As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2015

Registration No. 333-204024

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

Ceres, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

33-0727287

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

1535 Rancho Conejo Boulevard

Thousand Oaks, CA 91320

(805) 376-6500

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Richard Hamilton

President and Chief Executive Officer

Ceres, Inc.

1535 Rancho Conejo Boulevard

Thousand Oaks, CA 91320

(805) 376-6500

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copies to:

Danielle Carbone

Shearman & Sterling LLP

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022-6069

(212) 848-4000

 

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.   x

 

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

 

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

 

If this form is a 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.   x

 

If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.   ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer  ¨ Accelerated filer  ¨ Non-accelerated filer  ¨ Smaller reporting company  x
    (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

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 the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell the securities pursuant to this prospectus until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

Subject to Completion, Dated June 29, 2015

 

CERES, INC.

 

 

Debt Securities

Common Stock

Warrants

 

We may, from time to time, offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, either separately or in units, in one or more offerings. The debt securities and warrants may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock or debt securities. This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which these securities will be offered. We will provide the specific terms of these offerings and securities in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as any documents incorporated by reference, before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any of our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CERE.” The last reported sale price of our common stock on June 26, 2015 was $2.07 per share. The aggregate public offering price of all securities under this prospectus will not exceed $8,000,000.

   

Investing in our securities involves risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 3 of this prospectus as well as in the applicable prospectus supplement and under similar sections in the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus.

 

As of June 26, 2015, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $8,772,132, based on 6,032,222 shares of outstanding common stock, of which approximately 4,237,745 shares were held by non-affiliates, and a per share price of $2.07 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on June 26, 2015. We have not offered any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3 during the prior 12 calendar month period that ends on and includes the date of this prospectus.

 

The securities offered by this prospectus may be sold directly by us to investors, through agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers on a continuous delayed basis. We will set forth the names of any underwriters or agents and describe their compensation in the applicable prospectus supplement. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution.” The net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission 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.

 

The date of this prospectus is June 29, 2015.

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 2
CERES, INC. 2
RISK FACTORS 3
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 3
USE OF PROCEEDS 3
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES 4
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES 4
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK 13
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS 16
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 17
LEGAL MATTERS 21
EXPERTS 21
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 21
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE 21

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any one or more or a combination of the securities described in this prospectus, either separately or in units in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $8,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the offered securities. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This prospectus, together with applicable prospectus supplements and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, includes all material information relating to this offering. Please read carefully this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering together with additional information described below under the sections entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference”, before investing.

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement, along with the information contained in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, as well as information we have previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the date on the front of those documents only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

  

This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of our securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

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 section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

CERES, INC.

 

We are an agricultural biotechnology company that develops and markets seeds to produce crops for forage, biofuels and other markets that utilize plant biomass. We use a combination of advanced plant breeding, biotechnology and bioinformatics to develop seed products and biotechnology traits to address the current limitations and future challenges facing agriculture. These technology platforms, which can increase crop productivity, improve quality, reduce crop inputs and improve cultivation on marginal land, have broad application across multiple end markets, including food, feed, fiber and fuel. Our bioinformatics technologies can also improve and accelerate discovery and development in biomedical research and diagnostics.

 

Since 2010, we have focused primarily on the large-scale evaluation and adoption of our high biomass sorghum for power generation, and sweet sorghum for ethanol production in Brazil. During this time, we demonstrated that our products could be grown and processed without retrofitting or altering the existing mills or industrial facilities. We believe that field performance of our seeds will largely determine the scale and pace at which our current and future sorghum products will be adopted. As part of our market development activities, in March 2015, we signed a multi-year collaboration agreement with Raízen, a joint venture of Royal Dutch Shell and Cosan, to develop and produce sweet sorghum on an industrial scale. Beginning in 2014, due to the economic challenges faced by the Brazilian ethanol industry as well as changes in the global energy market, we expanded the number of market opportunities available for our technology and products, and are now prioritizing our working capital in additional areas beyond Brazil, including biotech traits for food, feed and fiber crops, our iCODE multi-gene traits development technology, forage sorghum and our Persephone bioinformatics software.

 

We market and sell our seed products under our Blade brand. In certain crops, including corn, rice and sugarbeet, we have out-licensed a portion of our traits and gene technology to existing market participants and continue to pursue opportunities to out-license these technologies, among other go-to-market strategies. We believe that the strength of our technology has been validated by our receipt of multiple competitive grants as well as collaborations with leading companies, such as Syngenta Biotechnology, Bayer CropScience and Raízen. We also have significant intellectual property rights to our technology platforms, traits and seed products.

 

Unless otherwise indicated in this prospectus, “Ceres”, “our company”, “the Company”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Ceres, Inc. and our subsidiaries, Ceres Sementes do Brasil Ltda., Ceres Agrotechnologies Intl LLC and CS Semillas de México, S. de L. de C.V.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 2014, as well as the risks, uncertainties and additional information set forth in the other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, including our financial statements and related notes, before investing in our securities. If any of the possible events described in those sections actually occur, our business, business prospects, cash flow, results of operations or financial condition could be harmed. In this case, the trading price of our common stock or the value of our securities could decline, and you might lose all or part of your investment in our securities. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our operations.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain statements that we make from time to time, including statements contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our efforts to develop and commercialize our products, anticipated yields and product performance, our short-term and long-term business strategies, market and industry expectations and future results of operations and financial position, are forward-looking statements. In many cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “could”, “intend”, “target”, “project”, “contemplate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “potential”, “continue” or other similar words.

 

We based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events or trends that we believe may affect our business and financial performance. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We have described in reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K incorporated by reference and in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus the material risks and uncertainties that we believe could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which we cannot predict or quantify, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as guarantees of future results, performance or achievements.

 

The forward-looking statements in this prospectus represent our views as of the date of this prospectus. We undertake no obligation to update publicly, except to the extent required by law, any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this prospectus to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities for general corporate purposes, including working capital.

 

The amount and timing of our use of proceeds will depend on several factors, including the progress of our research and development efforts, the extent and timing of cash collections of revenue and the amount of net cash used by our operations. Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion in the timing and application of these proceeds. Pending their uses, we plan to invest the net proceeds of this offering in short- and intermediate-term, interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government.

 

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DILUTION

 

If there is a material dilution of the purchasers’ equity interest from the sale of common equity securities offered under this prospectus, we will set forth in any prospectus supplement the following information regarding any such material dilution:

 

• the net tangible book value per share of our equity securities before and after the offering;

• the amount of the increase in such net tangible book value per share attributable to the cash payments made by the purchasers in the offering; and

• the amount of the immediate dilution from the public offering price which will be absorbed by such purchasers.

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges on a historical basis for the periods indicated.

 

   Year Ended August 31,   Six Months Ended
February 28, 2015
 
   2010   2011   2012   2013   2014     
   (in millions)     
Deficiency of earnings available to cover fixed charges (1) (2)  $22.4   $31.9   $28.9   $32.5   $29.3   $15.4 

 

(1) For the purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of our net loss for the period less fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense on our outstanding debt. The ratio of earnings available to pay fixed charges was less than one-to-one for all periods presented. Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $22.4 million in 2010, $31.9 million in 2011, $28.9 million in 2012, $32.5 million in 2013, $29.3 million in 2014, and $15.4 million for the six months ended February 28, 2015.

(2) We have not included a ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends as we do not have any preferred stock outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. If we issue preferred stock in the future, we will set forth in any prospectus supplement the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividends for the last five fiscal years.

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indenture, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.

 

We will issue the debt securities under the indenture that we will enter into with trustee named in the indenture. The indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.

 

The following summary of material provisions of the debt securities and the indenture is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities.

 

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General Terms of the Indenture

 

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us. For each series of debt securities, any restrictive covenants for those debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus for those debt securities.

 

We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may, for United States federal income tax purposes, be treated as if they were issued with “original issue discount,” or OID, because of interest payment and other characteristics. Material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with original issue discount will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.

 

You should refer to the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus relating to a particular series of debt securities for a description of the terms of the debt securities offered by that prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and by this prospectus, including:

 

  · the title and authorized denominations of those debt securities;

 

  · the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities and any limit on the aggregate principal amount of that series of debt securities;

 

  · the date or dates on which principal and premium, if any, of the debt securities of that series is payable;

 

  · the interest rate or rates, and the dates from which interest, if any, on the debt securities of that series will accrue, and the dates when interest is payable or the method by which such dates are to be determined;

 

  · the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of the extensions;

 

  · if the amount of payments of principal or interest is to be determined by reference to an index or formula, or based on a coin or currency other than that in which the debt securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which these amounts are determined and the calculation agent, if any, with respect thereto;

 

  · the place or places where and the manner in which principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities of that series will be payable and the place or places where those debt securities may be presented for transfer and, if applicable, conversion or exchange;

 

  · the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currencies in which, and other terms and conditions upon which those debt securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option or the option of a holder of those securities, if we or a holder is to have that option;

 

  · our obligation or right, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase those debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a holder of those securities, and the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities will be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to that obligation;

 

  · the terms, if any, on which the debt securities of that series will be subordinate in right and priority of payment to our other debt;

 

  · the denominations in which those debt securities will be issuable;

 

  · if other than the entire principal amount of the debt securities when issued, the portion of the principal amount payable upon acceleration of maturity as a result of a default on our obligations or how this portion will be determined;

 

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  · whether those debt securities will be issued in fully registered form without coupons or in a form registered as to principal only with coupons or in bearer form with coupons;

 

  · whether any securities of that series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities and the depositary for those global securities;

 

  · if other than United States dollars, the currency or currencies in which payment of principal of or any premium or interest on those debt securities will be payable;

 

  · if the principal of or any premium or interest on the debt securities of that series is to be payable, or is to be payable at our election or the election of a holder of those securities, in securities or other property, the type and amount of those securities or other property, or the manner of determining that amount, and the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, any such election may be made;

 

  · any provisions granting special rights to the holders of debt securities upon the occurrence of specified events;

 

  · the events of default and covenants relating to the debt securities that are in addition to, modify or delete those described in this prospectus;

 

  · conversion or exchange provisions, if any, including conversion or exchange prices or rates and adjustments thereto;

 

  · whether and upon what terms the debt securities may be defeased, if different from the provisions set forth in the indenture;

 

  · the nature and terms of any security for any secured debt securities;

 

  · the terms applicable to any debt securities issued at a discount from their stated principal amount; and

 

  · any other specific terms of any debt securities.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will present material United States federal income tax considerations for holders of any debt securities and the securities exchange or quotation system on which any debt securities are to be listed or quoted.

 

Conversion or Exchange Rights

 

Debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our equity securities or other securities. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The terms will include, among others, the following:

 

  · the conversion or exchange ratio (or the calculation method);

 

  · the conversion or exchange period (or how the period will be determined);

 

  · provisions regarding our ability or the ability of any holder to convert or exchange the debt securities;

 

  · events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange ratio; and

 

  · provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of our redemption of the debt securities.

 

These terms may also include provisions under which the number or amount of other securities to be received by the holders of the debt securities upon conversion or exchange would be calculated according to the market price of the other securities as of a time stated in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.

 

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Consolidation, Merger or Sale

 

Under the terms of the indenture, we cannot consolidate with or merge with or into, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, any person, unless we are the continuing or successor company or unless the successor entity or person to which our properties and assets are transferred or leased is organized under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes by a supplemental indenture the due and punctual payment of the principal of, any premium on and any interest on, all the outstanding debt securities and the performance of every covenant and obligation in the indenture to be performed by us. In addition, we cannot complete such a transaction unless immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default under the indenture, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default under the indenture, has occurred and is continuing. When the successor entity or person to whom our assets are transferred or leased has assumed our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture, we will be discharged from all our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture except in limited circumstances.

 

This covenant would not apply to any recapitalization transaction, a change of control affecting us or a highly leveraged transaction, unless the transaction or change of control were structured to include a merger or consolidation or transfer or lease of all or substantially all of our properties and assets.

 

Events of Default Under the Indenture

 

The indenture provides that the following will be “events of default” with respect to any series of debt securities:

 

  · failure to pay interest for 30 days after the date payment is due and payable; provided, however, that a valid extension of the interest payment period in accordance with the indenture will not constitute a failure to pay interest;

 

  · failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on any debt security when due, either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise and, in the case of technical or administrative difficulties, only if such default persists for a period of more than three business days;

 

  · failure to perform other covenants contained in the indenture for the benefit of the debt securities for 75 days after notice is given by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series or by the trustee as specified in the indenture;

 

  · certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to us; or

 

  · any other event of default provided in the applicable officer’s certificate, resolution of our board of directors or the supplemental indenture under which we issue a series of debt securities.

 

An event of default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture. For each series of debt securities, any modifications to the above events of default will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus for those debt securities.

 

The indenture provides that if an event of default occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all those debt securities (or, in the case of discount securities or indexed securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) to be due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the fourth bullet above occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all those debt securities (or, in the case of discount securities or indexed securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) will be due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder. In certain cases, holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of holders of all those debt securities, rescind and annul a declaration of acceleration.

 

The indenture imposes limitations on suits brought by holders of debt securities against us. Except for actions to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, no holder of debt securities of any series may institute any action against us under the indenture unless:

 

  · the holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a default and continuance of such default;

 

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  · the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series have requested that the trustee institute the action;

 

  · the requesting holders have offered the trustee indemnity for the reasonable costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by bringing the action;

 

  · the trustee has not instituted the action within 60 days of the request and offer of indemnity; and

 

  · the trustee has not received inconsistent direction during such 60-day period by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series.

 

We will be required to file annually with the trustee a certificate, signed by one of our officers, stating whether or not the officer knows of any default by us in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any condition or covenant of the indenture.

 

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

We can discharge or decrease our obligations under the indenture as stated below.

 

We may discharge obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that have either become due and payable or are by their terms to become due and payable, or are scheduled for redemption, within one year. We may effect a discharge by irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or government obligations denominated in the currency of the debt securities, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities and any mandatory sinking fund payments.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we may also discharge any and all of our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities at any time, which we refer to as defeasance. We may also be released from the obligations imposed by certain covenants of any outstanding series of debt securities and provisions of the indenture, and we may omit to comply with those covenants without creating an event of default under the trust declaration, which we refer to as covenant defeasance. We may effect defeasance and covenant defeasance only if, among other things:

 

  · we irrevocably deposit with the trustee cash or government obligations denominated in the currency of the debt securities, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay at maturity, or upon redemption, the principal (including any mandatory sinking fund payments) of, and any premium and interest on, all outstanding debt securities of the series; and

 

  · we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the series of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance or covenant defeasance and that defeasance or covenant defeasance will not otherwise alter the holders’ U.S. federal income tax treatment of principal, and any premium and interest payments on, the series of debt securities.

 

In the case of a defeasance by us, the opinion we deliver must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service issued, or a change in U.S. federal income tax law occurring, after the date of the indenture, since such a result would not occur under the U.S. federal income tax laws in effect on that date.

 

Although we may discharge or decrease our obligations under the indenture as described in the three preceding paragraphs, we may not avoid, among other things, our duty to register the transfer or exchange of any series of debt securities, to replace any temporary, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen series of debt securities or to maintain an office or agency in respect of any series of debt securities.

 

Modification of the Indenture; Waiver

 

The indenture provides that we and the trustee may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities to, among other things:

 

  · evidence the assumption by a successor entity of our obligations;

 

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  · add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of debt securities, or to surrender any rights or power conferred upon us;

 

  · add any additional events of default;

 

  · cure any ambiguity or omission or correct any inconsistency or defect in the indenture;

 

  · add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture in a manner that will become effective only when there is no outstanding debt security which is entitled to the benefit of the provision as to which the modification would apply;

 

  · add guarantees of or secure any debt securities;

 

  · establish the forms or terms of debt securities of any series;

 

  · evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee and add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as is necessary for the administration of the trusts by more than one trustee;

 

  · add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons;

 

  · provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of all, or any series of, certificated debt securities;

 

  · change any place or places where (a) the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on all or any series of debt securities shall be payable, (b) all or any series of debt securities may be surrendered for registration or transfer, (c) all or any series of debt securities may be surrendered for exchange or conversion, and (d) notices and demands to or upon us in respect of all or any series of debt securities and the indenture may be served;

 

  · supplement any of the provisions of the indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of such series or any other series in any material respect;

 

  · conform the terms of any series of debt securities to the description thereof in the prospectus and prospectus supplement (or similar offering document) offering such series of debt securities;

 

  · modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of the indenture as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or under any similar federal statute later enacted, and to add to the indenture such other provisions as may be expressly required by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; or

 

  · make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the indenture as long as the new provisions do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any outstanding debt securities of any series created prior to the modification in any material respect.

 

The indenture also provides that we and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of each series of debt securities affected by such supplemental indenture then outstanding, add any provisions to, or change in any manner, eliminate or modify in any way the provisions of, the indenture or any supplemental indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities. We and the trustee may not, however, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:

 

  · change the final maturity of any debt security;

 

  · change or reduce the principal amount or premium, if any;

 

  · change or reduce the interest rate or extend the time of payment of interest;

 

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  · change the method of calculating the interest rate;

 

  · reduce the amount of the principal of any debt security issued with an original issue discount that is payable upon acceleration;

 

  · change the currency in which the principal, and any premium or interest, is payable;

 

  · impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on any debt security when due;

 

  · if applicable, adversely affect the right of a holder to convert or exchange a debt security; or

 

  · reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities of any series whose consent is required for any modification of the indenture or for waivers of compliance with or defaults under the indenture with respect to debt securities of that series.

 

The indenture provides that the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series, by notice to the relevant trustee, may on behalf of the holders of the debt securities of that series waive any default and its consequences under the indenture except:

 

  · a default in the payment of, any premium and any interest on, or principal of, any such debt security held by a nonconsenting holder; or

 

  · a default in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of each series affected.

 

Registered Global Securities and Book Entry System

 

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in book-entry form and will be represented by one or more fully registered global securities. We will deposit any registered global securities with a depositary or with a nominee for a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and registered in the name of such depositary or nominee. In such case, we will issue one or more registered global securities denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the debt securities of the series to be issued and represented by such registered global security or securities. This means that we will not issue certificates to each holder.

 

Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole:

 

  · by the depositary for the registered global security to its nominee;

 

  · by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary; or

 

  · by the depositary or its nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of the successor.

 

The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus relating to a series of debt securities will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement involving any portion of the series represented by a registered global security. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements for debt securities:

 

  · ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons that have accounts with the depositary for such registered global security, these persons being referred to as “participants,” or persons that may hold interests through participants;

 

  · upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary for the registered global security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the registered global security beneficially owned by the participants;

 

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  · any dealers, underwriters, or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities will designate the accounts to be credited; and

 

  · ownership of beneficial interest in the registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of the ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary for the registered global security for interests of participants, and on the records of participants for interests of persons holding through participants.

 

The laws of some states may require that specified purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may limit the ability of those persons to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

 

So long as the depositary for a registered global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the registered global security, the depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as stated below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security:

 

  · will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in their names;

 

  · will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in the definitive form; and

 

  · will not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under the relevant indenture.

 

Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the registered global security and, if the person is not a participant, on the procedures of a participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture.

 

We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take the action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through the participants to give or take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

 

We will make payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owners of the registered global security. Neither we nor the trustee, or any other agent of ours or the trustee will be responsible or liable for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.

 

We expect that the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, in respect of the registered global security, will promptly credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that standing customer instructions and customary practices will govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the registered global security held through the participants, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” We also expect that any of these payments will be the responsibility of the participants.

 

If the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or stops being a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, we will appoint an eligible successor depositary. If we fail to appoint an eligible successor depositary within 90 days, we will issue the debt securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion decide not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by one or more registered global securities. In that event, we will issue debt securities of the series in a definitive form in exchange for all of the registered global securities representing the debt securities. The trustee will register any debt securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security in the name or names as the depositary, based upon instructions from its participants, shall instruct the trustee.

 

We may also issue bearer debt securities of a series in the form of one or more global securities, referred to as “bearer global securities.” We will deposit these securities with a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus relating to the series. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus relating to a series of debt securities represented by a bearer global security will describe the applicable terms and procedures. These will include the specific terms of the depositary arrangement and any specific procedures for the issuance of debt securities in definitive form in exchange for a bearer global security, in proportion to the series represented by a bearer global security.

 

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Concerning the Trustee

 

The indenture provides that there may be more than one trustee under the indenture, each for one or more series of debt securities. We will name the trustee for any series of debt in the applicable prospectus supplement. If there are different trustees for different series of debt securities, each trustee will be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee under that indenture. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, any action permitted to be taken by a trustee may be taken by such trustee only on the one or more series of debt securities for which it is the trustee under the indenture. Any trustee under the indenture may resign or be removed from one or more series of debt securities. All payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery of, the debt securities of a series will be effected by the trustee for that series at an office designated by the trustee in New York, New York.

 

The indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an event of default, the trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the indenture. During the existence of an event of default, the trustee will exercise those rights and powers vested in it under the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

If the trustee becomes a creditor of ours, the indenture places limitations on the right of the trustee to obtain payment of claims or to realize on property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee may engage in other transactions. If it acquires any conflicting interest relating to any duties concerning the debt securities, however, it must eliminate the conflict or resign as trustee.

 

No Individual Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers or Directors

 

The indenture provides that no past, present or future incorporator, director, officer, stockholder or employee of ours, any of our affiliates, or any successor corporation, in their capacity as such, shall have any individual liability for any of our obligations, covenants or agreements under the debt securities or the indenture.

 

Governing Law

 

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

General

 

The following summary of our capital stock is based on certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws and on the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable provisions our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws and the DGCL. For information on how to obtain copies of such documents, please refer to the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 250,000,000 shares, with a par value of $0.01 per share, of which:

 

  240,000,000 shares are designated as common stock; and

 

  10,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock.

 

As of June 26, 2015, we had outstanding 6,032,222 shares of common stock, held of record by approximately 172 stockholders, and no shares of preferred stock. In addition, as of June 26, 2015, we had outstanding options to acquire 423,082 shares of common stock.

 

Common Stock

 

The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of outstanding shares of common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends declared by our board of directors out of assets legally available. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preference of any then outstanding shares of preferred stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and our amendment thereto, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue from time to time up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series. Our board of directors may designate the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the preferred stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preference, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of any series. The issuance of preferred stock or even the ability to issue preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control.

 

Registration Rights

 

Stockholder Registration Rights

 

In June 2010, we entered into an Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, or the Investors’ Rights Agreement, with our major stockholders pursuant to which we agreed to provide certain rights to those stockholders that are a party to the Investors’ Rights Agreement to register the shares of our common stock (i) issuable upon conversion of outstanding convertible preferred stock, (ii) issued as a dividend or other distribution related to the convertible preferred stock, (iii) currently held or later acquired, and (iv) issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by any stockholder that is party to the agreement. We will bear all expenses incurred in connection with any underwritten registration, including, without limitation, all registration, filing and qualification fees, printers and accounting fees and the reasonable fees of counsel for the selling holders, but excluding underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

The registration rights provided for under the Investors’ Rights Agreement terminate after the earlier of five years following the consummation of an initial public offering, or any such time as the holder would be able to dispose of all of its registrable securities in any three month period under SEC Rule 144.

 

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Demand Registration Rights

 

Pursuant to the Investors’ Rights Agreement, if, at any time after six months after the effective date of the first registration statement for a public offering of our securities (other than a registration statement relating either to the sale of securities to our employees pursuant to a stock option, stock purchase or similar plan or an SEC Rule 145 transaction), upon the written request of the holders of at least 15% of the securities covered by the Investors’ Rights Agreement that we file a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the registration of at least 15% of the securities covered by the Investors’ Rights Agreement, then we are required to file a registration statement covering the resale of the common stock requested to be registered. We are not obligated to file a registration statement after we have effected five registration statements pursuant to the Investors’ Rights Agreement or during certain periods prior to and after a registration statement has been filed by the company or, for a period of 90 days in the event the Board of Directors, in its judgment, makes the determination that it would be seriously detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such registration statement to be filed and is therefore essential to defer the filing of such registration statement.

 

If an underwriter selected for an underwritten offering advises the holders demanding registration that marketing factors require a limitation on the number of shares to be underwritten, then, subject to certain limitations, the number of shares of registrable securities that may be included in the underwriting will be allocated among all holders of registrable securities in proportion to the amount of our registrable securities owned by each holder.

 

Piggyback Registration Rights

 

Pursuant to the Investors’ Rights Agreement, if, subject to certain exceptions, we propose to register any of our stock or other securities under the Securities Act in connection with the public offering of such securities solely for cash, we are required to promptly give such holders written notice of such registration. Upon the written request of each eligible holder, we will, subject to certain limitations, cause to be registered under the Securities Act all such securities that each such holder has requested to be registered.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions

 

Certain provisions of the DGCL and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of our company. These provisions, which are summarized below, may discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and encourage anyone seeking to acquire control of our company to first negotiate with our board of directors. These provisions might also have the effect of preventing changes in our management and could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. However, we believe that the advantages gained by protecting our ability to negotiate with any unsolicited and potentially unfriendly acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging such proposals, because, among other reasons, the negotiation of such proposals could result in improving their terms.

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaw Provisions

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws include a number of provisions that may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of our company or preventing changes in our management, including the following:

 

  Issuance of Undesignated Preferred Stock.  Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock with rights, preferences and privileges designated from time to time by our board of directors without further action by stockholders. These rights, preferences and privileges could include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences and sinking fund terms, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of common stock.

 

  Size of the Board of Directors and Filling Vacancies.  The number of directors constituting our board of directors may be set only by resolution adopted by a majority vote of our entire board of directors. Any vacancy on our board of directors, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the size of the board of directors, may only be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of our directors then in office, even if less than a quorum.

 

  Classified Board.  Our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors, with staggered three-year terms. Only one class of directors will be elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms.

 

  No Cumulative Voting.  Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws do not permit cumulative voting in the election of directors. Cumulative voting allows a stockholder to vote a portion, or all of its shares for one or more candidates. The absence of cumulative voting makes it more difficult for a minority stockholder to gain a seat.

 

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  Removal of Directors.  Directors can only be removed by our stockholders for cause and removal of a director will require a 66 2/3% stockholder vote.

 

  No Written Consent of Stockholders.  All stockholder actions are required to be taken by a vote of the stockholders at an annual or special meeting. Stockholders may not take action by written consent in lieu of a meeting. The inability of stockholders to take action by written consent means that a stockholder would need to wait until the next annual or special meeting to bring business before the stockholders for a vote.

 

  Special Meetings of Stockholders.  Special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority of our board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors, our chief executive officer or president (in the absence of a chief executive officer). Only those matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered or acted upon at a special meeting of our stockholders.

 

  Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations.  Our amended and restated bylaws provide advance notice procedures for stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders. These procedures provide that notice must be timely given in writing prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken and the form and content of such notice must comply with the applicable provisions of our amended and restated bylaws. These procedures may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempt to obtain control of us.

 

  Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.  Any amendment, repeal or modification of certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws requires a 66 2/3 stockholder vote. Provisions requiring such supermajority vote include, among other things, any amendment, repeal or modification of the provisions relating to the classification of our board of directors, the requirement that stockholder actions be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of our stockholders and the designated parties entitled to call a special meeting of our stockholders.

 

Section 203 of the DGCL

 

We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL. In general, Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that this stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless it satisfies one of the following conditions:

 

  the transaction is approved by the board of directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder;

 

  upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced; or

 

  at or subsequent to such time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, the business combination was approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

In general, Section 203 defines “business combination” to include the following:

 

  any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

 

  any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of the assets of the corporation with an aggregate market value of 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all assets of the corporation on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all of the outstanding stock of the corporation involving the interested stockholder;

 

  subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;

 

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  any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock or any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or

 

  the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits by or through the corporation.

 

In general, Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” as an entity or person who, together with the stockholder’s affiliates and associates (as defined in Section 203), beneficially owns, or within three years prior to the time of determination of interested stockholder status did own, 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation.

 

Treatment of Options Upon Change of Control

 

In general, under the terms of our 2010 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan and our Amended and Restated 2011 Equity Incentive Plan, in the event of certain change in control transactions, if the successor corporation does not assume our outstanding options or issue replacement awards, or if an optionholder’s employment is involuntarily terminated in connection with such change in control, the vesting of the options outstanding under such plans will accelerate.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock will be American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. The transfer agent’s telephone number is (800) 937-5449.

 

Stock Exchange Listing

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CERE”.

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, common stock, or any combination thereof. We may issue warrants independently or together with any other securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from the other offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement. We may enter into a warrant agreement with a warrant agent. If we elect to do so, the warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. If we elect to use a warrant agent we will indicate the name and address and other information regarding the warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreements will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.

 

We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant agreement, that describes the terms of the series of warrants we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of the related series of warrants. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement applicable to the particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and the complete warrant agreements that contain the terms of the warrants. For more information, please review the forms of these documents, which will be filed with the SEC and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

The applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus relating to any particular issue of warrants will describe the terms of the warrants, including, as applicable, the following:

 

  · the title of the warrants;

 

  · the aggregate number of the warrants;

 

  · the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;

 

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  · the designation, terms and number of shares of common stock or principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

  · the designation and terms of the offered securities, if any, with which the warrants are issued and the number of the warrants issued with each offered security;

 

  · the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the related debt securities or common stock will be separately transferable;

 

  · the price at which each share of common stock or underlying debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased or the manner of determining such price;

 

  · the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on which that right shall expire;

 

  · the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

 

  · information with respect to book- entry procedures, if any;

 

  · a discussion of certain federal income tax considerations; and

 

  · any other material terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants. We and the warrant agent may amend or supplement the warrant agreement for a series of warrants without the consent of the holders of the warrants issued thereunder to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.

 

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase a principal amount of debt securities or a number of shares of common stock at the exercise price as will in each case be set forth in, or calculable from, the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the warrant. Warrants may be exercised at the times that are set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. After the close of business on the date on which the warrant expires, or any later date to which we may extend the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void. 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell securities:

 

  · through underwriters;

 

  · through dealers;

 

  · through agents;

 

  · directly to purchasers; or

 

  · through a combination of any of these methods or any other method permitted by law.

 

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In addition, we may issue the securities as a dividend or distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders.

 

We may directly solicit offers to purchase securities, or agents may be designated to solicit such offers. In the prospectus supplement relating to such offering, we will name any agent that could be viewed as an underwriter under the Securities Act and describe any commissions that we must pay to any such agent. Any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment or, if indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, on a firm commitment basis. This prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of our securities through any of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions:

 

  · at a fixed price, or prices, which may be changed from time to time;

 

  · at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

  · at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

 

  · at negotiated prices.

 

Each prospectus supplement will describe the method of distribution of the securities and any applicable restrictions.

 

The prospectus supplement with respect to the securities of a particular series will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including the following:

 

  · the name of the agent or any underwriters;

 

  · the public offering or purchase price;

 

  · any discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to the agent or underwriters;

 

  · all other items constituting underwriting compensation;

 

  · any discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to dealers; and

 

  · any exchanges on which the securities will be listed.

 

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If any underwriters or agents are used in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will enter into an underwriting agreement, sales agreement or other agreement with them at the time of sale to them, and we will set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering the names of the underwriters or agents and the terms of the related agreement with them.

 

In connection with the offering of securities, we may grant to the underwriters an option to purchase additional securities with an additional underwriting commission, as may be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement. If we grant any such option, the terms of such option will be set forth in the prospectus supplement for such securities.

 

If a dealer is used in the sale of the securities in respect of which the prospectus is delivered, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer, who may be deemed to be an “underwriter” as that term is defined in the Securities Act, may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale.

 

If we offer securities in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders, we may enter into a standby underwriting agreement with dealers, acting as standby underwriters. We may pay the standby underwriters a commitment fee for the securities they commit to purchase on a standby basis. If we do not enter into a standby underwriting arrangement, we may retain a dealer-manager to manage a subscription rights offering for us.

 

Agents, underwriters, dealers and other persons may be entitled under agreements which they may enter into with us to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

 

If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase securities from us pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date stated in the prospectus supplement. Each contract will be for an amount not less than, and the aggregate amount of securities sold pursuant to such contracts shall not be less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the prospectus supplement. Institutions with whom the contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and other institutions, but shall in all cases be subject to our approval. Delayed delivery contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that:

 

  · the purchase by an institution of the securities covered under that contract shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which that institution is subject; and

 

  · if the securities are also being sold to underwriters acting as principals for their own account, the underwriters shall have purchased such securities not sold for delayed delivery. The underwriters and other persons acting as our agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of delayed delivery contracts.

 

Offered securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the 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 agreement, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with their remarketing of offered securities.

 

19
 

 

Certain agents, underwriters and dealers, and their associates and affiliates, may be customers of, have borrowing relationships with, engage in other transactions with, or perform services, including investment banking services, for us or one or more of our respective affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

 

In order to facilitate the offering of the securities, any underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities or any other securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on such securities. Specifically, any underwriters may overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short position for their own accounts. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of the securities or of any such other securities, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the securities or any such other securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of the securities through a syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing the securities in the offering if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities above independent market levels. Any such underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time.

 

We may engage in at the market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. The applicable prospectus supplement may provide that the original issue date for your securities may be more than three scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities. Accordingly, in such a case, if you wish to trade securities on any date prior to the third business day before the original issue date for your securities, you will be required, by virtue of the fact that your securities initially are expected to settle in more than three scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities, to make alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.

 

The securities may be new issues of securities and may have no established trading market. The securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. We can make no assurance as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any of the securities.

 

In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of the proceeds from any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The anticipated date of delivery of offered securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to each offer. 

 

20
 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Certain legal matters relating to the issuance of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Shearman & Sterling LLP, New York, New York.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Ceres, Inc. as of August 31, 2014 and 2013, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended August 31, 2014, have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and other periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You can read our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including this registration statement, over the Internet at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission at its public reference facilities at 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of these documents at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the Securities and Exchange Commission at 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference facilities.

 

Our Internet address is www.ceres.net. There we make available free of charge, on or through the investor relations section of our website, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information found on our website is not part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement and investors should not rely on any such information in deciding whether to invest.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act. This prospectus is part of the registration statement but the registration statement includes and incorporates by reference additional information and exhibits. The Securities and Exchange Commission permits us to “incorporate by reference” the information contained in documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents rather than by including them in this prospectus. Information that is incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and you should read it with the same care that you read this prospectus. Information that we file later with the Securities and Exchange Commission will automatically update and supersede the information that is either contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus, and will be considered to be a part of this prospectus from the date those documents are filed. We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and incorporate by reference in this prospectus:

 

  1. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2014 filed on November 20, 2014.

 

  2. Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended November 30, 2014 and February 28, 2015, filed with the SEC on January 13, 2015 and April 9, 2015, respectively.

 

  3. Current Reports on Form 8-K (excluding any reports or portions thereof that are deemed to be furnished and not filed) filed on December 15, 2014, March 17, 2015, April 8, 2015, and June 22, 2015.

 

  4. The description of our common stock contained in our Form 8-A filed on February 3, 2012.

 

We also incorporate by reference all additional documents that we may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the terms of Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are made after the initial filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part until the offering of securities utilizing this prospectus has been completed. We are not, however, incorporating, in each case, any documents or information that we are deemed to furnish and not file in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission rules.

 

21
 

 

You may request, and we will provide you with, a copy of these filings, at no cost, by calling us at (805) 376-6500 or by writing to us at the following address:

 

Ceres, Inc.

1535 Ranch Conejo Blvd.

Thousand Oaks, CA 91320

Attn: General Counsel

 

22
 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

 

The following table sets forth all costs and expenses payable by us in connection with the sale of the securities being registered. All amounts shown are estimates except for the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.

 

    Amounts to
be

Paid
 
SEC registration fee   $ 929.60  
Transfer Agent and Registrar fees and expenses   $ **  
Trustee fees and expenses   $ **  
Printing expenses   $ **  
Legal fees and expenses   $ **  
Accounting fees and expenses   $ **  
Miscellaneous fees and expenses   $ **  
TOTAL   $ **  

 

**         Estimated expenses are not presently known. The foregoing sets forth the general categories of expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) that Ceres anticipates it will incur in connection with the offering of securities under this Registration Statement. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, provides that a corporation may, in its original certificate of incorporation or an amendment thereto, eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director for violations of the director’s fiduciary duty, except (1) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, which provides for liability of directors for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions or (4) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person, including an officer or director, who is, or is threatened to be made, party to any threatened, pending or completed legal action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of such corporation, by reason of the fact that such person was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as an officer, director, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such officer, director, employee or agent acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the corporation’s best interest and, for criminal proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any officer or director in an action by or in the right of the corporation under the same conditions, except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him against the expenses that such officer or director actually and reasonably incurred.

 

Our bylaws and the indemnification agreements we entered into with our directors and officers provide for indemnification of the officers and directors to the full extent permitted by the DGCL.

 

We have an insurance policy covering our officers and directors with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or otherwise.

 

Item 16. Exhibits.

 

See Exhibit Index.

 

II-1
 

 

Item 17. Undertakings.

 

(a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i)    to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

 

(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 any decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; 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) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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 a part of the registration statement.

 

(2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4)  That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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 of 1933, as amended, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement 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 of 1933, as amended, to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, 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:

 

II-2
 

 

(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 of 1933, as amended, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), 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)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to deliver or cause to be delivered with the prospectus, to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest annual report to security holders that is incorporated by reference in the prospectus and furnished pursuant to and meeting the requirements of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and, where interim financial information required to be presented by Article 3 of Regulation S-X are not set forth in the prospectus, to deliver, or cause to be delivered to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest quarterly report that is specifically incorporated by reference in the prospectus to provide such interim financial information.

 

(d)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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 of 1933, as amended, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(e)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (i) the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective, and (ii) each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(f)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “TIA”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the TIA.

 

II-3
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 2 to this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Thousand Oaks, State of California, on June 29, 2015.

 

  CERES, INC.
     
  By: /s/    Paul Kuc
    Paul Kuc
    Chief Financial Officer

 

II-4
 

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Capacity   Date
         
*   Chair of the Board   June 29, 2015
Cheryl P. Morley        
         
*   Director   June 29, 2015
Pascal Brandys        
         
*   Director   June 29, 2015
Richard Flavell, PhD, FRS, CBE        
         
*   Director   June 29, 2015
Daniel Glat        
         
*   Director   June 29, 2015
Aflalo Guimaraes        
         
*   Director   June 29, 2015
Robert Goldberg        
         
*   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director   June 29, 2015
Richard Hamilton, PhD        
         
*   Director   June 29, 2015
Thomas Kiley        
         
*   Director   June 29, 2015
Steven Koonin        
         
 /s/ Paul Kuc   Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)   June 29, 2015
Paul Kuc        
         
* /s/ Paul Kuc   Attorney-in-Fact   June 29, 2015
Paul Kuc        

 

II-5
 

 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No   Description of Exhibit
1.1*   Form of Underwriting Agreement.  
4.1†   Form of Indenture related to debt securities.
4.2   Form of Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Registrant’s Form S-1 Registration Statement No. 333-174405).
4.3   Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated June 25, 2010, by and among the Registrant and the stockholders named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 of Registrant’s Form S-1 Registration Statement No. 333-174405).
4.4*   Form of Warrant Agreement
5.1†   Opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP.
23.1    Consent of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.
23.2†   Consent of Shearman & Sterling LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1   Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page II-5.
25.1+   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee.

 

  * To be filed by amendment or pursuant to a report to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, if applicable, and incorporated herein by reference.
  Previously filed.
  + To be filed by amendment or pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 Section 305(b)(2), if applicable.