upon the sale of common stock on an at the market facility, | |
· | 24,400 shares of common stock reserved for issuance in connection with future grants that may be made under our 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, and | |
· | shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the placement agent’s warrants to be issued in connection with this offering. |
Except as otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes no exercise of the outstanding warrants or options, no conversion of preferred stock, no shares of our Common Stock are issued pursuant to outstanding RSUs and no shares of Common Stock or other awards are issued pursuant to our 2023 Equity Incentive Plan described above. The discussion above assumes no sale of Pre-Funded Warrants and no exercise of Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants in this offering.
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Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with those under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as those risk factors are amended or supplement by our subsequent filings with the SEC, together with all of the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including our financial statements and the related notes, before deciding to invest in our securities. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Other sections of this prospectus may include additional factors which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial performance. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of, or that we currently believe are not material, may also become important factors that affect us. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Relating to Our Business
Our continuing operations will require additional capital which we may not be able to obtain on favorable terms, if at all, or without dilution to our stockholders. Since inception, we have incurred significant losses. We expect to continue to incur net losses in the near term. For the year ended December 31, 2024, our cash used in operations was $8,423,569. At December 31, 2024, we had cash and equivalents on hand of $3,170,743. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, our cash used in operations was approximately $1.6 million.
We currently have limited industrial scale production capacities and we continue to focus on research and development activities to improve our PV products. We do not expect that sales revenue and cash flows will be sufficient to support operations and cash requirements until we have fully implemented our strategy of focusing on high value PV products and manufacturing at full industrial scale. Product revenues did not result in a positive cash flow for the 2024 year and the quarter ended March 31, 2025, and are not anticipated to result in a positive cash flow for the next twelve months.
During 2024, we entered into multiple financing agreements to fund operations, raising approximately $17.2 million in gross proceeds, of which $6.1 million was used to pay down debt and repurchase fully ratcheting warrants. We do not expect that sales revenue and cash flows will be sufficient to support operations and cash requirements for the foreseeable future, and we will depend on raising additional capital to maintain operations until we become profitable. There is no assurance that we will be able to raise additional capital on acceptable terms or at all. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership of our existing stockholders could be significantly diluted, and these newly issued securities may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of existing stockholders. If we raise additional funds through debt financing, which may involve restrictive covenants, our ability to operate our business may be restricted. If adequate funds are not available or are not available on acceptable terms, if and when needed, our ability to fund our operations, take advantage of unanticipated opportunities, develop or enhance our products, expand capacity or otherwise respond to competitive pressures could be significantly limited, and our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
We currently have limited committed sources of capital and we have limited liquidity. Our cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2025 was $2.3 million. We expect our current cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our operations into August 2025. Therefore, we will require substantial future capital in order to continue operations.
Following the receipt of $4.36 million in net proceeds from this offering, we believe our cash resources would be sufficient to fund our current operating plans into 2026. We have based these estimates, however, on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could spend our available financial resources much faster than we currently expect and need to raise additional funds sooner than we anticipate. If we are unable to raise additional capital when needed or on acceptable terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce, or eliminate our technology development and commercialization efforts.
Our auditors have expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our auditors’ report on our December 31, 2024 financial statements expresses an opinion that our capital resources as of the date of their audit report were not sufficient to sustain operations or complete our planned activities for the year 2025 unless we raised additional funds. Additionally, as a result of the Company’s recurring losses from operations, and the need for additional financing to fund its operating and capital requirements, there is uncertainty regarding the Company’s ability to maintain liquidity sufficient to operate its business effectively, which raises doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management cannot provide any assurances that the Company will be successful in accomplishing any of its plans. Our December 31, 2024 financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
We have a limited history of operations, have not generated significant revenue from operations and have had limited production of our products. We have a limited operating history and have generated limited revenue from operations. Currently we are producing products in quantities necessary to meet current demand. Under our current business plan, we expect losses to continue until annual revenues and gross margins reach a high enough level to cover operating expenses. Our ability to achieve our business, commercialization and expansion objectives will depend on a number of factors, including whether:
· | We can generate customer acceptance of and demand for our products; |
· | We successfully ramp up commercial production on the equipment installed; |
· | Our products are successfully and timely certified for use in our target markets; |
· | We successfully operate production tools to achieve the efficiencies, throughput and yield necessary to reach our cost targets; |
· | The products we design are saleable at a price sufficient to generate profits; |
· | We raise sufficient capital to enable us to reach a level of sales sufficient to achieve profitability on terms favorable to us; |
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· | We are able to successfully design, manufacture, market, distribute and sell our products; |
· | We effectively manage the planned ramp up of our operations; |
· | We successfully develop and maintain strategic relationships with key partners, including OEMs, system integrators and distributors, who deal directly with end users in our target markets; |
· | Our ability to maintain the listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market; |
· | Our ability to achieve projected operational performance and cost metrics; |
· | Our ability to enter into commercially viable licensing, joint venture, or other commercial arrangements; and |
· | The availability of raw materials. |
Each of these factors is critical to our success and accomplishing each of these tasks may take longer or cost more than expected or may never be accomplished. It also is likely that problems we cannot now anticipate will arise. If we cannot overcome these problems, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
We have to date incurred net losses and may be unable to generate sufficient sales in the future to become profitable. We incurred a net loss of $9,130,274 for the year ended December 31, 2024 and reported an accumulated deficit of $491,608,710 as of December 31, 2024. We incurred a net loss of $1,746,430 for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 and reported an accumulated deficit of $493,283,006 as of March 31, 2025. We expect to incur net losses in the near term. Our ability to achieve profitability depends on a number of factors, including market acceptance of our specialty PV products at competitive prices. If we are unable to raise additional capital and generate sufficient revenue to achieve profitability and positive cash flows, we may be unable to satisfy our commitments and may have to discontinue operations.
Risks Relating to our Securities and an Investment in our Company
Our stockholders may experience significant dilution as a result of shares of our common stock that may be issued (i) upon the exercise of our outstanding common stock warrants, (ii) upon the conversion of our convertible preferred stock, (iii) upon the sale of common stock using our at-the-market facility, and (iv) also pursuant to new securities that we may issue in the future. We may issue substantial amounts of additional common stock in connection with the exercise or conversion of our outstanding common stock warrants, convertible preferred stock, and sale of common stock using our at the market facility. See “Description of Capital Stock.”
The at-the-market facility contains variable pricing mechanisms. The number of shares that we will issue pursuant to these agreements, therefore, will fluctuate based on the price of our common stock.
The price of our common stock may continue to be volatile. Our common stock is currently traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The trading price of our common stock from time to time has fluctuated widely and may be subject to similar volatility in the future. For example, during the period from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, our common stock ranged from $2.255 to $85.30, and in 2023, our common stock ranged from $75.50 to $28,600 (all prices as adjusted for our prior reverse stock splits). The trading price of our common stock in the future may be affected by a number of factors, including events described in these Risk Factors. In recent years, broad stock market indices, in general, and smaller capitalization and PV companies, in particular, have experienced substantial price fluctuations. In a volatile market, we may experience wide fluctuations in the market price of our common stock. These fluctuations may have a negative effect on the market price of our common stock regardless of our operating performance. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been instituted. A securities class action suit against us could result in substantial costs, potential liabilities and the diversion of management’s attention and resources and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
As a public company we are subject to complex legal and accounting requirements that require us to incur substantial expenses, and our financial controls and procedures may not be sufficient to ensure timely and reliable reporting of financial information, which, as a public company, could materially harm our stock price and listing on Nasdaq Capital Market. As a public company, we are 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. 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/or governmental or private actions against us. We cannot assure you we will be able to comply with all of these requirements or the cost of such compliance will not prove to be a substantial competitive disadvantage vis-à-vis our privately held and larger public competitors.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley”) requires, among other things, that we maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. In particular, we must perform system and process evaluation and testing of our internal control over financial reporting to allow management to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley. Our compliance with Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley will require we incur substantial accounting expense and expend significant management efforts. The effectiveness of our controls and procedures may, in the future, be limited by a variety of factors, including:
· | Faulty human judgment and simple errors, omissions or mistakes; |
· | Fraudulent action of an individual or collusion of two or more people; |
· | Inappropriate management override of procedures; and |
· | The possibility that any enhancements to controls and procedures may still not be adequate to assure timely and accurate financial information. |
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If we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner, or if we or our independent registered public accounting firm, identifies deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses, we may be subject to Nasdaq Capital market delisting, investigations by the SEC and civil or criminal sanctions.
Our ability to successfully implement our business plan and comply with Section 404 requires us to be able to prepare timely and accurate financial statements. We expect we will need to continue to improve existing, and implement new operational, financial and accounting systems, procedures and controls to manage our business effectively.
Any delay in the implementation of, or disruption in the transition to, new or enhanced systems, procedures or controls may cause our operations to suffer, and we may be unable to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as required under Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley. If we are unable to complete the required Section 404 assessment as to the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, if we fail to maintain or implement adequate controls, our ability to obtain additional financing could be impaired. In addition, investors could lose confidence in the reliability of our internal control over financial reporting and in the accuracy of our periodic reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). A lack of investor confidence in the reliability and accuracy of our public reporting could cause our stock price to decline.
Our stockholders may experience significant dilution as a result of shares of our common stock that may be issued (i) upon the exercise or conversion of our derivative securities including convertible preferred stock and warrants, and (ii) pursuant to new securities that we may issue in the future. We may issue substantial amounts of additional common stock in connection with the exercise or conversion of our derivative securities including convertible preferred stock and warrants.
If we obtain additional financing involving the issuance of equity securities or securities convertible or exercisable for equity securities, our existing stockholders’ investment would be further diluted. Such dilution could cause the market price of our common stock to decline, which could impair our ability to raise additional financing. Depending on market liquidity at the time, sales of such newly issued additional shares into the market may cause the trading price of our common stock to fall.
Depending on market liquidity at the time, sales of such newly issued additional shares into the market may cause the trading price of our common stock to fall.
Sales of a significant number of shares of our common stock in the public markets or significant short sales of our stock, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital. Substantially all of our outstanding shares (and substantially all of the shares underlying our outstanding derivative securities), unless held by our affiliates, may be resold in the public market immediately without restriction. Shares held by our affiliates may be resold into the public market subject to compliance with the requirements of the SEC’s Rule 144. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock or other equity-related securities in the public markets could depress the market price of our common stock. If there are significant short sales of our stock, the price decline that could result from this activity may cause the share price to decline more so, which, in turn, may cause long holders of the stock to sell their shares, thereby contributing to sales of stock in the market. Such sales also may impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities in the future at a time and price that our management deems acceptable, if at all.
We may fail to continue to meet the listing standards of The Nasdaq Capital Market. Failure to maintain the listing of our common stock with a U.S. national securities exchange could adversely affect the liquidity off our common stock. Our common stock is currently listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market. In order to maintain that listing, we must satisfy minimum financial and other continued listing requirements and standards.
During 2023 and 2024, the Company received notices from Nasdaq indicating that the Company was not in compliance with (i) Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1), which requires companies listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market to maintain a minimum of $2,500,000 in stockholders’ equity for continued listing, and (ii) Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) which requires companies listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market to maintain a minimum of a $1.00 bid price for continued listing.
In September 2024, the Company received written notice from Nasdaq indicating that the Company had regained compliance with the bid price requirement and the equity requirement. The Company will be subject to a one year Nasdaq Listing Panel Monitor.
If we fail in the future to satisfy the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq, Nasdaq may take steps to delist our securities. Such a delisting would likely have a negative effect on the price and liquidity of our common stock and would impair your ability to sell or purchase our common stock when you wish to do so. In the event of a delisting, we would take actions to restore our compliance with Nasdaq’s listing requirements, but we can provide no assurance that any such action taken by us would allow our common stock to become listed again, stabilize the market price or improve the liquidity of our securities, prevent our common stock from dropping below the Nasdaq minimum share price requirement or prevent future non-compliance with Nasdaq’s listing requirements.
If our common stock were to be delisted from Nasdaq, our common stock could begin to trade on one of the markets operated by OTC Markets Group, including OTCQX, OTCQB or OTC Pink (formerly known as the “pink sheets”), as the case may be. In such event, our common stock could be subject to the “penny stock” rules which, among other things, require brokers or dealers to approve investors’ accounts, receive written agreements and determine investor suitability for transactions and disclose risks relating to investing in the penny stock market. Any such delisting of our common stock could have an adverse effect on the market price of, and the efficiency of the trading market for our common stock, not only in terms of the number of shares that can be bought and sold at a given price, but also through delays in the timing of transactions and less coverage of us by securities analysts, if any. Also, if in the future we were to determine that we need to seek additional equity capital, it could have an adverse effect on our ability to raise capital in the public or private equity markets. In addition, there can be no assurance that our common stock would be eligible for trading on any such alternative exchange or markets.
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Delisting from Nasdaq could adversely affect our ability to raise additional financing through public or private sales of equity securities, would significantly affect the ability of investors to trade our securities and would negatively affect the value and liquidity of our common stock. Delisting could also have other negative results, including the potential loss of confidence by employees, the loss of institutional investor interest and fewer business development opportunities.
Some provisions of our charter documents and Delaware law may have anti-takeover effects that could discourage an acquisition of us by others, even if an acquisition would be beneficial to our stockholders, and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management. Provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, each as amended, as well as provisions of Delaware law, could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, or for a change in the composition of our Board of Directors (our “Board”) or management to occur, even if doing so would benefit our stockholders. These provisions include:
· | Authorizing the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock, the terms of which may be established and shares of which may be issued without stockholder approval; | |
· | Dividing our Board into three classes; |
· | Limiting the removal of directors by the stockholders; and |
· | Limiting the ability of stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders. |
In addition, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any of a broad range of business combinations with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date on which the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless such transactions are approved by our Board. This provision could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control, whether or not it is desired by, or beneficial to, our stockholders.
Risks Relating to this Offering
You will experience immediate dilution as a result of this offering and may experience additional dilution in the future. The public offering price for the shares offered hereby will be substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock as of March 31, 2025, immediately after this offering. See the section entitled “Dilution” of this prospectus for a more detailed discussion of the dilution you will incur if you purchase Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants in this offering. If you purchase securities in this offering, you will incur substantial and immediate dilution in the net tangible book value of your investment. Net tangible book value per share represents the amount of total tangible assets less total liabilities, divided by the number of shares of our common stock then outstanding. To the extent that warrants that are currently outstanding or that are issued in this offering are exercised, there will be further dilution to your investment. We may also issue additional common stock, warrants, options and other securities in the future that may result in further dilution of your shares of our common stock.
Future sales of our common stock, or the perception that such sales may occur, could depress the trading price of our common stock. After the completion of this offering (and assuming no Pre-Funded Warrants are sold in this offering and assuming that the Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants are not exercised), we expect to have 5,130,109 shares of our common stock outstanding, which may be resold in the public market immediately after this offering. We and all of our directors and executive officers have signed lock-up agreements for a period of 90 days following the date of this prospectus, subject to specified exceptions. See “Plan of Distribution.”
The Placement Agent may, in its sole discretion and without notice, release all or any portion of the shares of our common stock subject to lock-up agreements. As restrictions on resale end, the market price of our common stock could drop significantly if the holders of these shares of our common stock sell them or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to raise additional funds through future offerings of our common stock or other securities.
The best efforts structure of this offering may have an adverse effect on our business plan. The Placement Agent is offering the securities in this offering on a best efforts basis. The Placement Agent is not required to purchase any securities or arrange for the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of the securities, but will use its best efforts to sell the securities offered. As a “best efforts” offering, there can be no assurance that the offering contemplated hereby will ultimately be consummated or will result in any proceeds being made available to us. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to the closing of this offering, the actual offering amount, placement agent fees and proceeds to us are not presently determinable and may be substantially less than the maximum amounts set forth herein. The success of this offering will impact our ability to use the proceeds to execute our business plan. We may have insufficient capital to implement our business plan, potentially resulting in greater operating losses unless we are able to raise the required capital from alternative sources. There is no assurance that alternative capital, if needed, would be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all.
We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds we receive from this offering and may not use them effectively. Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds we receive in this offering, including for any of the purposes described in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds,” and you will not have the opportunity as part of your investment decision to assess whether our management is using the net proceeds appropriately. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of our net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business and cause the price of our common stock to decline. Pending their use, we may invest our net proceeds from this offering in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities. These investments may not yield a favorable return to our stockholders.
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Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) sales practice requirements may limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our securities. Effective June 30, 2020, the SEC implemented Regulation Best Interest requiring that “a broker, dealer, or a natural person who is an associated person of a broker or dealer, when making a recommendation of any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities (including account recommendations) to a retail customer, shall act in the best interest of the retail customer at the time the recommendation is made, without placing the financial or other interest of the broker, dealer, or natural person who is an associated person of a broker or dealer making the recommendation ahead of the interest of the retail customer.” This is a significantly higher standard for broker-dealers to recommend securities to retail customers than before under FINRA “suitability rules.” FINRA suitability rules do still apply to institutional investors and require that in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending securities to their customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information, and for retail customers determine the investment is in the customer’s “best interest” and meet other SEC requirements. Both SEC Regulation Best Interest and FINRA’s suitability requirements may make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy speculative, low-priced securities. They may affect investing in our Common Stock, which may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in our securities. As a result, fewer broker-dealers may be willing to make a market in our Common Stock, reducing a stockholder’s ability to resell our Common Stock.
Purchasers who purchase our securities in this offering pursuant to a securities purchase agreement may have rights not available to purchasers that purchase without the benefit of a securities purchase agreement. In addition to rights and remedies available to all purchasers in this offering under federal securities and state law, the purchasers that enter into a securities purchase agreement will also be able to bring claims of breach of contract against us. The ability to pursue a claim for breach of contract provides those investors with the means to enforce the covenants uniquely available to them under the securities purchase agreement including, but not limited to: (i) timely delivery of shares; (ii) agreement to not enter into variable rate financings for one (1) year from closing, subject to certain exceptions; (iii) agreement to not enter into any financings for 90 days from closing, subject to certain exceptions; and (iv) indemnification for breach of contract.
There is no public market for the Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants being offered in this offering. There is no established public trading market for the Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants being offered in this offering, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system, including The Nasdaq Capital Market. Without an active market, the liquidity of the Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants will be limited.
The holders of Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants purchased in this offering will have no rights as common stockholders until such holders exercise their Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants and acquire shares of our Common Stock, except as set forth in the Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants. Until a holder of Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants acquires the shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants, as the case may be, such holder will have no rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying such Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants, except as set forth in the Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants. Upon exercise of the Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants, holders will be entitled to exercise the rights of common stockholders only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise date.
The Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants are speculative in nature. The Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants do not confer any rights of Common Stock ownership on their holders, such as voting rights, but rather merely represent the right to acquire shares of Common Stock at a fixed price for a limited period of time. There can be no assurance that the market price of the Common Stock will ever equal or exceed the exercise price of the Warrants, and consequently, it may not ever be profitable for holders of the Warrants to exercise the Warrants.
Unless otherwise indicated, information contained (or incorporated by reference) in this prospectus concerning our industry and the markets in which we operate is based on information from independent industry and research organizations, other third-party sources and management estimates. Management estimates are derived from publicly available information released by independent industry analysts and third-party sources, as well as data from our internal research, and are based on assumptions made by us upon reviewing such data and our knowledge of such industry and markets which we believe to be reasonable. Although we believe the data from these third-party sources is reliable, we have not independently verified any third-party information. In addition, projections, assumptions and estimates of the future performance of the industry in which we operate and our future performance are necessarily subject to uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in "Risk Factors" and "Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements." These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by the independent parties and by us.
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We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $4.36 million, after deducting the Placement Agent’s fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and assuming no sale of Pre-Funded Warrants in this offering and no exercise of the Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants being issued in this offering. However, because this is a reasonable best efforts offering and there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to the closing of this offering and we may not sell all or any of these securities offered pursuant to this prospectus, the actual offering amount, the Placement Agent’s fees and net proceeds to us are not presently determinable and may be substantially less than the maximum amounts set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.
These estimates exclude the proceeds, if any, from the exercise of the Warrants issued in this offering. If all of the Warrants issued in this offering were to be exercised in cash at an exercise price of $1.56 per share of Common Stock, we would receive additional proceeds of approximately $5.0 million. We cannot predict when or if these Warrants will be exercised. It is possible that these Warrants may expire and may never be exercised. Additionally, the Warrants contain a cashless exercise provision that permit exercise of Warrants on a cashless basis at any time where there is no effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the underlying shares.
These estimates also exclude the proceeds, if any, from the exercise of the Placement Agent Warrants issued in this offering. If all of the Placement Agent Warrants issued in this offering were to be exercised in cash at an exercise price of $ per share of Common Stock, we would receive additional proceeds of approximately $ . We cannot predict when or if these Placement Agent Warrants will be exercised. It is possible that these Placement Agent Warrants may expire and may never be exercised. Additionally, the Placement Agent Warrants contain a cashless exercise provision that permit exercise of Placement Agent Warrants on a cashless basis at any time where there is no effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the underlying shares.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash, for working capital, product development activities, general and administrative expenses and other general corporate purposes.
Our expected use of net proceeds from this offering represents our current intentions based upon our present plans and business condition. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot predict with complete certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to be received upon the completion of this offering or the actual amounts that we will spend on the uses set forth above. We believe opportunities may exist from time to time to expand our current business through the acquisition or in-license of complementary product candidates. While we have no current agreements for any specific acquisitions or in-licenses at this time, we may use a portion of the net proceeds for these purposes.
Pending the uses described above, we plan to invest the net proceeds from this offering in short- and intermediate-term, interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government.
MARKET PRICE OF AND DIVIDENDS ON COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Market Information
On August 24, 2022, our common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Our trading symbol is “ASTI.”
Holders
As of June 23, 2025, the number of record holders of our common stock was 39. Because many of our shares of common stock are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, we are unable to estimate the total number of stockholders represented by these record holders.
Dividends
The holders of common stock are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared by our Board of Directors. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we did not pay any common stock dividends, and we do not expect to declare or pay any dividends in the foreseeable future. Payment of future dividends will be within the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on, among other factors, our retained earnings, capital requirements, and operating and financial condition.
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Except as otherwise noted, all information in this prospectus reflects and assumes (i) no sale of Pre-Funded Warrants in this offering, which, if sold, would reduce the number of shares of common stock that we are offering on a one-for-one basis and (ii) no exercise of the Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants issued in this offering.
If you invest in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the assumed public offering price per share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrant and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.
Historical net tangible book value (deficit) per share is determined by dividing our total tangible assets less our total liabilities by the total number of shares of common stock outstanding. Our historical net tangible book value as of March 31, 2025, was approximately $0.8 million, or $0.47 per share, based on 1,705,977 shares of common stock outstanding as of that date.
After giving effect to the sale of 3,205,129 shares of our Common Stock and accompanying Warrants to purchase up to 3,205,129 shares of our Common Stock at an assumed combined public offering price per share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrant of $1.56, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on June 23, 2025, assuming no sale of any Pre-Funded Warrants in this offering, and after deducting the estimated Placement Agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and excluding the proceeds, if any, from the exercise of the Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants issued in this offering, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2025 would have been approximately $5.2 million, or approximately $1.05 per share. This represents an immediate increase in the net tangible book value to existing stockholders of $0.58 per share and an immediate dilution in the as adjusted net tangible book value of $0.51 per share of our Common Stock to the investors purchasing securities in this offering.
The following table illustrates this dilution per share:
Assumed public offering price per share and accompanying warrant | $ | 1.56 | ||||||
Historical net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2025 | $ | 0.47 | ||||||
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors participating in this offering | $ | 0.58 | ||||||
As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering | $ | 1.05 | ||||||
Dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering | $ | 0.51 |
Each $0.10 increase or decrease in the assumed combined public offering price per share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrant of $1.56, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on June 23, 2025, would increase or decrease the net proceeds to us from this offering by $0.3 million, assuming that the number of shares of Common Stock and accompanying Warrants offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, assuming no sale of any Pre-Funded Warrants, after deducting the estimated Placement Agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and excluding the proceeds, if any, from the exercise of the Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants issued pursuant to this offering. The information discussed above is illustrative only and will be adjusted based on the actual public offering price and other terms of this offering as determined between us and the Placement Agent at pricing.
The foregoing table and calculations (other than the historical net tangible book value calculation) are based on 1,705,977 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2025, and excludes:
· | 9 shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under outstanding restricted stock units (“RSUs”) granted as employment inducement award to our CEO, | |
· | 630,628 shares of our common stock reserved for issuance in connection with outstanding grants under our 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, | |
· | 102 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding common stock warrants, at an exercise price of $74,086 per share, | |
· | 85,543 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding common stock warrants, at an exercise price of $11.68 per share, | |
· | 43,044 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding common stock warrants, at an exercise price of $240.30 per share, | |
· | 1,292 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding common stock warrants, at an exercise price of $327.91 per share, | |
· | 13,136 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding common stock warrants, at an exercise price of $14.60 per share, | |
· | 825,091 shares reserved for issuance upon the conversion of our outstanding preferred stock | |
· | 513,121 shares reserved for issuance upon the sale of common stock on an at the market facility, | |
· | 24,400 shares of common stock reserved for issuance in connection with future grants that may be made under our 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, and | |
· | shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the placement agent’s warrants to be issued in connection with this offering. |
The discussion and table above assume no sale of Pre-Funded Warrants, which, if sold, would reduce the number of shares of common stock that we are offering on a one-for-one basis, or exercise of any Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants.
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The following summary describes our common stock and the material provisions of our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws, each of which are incorporated by reference to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). Because the following is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a complete description, you should refer to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. We encourage you to read those documents and the DGCL carefully
Authorized Capital Stock
Our authorized capital stock consists of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of which 750,000 have been designated Series A preferred stock and 4,000 have been designated Series 1C preferred stock.
The authorized but unissued shares of common and preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval, unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange rules. Additional authorized but unissued shares may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares could hinder or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Outstanding Capital Stock
As of June 23, 2025, the Company had issued and outstanding 1,924,980 shares of common stock, 48,100 shares of Series A preferred stock and 815 shares of Series 1C preferred stock.
Series A Preferred Stock
Rank
The Series A preferred stock ranks pari passu to the common stock with respect to dividends and rights upon liquidation.
Voting Rights
Except as otherwise required by law (or with respect to approval of certain actions), the Series A preferred stock shall have no voting rights.
Dividends
Holders of Series A preferred stock are entitled to cumulative dividends at a rate of 8% per annum when and if declared by the Board of Directors at its sole discretion. The dividends may be paid in cash or in the form of common stock (valued at 10% below market price, but not to exceed the lowest closing price during the applicable measurement period), at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The dividend rate on the Series A Preferred Stock is indexed to the Company's stock price and subject to adjustment.
Conversion and Redemption Rights
The Series A Preferred Stock may be converted into shares of common stock at the option of the Company if the closing price of the common stock exceeds $23.2 billion, adjusted for reverse stock splits, for twenty consecutive trading days, or by the holder at any time. The Company has the right to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock at a price of $8.00 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends, plus the make-whole amount (if applicable). At March 31, 2025, the preferred shares were not eligible for conversion to common shares at the option of the Company. The holder of the preferred shares may convert to common shares at any time. After making adjustment for the Company’s prior reverse stock splits, all 48,100 outstanding Series A preferred shares are convertible into less than one common share. Upon any conversion (whether at the option of the Company or the holder), the holder is entitled to receive any accrued but unpaid dividends.
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Liquidation Value
Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, after payment or provision for payment of debts and other liabilities of the Company, the holders of Series A preferred stock shall be entitled to receive, pari passu with any distribution to the holders of common stock of the Company, an amount equal to $8.00 per share of Series A preferred stock plus any accrued and unpaid dividends.
Series 1C Preferred Stock
Rank
The Series 1C preferred stock ranks senior to the common stock with respect to dividends and rights upon liquidation.
Voting Rights
On any matter presented to the stockholders of the Company for their action or consideration at any meeting of stockholders of the Company (or by written consent of stockholders in lieu of meeting), each holder of outstanding shares of Series 1C Preferred Stock shall be entitled to cast the number of votes equal to the number of whole shares of common stock into which the outstanding shares of Series 1C Preferred Stock held by such holder are convertible as of the record date (but only after giving effect to the maximum percentage conversion limitations referred to above). Except as provided by law or by the other provisions of the Series 1C Preferred Stock, holders of Series 1C Preferred Stock shall vote together with the holders of common stock as a single class and on an as-converted to common stock basis.
Dividends
Holders of the Series 1C Preferred Stock are entitled to dividends on the per share stated value of $1,000 in the amount of 10% per annum, payable quarterly. The dividend rate will increase to 15% if any of the Series 1C Preferred Stock remains outstanding on or after October 17, 2027. Unless the Company elects to pay dividends on the Series 1C Preferred Stock in cash, the Company will cumulate the dividends, in which case the accrued dividend amount shall be added to the stated value of each share of Series 1C Preferred Stock. The Company recorded accrued dividends of $86,369 as of March 31, 2025.
Conversion Rights
The Series 1C Preferred Stock is convertible into common stock at any time after April 17, 2025 at the option of the holder at an initial fixed conversion price of $2.50 per share of common stock; however, the holder may not convert any portion to the extent that the holder would beneficially own more than 4.99% of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the conversion.
Redemption
If at any time the closing sale price of the Company’s common stock equals at least 300% of the conversion price for the most recent 20 consecutive trading days, the Company shall have the right to redeem all, but not less than all, of the Series 1C Preferred Stock then outstanding in cash at a price equal to 110% of the stated value of the shares being redeemed.
Liquidation Value
Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of Series 1C Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive in cash out of the assets of the Company, before any amount shall be paid to the holders of any of shares of common stock, an amount per share of Series 1C Preferred Stock equal to the greater of (A) 110% of the stated value of such preferred share and (B) the amount per share such holder would receive if such holder converted such preferred share into common stock immediately prior to the date of such payment.
Common Stock
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders. The holders of our common stock do not have any cumulative voting rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, subject to any preferential dividend rights of any outstanding preferred stock. Our common stock has no preemptive rights, conversion rights or other subscription rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions.
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of all debts and other liabilities and any liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock. Each outstanding share of common stock is duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
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Preferred Stock
Our board is authorized by our charter 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 and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof 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. Any future issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control without further action by our stockholders and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock.
The issuance of shares of preferred stock, or the issuance of rights to purchase such shares, could be used to discourage an unsolicited acquisition proposal. For instance, the issuance of a series of preferred stock might impede a business combination by including class voting rights that would enable a holder to block such a transaction. In addition, under certain circumstances, the issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of our common stock. Although our board is required to make any determination to issue preferred stock based on its judgment as to the best interests of our stockholders, our board could act in a manner that would discourage an acquisition attempt or other transaction that some, or a majority, of our stockholders might believe to be in their best interests or in which such stockholders might receive a premium for their stock over the then market price of such stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Our charter 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.
Board Composition; Removal of Directors and Filling Board Vacancies
Our charter provides that stockholders may remove directors only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares entitled to vote at an election of directors.
Our bylaws authorize only our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, including newly created seats. In addition, the number of directors constituting our board of directors may only be set by a resolution adopted by a majority vote of our entire board of directors. These provisions would prevent a stockholder from increasing the size of our board of directors and then gaining control of our board of directors by filling the resulting vacancies with its own nominees. This makes it more difficult to change the composition of our board of directors but promotes continuity of management.
Staggered Board
Our Board is divided into three classes, with one class of directors elected at each year's annual stockholders meeting. 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.
Advance Notice Requirements
Our bylaws provide advance notice procedures for stockholders seeking to bring matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders. Our bylaws also specify certain requirements regarding the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions might preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of stockholders if the proper procedures are not followed. We expect that these provisions might also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company.
Special Meetings
Our bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders may only be called at the request of a majority of the board, and only those matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered or acted upon at a special meeting of stockholders.
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Undesignated Preferred Stock
Our charter provides for 25,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock may enable our board to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. For example, if in the due exercise of its fiduciary obligations, our board of directors were to determine that a takeover proposal is not in the best interests of our stockholders, our board could cause shares of convertible preferred stock to be issued without stockholder approval in one or more private offerings or other transactions that might dilute the voting or other rights of the proposed acquirer or insurgent stockholder or stockholder group. In this regard, our charter grants our board broad power to establish the rights and preferences of authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock. The issuance of shares of preferred stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to holders of shares of common stock. The issuance may also adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of these holders and may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control of us.
Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that this stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. Under Section 203, a business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder is prohibited unless it satisfies one of the following conditions:
• | before the stockholder became interested, our board approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; | |
• | upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested 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 voting stock outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans, in some instances, but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder; or | |
• | at or after the time the stockholder became interested, the business combination was approved by our board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Section 203 defines a business combination to include:
• | any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; | |
• | any sale, transfer, lease, pledge, exchange, mortgage or other disposition involving the interested stockholder of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation; | |
• | subject to exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; or | |
• | the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation. |
In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by the entity or person.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar of our common stock is Computershare Investor Services.
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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING
We are offering up to 3,205,129 shares of Common Stock, together with Warrants to purchase up to 3,205,129 shares of Common Stock. We are also offering Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase 3,205,129 shares of Common Stock to those purchasers, whose purchase of shares of Common Stock in this offering would result in the purchaser, together with its affiliates and certain related parties, beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding Common Stock following the consummation of this offering in lieu of the shares of our Common Stock that would result in ownership in excess of 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 9.99%). Each Pre-Funded Warrant will be exercisable for one (1) share of Common Stock. Each Pre-Funded Warrant is being issued together with the same Warrant described above being issued with each share of Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants, as the case may be, and the accompanying Warrants, can only be purchased together in this offering, but the shares of Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants and accompanying Warrants are immediately separable and will be issued separately in this offering. We are also registering the shares of Common Stock issuable from time to time upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants and Warrants offered hereby.
Common Stock
The material terms and provisions of our Common Stock are described under the caption “Description of Capital Stock.”
Warrants
The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the Warrants included with the shares of Common Stock and the Pre-Funded Warrants that are being issued hereby is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of the Warrants, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Prospective investors should carefully review the terms and provisions of the form of warrant for a complete description of the terms and conditions of the Warrants.
Duration, Exercise Price and Form
Each Warrant offered hereby will have an exercise price of $1.56 per share and will be exercisable beginning on the effective date of the Warrant Stockholder Approval, provided however, if the Pricing Conditions are met, the Warrants will be exercisable upon the Initial Exercise Date. The Warrants will expire on the five (5) year anniversary of the Initial Exercise Date or the effective date of the Warrant Stockholder Approval, as applicable. The exercise price and number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of stock dividends, stock splits, reorganizations or similar events affecting our Common Stock and the exercise price. The Warrants will be issued separately from the Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants and may be transferred separately immediately thereafter.
We intend to promptly, and in no event later than 90 days after the consummation of this offering, seek stockholder approval for the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants but we cannot assure you that such stockholder approval will be obtained, provided, however, that, if and only if the Pricing Conditions are satisfied, then we will not seek Warrant Stockholder Approval. We have agreed with the investors in this offering that, if we do not obtain stockholder approval for the issuance of the shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrants at the first stockholder meeting for such purpose after this offering, we will call a stockholder meeting every 90 days thereafter until the earlier of the date we obtain such approval or the Warrants are no longer outstanding, provided, however, that, if and only if the Pricing Conditions are satisfied, then we will not seek Warrant Stockholder Approval.
Exercisability
The Warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part, by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full for the number of shares of our Common Stock purchased upon such exercise (except in the case of a cashless exercise as discussed below). A holder (together with its affiliates) may not exercise any portion of the Warrant to the extent that the holder would own more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser prior to the issuance of the Warrants, 9.99%) of the outstanding Common Stock immediately after exercise. Following the issuance of the Warrants, upon notice from the holder to us, the holder may increase or decrease the amount of beneficial ownership of outstanding Common Stock after exercising the holder’s Warrants up to 9.99% of the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Warrants and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, provided that any increase in the beneficial ownership limitation shall not be effective until sixty-one (61) days following notice to us.
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Cashless Exercise
If, at the time a holder exercises its Warrants, a registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants under the Securities Act is not then effective or available for the issuance of such shares, then in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to us upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder may elect instead to receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) the net number of shares of Common Stock determined according to a formula set forth in the Warrants.
Fractional Shares
No fractional shares of common stock will be issued upon the exercise of the Warrants. Rather, the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued will be rounded up to the next whole share or we will pay a cash adjustment equal to such fraction multiplied by the exercise price to the holder.
Transferability
Subject to applicable laws, a Warrant may be transferred at the option of the holder upon surrender of the Warrant to us together with the appropriate instruments of transfer.
Trading Market and Listing
There is no trading market available for the Warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system, and we do not expect a trading market to develop. We do not intend to list the Warrants on any securities exchange or other trading market. Without a trading market, the liquidity of the warrants will be extremely limited. The Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is currently listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market.
Rights as a Stockholder
Except as otherwise provided in the Warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of shares of our Common Stock, the holders of the Warrants do not have the rights or privileges of holders of our Common Stock, including any voting rights, until they exercise their Warrants.
Fundamental Transaction
In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the Warrants and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our Common Stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of greater than 50% of our outstanding Common Stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of greater than 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding Common Stock, the holders of the Warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the Warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction. In addition, in certain circumstances, upon a fundamental transaction, the holder of the Warrants will have the right to require us to repurchase its Warrants at the Black-Scholes value; provided, however, that, if the fundamental transaction is not within our control, including not approved by our Board, then the holder will only be entitled to receive the same type or form of consideration (and in the same proportion), at the Black-Scholes value of the unexercised portion of the Warrant that is being offered and paid to the holders of our Common Stock in connection with the fundamental transaction.
Waivers and Amendments
The Warrants may be modified or amended, or the provisions thereof waived, with the written consent of the holder of such Warrant and us.
Pre-Funded Warrants
The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the Pre-Funded Warrants that are being issued hereby is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of the Pre-Funded Warrant, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Prospective investors should carefully review the terms and provisions of the form of Pre-Funded Warrant for a complete description of the terms and conditions of the Pre-Funded Warrants.
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Duration, Exercise Price and Form
Each Pre-Funded Warrant offered hereby will have an initial exercise price per share equal to $0.0001. The Pre-Funded Warrants will be immediately exercisable and may be exercised at any time until all of the Pre-Funded Warrants are exercised in full. The exercise price and number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of stock dividends, stock splits, reorganizations or similar events affecting our Common Stock and the exercise price. The Pre-Funded Warrants will be issued separately from the accompanying Warrants.
Exercisability
The Pre-Funded Warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part, by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full for the number of shares of our Common Stock purchased upon such exercise (except in the case of a cashless exercise as discussed below). A holder (together with its affiliates) may not exercise any portion of the Pre-Funded Warrant to the extent that the holder would own more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser prior to the issuance of the Pre-Funded Warrant, 9.99%) of the outstanding Common Stock immediately after exercise. Following the issuance of the Pre-Funded Warrants, upon notice from the holder to us, the holder may increase or decrease the amount of beneficial ownership of outstanding Common Stock after exercising the holder’s Pre-Funded Warrants up to 9.99% of the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Pre-Funded Warrants and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. Purchasers of Pre-Funded Warrants in this offering may also elect prior to the issuance of the Pre-Funded Warrants to have the initial exercise limitation set at 9.99% of our outstanding Common Stock, provided that any increase in the beneficial ownership limitation shall not be effective until sixty-one (61) days following notice to us.
Cashless Exercise
In lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to us upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder may elect instead to receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) the net number of shares of Common Stock determined according to a formula set forth in the Pre-Funded Warrants.
Fractional Shares
No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon the exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants. Rather, the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued will be rounded up to the next whole share or we will pay a cash adjustment to such fraction multiplied by the exercise price to the holder.
Transferability
Subject to applicable law, the Pre-Funded Warrants may be transferred at the option of the holder upon surrender of the Pre-Funded Warrants to us together with the appropriate instruments of transfer.
Trading Market and Listing
There is no trading market available for the Pre-Funded Warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system, and we do not expect a trading market to develop. We do not intend to list the Pre-Funded Warrants on any securities exchange or other trading market. Without a trading market, the liquidity of the Pre-Funded Warrants will be extremely limited. The Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants is currently listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market.
Rights as a Stockholder
Except as otherwise provided in the Pre-Funded Warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of shares of our Common Stock, the holders of the Pre-Funded Warrants do not have the rights or privileges of holders of our Common Stock, including any voting rights, until they exercise their Pre-Funded Warrants. The Pre-Funded Warrants will provide that holders have the right to participate in distributions or dividends paid on our Common Stock.
Fundamental Transaction
In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the Pre-Funded Warrants and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our Common Stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of greater than 50% of our outstanding Common Stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of greater than 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding Common Stock, the holders of the Pre-Funded Warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the Pre-Funded Warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction.
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Waivers and Amendments
The Pre-Funded Warrants may be modified or amended, or the provisions thereof waived, with the written consent of the holder of such Pre-Funded Warrant and us.
Placement Agent Warrants
We have also agreed to issue to the Placement Agent or its designees as compensation in connection with this offering, the Placement Agent Warrants to purchase up to shares of Common Stock. The Placement Agent Warrants will be exercisable beginning on the effective date of the Warrant Stockholder Approval, provided however, if the Pricing Conditions are met, such Placement Agent Warrants will be exercisable upon issuance and will have substantially the same terms as the Warrants described above, except that the Placement Agent Warrants will have an exercise price of $ per share (representing 125% of the combined public offering price per share and accompanying Warrant) and a termination date that will be five (5) years from the commencement of the sales pursuant to this offering. See “Plan of Distribution” below.
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Future sales of our common stock, including shares issued upon exercise of outstanding options and warrants, in the public market after this offering, or the perception that those sales may occur, could cause the prevailing market price for our common stock to fall or impair our ability to raise equity capital in the future. As described below, only a limited number of shares of our common stock will be available for sale in the public market after consummation of this offering due to contractual and legal restrictions on resale described below. Future sales of our common stock in the public market either before (to the extent permitted) or after restrictions lapse, or the perception that those sales may occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock at such time and our ability to raise equity capital at a time and price we deem appropriate.
Sale of outstanding shares
Except as otherwise noted, all information in this prospectus reflects and assumes (i) no sale of Pre-Funded Warrants in this offering, which, if sold, would reduce the number of shares of common stock that we are offering on a one-for-one basis and (ii) no exercise of the Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants issued in this offering.
Based on the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of June 23, 2025, upon the closing of this offering we will have outstanding 5,130,109 shares of common stock.
Except for the outstanding shares that are held by our affiliates, substantially all of our outstanding shares may be resold in the public market immediately (i) without any restriction or (ii) with minimal restrictions in compliance with the SEC’s Rule 144 (as described below) as applied to sales by non-affiliates.
Unless purchased or held by our affiliates, the 3,205,129 shares sold in this offering and the shares issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants may be resold in the public market immediately without any restriction.
Lock-up agreements
In connection with this offering, we, our officers and directors agreed that, for a period of 90 days from , 2025 (the date of this prospectus), we and they will not, without the prior written consent of the Placement Agent, dispose of or hedge any shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, subject to certain exceptions.
The Placement Agent, in its sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time. If the restrictions under the lock-up agreements are waived, shares of our common stock may become available for resale into the market, subject to applicable law, which could reduce the market price for our common stock. “Plan of Distribution.”
Rule 144
In general, under Rule 144, as currently in effect, once we have been subject to the public company reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, for at least 90 days, a person (or persons whose shares are required to be aggregated) who is not deemed to have been one of our “affiliates” for purposes of Rule 144 at any time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our “affiliates,” is entitled to sell those shares in the public market (subject to the lock-up agreements referred to above, if applicable) without complying with the manner of sale, volume limitations or notice provisions of Rule 144, but subject to compliance with the public information requirements of Rule 144.
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Rule 144(a)(1) defines an “affiliate” of an issuing company as a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such issuer. Directors, officers and holders of ten percent or more of the Company’s voting securities (including securities which are issuable within the next sixty days) are deemed to be affiliates of the issuing company. If such a person has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least one year, including the holding period of any prior owner other than “affiliates,” then such person is entitled to sell such shares in the public market without complying with any of the requirements of Rule 144 (subject to the lock-up agreements referred to above, if applicable).
In general, under Rule 144, as currently in effect, once we have been subject to the public company reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for at least 90 days, our “affiliates,” as defined in Rule 144, who have beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our “affiliates,” are entitled to sell in the public market, upon expiration of any applicable lock-up agreements and within any three-month period, a number of those shares of our common stock that does not exceed the greater of:
· | 1% of the number of common shares then outstanding; or |
· | the average weekly trading volume of our common stock on the Nasdaq during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to such sale. |
Such sales under Rule 144 by our “affiliates” or persons selling shares on behalf of our “affiliates” are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions, notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.
Pursuant to an engagement agreement, dated June 17, 2025, as amended on June 23, 2025 (the “Engagement Agreement”), we have engaged H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (the “Placement Agent”) to act as our exclusive placement agent to solicit offers to purchase the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus on a “reasonable best efforts” basis. The Engagement Agreement does not give rise to any commitment by the Placement Agent to purchase any of our securities, and the Placement Agent will have no authority to bind us by virtue of the Engagement Agreement. The Placement Agent is not purchasing or selling any of the securities offered by us under this prospectus, nor is it required to arrange for the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of securities. This is a reasonable best efforts offering, and there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to the closing of this offering. The Placement Agent has agreed to use reasonable best efforts to arrange for the sale of the securities by us. Therefore, we may not sell all of the shares of Common Stock, Pre-Funded Warrants and Warrants being offered. The terms of this offering are subject to market conditions and negotiations between us, the Placement Agent and prospective investors. The Placement Agent does not guarantee that it will be able to raise new capital in any prospective offering. The Placement Agent may engage sub-agents or selected dealers to assist with the offering.
Investors purchasing securities offered hereby will have the option to execute a securities purchase agreement with us. In addition to rights and remedies available to all purchasers in this offering under federal securities and state law, the purchasers which enter into a securities purchase agreement will also be able to bring claims of breach of contract against us. The ability to pursue a claim for breach of contract is material to larger purchasers in this offering as a means to enforce the following covenants uniquely available to them under the securities purchase agreement: (i) a covenant to not enter into variable rate financings for a period of one (1) year following the closing of the offering, subject to certain exceptions; and (ii) a covenant to not enter into any equity financings for 90 days from closing of the offering, subject to certain exceptions. The nature of the representations, warranties and covenants in the securities purchase agreements shall include:
· | standard issuer representations and warranties on matters such as organization, qualification, authorization, no conflict, no governmental filings required, current in SEC filings, no litigation, labor or other compliance issues, environmental, intellectual property and title matters and compliance with various laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; and |
· | covenants regarding matters such as no integration with other offerings, filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K to disclose entering into these securities purchase agreements, no stockholder rights plans, no material nonpublic information, use of proceeds, indemnification of purchasers, reservation and listing of shares of Common Stock and no subsequent equity sales for days. |
Delivery of the shares of Common Stock, the Warrants and the Pre-Funded Warrants, if any, offered hereby is expected to occur on or about , 2025, subject to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions.
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Fees and Expenses
We have agreed to pay the Placement Agent a total cash fee equal to 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds raised in this offering and a management fee equal to 1.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds raised in this offering. We will also pay the Placement Agent a non-accountable expense allowance of $15,000 and $15,950 for the expenses of its clearing firm and will reimburse the Placement Agent’s legal fees and expenses in an amount up to $100,000. We estimate the total offering expenses of this offering that will be payable by us, excluding the Placement Agent’s fees and expenses, will be approximately $107,050. After deducting the Placement Agent’s fees and our estimated offering expenses, we expect the net proceeds from this offering to be approximately $4.36 million.
The following table shows the per share, per Pre-Funded Warrant and total cash fees we will pay to the Placement Agent in connection with the sale of the Common Stock, the Warrants and the Pre-Funded Warrants pursuant to this prospectus.
Per Share and Accompanying Warrant | Per Pre-Funded Warrant and Accompanying Warrant | Total | |||||||||||||||
Combined public offering price | |||||||||||||||||
Placement Agent fees | |||||||||||||||||
Proceeds to us, before expenses |
Placement Agent Warrants
We have agreed to grant Placement Agent Warrants to the Placement Agent or its designees to purchase a number of shares of our Common Stock equal to 7.0% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants sold to the investors in this offering. The Placement Agent Warrants will have an exercise price of $ per share (125% of the combined public offering price per share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrant), will be exercisable beginning on the effective date of the Warrant Stockholder Approval, provided however, if the Pricing Conditions are met, such Placement Agent Warrants will be exercisable upon issuance and will terminate on the five (5) year anniversary of the commencement of sales in this offering. The Placement Agent Warrants are registered on the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The form of the Placement Agent Warrant will be included as an exhibit to this Registration Statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
The Placement Agent Warrants provide for customary anti-dilution provisions (for stock dividends, splits and recapitalizations and the like) consistent with FINRA Rule 5110. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e), the Placement Agent Warrants and any shares issuable thereunder shall not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of commencement of sales of this offering, except the transfer of any security: (i) by operation of law or by reason of reorganization of the issuer; (ii) to any FINRA member firm participating in the offering and the officers, partners, registered persons or affiliates thereof, if all securities so transferred remain subject to the lock-up restriction set forth above for the remainder of the time period; (iii) if the aggregate amount of our securities held by the Placement Agent persons does not exceed 1% of the securities being offered; (iv) that is beneficially owned on a pro-rata basis by all equity owners of an investment fund, provided that no participating member manages or otherwise directs investments by the fund and the participating members in the aggregate do not own more than 10% of the equity in the fund; (v) the exercise or conversion of any security, if all securities remain subject to the lock-up restriction set forth above for the remainder of the time period; (vi) if we meet the registration requirements of Forms S-3, F-3 or F-10; or (vii) back to us in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act.
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Right of First Refusal
We have granted the Placement Agent a right of first refusal for a period of 12 months following the closing of this offering to act as sole book-running manager, sole underwriter or sole placement agent for each and every future public or private offering or other capital-raising financing of equity, equity-linked or debt securities by us or any of our successors or subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this paragraph, in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(6)(A)(i), any such right of first refusal described in this paragraph shall not have a duration of more than three years from the commencement of sales of the first offering or the termination date of the term of the Engagement Agreement.
Tail
We have also agreed to pay the Placement Agent a tail fee equal to (i) a cash fee of 7.0% raised in any financing subject to the tail provision, and (ii) warrant coverage equal to 7.0% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock (or Common Stock equivalent) placed in any financing subject to the tail provision, as applicable to such financing, if any investor, who was contacted by the Placement Agent or “wall crossed” during the term of its engagement, provides us with capital in any public or private offering or other financing or capital raising transaction during the 12 month period following expiration or termination of our engagement of the Placement Agent, subject to certain exceptions.
Other Relationships
From time to time, the Placement Agent or its affiliates has provided, or may provide in the future, various advisory, investment and commercial banking and other services to us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of business, for which it has or may receive customary fees and commissions. Except as disclosed in this prospectus, we have no present arrangements with the Placement Agent for any services.
On May 16, 2024, the Company entered into an At The Market Offering Agreement (the “ATM Agreement”) with the Placement Agent, to sell shares of Common Stock, from time to time, through an “at the market offering” program under which the Placement Agent will act as sales agent. We agreed to pay the Placement Agent certain expenses and reimbursements in connection with the ATM Agreement.
In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the Placement Agent and its affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The Placement Agent and its affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
Determination of Offering Price
The combined public offering price per share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrant and the combined public offering price per Pre-Funded Warrant and accompanying Warrant we are offering, and the exercise prices and other terms of the Warrants were negotiated between us and the investors, in consultation with the Placement Agent based on the trading of our Common Stock prior to this offering, among other things. Other factors considered in determining the offering prices of the securities we are offering and the exercise prices and other terms of the Warrants include the history and prospects of our company, the stage of development of our business, our business plans for the future and the extent to which they have been implemented, an assessment of our management, general conditions of the securities markets at the time of the offering and such other factors as were deemed relevant.
Lock-Up Agreements
We and each of our officers and directors have agreed with the Placement Agent to be subject to a lock-up period of 90 days following the date of closing of the offering pursuant to this prospectus. This means that, during the applicable lock-up period, we and such persons may not offer for sale, contract to sell, sell, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of our shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock, subject to customary exceptions. The Placement Agent may waive the terms of these lock-up agreements in its sole discretion and without notice. In addition, we have agreed to not issue any securities that are subject to a price reset based on the trading prices of our Common Stock or upon a specified or contingent event in the future or enter into any agreement to issue securities at a future determined price for a period of one (1) year following the closing date of this offering, subject to certain exceptions. The Placement Agent may waive this prohibition in its sole discretion and without notice.
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Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our Common Stock is Computershare Investor Services. There is no established public trading market for the Warrants and the Pre-Funded Warrants, and we do not plan on making an application to list the Warrants or the Pre-Funded Warrants on Nasdaq, any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. We will act as the registrar and transfer agent for the Warrants and the Pre-Funded Warrants.
Nasdaq Listing
Our Common Stock is currently listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ASTI.” On June 23, 2025, the reported closing price per share of our Common Stock was $1.56. We do not plan to list the Warrants or the Pre-Funded Warrants on The Nasdaq Capital Market or any other securities exchange or trading market.
Indemnification
We have agreed to indemnify the Placement Agent against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the Placement Agent may be required to make with respect to any of these liabilities.
Regulation M
The Placement Agent may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act and any fees received by it and any profit realized on the sale of the securities by it while acting as principal might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. The Placement Agent will be required to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, Rule 10b- 5 and Regulation M under the Exchange Act. These rules and regulations may limit the timing of purchases and sales of our securities by the Placement Agent. Under these rules and regulations, the Placement Agent may not (i) engage in any stabilization activity in connection with our securities; and (ii) bid for or purchase any of our securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any of our securities, other than as permitted under the Exchange Act, until they have completed their participation in the distribution.
Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Securities
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by the Placement Agent, if any, participating in this offering and the Placement Agent may distribute prospectuses electronically. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on these websites is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved or endorsed by us or the Placement Agent, and should not be relied upon by investors.
Electronic Distribution
This prospectus in electronic format may be made available on websites or through other online services maintained by the Placement Agent, or by its affiliates. Other than this prospectus in electronic format, the information on the Placement Agent’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by the Placement Agent is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the Placement Agent in its capacity as placement agent, and should not be relied upon by investors.
Carroll Legal LLC, Denver, CO will pass upon the validity of the securities offered hereby for us. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Placement Agent by Haynes and Boone, LLP, New York, New York.
The audited financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of Haynie & Company, independent registered public accountants, as set forth in their report, thereon (which contains an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the ability of Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. to continue as a going concern as described in Note 4 to the financial statements as of December 31, 2024 and 2023), appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, and are included in reliance on such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
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INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below:
· | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2025; |
· | Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2025; |
· | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 13, 2025, May 29, 2025, and June 9, 2025 (other than any portions thereof deemed furnished and not filed); and |
· | The description of our Common Stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on August 16, 2022, as updated by the Description of Securities set forth on Exhibit 4.4 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the SEC on March 31, 2025, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such information. |
We also incorporate by reference all documents that we subsequently file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (i) after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement and (ii) on or after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities hereunder. Nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished but not filed with the SEC, unless specifically noted otherwise.
Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes hereof to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
We will provide, without charge, to each person to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, including any beneficial owner, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference herein, including exhibits. Requests should be directed to:
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.
12300 Grant Street
Thornton, CO 80231
Attention: CFO
Telephone number: (720) 872-5000
In addition, you may obtain a copy of these filings from the SEC as described in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to our securities being offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes part of that registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules that are part of the registration statement. Some items included in the registration statement are omitted from the prospectus in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and the common stock offered in this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules filed therewith. Statements contained in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.
The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address is www.sec.gov.
We also maintain a website at www.ascentsolar.com. The reference to our website address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on our website, and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this prospectus.
You may also request a copy of these filings, at no cost to you, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.
Attn: Investor Relations
12300 Grant Street
Thornton, CO 80241
Telephone: (720) 872-5000
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Up to 3,205,129 Shares of Common Stock and accompanying
Warrants to Purchase Up to 3,205,129 Shares of Common Stock
or
Up to 3,205,129 Pre-Funded Warrants to Purchase Up to 3,205,129 Shares of Common Stock and
accompanying Warrants to Purchase Up to 3,205,129 Shares of Common Stock
Up to 224,359 Placement Agent Warrants to Purchase Up to 224,359 Shares of Common Stock
Up to 6,634,617 Shares of Common Stock Issuable Upon Exercise of the Warrants, Pre-Funded Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants
ASCENT SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
PROSPECTUS
____________, 2025
H.C. Wainwright & Co.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 13. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution. |
The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than the placement agent discounts and commissions, payable in connection with the sale of common stock being registered. All amounts shown are estimates, except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority filing fee.
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee | $ | 1,598 | ||
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority filing fee | 1,250 | |||
Legal fees and expenses | 145,000 | |||
Accountants’ fees and expenses | 45,000 | |||
Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses | 5,000 | |||
Miscellaneous | 40,152 | |||
Total | $ | 238,000 |
Item 14. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
We are incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who are, or are threatened to be made, parties to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such person as an officer, director, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was illegal. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who are, or are threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation by reason of the fact that such person was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him or her against the expenses that such officer or director has actually and reasonably incurred. Our charter and bylaws provide for the indemnification of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duties as a director, except for liability for:
· | any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; |
· | any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; |
· | any act related to unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions or payment of dividends; or |
· | any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. |
These limitations of liability do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission. Our charter also authorizes us to indemnify our officers, directors and other agents to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law.
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As permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our bylaws provide that:
· | we may indemnify our directors, officers and employees to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to limited exceptions; | |
· | we may advance expenses to our directors, officers and employees in connection with a legal proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to limited exceptions; and | |
· | the rights provided in our bylaws are not exclusive. |
Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides, among other things, that a director who willfully or negligently approves of an unlawful payment of dividends or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption may be held liable for such actions. A director who was either absent when the unlawful actions were approved, or dissented at the time, may avoid liability by causing his or her dissent to such actions to be entered in the books containing minutes of the meetings of the board of directors at the time such action occurred or immediately after such absent director receives notice of the unlawful acts.
As permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, we have entered and expect to continue to enter into agreements to indemnify our directors, executive officers and other employees as determined by our board of directors. Under the terms of our indemnification agreements, we are required to indemnify each of our directors and officers, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the state of Delaware, if the basis of the indemnitee’s involvement was by reason of the fact that the indemnitee is or was a director, or officer, of the company or any of its subsidiaries or was serving at the company’s request in an official capacity for another entity. We must indemnify our officers and directors against (1) attorneys’ fees and (2) all other costs of any type or nature whatsoever, including any and all expenses and obligations paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in, participating in (including on appeal) or preparing to defend, be a witness or participate in any completed, actual, pending or threatened action, suit, claim or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, or establishing or enforcing a right to indemnification under the indemnification agreement. The indemnification agreements also set forth certain procedures that will apply in the event of a claim for indemnification thereunder. These indemnification provisions and the indemnification agreements may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of our officers and directors for liabilities, including reimbursement of expenses incurred, arising under the Securities Act.
In addition, we have purchased a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances.
We have agreed to indemnify the Placement Agent against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the Placement Agent may be required to make with respect to any of these liabilities.
Item 15. | Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities. |
During the three-year period preceding the date of filing of this registration statement, we have issued securities in the transactions described below without registration under the Securities Act.
On August 8, 2022, the Company entered a securities purchase agreement (“SPA”) with Lucro Investments VCC-ESG Opportunities Fund (“Lucro”), an affiliate of Fleur Capital (S) Pte Ltd (“Fleur”), for a $5 million private placement (the “Private Placement”) of an aggregate of 4,717 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s Common Stock, and warrants exercisable for up to an additional 7,076 shares of Common Stock (the “2022 Warrants”). The Private Placement closed on August 19, 2022. In connection with such closing, the Company (i) received $4 million of gross cash proceeds from Lucro and (ii) the outstanding $1 million Bridge Promissory Note held by Lucro was automatically cancelled and converted into Common Stock and 2022 Warrants in accordance with the terms of such Bridge Promissory Note. The Shares and 2022 Warrants were sold in units (the “Units”) at a fixed price of $1,060 per Unit. Each Unit consists of (i) one Share and (ii) 2022 Warrants exercisable for 1.5 shares of Common Stock.
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On December 19, 2022, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Contract (the “Purchase Contract”) with two institutional investors (the “Investors” for the issuance of $12,500,000 in aggregate principal amount of Senior Secured Original Issue 10% Discount Convertible Advance Notes, for a purchase price of $11,250,000 in cash, net of an original issuance discount of $1,250,000 (the “Registered Advance Notes”). The Registered Advance Notes were offered and sold pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 and a related prospectus supplement, dated December 19, 2022.
Under the Purchase Contract, in a concurrent private placement , the Company (i) issued to the Investors an additional $2,500,000 in aggregate principal amount of Senior Secured Original Issue 10% Discount Convertible Advance Notes, for a purchase price, together with the warrants described in (ii) below, of $2,250,000 in cash, net of an original issuance discount of $250,000.
In connection with the Purchase Contract, the Company also issued to the Investors common stock warrants (“December 2022 Warrants”) exercisable for 12,568 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, at an exercise price equal to $786.00 per share, in each case subject to adjustment in the event of share dividends, share splits, reorganizations or similar events affecting shares of the Company’s Common Stock, as well as future issuance by the Company of securities with a purchase or conversion, exercise or exchange price that is less than the exercise price of the Warrants in effect at any time. The December 2022 Warrants are exercisable for five years from their date of issuance.
On June 29, 2023, the Company issued to certain investors 900 shares of the Company’s newly designated Series 1B Convertible Preferred Stock in exchange for $900,000 of gross proceeds.
On June 20, 2024, the Company issued to Paul Warley, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer one share of the Company’s newly designated Series Z Preferred Stock , in exchange for $1,000 of gross proceeds.
On October 17, 2024, the Company issued to accredited investors approximately 1,900 shares of the Company’s newly designated Series 1C Convertible Preferred Stock in exchange for approximately $1.9 million of gross proceeds.
The securities described above were deemed exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance upon Section 3(a)(9), Section 4(a)(2) or Regulation D of the Securities Act. There were no underwriters employed in connection with any of the transactions set forth in this Item 15.
Item 16. | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules. |
(a) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:
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* | Filed herewith. | |
CTR | Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment. | |
† | Denotes management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. | |
+ | Certain portions of the exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Rule 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K. The omitted information is (i) not material and (ii) would likely cause competitive harm to the Company if publicly disclosed. |
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Item 17. | Undertakings. |
(a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
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(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;
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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 a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
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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) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement. | ||
(2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. | ||
(3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
(4) | That for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
i. | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; | |
ii. | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
iii. | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and | |
iv. | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
(5) | That for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, if the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in 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 first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
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(b) | 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 any charter provision, by law, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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(c) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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(d) | 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. |
(e) | The undersigned
registrant hereby undertakes that: |
(1) | For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. |
(2) | For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Thornton, in the State of Colorado, on this 25th day of June, 2025.
ASCENT SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | |||
By: | /s/ Jin Jo | ||
Jin Jo | |||
Chief Financial Officer |
Each person whose signature appears below hereby appoints Paul Warley and Jin Jo, and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with the authority to execute in the name of each such person, any and all amendments (including without limitation, post-effective amendments) to this registration statement on Form S-1, to sign any and all additional registration statements relating to the same offering of securities as this registration statement that are filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, and to file such registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission, together with any exhibits thereto and other documents therewith, necessary or advisable to enable the registrant to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, which amendments may make such other changes in the registration statement as the aforesaid attorney-in-fact executing the same deems appropriate.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Paul Warley | Chief Executive Officer, Director | June 25, 2025 | ||
Paul Warley | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
/s/ Jin Jo | Chief Financial Officer | June 25, 2025 | ||
Jin Jo | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||
/s/ David Peterson | Director | June 25, 2025 | ||
David Peterson | ||||
/s/ Louis Berezovsky | Director | June 25, 2025 | ||
Louis Berezovsky | ||||
/s/ Forrest Reynolds | Director | June 25, 2025 | ||
Forrest Reynolds | ||||
/s/ Gregory Thompson | Director | June 25, 2025 | ||
Gregory Thompson |
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