As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 12, 2024
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 7374 | 86-2759890 | ||||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||
595 Madison Avenue, 28th
Floor New York, New York 10022
(845) 579-5992
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Gregory A. Beard
Chief Executive Officer
595 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor
New York, New York 10022
(845) 579-5992
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Daniel M. LeBey
Shelley A. Barber
Lucy Liu
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
1114 Avenue of the Americas, 32nd Floor
New York, New York 10036
(212) 237-0000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☐
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 12, 2024
The information 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 preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state or jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PROSPECTUS
$250,000,000
Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc.
Class A Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Depositary Shares
Stock Purchase Contracts
Units
Rights
We may offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, up to an aggregate of $250,000,000 of our Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A common stock”), shares of preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, stock purchase contracts, units, and rights.
We may offer and sell these securities in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions and other factors at the time of the offering. We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. See ”Plan of Distribution.” This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which we will offer the securities. The specific terms of any securities we offer will be included in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also describe the specific manner in which we will offer the securities.
You should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement before you invest. You should also read the documents we refer to in the “Where You Can Find More Information” section of this prospectus for information on us and our financial statements.
Our Class A common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “SDIG.” On April 11, 2024, the closing price of our Class A common stock was $3.39 per share.
We are an “emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” under applicable federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced reporting requirements. This prospectus complies with the requirements that apply to an issuer that is an emerging growth company. We have two classes of common stock: Class A common stock and Class V common stock. Each share of Class V common stock has no economic rights but entitles its holder to one vote on all matters to be voted on by stockholders generally. Holders of Class A common stock and Class V common stock vote together as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval, except as otherwise required by applicable law or by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Q Power LLC, which is controlled by Greg Beard, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Bill Spence, together with Messrs. Beard and Spence, holds approximately 17% of the total voting stock currently outstanding, including 100% of the Class V common stock outstanding, which votes together with the Class A common stock as a single class.
Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Investing in our Class A common stock involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 and in the documents we file with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our Class A common stock.
The date of this prospectus is , 2024.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, up to $250,000,000 of our securities.
We may file one or more prospectus supplements, or, if ,appropriate, post-effective amendments, to accompany this prospectus to add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Each time we offer securities, we will provide you with this prospectus and a prospectus supplement, or post-effective amendment, if applicable, that will describe, among other things, the specific amounts and prices and terms of the shares of the securities being offered. If the information varies between this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, or post-effective amendment, if any, you should rely on the information in the accompanying prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to the offering. You should read both this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, if any, and any free writing prospectus together with the additional information described under “Where You Can Find More Information.” You should also carefully consider, among other things, the matters discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” herein, and the accompanying prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, if any, and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in any other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and the accompanying prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, if any, and any related free writing prospectus.
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. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be 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 More Information.”
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment or free-writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any free writing prospectus we have prepared. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. Offers to sell, and solicitations of offers to buy, our securities are being made only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since the date of this prospectus.
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. See “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” appearing in this prospectus and in the documents we file with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Industry and Market Data
The market data and certain other statistical information used or incorporated by reference into this prospectus are based on independent industry publications, publicly available information, business organizations, government publications and other published independent sources. Some data is also based on our good faith estimates. Although we believe these third-party sources are reliable as of their respective dates, we have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of this information. Market share data is subject to change and may be limited by the availability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other limitations in any statistical survey of market share data. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such market share data or any other such estimates. The industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” appearing in this prospectus
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and in the documents we file with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in these publications.
Trademarks and Trade Names
We rely on various trade names that we use in connection with the operation of our business. This prospectus may also contain trademarks, service marks and trade names of third parties, which are the property of their respective owners. Our use or display of third parties’ trademarks, service marks, trade names or products in this prospectus is not intended to, and does not imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship by us. Solely for convenience, the trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ®, TM or SM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks, service marks and trade names.
Presentation of Financial and Other Information
Certain monetary amounts, percentages and other figures included in this prospectus have been subject to rounding adjustments. Percentage amounts included in this prospectus have not in all cases been calculated on the basis of such rounded figures, but on the basis of such amounts prior to rounding. For this reason, percentage amounts in this prospectus may vary from those obtained by performing the same calculations using the figures in our combined financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Certain other amounts that appear in this prospectus may not sum due to rounding.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and in accordance therewith file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The website address of the SEC is www.sec.gov.
We make available free of charge on or through our website at ir.strongholddigitalmining.com, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with or otherwise furnish it to the SEC.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the offering of these securities. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us and the securities. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. You can obtain a copy of the registration statement for free at www.sec.gov. The registration statement and the documents referred to below under “Incorporation of Certain Information By Reference” are also available on our website, ir.strongholddigitalmining.com.
We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information on our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of this prospectus.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents without restating that information in this document. The information incorporated by reference into this prospectus is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information in documents that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in documents filed earlier with the SEC or contained in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the documents listed below and all documents that we may subsequently file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date on which the registration statement was initially filed with the SEC (including all such documents that we may file with the SEC after the date the registration statement was initially filed and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement) until all offerings under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part are completed or terminated, provided, however, that we are not incorporating, in each case, any documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules:
•our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 8, 2024;
•our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC (except for items 2.02 and 7.01) on January 2, 2024, January 29, 2024, February 8, 2024, February 16, 2024, March 6, 2024 and April 10, 2024;
•our Definitive Information Statement on Schedule 14C, filed with the SEC on January 30, 2023; and
•the description of our capital stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated October 19, 2021 and any amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purposes of updating such description, including Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed on April 3, 2023.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We will provide this information upon written or oral request at no cost to the requester. Requests for these documents should be directed to Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc., 595 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, New York 10022, telephone (845) 579-5992. We also maintain a website at www.strongholddigitalmining.com where incorporated reports or other documents filed with the SEC may be accessed. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website, and you should not consider it to be part of this prospectus.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, including information incorporated by reference as described above, or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment that we have specifically referred you to. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents or that any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than its filing date. You should not consider this prospectus to be an offer or solicitation relating to the securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation relating to the securities is not authorized. Furthermore, you should not consider this prospectus to be an offer or solicitation relating to the securities if the person making the offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so, or if it is unlawful for you to receive such an offer or solicitation.
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ABOUT STRONGHOLD DIGITAL MINING INC.
Except as otherwise indicated or required by the context, all references in this prospectus to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” relate to Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. (“Stronghold Inc.”) and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Overview
We are a low-cost, environmentally beneficial, vertically integrated crypto asset mining company focused on mining Bitcoin with environmental remediation and reclamation services. We wholly own and operate two coal refuse power generation facilities that we have upgraded: (i) our first reclamation facility is located on a 650-acre site in Scrubgrass Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania, and has the capacity to generate approximately 83.5 megawatts (“MW”) of electricity and (ii) our second reclamation facility is located near Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, and has the capacity to generate approximately 80 MW of electricity. Each facility qualifies as an Alternative Energy System because coal refuse is classified under Pennsylvania law as a Tier II Alternative Energy Source (large-scale hydropower is also classified in this tier). We are committed to generating our energy and managing our assets sustainably, and we believe that we are one of the first vertically integrated crypto asset mining companies with a focus on environmentally beneficial operations.
We believe that our integrated model of owning our own power plants and Bitcoin mining data center operations helps us to produce Bitcoin at a cost that is attractive versus the price of Bitcoin, and generally below the prevailing market price of power that many of our peers must pay and may have to pay in the future during periods of uncertain or elevated power pricing. Due to the environmental benefit resulting from the remediation of the sites from which the waste coal utilized by our two power generation facilities is removed, we also qualify for Tier II renewable energy tax credits (“RECs”) in Pennsylvania. These RECs are currently valued at approximately over $28 per megawatt hour and help reduce our net cost of power. We believe that our ability to utilize RECs in reducing our net cost of power further differentiates us from our public company peers that purchase power from third-party sources or import power from the grid and that do not have access to RECs or other similar tax credits. Should power prices weaken to a level that is below the Company’s cost to produce power, we have the ability to purchase power from the PJM Interconnection Merchant Market (“PJM”) grid pursuant to our Electricity Sales and Purchase Agreements at each of our power plants with Champion Energy Services LLC to ensure that we are producing Bitcoin at the lowest possible cost. Conversely, we are able to sell power to the PJM grid instead of using the power to produce Bitcoin, as we have recently done, on an opportunistic basis, when revenue from power sales exceeds Bitcoin mining revenue. We operate as a market participant through PJM Interconnection, a Regional Transmission Organization (“RTO”) that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity. Our ability to sell energy in the wholesale generation market in the PJM RTO provides us with the ability to optimize between selling power to the grid and mining for Bitcoin. We also believe that owning our own power source makes us a more attractive partner to crypto asset mining equipment purveyors. We intend to leverage these competitive advantages to continue to grow our business through the opportunistic acquisition of additional power generating assets and miners.
Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company Status
As a company with less than $1.235 billion in revenue during our last fiscal year, we qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include:
•We are not required to engage an auditor to report on our internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;
•We are not required to comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (i.e., an auditor discussion and analysis);
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•We are not required to submit certain executive compensation matters to stockholder advisory votes, such as “say-on-pay,” “say-on-frequency” and “say-on-golden parachutes”; and
•We are not required to disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the chief executive officer’s compensation to median employee compensation.
We may take advantage of these provisions until the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering or such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We would cease to be an emerging growth company upon the earliest of: (i) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our annual gross revenues are $1.235 billion or more; (ii) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities; (iii) on the last day of the fiscal year following the date of the fifth anniversary of our first sale of common equity securities under an effective registration statement or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer,” which will occur as of the end of any fiscal year in which we (x) have an aggregate market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates of $700 million or more as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter, (y) have been required to file annual and quarterly reports under the Exchange Act, for a period of at least 12 months and (z) have filed at least one annual report pursuant to the Exchange Act.
We have elected to take advantage of the reduced disclosure obligations listed above in this prospectus, and may elect to take advantage of other reduced reporting requirements in future filings. In particular, we have elected to adopt the reduced disclosure with respect to our executive compensation disclosure. As a result of this election, the information that we provide stockholders may be different than you might get from other public companies.
The JOBS Act permits an emerging growth company like us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period and, as a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for private companies. Our election to use the transition periods permitted by this election may make it difficult to compare our financial statements to those of non-emerging growth companies and other emerging growth companies that have opted out of the extended transition periods permitted under the JOBS Act and that will comply with new or revised financial accounting standards. If we were to subsequently elect instead to comply with public company effective dates, such election would be irrevocable pursuant to the JOBS Act.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the end of that fiscal year’s second fiscal quarter and (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that fiscal year’s second fiscal quarter.
Our Offices
Our principal executive offices are located at 595 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, New York 10022, and our telephone number at that address is (845) 579-5992. Our website address is www.strongholddigitalmining.com. Information contained on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus.
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in our Class A common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the information set forth under “Risk Factors” contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the “2023 Form 10-K”), and any updates in our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, together with the other information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including the risk factors described in our filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before investing in our Class A common stock. The occurrence of any of these risks could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, in which case the trading price of our Class A common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The information in this prospectus includes “forward-looking statements.” All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this prospectus, regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this prospectus, the words “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “seek,” “approximately,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “continue,” “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements described under the heading “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business” included in this prospectus or included in the 2023 Form 10-K, or subsequent filings with the SEC under the Exchange Act and in the other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current belief, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events.
Forward-looking statements may include statements about:
•the hybrid nature of our business model, which is highly dependent on the price of Bitcoin;
•our dependence on the level of demand and financial performance of the crypto asset industry;
•our substantial indebtedness and its effect on our results of operations and our financial condition;
•our ability to manage our growth, business, financial results and results of operations;
•uncertainty regarding our evolving business model;
•our ability to raise capital to fund our business and growth;
•our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity to fund operations, growth and acquisitions;
•uncertainty regarding the outcomes of any investigations or proceedings;
•our ability to retain management and key personnel and the integration of new management;
•our ability to enter into purchase agreements, acquisitions and financing transactions;
•our ability to maintain our relationships with our third-party brokers and our dependence on their performance;
•our ability to procure crypto asset mining equipment from foreign-based suppliers;
•developments and changes in laws and regulations, including increased regulation of the crypto asset industry through legislative action and revised rules and standards applied by The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network under the authority of the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act and the Investment Company Act;
•the future acceptance and/or widespread use of, and demand for, Bitcoin and other crypto assets;
•our ability to respond to price fluctuations and rapidly changing technology;
•our ability to operate our coal refuse power generation facilities as planned;
•our ability to develop and monetize our carbon capture project to generate meaningful revenue, on a timely basis or at all;
•our ability to avail ourselves of tax credits for the clean-up of coal refuse piles; and
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•legislative or regulatory changes, and liability under, or any future inability to comply with, existing or future energy regulations or requirements.
We caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. These risks include, but are not limited to, decline in demand for our products and services, the seasonality and volatility of the crypto asset industry, our acquisition strategies, the inability to comply with developments and changes in regulation, cash flow and access to capital, maintenance of third party relationships, and the other risks described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in the documents we file with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this prospectus occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this prospectus are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue.
Any forward-looking statement that we make in this prospectus speaks only as of the date of such statement. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise indicated to the contrary in an accompanying prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities covered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, purchase of miners, repayment or refinancing of debt or funding acquisitions, funding related to the Company’s carbon capture initiative, capital expenditures or working capital.
Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of such offering and will be described in the related prospectus supplement.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The authorized capital stock of Stronghold Inc. consists of 238,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, 50,000,000 shares of Class V common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of which a series of 23,102 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, (the “Series C Preferred Stock”) and a series of 15,582 shares of Series D Preferred Stock have been designated. As of April 11, 2024, there were 12,900,094 shares of Class A common stock, 2,405,760 shares of Class V common stock, 5,990 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, and no shares of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series D Preferred Stock”) issued and outstanding. As of April 11, 2024, there were 26 stockholders of record of our Class A common stock, one stockholder of record of our Class V common stock, two stockholders of record of our Series C Preferred Stock, and no stockholder of record of our Series D Preferred Stock.
The following summary of the capital stock, our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws of Stronghold Inc. does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of applicable law and to our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Class A Common Stock
Voting Rights. Holders of shares of Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share held of record on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. The holders of Class A common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.
Dividend Rights. Holders of shares of our Class A common stock are entitled to ratably receive dividends when and if declared by our Board out of funds legally available for that purpose, subject to any statutory or contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends and to any prior rights and preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock.
Liquidation Rights. Upon our liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or other winding up, the holders of Class A common stock are entitled to receive ratably the assets available for distribution to the stockholders after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preference of any of our outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Other Matters. The shares of Class A common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights and are not subject to further calls or assessment by us. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class A common stock. All issued and outstanding shares of our Class A common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.
Class V Common Stock
Voting Rights. Holders of shares of our Class V common stock are entitled to one vote per share held of record on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. Holders of shares of our Class A common stock and Class V common stock vote together as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval.
Dividend and Liquidation Rights. Holders of our Class V common stock do not have any right to receive dividends, unless (i) the dividend consists of shares of our Class V common stock or of rights, options, warrants or other securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable or redeemable for shares of Class V common stock paid proportionally with respect to each outstanding share of Class V common stock and (ii) a dividend consisting of shares of Class A common stock or of rights, options, warrants or other securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable or redeemable for shares for Class A common stock on equivalent terms is simultaneously paid to the holders of Class A common stock. Holders of our Class V common stock do not have any right to receive a distribution upon a liquidation or winding up of Stronghold Inc.
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Other Matters. The shares of Class V common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights and are not subject to further calls or assessment by us. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class V common stock. All outstanding shares of our Class V common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.
Preferred Stock
General Description
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes our Board, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, without further shareholder approval, to establish and to issue from time to time one or more classes or series of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, covering up to an aggregate of 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Each class or series of preferred stock will cover the number of shares and will have the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions determined by the Board.
The certificate of designation fixes for each class or series the designations, powers, preferences, rights, the number of shares constituting that series and the distinctive designation of that series, which number may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares then outstanding) from time to time by action of the board of directors;
•the dividend rate and the manner and frequency of payment of dividends on the shares of that series, whether dividends will be cumulative, and, if so, from which date;
•whether that series will have voting rights, in addition to any voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights;
•whether that series will have conversion privileges, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion, including provision for adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the board of directors may determine;
•whether or not the shares of that series will be redeemable, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption;
•whether that series will have a sinking fund for the redemption or purchase of shares of that series, and, if so, the terms and amount of such sinking fund;
•whether or not the shares of the series will have priority over or be on a parity with or be junior to the shares of any other series or class in any respect;
•the rights of the shares of that series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the corporation, and the relative rights or priority, if any, of payment of shares of that series; and
•any other relative rights, preferences, and limitations of that series.
Once designated by our board of directors, each series of preferred stock may have specific financial and other terms that will be described in a prospectus supplement. The description of the preferred stock that is set forth in any prospectus supplement is not complete without reference to the documents that govern the preferred stock. These include our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the Certificate of Designations (as defined herein) and any certificates of designation that our board of directors may adopt.
All shares of preferred stock offered hereby will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable, including shares of preferred stock issued upon the exercise of preferred stock warrants or subscription rights, if any.
The rights, preferences, and privileges could include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms, and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of such series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of our common stock.
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Except as provided by law or in a preferred stock designation, the holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to vote at or receive notice of any meeting of stockholders. In some cases, the issuance of preferred stock could delay or discourage a change of control in us.
The issuance of preferred stock, while providing desired flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could adversely affect the voting power of holders of our common stock. It could also affect the likelihood that holders of our common stock will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation.
Series C Preferred Stock
Pursuant to our Certificate of Designations (the “Series C Certificate of Designations”), filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with respect to the Series C Preferred Stock, we designated 23,102 shares of our authorized and unissued preferred stock as Series C Preferred Stock, and established the rights, preferences and privileges of the Series C Preferred Stock, which are summarized below. As of April 11, 2024, we had 5,990 shares of Series C Preferred Stock outstanding.
Designation and Amount. The Series C Certificate of Designations designates 23,102 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, with each share having a stated value of $1,000, subject to any adjustment for stock splits, stock combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions as set forth in the Series C Certificate of Designations (the “Series C Stated Value”).
Ranking and Liquidation Preference. The Series C Preferred Stock ranks, with respect to rights upon an acquisition, merger or consolidation of the Company, sale of all or substantially all assets of the Company, other business combination or liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, either voluntary or involuntary (collectively, a “Liquidation Event”), (i) senior to the Class A common stock and Class V common stock and any other class or series of capital stock of the Company the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series ranks senior to or on parity with the Series C Preferred Stock with respect to a Liquidation Event (“Series C Junior Stock”), (ii) on a parity with the Series D Preferred Stock and any other class or series of capital stock of the Company the terms of which provide that such class or series ranks on a parity with the Series C Preferred Stock with respect to a Liquidation Event (“Series C Parity Stock”), and (iii) junior to any other class or series of capital stock of the Company the terms of which expressly provide that such class or series ranks senior to the Series C Preferred Stock with respect to a Liquidation Event (“Series C Senior Stock”). In the event of a Liquidation Event, each holder of shares of Series C Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to receive, before any payment or distribution of any assets of the Company shall be made or set apart for holders of the Series C Junior Stock, an amount per share of Series C Preferred Stock equal to the Series C Stated Value.
Voting Rights. Except as required by the DGCL or our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock do not have any voting rights, except that the approval of holders of at least two-thirds (66.67%) of the then-outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock is required to (i) amend, alter, repeal or otherwise modify (whether by merger, operation of law, consolidation or otherwise) (a) any provision of our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws in a manner that would adversely affect the powers, rights, preferences or privileges of the Series C Preferred Stock, or (b) any provision of the Series C Certificate of Designations, (ii) authorize, create, increase the amount of, or issue any Series C Preferred Stock or any class or series of Series C Senior Stock or Series C Parity Stock or any security convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of Series C Preferred Stock, Series C Senior Stock, or Series C Parity Stock, (iii) authorize, enter into or otherwise engage in a Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Series C Certificate of Designations) unless such Fundamental Transaction does not adversely affect the rights, preferences or privileges of the Series C Preferred Stock, and (iv) agree or consent to any of the foregoing.
Optional Conversion. Each holder is entitled, upon written notice to the Company, to convert all or a portion of such holder’s outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock into a number of shares of Class A common stock (a “Series C Optional Conversion”) at a conversion rate equal to (i) the Series C Stated Value plus cash in lieu of any fractional shares, divided by (ii) a conversion price of $4.00 per share of Class A common stock, subject to certain adjustments provided in the Series C Certificate of Designations. A holder does not have the right to effect a Series
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C Optional Conversion to the extent that, after giving effect to such conversion, such holder (together with such holder’s affiliates and any person acting as a group with such holder or any of its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of 9.99% of the number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion (the “Series C Beneficial Ownership Limitation”).
In the event of any Fundamental Transaction, as described in the Series C Certificate of Designations and generally including any merger with or into another entity, sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, tender offer or exchange offer, reclassification of shares of the Class A common stock, or stock purchase agreement or other business combination wherein another person or group acquires more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of Class A common stock, then upon any subsequent Series C Optional Conversion or the Series C Automatic Conversion (as defined below), the holder has the right to receive as alternative consideration, for each share of Class A common stock that would have been issuable upon such Series C Optional Conversion or the Series C Automatic Conversion immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, the number of shares of Class A common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration receivable upon or as a result of such transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Class A common stock into which the shares of Series C Preferred Stock are convertible immediately prior to such event.
Automatic Conversion. Upon the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock, each share of Series C Preferred Stock then outstanding will automatically and immediately convert into shares of Class A common stock or, to the extent such conversion would cause a holder to exceed the Series C Beneficial Ownership Limitation, into pre-funded warrants, exercise price $0.001 per share, in the form attached as Annex B to the Series C Certificate of Designations (the “Series C Automatic Conversion”).
Other Rights. The Series C Preferred Stock is not entitled to receive dividends, does not have preemptive or subscription rights, and has no redemption or sinking fund provisions or rights.
This summary of certain provisions of the Series C Certificate of Designations is not intended to be complete, and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the Series C Certificate of Designations.
Series D Preferred Stock
Pursuant to our Certificate of Designations (the “Series D Certificate of Designations”), filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with respect to the Series D Preferred Stock, we designated 15,582 shares of our authorized and unissued preferred stock as Series D Preferred Stock, and established the rights, preferences and privileges of the Series D Preferred Stock, which are summarized below. As of April 11, 2024, we had no shares of Series D Preferred Stock outstanding.
Designation and Amount. The Series D Certificate of Designations designates 15,582 shares of Series D Preferred Stock, with each share having a stated value of $1,000, subject to any adjustment for stock splits, stock combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions as set forth in the Series D Certificate of Designations (the “Series D Stated Value”).
Ranking and Liquidation Preference. The Series D Preferred Stock ranks, with respect to rights upon a Liquidation Event, (i) senior to the Class A common stock and Class V common stock and any other class or series of capital stock of the Company the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series ranks senior to or on parity with the Series D Preferred Stock with respect to a Liquidation Event (“Series D Junior Stock”), (ii) on a parity with the Series C Preferred Stock and any other class or series of capital stock of the Company the terms of which provide that such class or series ranks on a parity with the Series D Preferred Stock with respect to a Liquidation Event (“Series D Parity Stock”), and (iii) junior to any other class or series of capital stock of the Company the terms of which expressly provide that such class or series ranks senior to the Series D Preferred Stock with respect to a Liquidation Event (“Series D Senior Stock”). In the event of a Liquidation Event, each holder of shares of Series D Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to receive, before any payment or distribution of any assets of the Company shall be made or set apart for holders of the Series D Junior Stock, an amount per share of Series D Preferred Stock equal to the Series D Stated Value.
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Voting Rights. Except as required by the DGCL or our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, holders of shares of Series D Preferred Stock do not have any voting rights, except that the approval of holders of at least two-thirds (66.67%) of the then-outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock is required to (i) amend, alter, repeal or otherwise modify (whether by merger, operation of law, consolidation or otherwise) (a) any provision of our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws in a manner that would adversely affect the powers, rights, preferences or privileges of the Series D Preferred Stock, or (b) any provision of the Series D Certificate of Designations, (ii) authorize, create, increase the amount of, or issue any Series D Preferred Stock or any class or series of Series D Senior Stock or Series D Parity Stock or any security convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of Series D Preferred Stock, Series D Senior Stock, or Series D Parity Stock, (iii) authorize, enter into or otherwise engage in a Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Series D Certificate of Designations) unless such Fundamental Transaction does not adversely affect the rights, preferences or privileges of the Series D Preferred Stock, and (iv) agree or consent to any of the foregoing.
Optional Conversion. Each holder is entitled, upon written notice to the Company, to convert all or a portion of such holder’s outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock into a number of shares of Class A common stock (a “Series D Optional Conversion”) at a conversion rate equal to (i) the Series D Stated Value plus cash in lieu of any fractional shares, divided by (ii) a conversion price of $5.38145 per share of Class A common stock, subject to certain adjustments provided in the Series D Certificate of Designations. A holder does not have the right to effect a Series D Optional Conversion to the extent that, after giving effect to such conversion, such holder (together with such holder’s affiliates and any person acting as a group with such holder or any of its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of 9.99% of the number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion (the “Series D Beneficial Ownership Limitation”).
In the event of any Fundamental Transaction, as described in the Series D Certificate of Designations and generally including any merger with or into another entity, sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, tender offer or exchange offer, reclassification of shares of the Class A common stock, or stock purchase agreement or other business combination wherein another person or group acquires more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of Class A common stock, then upon any subsequent Series D Optional Conversion or the Series D Automatic Conversion (as defined below), the holder has the right to receive as alternative consideration, for each share of Class A common stock that would have been issuable upon such Series D Optional Conversion or the Series D Automatic Conversion immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, the number of shares of Class A common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration receivable upon or as a result of such transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Class A common stock into which the shares of Series D Preferred Stock are convertible immediately prior to such event.
Automatic Conversion. On February 20, 2028, each share of Series D Preferred Stock then outstanding will automatically and immediately convert into shares of Class A common stock or, to the extent such conversion would cause a holder to exceed the Series D Beneficial Ownership Limitation, into Pre-Funded Warrants (the “Series D Automatic Conversion”).
Other Rights. The Series D Preferred Stock is not entitled to receive dividends, does not have preemptive or subscription rights, and has no redemption or sinking fund provisions or rights.
This summary of certain provisions of the Series D Certificate of Designations is not intended to be complete, and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the Series D Certificate of Designations.
Registration Rights Agreements
We have entered into various registration rights agreements, certain of which have continued registration obligations. The following summary of certain provisions of the following registration rights agreements is not intended to be complete, and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of such registration rights agreements.
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2023 Armistice Registration Rights Agreement
On December 22, 2023, we entered into a registration rights agreement with Armistice (the “2023 Armistice Registration Rights Agreement”). Pursuant to the 2023 Armistice Registration Rights Agreement, we have agreed to file a registration statement with respect to the registration of the resale by the selling stockholder of all Registrable Securities (as defined in the 2023 Armistice Registration Rights Agreement), and to use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective within the timeframes specified in the 2023 Armistice Registration Rights Agreement (but in no event after 90th calendar day following the date of the 2023 Armistice Registration Rights Agreement or, in the event of a review by the SEC, the 120th calendar day); failure to do so will result in certain liquidated damages as set forth in the 2023 Armistice Registration Rights Agreement. In addition, we agreed that, upon the registration statement being declared effective under the Securities Act, we will use commercially reasonable efforts to keep such registration statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date that all Registrable Securities covered thereby (i) have been sold thereunder or pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act, or (ii) may be sold without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144. We filed such registration statement with the SEC on January 9, 2024 (SEC File No. 333-276446).
We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholder for certain violations of federal or state securities laws in connection with any registration statement in which the selling stockholder sells its Registrable Securities covered thereby pursuant to these registration rights. The selling stockholder will, in turn, agree to indemnify us for federal or state securities law violations that occur in reliance upon written information it provides to us for use in the registration statement.
This summary of certain provisions of the 2023 Armistice Registration Rights Agreement is not intended to be complete, and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the 2023 Armistice Registration Rights Agreement.
Series C Registration Rights Agreement
On February 20, 2023, we entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Series C Registration Rights Agreement”) with the selling stockholder and the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms of an exchange agreement, dated December 30, 2022, among us, the selling stockholder and the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock. Pursuant to the Series C Registration Rights Agreement, we were required to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the resale of the “Registrable Securities” (as defined in the Series C Registration Rights Agreement) on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 and, upon such registration statement being declared effective under the Securities Act, to use our reasonable best efforts to keep such registration statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date that all securities covered thereunder (i) have been sold thereunder or pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act, or (ii) may be sold without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144. We filed such registration statement with the SEC on April 5, 2023 (SEC File No. 333-271151), and it was declared effective by the SEC on April 14, 2023.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our Amended and Restated Bylaws and Delaware Law
Some provisions of Delaware law, and our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that could make the following transactions more difficult: acquisitions of us by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise; or removal of our incumbent officers and directors. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish or could deter transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interest or in our best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium over the market price for our shares.
These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first
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negotiate with us. We believe that the benefits of increased protection and our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging these proposals because, among other things, negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Delaware Law
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL, regulating corporate takeovers. In general, those provisions prohibit a Delaware corporation, including those whose securities are listed for trading on Nasdaq, from engaging in any business combination with any interested shareholder for a period of three years following the date that the shareholder became an interested shareholder, unless:
•the transaction is approved by the Board before the date the interested shareholder attained that status;
•upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced; or
•on or after such time the business combination is approved by the Board and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested shareholder.
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws
Provisions of our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws may delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in control or change in our management, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares, or transactions that our stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. Therefore, these provisions could adversely affect the price of our Class A common stock.
Among other things, our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws:
•establish advance notice procedures with regard to shareholder proposals relating to the nomination of candidates for election as directors or new business to be brought before meetings of our stockholders. These procedures provide that notice of shareholder proposals must be timely given in writing to our corporate secretary prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken. Generally, to be timely, notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year. Our amended and restated bylaws specify the requirements as to form and content of all stockholders’ notices. These requirements may preclude stockholders from bringing matters before the stockholders at an annual or special meeting;
•provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the Board, unless the amended and restated certificate of incorporation fixes the number of directors, in which case, a change in the number of directors shall be made only by amendment of the certificate of incorporation;
•provide that our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 50% of our then outstanding of stock in the Company entitled to voted thereon, voting together as a single class;
•provide that all vacancies, including newly created directorships, may, except as otherwise required by law, be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum;
•provide that, subject to the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock with respect to such series of preferred stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders must be taken at a duly held annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be taken by any consent in writing;
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•provide that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, acting at a meeting of the stockholders or by written consent (if permitted), subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, shall be required to remove any or all of the directors from office, and such removal may be with or without “cause”;
•provide that special meetings of our stockholders may only be called by the chief executive officer, the chairman of the board (or any co-chairman), or by a majority of the board;
•provide that our bylaws can be amended by the Board or stockholders of 66 2/3% of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon; and
•prohibit cumulative voting for the election of directors, unless otherwise provided in the amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
No Cumulative Voting
Under Delaware law, the right to vote cumulatively does not exist unless the amended and restated certificate of incorporation specifically authorizes cumulative voting. Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not authorize cumulative voting. Therefore, stockholders holding a majority in voting power of the shares of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors will be able to elect all our directors.
Forum Selection
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for:
•any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf;
•any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or agents to us or our stockholders;
•any action asserting a claim against us or any director or officer or other employee of ours arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our bylaws; or
•any action asserting a claim against us or any director or officer or other employee of ours that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to such Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of, and to have consented to, this forum selection provision. Although we believe these provisions will benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law for the specified types of actions and proceedings, the provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors, officers, employees and agents. The enforceability of similar exclusive forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that, in connection with one or more actions or proceedings described above, a court could rule that this provision in our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation is inapplicable or unenforceable.
Corporate Opportunities
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, to the fullest extent permitted by law, renounces any reasonable expectancy interest that we have in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any
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corporate or business opportunities that are from time to time presented to Q Power, its affiliated directors and affiliates, and our non-employee directors, and that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, such persons will have no duty to refrain from engaging in any transaction or matter that may be a corporate or business opportunity in which we or any of our subsidiaries could have an interest or expectancy. In addition, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in the event that Q Power, its affiliated directors and affiliates, and our directors acquire knowledge of any such opportunity, other than in their capacity as a member of our Board, such person will have no duty to communicate or present such opportunity to us or any of our subsidiaries, and they may take any such opportunity for themselves or offer it to another person or entity.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation limits the liability of our directors for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except for liability that cannot be eliminated under the DGCL. Delaware law provides that directors of a company will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except for liabilities:
•for any breach of their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;
•for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
•for unlawful payment of dividend or unlawful stock repurchase or redemption, as provided under Section 174 of the DGCL; or
•for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
This provision also does not affect a director’s responsibilities under any other laws, such as the federal securities laws or state or federal environmental laws. Any amendment, repeal or modification of these provisions will be prospective only and would not affect any limitation on liability of a director for acts or omissions that occurred prior to any such amendment, repeal or modification.
Our amended and restated bylaws also provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Our bylaws also permit us to purchase insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of that person’s actions as our officer, director, employee or agent, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit indemnification. We intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our current and future directors and officers. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liability that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. We believe that the limitation of liability provision in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the indemnification agreements facilitates our ability to continue to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and officers.
Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal and Payment
Under the DGCL, with certain exceptions, our stockholders have appraisal rights in connection with a merger or consolidation. Pursuant to the DGCL, stockholders who properly request and perfect appraisal rights in connection with such merger or consolidation will have the right to receive payment of the fair value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Stockholders’ Derivative Actions
Under the DGCL, any of our stockholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action; provided that the stockholder bringing the action is a holder of our shares at the time of the transaction to which the action relates or such stockholder’s stock thereafter devolved by operation of law.
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Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our Class A common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.
Stock Exchange Listing
Our Class A common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market and trades under the symbol “SDIG.”
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We may issue warrants for the purchase of shares of our Class A common stock or shares of our preferred stock. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. The particular terms of the warrants and the extent, if any, to which the general terms and provisions may apply to the warrants so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Warrants may be issued independently or together with other securities and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.
A copy of the forms of the warrant agreement and the warrant certificate, if any, relating to any particular issue of warrants will be filed with the SEC each time we issue warrants, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the forms of the warrant agreement and the related warrant certificate, if any, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Stock Warrants
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to issue shares of our Class A common stock or shares of our preferred stock will describe the terms of the Class A common share warrants and preferred share warrants, including the following:
•the title of the warrants;
•the offering price for the warrants, if any;
•the aggregate number of the warrants;
•the designation and terms of the shares of Class A common stock or shares of preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;
•the terms for changes or adjustments to the exercise price of the warrants;
•if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities that the warrants are issued with and the number of warrants issued with each security;
•if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable;
•the number of shares of Class A common stock or shares of preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which the shares may be purchased upon exercise;
•the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants commence and expire;
•if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
•the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;
•if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations;
•anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;
•redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants;
•any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants; and
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•any other information we think is important about the warrants.
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder of the warrant to purchase at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the number of shares of Class A common stock or shares of preferred stock being offered. Holders may exercise warrants at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants are void. Holders may exercise warrants as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants being offered.
Until a holder exercises the warrants to purchase our shares of Class A common stock or shares of preferred stock, the holder will not have any rights as a holder of our shares of Class A common stock or shares of preferred stock, as the case may be, by virtue of ownership of warrants.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
General
We may offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we do so, we may issue receipts for depositary shares that each represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock. The prospectus supplement will indicate that fraction. The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a depositary agreement between us and a bank depositary. The phrase “bank depositary” means a bank or trust company that meets certain requirements and is selected by us. Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the depositary agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering.
We have summarized some common provisions of a depositary agreement and the related depositary receipts. The forms of the depositary agreement and the depositary receipts relating to any particular issue of depositary shares will be filed with the SEC each time we issue depositary shares, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you.
Dividends and Other Distributions
If we pay a cash distribution or dividend on a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the bank depositary will distribute such dividends to the record holders of such depositary shares. If the distributions are in property other than cash, the bank depositary will distribute the property to the record holders of the depositary shares. However, if the bank depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution of property, the bank depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to the record holders of the depositary shares.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
If we redeem a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the bank depositary will redeem the depositary shares from the proceeds received by the bank depositary in connection with the redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will equal the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share of the preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as the bank depositary may determine.
Voting the Preferred Stock
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock represented by depositary shares are entitled to vote, the bank depositary will mail the notice to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to such preferred stock. Each record holder of these depositary shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock) may instruct the bank depositary as to how to vote the preferred stock represented by such holder’s depositary shares. The bank depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of the preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will take all action which the bank depositary deems necessary in order to enable the bank depositary to do so. The bank depositary will abstain from voting shares of the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing such preferred stock.
Amendment and Termination of the Depositary Agreement
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the depositary agreement may be amended by agreement between the bank depositary and us. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless such amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The depositary agreement may be terminated by the bank depositary or us only if (1) all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or
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(2) there has been a final distribution in respect of the preferred stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of us and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary shares.
Charges of Bank Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the bank depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary shares will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts, as are expressly provided in the depositary agreement to be payable by such holders.
Withdrawal of Preferred Stock
Except as may be provided otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the bank depositary, subject to the terms of the depositary agreement, the owner of the depositary shares may demand delivery of the number of whole shares of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by those depositary shares. Partial shares of preferred stock will not be issued. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the bank depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Holders of preferred stock thus withdrawn may not thereafter deposit those shares under the depositary agreement or receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares therefor.
Miscellaneous
The bank depositary will forward to holders of depositary shares all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the bank depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.
Neither the bank depositary nor we will be liable if we are prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations under the depositary agreement. The obligations of the bank depositary and us under the depositary agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of their respective duties under the depositary agreement, and we will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary shares or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
Resignation and Removal of Bank Depositary
The bank depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the bank depositary. Any such resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor bank depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. The successor bank depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company meeting the requirements of the depositary agreement.
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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS
We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of Class A common stock or other securities at a future date or dates, which we refer to in this prospectus as “stock purchase contracts.” The price per share of the securities and the number of shares of the securities may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the stock purchase contracts in a specified manner. The stock purchase contracts also may require us to make periodic payments to such holders or vice versa, and those payments may be unsecured or refunded on some basis.
The stock purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements, relating to the stock purchase contracts, will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of stock purchase contracts. The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of stock purchase contracts will describe the terms of those stock purchase contracts, including the following:
•if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations; and
•any other information we think is important about the stock purchase contracts.
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
We may issue units consisting of any combination of two or more securities described in this prospectus from time to time. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the units. Each unit may be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit would have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The particular terms of the units and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions may apply to the units so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description and any description of the units in the applicable prospectus supplement may not be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the applicable unit agreement. A form of the unit agreement reflecting the particular terms and provisions of a series of offered units will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering and incorporated by reference herein.
We may issue units from time to time in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we determine. We will issue each series of units under a unit agreement to be entered into between us and a unit agent to be designated in the applicable prospectus supplement. When we refer to a series of units, we mean all units issued as part of the same series under the applicable unit agreement.
We may issue units consisting of any combination of two or more securities described in this prospectus. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the units offered pursuant to it, including one or more of the following:
•the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
•the aggregate number of, and the price at which we will issue, the units;
•any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units;
•whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form;
•the name of the unit agent;
•a description of the terms of any unit agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as unit agent, governing the units;
•if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations;; and
•whether the units will be listed on any securities exchange.
We reserve the right to set forth in a prospectus supplement specific terms of the units that are not within the options and parameters set forth in this prospectus. To the extent that any particular terms of the units, units agreement, or units certificates described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described above, then the terms described above will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement.
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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS
We may issue rights to our stockholders to purchase shares of our Class A common stock or preferred stock. We may offer rights separately or together with one or more additional rights, preferred stock, Class A common stock, or warrants, or any combination of those securities in the form of units, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights of the series of certificates and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the rights. The particular terms of the rights and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions may apply to the rights so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent that any particular terms of the rights, rights agreement, or rights certificates described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described below, then the terms described below will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement. We encourage you to read the applicable rights agreement and rights certificate for additional information before you decide whether to purchase any of our rights.
We will provide in a prospectus supplement the following terms of the rights being issued:
•the date on which stockholders entitled to the rights distribution will be determined;
•the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of the rights;
•the exercise price;
•the aggregate number of rights issued;
•the date, if any, on and after which the rights will be separately transferable;
•the date on which the ability to exercise the rights will commence, and the date on which such ability will expire;
•the conditions to the completion of the offering, if any;
•the withdrawal, termination, and cancellation rights, if any;
•any applicable material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and
•and other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange, and exercise of the rights.
Each right will entitle the holder of rights to purchase, for cash, the number of shares of Class A common stock or preferred stock at the exercise price provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the shares of Class A common stock or preferred stock, as applicable, purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR NON-U.S. HOLDERS
The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations related to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Class A common stock by a non-U.S. holder (as defined below) that holds our Class A common stock as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (generally, property held for investment). This summary is based on the provisions of the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, administrative rulings and judicial decisions, all as in effect on the date hereof, and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. We cannot assure you that a change in law will not significantly alter the tax considerations that we describe in this summary. We have not sought any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) with respect to the statements made and the positions and conclusions described in the following summary, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with such statements, positions and conclusions.
This summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to non-U.S. holders in light of their personal circumstances. In addition, this summary does not address the impact of the Medicare surtax on certain net investment income, U.S. federal estate or gift tax laws, any U.S. state or local or non-U.S. tax laws or any tax treaties. This summary also does not address all U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to particular non-U.S. holders in light of their personal circumstances or that may be relevant to certain categories of investors that may be subject to special rules, such as:
•banks, insurance companies or other financial institutions;
•tax-exempt or governmental organizations;
•tax qualified retirement plans;
•“qualified foreign pension funds” as defined in Section 897(l)(2) of the Code (or any entities all of the interests of which are held by a qualified foreign pension fund);
•dealers in securities or foreign currencies;
•persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;
•traders in securities that use the mark-to-market method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
•“controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;
•entities or arrangements treated as partnerships or pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes or holders of interests therein;
•persons deemed to sell our Class A common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;
•persons that acquired our Class A common stock through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation or through a tax-qualified retirement plan;
•persons that hold our Class A common stock as part of a straddle, appreciated financial position, synthetic security, hedge, conversion transaction or other integrated investment or risk reduction transaction; and
•certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States.
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT WITH AND RELY SOLELY UPON THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS (INCLUDING ANY POTENTIAL FUTURE CHANGES THERETO) TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATION, AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR CLASS A COMMON STOCK ARISING UNDER ANY OTHER TAX LAWS, INCLUDING U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY U.S.
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STATE OR LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION, OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.
Non-U.S. Holder Defined
For purposes of this discussion, a “non-U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of our Class A common stock that is not for U.S. federal income tax purposes a partnership or any of the following:
•an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
•a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
•an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or
•a trust (i) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) which has made a valid election under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.
If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our Class A common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, we urge partners in partnerships (including entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) considering the purchase of our Class A common stock to consult with and rely solely upon their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax considerations of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Class A common stock by such partnership.
Distributions
We do not expect to pay any distributions on our Class A common stock in the foreseeable future. However, in the event we do make distributions of cash or other property on our Class A common stock, such distributions will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. To the extent those distributions exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distributions will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of the non-U.S. holder’s tax basis in our Class A common stock and thereafter as capital gain from the sale or exchange of such Class A common stock. See “—Gain on Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock.” Subject to the withholding requirements under FATCA (as defined below) and with respect to effectively connected dividends, each of which is discussed below, any distribution made to a non-U.S. holder on our Class A common stock generally will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the distribution unless an applicable income tax treaty provides for a lower rate. To receive the benefit of a reduced treaty rate, a non-U.S. holder must provide the applicable withholding agent with an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable or successor form) certifying qualification for the reduced rate.
Dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder that are effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the non-U.S. holder in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are treated as attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States) generally will be taxed on a net income basis at the rates and in the manner generally applicable to United States persons. Such effectively connected dividends will not be subject to U.S. withholding tax if the non-U.S. holder satisfies certain certification requirements by providing the applicable withholding agent with a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI certifying eligibility for exemption. If the non-U.S. holder is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it may also be subject to a branch profits tax (at a 30% rate or such lower rate as specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on its effectively connected earnings and profits (as adjusted for certain items), which will include effectively connected dividends.
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Gain on Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock
Subject to the discussion below under “—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting,” a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other taxable disposition of our Class A common stock unless:
•the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year in which the sale or disposition occurs and certain other conditions are met;
•the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the non-U.S. holder in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States); or
•our Class A common stock constitutes a United States real property interest by reason of our status as a United States real property holding corporation (“USRPHC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes and as a result such gain is treated as effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the non-U.S. holder in the United States.
A non-U.S. holder described in the first bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on the amount of such gain, which generally may be offset by U.S. source capital losses provided the non-U.S. holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.
A non-U.S. holder whose gain is described in the second bullet point above or, subject to the exceptions described in the next paragraph, the third bullet point above, generally will be taxed on a net income basis at the rates and in the manner generally applicable to United States persons. If the non-U.S. holder is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes whose gain is described in the second bullet point above, then such gain would also be included in its effectively connected earnings and profits (as adjusted for certain items), which may be subject to a branch profits tax (at a 30% rate or such lower rate as specified by an applicable income tax treaty).
Generally a corporation is a USRPHC if the fair market value of its United States real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests and its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. We believe that we currently are not a USRPHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and we do not expect to become a USRPHC for the foreseeable future. However, in the event that we become a USRPHC, as long as our Class A common stock is and continues to be “regularly traded on an established securities market”(within the meaning of the U.S. Treasury regulations), only a non-U.S. holder that actually or constructively owns, or owned at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the disposition or the non-U.S. holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock, more than 5% of our Class A common stock will be treated as disposing of a United States real property interest and will be taxable on gain realized on the disposition of our Class A common stock as a result of our status as a USRPHC. If we were to become a USRPHC and our Class A common stock were not considered to be regularly traded on an established securities market, each non-U.S. holder (regardless of the percentage of stock owned) would be treated as disposing of a United States real property interest and would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a taxable disposition of our Class A common stock (as described in the preceding paragraph), and a 15% withholding tax would apply to the gross proceeds from such disposition.
Non-U.S. holders should consult with their own tax advisors with respect to the application of the foregoing rules to their ownership and disposition of our Class A common stock, including regarding potentially applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Any distributions paid to a non-U.S. holder must be reported annually to the IRS and to the non-U.S. holder. Copies of these information returns may be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides or is established. Payments of dividends to a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to
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backup withholding if the non-U.S. holder establishes an exemption by properly certifying its non-U.S. status on an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable or successor form).
Payments of the proceeds from a sale or other disposition by a non-U.S. holder of our Class A common stock effected by or through a U.S. office of a broker generally will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding (at the applicable rate) unless the non-U.S. holder establishes an exemption by properly certifying its non-U.S. status on an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable or successor form) and certain other conditions are met. Information reporting and backup withholding generally will not apply to any payment of the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our Class A common stock effected outside the United States by a non-U.S. office of a broker. However, unless such broker has documentary evidence in its records that the non-U.S. holder is not a United States person and certain other conditions are met, or the non-U.S. holder otherwise establishes an exemption, information reporting will apply to a payment of the proceeds of the disposition of our Class A common stock effected outside the United States by such a broker if it has certain relationships within the United States.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the U.S. federal income tax liability (if any) of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If backup withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Additional Withholding Requirements under FATCA
Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, and the U.S. Treasury regulations and administrative guidance issued thereunder (“FATCA”), impose a 30% withholding tax on any dividends on our Class A common stock and, subject to the proposed U.S. Treasury regulations discussed below, on proceeds from sales or other dispositions of shares of our Class A common stock, if paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code) (including, in some cases, when such foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity is acting as an intermediary), unless (i) in the case of a foreign financial institution, such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. government to withhold on certain payments and to collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities substantial information regarding U.S. account holders of such institution (which includes certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that are non-U.S. entities with U.S. owners), (ii) in the case of a non-financial foreign entity, such entity certifies that it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or provides the applicable withholding agent with a certification identifying the direct and indirect substantial United States owners of the entity (in either case, generally on an IRS Form W-8BEN-E), or (iii) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules and provides appropriate documentation (such as an IRS Form W-8BEN-E). Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing these rules may be subject to different rules. Under certain circumstances, a holder might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes. While gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our Class A common stock paid after January 1, 2019, would have originally been subject to withholding under FATCA, proposed U.S. Treasury regulations provide that such payments of gross proceeds do not constitute withholdable payments. Taxpayers may generally rely on these proposed U.S. Treasury regulations until they are revoked or final U.S. Treasury regulations are issued. Non-U.S. holders are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the effects of FATCA on an investment in our Class A common stock.
INVESTORS CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF OUR CLASS A COMMON STOCK SHOULD CONSULT WITH AND RELY SOLELY UPON THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS (INCLUDING ANY POTENTIAL FUTURE CHANGES THERETO) TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AND THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF ANY OTHER TAX LAWS, INCLUDING U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE AND GIFT TAX LAWS AND ANY U.S. STATE OR LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAX LAWS, AND TAX TREATIES.
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CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of certain considerations associated with the acquisition and holding of shares of common stock by employee benefit plans that are subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), plans, individual retirement accounts and other arrangements that are subject to Section 4975 of the Code or employee benefit plans that are governmental plans (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA), certain church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA), non-U.S. plans (as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) or other plans that are not subject to the foregoing but may be subject to provisions under any other federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of ERISA or the Code (collectively, “Similar Laws”), and entities whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of any such plan, account or arrangement (each, a “Plan”).
This summary is based on the provisions of ERISA and the Code (and related regulations and administrative and judicial interpretations) as of the date of this registration statement. This summary does not purport to be complete or comprehensive, and no assurance is or can be given that future legislation, court decisions, regulations, rulings or pronouncements will not significantly modify the requirements summarized below. Any of those changes may be retroactive and may thereby apply to transactions entered into prior to the date of their enactment or release, including the date of this registration statement. This discussion is general in nature and is not intended to be all inclusive, nor should it be construed as investment, legal or other advice.
General Fiduciary Matters
ERISA and the Code impose certain duties on persons who are fiduciaries of a Plan subject to Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (an “ERISA Plan”) and prohibit certain transactions involving the assets of an ERISA Plan and its fiduciaries or other interested parties. Under ERISA and the Code, any person who exercises any discretionary authority or control over the administration of an ERISA Plan or the management or disposition of the assets of an ERISA Plan, or who renders investment advice for a fee or other compensation to an ERISA Plan, is generally considered to be a fiduciary of the ERISA Plan.
In considering an investment in shares of common stock with a portion of the assets of any Plan, a fiduciary should consider the Plan’s particular circumstances and all of the facts and circumstances of the investment and determine whether the acquisition and holding of shares of common stock is in accordance with the documents and instruments governing the Plan and the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code, or any Similar Law relating to the fiduciary’s duties to the Plan, including, without limitation:
•whether the investment is prudent under Section 404(a)(1)(B) of ERISA and any other applicable Similar Laws;
•whether, in making the investment, the ERISA Plan will satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 404(a)(1)(C) of ERISA and any other applicable Similar Laws;
•whether the investment is permitted under the terms of the applicable documents governing the Plan;
•whether the acquisition or holding of the shares of common stock will constitute a “prohibited transaction” under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (please see discussion under “—Prohibited Transaction Issues” below); and
•whether the Plan will be considered to hold, as the Plan’s assets, (i) only shares of common stock or (ii) an undivided interest in our underlying assets (please see the discussion under “—Plan Asset Issues” below).
Prohibited Transaction Issues
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit ERISA Plans from engaging in specified transactions involving assets of an ERISA Plan with persons or entities who are “parties in interest,” within the meaning of ERISA, or “disqualified persons,” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code, unless an exemption is available. A party in interest or disqualified person who engages in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. In addition, the fiduciary of the
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ERISA Plan that engages in such a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes, penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. The acquisition and/or holding of shares of common stock by an ERISA Plan with respect to which the issuer, the initial purchaser, or a guarantor is considered a party in interest or a disqualified person may constitute or result in a direct or indirect prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code, unless the investment is acquired and is held in accordance with an applicable statutory, class or individual prohibited transaction exemption.
Because of the foregoing, shares of common stock should not be acquired or held by any person investing “plan assets” of any Plan, unless such acquisition and holding will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code or a similar violation of any applicable Similar Laws.
Plan Asset Issues
Additionally, a fiduciary of a Plan should consider whether the Plan will, by investing in us, be deemed to own an undivided interest in our assets, with the result that we would become a fiduciary of the Plan and our operations would be subject to the regulatory restrictions of ERISA, including its prohibited transaction rules, as well as the prohibited transaction rules of the Code and any other applicable Similar Laws.
The Department of Labor (the “DOL”) regulations provide guidance with respect to whether the assets of an entity in which ERISA Plans acquire equity interests would be deemed “plan assets” under some circumstances. Under these regulations, an entity’s assets generally would not be considered to be “plan assets” if, among other things:
(a)the equity interests acquired by ERISA Plans are “publicly offered securities” (as defined in the DOL regulations)—i.e., the equity interests are part of a class of securities that is widely held by 100 or more investors independent of the issuer and each other, are freely transferable, and are either registered under certain provisions of the federal securities laws or sold to the ERISA Plan as part of a public offering under certain conditions;
(b)the entity is an “operating company” (as defined in the DOL regulations)—i.e., it is primarily engaged in the production or sale of a product or service, other than the investment of capital, either directly or through a majority-owned subsidiary or subsidiaries; or
(c)there is no significant investment by “benefit plan investors” (as defined in the DOL regulations)—i.e., immediately after the most recent acquisition by an ERISA Plan of any equity interest in the entity, less than 25% of the total value of each class of equity interest (disregarding certain interests held by persons (other than benefit plan investors) with discretionary authority or control over the assets of the entity or who provide investment advice for a fee (direct or indirect) with respect to such assets, and any affiliates thereof) is held by ERISA Plans, individual retirement accounts and certain other Plans (but not including governmental plans, foreign plans and certain church plans), and entities whose underlying assets are deemed to include plan assets by reason of a Plan’s investment in the entity.
Our assets should not be considered “plan assets” under these regulations because it is expected that any investment in us by an ERISA Plan will satisfy the requirements in (a) above.
Due to the complexity of these rules and the excise taxes, penalties and liabilities that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries, or other persons considering acquiring and/or holding shares of our common stock on behalf of, or with the assets of, any Plan, consult with their counsel regarding the potential applicability of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code and any Similar Laws to such investment and whether an exemption would be applicable to the acquisition and holding of shares of common stock. Purchasers of shares of common stock have the exclusive responsibility for ensuring that their acquisition and holding of shares of common stock complies with the fiduciary responsibility rules of ERISA and does not violate the prohibited transaction rules of ERISA, the Code or applicable Similar Laws. The sale of shares of common stock to a Plan is in no respect a representation by us or any of our affiliates or representatives that such an investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by any such Plan or that such investment is appropriate for any such Plan.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions, including without limitation:
•through underwriters, initial purchasers, brokers or dealers;
•directly to agents or other purchasers;
•in a rights offering;
•in “at the market” offerings, within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market on an exchange or otherwise;
•through agents;
•through a combination of any of these methods; or
•through any other method permitted by applicable law and described in a prospectus supplement.
In addition, we may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.
The prospectus supplement with respect to any offering of securities will include the following information:
•the terms of the offering;
•the names of any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers;
•the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;
•the purchase price or initial public offering price of the securities;
•the net proceeds from the sale of the securities;
•any delayed delivery arrangements;
•any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;
•any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers;
•any commissions paid to agents; and
•any securities exchange on which the securities may be listed.
Sale through Underwriters or Dealers
If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to
34
certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
We will describe the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, any compensation they receive from us and the purchase price of the securities in a prospectus supplement relating to the securities.
In connection with the sale of the securities, underwriters may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of the securities, for whom they may act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and these dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents, which is not expected to exceed that customary in the types of transactions involved. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us, and any profit on the resale of the securities they realize may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions, under the Securities Act.
Underwriters or agents could make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including block trades, sales deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering, sales made directly on Nasdaq, the existing trading market for our common stock, or such other exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities trade, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange. The name of any such underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of our securities, the amounts sold, and the nature of its obligations to take our securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchasers for the period of its appointment.
We currently intend to list any shares of Class A common stock sold pursuant to this prospectus on Nasdaq. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a series of the securities, but underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Therefore, we can give no assurance about the liquidity of or the trading market for any of the securities.
Under agreements we may enter into, we may indemnify underwriters, dealers, and agents who participate in the distribution of the securities against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute with respect to payments that the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of any underwriters to purchase any of the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent.
To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than we sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.
From time to time, we or our affiliates may engage in transactions with these underwriters, dealers and agents in the ordinary course of business. Underwriters may from time to time in the future provide investment banking services to us for which they have in the past received, and may in the future receive, customary fees.
If so indicated in a prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by institutional investors to purchase securities pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. We may enter contracts with commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and other institutional investors. The obligations of any institutional investor under such delayed delivery contract will be subject to the condition that its
35
purchase of the offered securities will not be illegal at the time of delivery. The underwriters and other agents will not be responsible for the validity or performance of contracts.
Direct Sales and Sales through Agents
We may sell the securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We may also sell the securities through agents designated by us from time to time. In the applicable prospectus supplement, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities, and we will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.
We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. We will describe the terms of any sales of these securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
At the Market Offerings
We may also sell the securities offered by any applicable prospectus supplement in “at the market offerings” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise.
Remarketing Arrangements
Securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreements, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Delayed Delivery Contracts
If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future.
The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.
General Information
We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the underwriters, dealers, agents or remarketing firms may be required to make. Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.
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LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of our securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., New York, New York.
EXPERTS
The audited financial statements of Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. incorporated by reference into this registration statement have been so included in reliance upon the report of Urish Popeck & Co., LLC, independent registered public accounting firm, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
37
Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc.
$250,000,000
Class A Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Depositary Shares
Stock Purchase Contracts
Units
Rights
PROSPECTUS
, 2024
Part II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth an itemized statement of the amounts of all expenses (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions) payable by us in connection with the registration of the common stock offered hereby. With the exception of the SEC registration fee, the amounts set forth below are estimates.
| Amount | |||||
SEC registration fee | $ | 36,900.00 | |||
Accountants’ fees and expenses | 20,000 | ||||
Legal fees and expenses | 30,000 | ||||
Miscellaneous expenses | 15,000 | ||||
Total | $ | 101,900.00 | |||
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a director will not be liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duties to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). In addition, if the DGCL is amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the corporation, in addition to the limitation on personal liability provided for in our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, will be limited to the fullest extent permitted by the amended DGCL. Our amended and restated bylaws provide that the corporation will indemnify, and advance expenses to, any officer or director to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL.
Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and individuals against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with specified actions, suits and proceedings whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, other than a derivative action by or in the right of the corporation, if they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the case of derivative actions, except that indemnification extends only to expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action and the statute requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable to the corporation. The statute provides that it is not exclusive of other indemnification that may be granted by a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws, disinterested director vote, stockholder vote, agreement or otherwise.
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains indemnification rights for our directors and our officers. Specifically, our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we shall indemnify our officers and directors to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. Furthermore, we may maintain insurance on behalf of our officers and directors against expense, liability or loss asserted against, or incurred by, them in their capacities as officers and directors.
We have obtained directors’ and officers’ insurance to cover our directors, officers and some of our employees for certain liabilities.
We entered into written indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers. Under these agreements, if an officer or director makes a claim of indemnification to us, either a majority of the independent directors or independent legal counsel selected by the independent directors must review the relevant facts and make a determination whether the officer or director has met the standards of conduct under Delaware law that would
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permit (under Delaware law) and require (under the indemnification agreement) us to indemnify the officer or director.
Item 16. Exhibits and financial statement schedules
See the Exhibit Index immediately preceding the signature page hereto, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Item 17. Undertakings
(a)The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Filing Fee Tables” in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that: Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first
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contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the 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.
(b)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 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.
(c)Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
| Exhibit Number | Description | |||||||
| 1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement | |||||||
| 2.1¥#*** | ||||||||
| 4.1*** | ||||||||
| 4.2*** | ||||||||
| 4.3*** | ||||||||
| 4.4* | ||||||||
| 4.5* | ||||||||
| 4.6* | Form of Certificate of Designation for Preferred Stock | |||||||
| 4.7* | Form of Preferred Stock Certificate | |||||||
| 4.8* | Form of Depositary Agreement | |||||||
| 4.9* | Form of Depositary Certificate | |||||||
| 4.10* | Form of Warrant Agreement | |||||||
| 4.11* | Form of Warrant Certificate | |||||||
| 4.12* | Form of Purchase Contract Agreement | |||||||
| 4.13* | Form of Subscription Rights | |||||||
| 4.14* | Form of Subscription Rights Certificate | |||||||
| 4.15* | Form of Unit Agreement | |||||||
| 4.16* | Form of Unit Certificate | |||||||
| 5.1** | ||||||||
| 23.1** | ||||||||
| 23.2** | ||||||||
| 24.1** | ||||||||
| 107** | ||||||||
__________________
*To be filed, if necessary, by amendment or as an exhibit to a report filed under the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference.
** Filed herewith.
*** Previously filed.
¥ Certain schedules and exhibits to this agreement have been omitted in accordance with Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule and/or exhibit will be furnished to the SEC on request.
# Certain portions of this exhibit were redacted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, New York, on April 12, 2024.
| Stronghold Digital Mining Inc. | |||||
| By: | /s/ Gregory A. Beard | ||||
| Gregory A. Beard | |||||
| Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman | |||||
Each person whose signature appears below appoints Gregory A. Beard and Matthew J. Smith, and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any Registration Statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or would do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them of their, or his or her substitute and substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated below as of April 12, 2024.
| Name | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
| /s/ Gregory A. Beard | Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman (Principal Executive Officer) | April 12, 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Gregory A. Beard | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Matthew J. Smith | Chief Financial Officer and Director (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | April 12, 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Matthew J. Smith | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Sarah P. James | Director | April 12, 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Sarah P. James | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Thomas J. Pacchia | Director | April 12, 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Thomas J. Pacchia | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Thomas R. Trowbridge, IV | Director | April 12, 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Thomas R. Trowbridge, IV | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Indira Agarwal | Director | April 12, 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Indira Agarwal | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Thomas Doherty | Director | April 12, 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Thomas Doherty | ||||||||||||||
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Exhibit 107
Calculation of Filing Fee Tables
FORM S-3
(Form Type)
Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities
| Security Type | Security Class Title | Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule | Amount Registered (1) | Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit | Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (1) | Fee Rate | Amount of Registration Fee | Carry Forward Form Type | Carry Forward File Number | Carry Forward Initial Effective Date | Filing Fee Previously Paid In Connection with Unsold Securities to be Carried Forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Newly Registered Securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fees to Be Paid | Equity | Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity | Preferred Stock | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | Warrants | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | Depositary Shares | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | Stock Purchase Contracts | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | Units | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | Rights | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unallocated (Universal Shelf) | (2) | Rule 457(o) | $250,000,000 | N/A | $250,000,000 | 0.0001476 | $ | 36,900 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fees Previously Paid | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carry Forward Securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carry Forward Securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Offering Amounts | $250,000,000 | $ | 36,900 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Fees Previously Paid | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Fee Offsets | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Fee Due | $ | 36,900 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_____________
(1)There are being registered hereunder such indeterminable number of Class A common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, stock purchase contracts, units, rights or any combination thereof to be sold by Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. (the “Registrant”) from time to time at unspecified prices which shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $250,000,000. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, the shares being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of Class A common stock as may be issuable with respect to the shares being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
(2)The proposed maximum offering price per share will be determined, from time to time, by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security pursuant to Instruction 2.A.iii.b to the Instructions to the Calculation of Filing Fee Tables and Related Disclosure of Item 16(b) of Form S-3.
Exhibit 5.1
April 12, 2024
Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc.
595 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on or about the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”), with respect to certain legal matters in connection with the registration by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Registration Statement includes a base prospectus (the “Prospectus”) relating to the offer and sale from time to time of up to $250,000,000 of (a) shares (the “Class A Shares”) of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), (b) shares (the “Preferred Shares”) of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), (c) depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts and representing fractional shares of Preferred Shares (the “Depositary Shares”), (d) warrants to purchase Common Shares or Preferred Shares (“Warrants”), (e) rights to purchase Common Shares or Preferred Shares (“Rights”), (f) stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from the Company, and obligating the Company to sell to the holders, a specified number of Securities (as defined herein) at a later date (“Contracts”), and (g) units consisting of one or more of the foregoing securities listed in clauses (a)–(f) (“Units” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Warrants, Rights and Contracts, the “Securities”).
The Securities may be issued and sold from time to time in multiple transactions pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Securities Act and as set forth in the Registration Statement, any amendments thereto, the Prospectus contained therein and any amendments or supplements thereto (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”). Any (i) Depositary Shares will be issued pursuant to one or more deposit agreements (each, a “Deposit Agreement”) between the Company and the depositary party thereto, (ii) Rights will be issued pursuant to one or more rights agreements (each, a “Rights Agreement”) between the Company and the rights agent party thereto, (iii) Warrants will be evidenced by a warrant certificate and issued pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) between the Company and the warrant agent party thereto, (iv) Contracts will be issued pursuant to one or more stock purchase contracts (each, a “Stock Purchase Contract”) between the Company and the stock purchase contract agent party thereto, and (v) Units will be evidenced by a unit certificate and issued pursuant to one or more unit agreements (each, a “Unit Agreement”) between the Company and the unit agent party thereto; in each case, in the form to be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a document filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and incorporated into the Registration Statement by reference.
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In connection with this opinion, we have assumed that (i) the Company will continue to be incorporated and in existence and good standing in its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will have become effective (and such effectiveness shall not have been terminated or rescinded) and comply with all applicable laws at the time the Securities are offered and issued in the manner and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement, as applicable, (iii) one or more Prospectus Supplements to the Prospectus will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby, (iv) a Prospectus properly describing the applicable Securities offered thereby will have been delivered to the purchaser(s) of such Securities as required in accordance with applicable law, (v) upon issuance, the total number of shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock issued and outstanding will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock that the Company has authority to issue under the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, each as currently in effect, (collectively, the “Company Charter Documents”), (vi) there will not have occurred any change in law or in the Company Charter Documents adversely affecting the Securities or the rights of the holders thereof, and (vii) each of the applicable Depositary Shares, Rights, Warrants, Contracts and Units (including any Securities issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof) and the Deposit Agreements, Rights Agreements, Warrant Agreements, Stock Purchase Contracts and Unit Agreements governing such Securities will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered and governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
In connection with the opinion expressed herein, we have examined, among other things, (i) the Company Charter Documents, (ii) the records of corporate proceedings that have occurred prior to the date hereof with respect to the Registration Statement (iii) the Registration Statement, (iv) the Prospectus and (v) such other corporate records of the Company as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of the opinions hereafter expressed.
We have also reviewed such questions of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate. As to matters of fact relevant to the opinion expressed herein, and as to factual matters arising in connection with our examination of corporate documents, records and other documents and writings, we relied upon certificates and other communications of corporate officers of the Company, without further investigation as to the facts set forth therein. In making such examination and rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed without verification the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies and the legal capacity of all individuals executing any of the foregoing documents.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that
(i) with respect to the Class A Shares, (a) when the terms of the issuance and sale of the Class A Shares have been duly established in conformity with the Company Charter Documents and (b) when the Class A Shares have been duly issued and sold as contemplated by the
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Registration Statement, the Prospectus contained therein and any applicable Prospectus Supplement, and if all of the foregoing actions are taken in accordance with appropriate corporate authorization of the Company, and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding on the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and the Company has received full payment therefor in accordance with such corporate authorization, then the Class A Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;
(ii) with respect to the Preferred Shares, (a) when the terms of the particular class or series of Preferred Stock and of the issuance and sale of such Preferred Shares have been duly established in conformity with the Company Charter Documents, (b) with respect to a particular class or series of Preferred Stock, when the related designating amendment to the Company Charter Documents establishing the relative powers, designations, preferences, rights, duties, limitations or restrictions of such Preferred Stock has been annexed to the Company Charter Documents, and (c) when shares of such class or series of Preferred Stock have been duly issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus contained therein and any applicable Prospectus Supplement, and if all of the foregoing actions are taken in accordance with appropriate corporate authorization of the Company, and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding on the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and the Company has received full payment therefor in accordance with such corporate authorization, then the Preferred Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;
(iii) with respect to the Depositary Shares, (a) when the terms of the particular class or series of Depositary Shares and of the issuance and sale of such Depositary Shares have been duly established in conformity with the Company Charter Documents, (b) when such Depositary Shares have been duly issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus contained therein and any applicable Prospectus Supplement, (c) when the applicable Deposit Agreement has been duly executed and delivered and (d) when the certificates representing such Depositary Shares have been duly executed and delivered in accordance with the applicable Deposit Agreement, and if all of the foregoing actions are taken in accordance with appropriate corporate authorization of the Company, and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding on the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and the Company has received full payment therefor in accordance with such corporate authorization, then such Depositary Shares will be validly issued and will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company under New York law in accordance with the terms of such Depositary Shares and the terms of the applicable Deposit Agreement, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited or otherwise affected by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and (2) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity;
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(iv) with respect to the Rights, (a) when the terms of the particular Rights and of the issuance and sale of such Rights have been duly established in conformity with the Company Charter Documents, (b) when such Rights have been duly issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus contained therein and any applicable Prospectus Supplement, (c) when the applicable Rights Agreement (including a form of certificate representing the Rights) has been duly executed and delivered and (d) when the certificates representing such Rights have been duly executed and delivered in accordance with the applicable Rights Agreement, and if all of the foregoing actions are taken in accordance with appropriate corporate authorization of the Company, and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding on the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and the Company has received full payment therefor in accordance with such corporate authorization, then such Rights will be validly issued and will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company under New York law in accordance with the terms of such Rights and the terms of the applicable Rights Agreement, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited or otherwise affected by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and (2) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity;
(v) with respect to the Warrants, (a) when the terms of the particular class or series of Warrants and of the issuance and sale of such Warrants have been duly established in conformity with the Company Charter Documents, (b) when such Warrants have been duly issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus contained therein and any applicable Prospectus Supplement, (c) when the applicable Warrant Agreement (including a form of certificate representing the Warrants) has been duly executed and delivered and (d) when the certificates representing such Warrants have been duly executed and delivered in accordance with the applicable Warrant Agreement, and if all of the foregoing actions are taken in accordance with appropriate corporate authorization of the Company, and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding on the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and the Company has received full payment therefor in accordance with such corporate authorization, then such Warrants will be validly issued and will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company under New York law in accordance with the terms of such Warrants and the terms of the applicable Warrant Agreement, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited or otherwise affected by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and (2) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity;
(vi) with respect to the Contracts, (a) when the terms of the particular Contracts and of the issuance and sale of such Contracts have been duly established in conformity with the Company Charter Documents, (b) when such Contracts have been duly issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus contained therein and any applicable Prospectus Supplement, (c) when the applicable Stock Purchase Contract (including a form of
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certificate representing the Contracts) has been duly executed and delivered and (d) when the certificates representing such Contracts have been duly executed and delivered in accordance with the applicable Stock Purchase Contract, and if all of the foregoing actions are taken in accordance with appropriate corporate authorization of the Company, and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding on the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and the Company has received full payment therefor in accordance with such corporate authorization, then such Contracts will be validly issued and will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company under New York law in accordance with the terms of such Contracts and the terms of the applicable Stock Purchase Contract, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited or otherwise affected by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and (2) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity; and
(vii) with respect to the Units, (a) when the terms of the particular Units and of the issuance and sale of such Units have been duly established in conformity with the Company Charter Documents, (b) when such Units have been duly issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus contained therein and any applicable Prospectus Supplement, (c) when the applicable Unit Agreement (including a form of certificate representing the Units) has been duly executed and delivered and (d) when the certificates representing such Units have been duly executed and delivered in accordance with the applicable Unit Agreement, and if all of the foregoing actions are taken in accordance with appropriate corporate authorization of the Company, and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding on the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and the Company has received full payment therefor in accordance with such corporate authorization, then such Units will be validly issued and will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company under New York law in accordance with the terms of such Units and the terms of the applicable Unit Agreement, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited or otherwise affected by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and (2) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.
The foregoing opinions are limited in all respects to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (including the applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws), the laws of the State of New York, and the federal laws of the United States of America, and we do not express any opinions as to the laws of any other jurisdiction. We undertake no, and hereby disclaim any, obligation to make any inquiry after the date hereof or to advise you of any changes in any matter set forth herein, whether based on a change in the law, a change in any fact relating to the Company or any other person or any other circumstance.
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We hereby consent to the statements with respect to us under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| /s/ Vinson & Elkins LLP | ||
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We hereby consent to the use in this Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated March 8, 2024, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc., which is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.
We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in this Prospectus.
| /s/ Urish Popeck & Co., LLC | ||
| Pittsburgh, PA | ||
| April 12, 2024 | ||