As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 19, 2021
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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Gevo, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware |
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87-0747704 |
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
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345 Inverness Drive South, Building C, Suite 310 Englewood Colorado 80112 (303) 858-8358 |
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
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Patrick R. Gruber
Chief Executive Officer
345 Inverness Drive South, Building C, Suite 310
Englewood, Colorado 80112
(303) 858-8358
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
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With a copy to:
Jason Day
Ned A. Prusse
Perkins Coie LLP
1900 Sixteenth Street, Suite 1400
Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 291-2300
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large accelerated filer ☐ |
Accelerated filer ☐ |
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Non-accelerated filer ☐ |
Smaller reporting company ☒ |
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Emerging growth company ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be Registered (1) |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit (1) |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (1) |
Amount of Registration Fee (2) |
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Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share |
— |
— |
— |
— |
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Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share |
— |
— |
— |
— |
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Debt Securities |
— |
— |
— |
— |
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Depositary Shares |
— |
— |
— |
— |
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Warrants |
— |
— |
— |
— |
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Purchase Contracts |
— |
— |
— |
— |
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Units |
— |
— |
— |
— |
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(1) |
Omitted pursuant to General Instruction II(E) of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). An indeterminate amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered hereunder at indeterminate prices, along with an indeterminate number of securities that may be issued upon exercise, settlement, exchange or conversion of securities offered or sold hereunder or that are represented by depositary shares. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange of other securities. |
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(2) |
In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act, the registrants are deferring payment of all registration fees with respect to these securities. |
PROSPECTUS
Gevo, Inc.
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Units
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We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus from time to time in one or more offerings. The specific terms of the securities, including their offering prices, will be contained in one or more supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest. The securities may be sold to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to investors, on a continuous or delayed basis. See “Plan of Distribution.”
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “GEVO.” On January 15, 2021, the last reported sales price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $6.40 per share.
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Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 3 of this prospectus, and any applicable prospectus supplement, and in the documents that are incorporated by reference herein.
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Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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The date of this prospectus is January 19, 2021.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using the “shelf” registration process as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer the securities described in this prospectus, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all the information provided in the registration statement filed with the SEC. You should carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described below under “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated By Reference” before you make an investment decision.
We have not authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you.
Any statement made in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in a prospectus supplement or in any other subsequently filed document that is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. See “Information Incorporated By Reference.”
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplements may include trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or other companies. All trademarks, service marks and trade names included in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement are the property of their respective owners.
Unless the context otherwise indicates, references in this prospectus to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “Gevo” refer to Gevo, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries. The term “you” refers to a prospective investor.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated herein by reference include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
When used in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein, the words “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or our future financial or operational performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about: the impact of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic on our business, our financial condition and our results of operations and liquidity, risks and uncertainties related to our ability to sell our products, our ability to expand or continue production of isobutanol, renewable hydrocarbon products and ethanol at our wholly-owned, commercial-scale renewable isobutanol plant in Luverne, Minnesota, our strategy to pursue low-carbon renewable fuels, our ability to replace our fossil-based energy sources with renewable energy sources at our production facilities, our ability and plans to construct a commercial hydrocarbon facility to produce renewable premium gasoline and jet fuel, our ability to raise additional funds to continue operations and/or expand our production capabilities, our ability to perform under our existing renewable hydrocarbon offtake agreements and other supply agreements we may enter into in the future, our ability to enter into additional hydrocarbon supply agreements, our ability to obtain project finance debt and third-party equity for our renewable natural gas project, our ability to produce isobutanol, renewable hydrocarbon products and ethanol on a commercial level and at a profit, achievement of advances in our technology platform, the success of our upgraded production facility, the availability of suitable and cost-competitive feedstocks, our ability to gain market acceptance for our products, the expected cost-competitiveness and relative performance attributes of our isobutanol, renewable hydrocarbon products and ethanol, additional competition and changes in economic conditions, and the future price and volatility of petroleum and products derived from petroleum.
Important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements such as those contained in documents we have filed with the SEC, including, but not limited to, those in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the documents incorporated by reference herein, and the section entitled “Risk Factors” of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. All forward-looking statements in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein are qualified entirely by the cautionary statements included in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein. These risks and uncertainties or other important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from results expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. We undertake no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, and you should not rely on the forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date such statement is made.
An investment in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risks described in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” in any prospectus supplement and those set forth in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, as well as other information in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, before purchasing any of our securities. Each of the risks described in these sections and documents could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, and could result in a loss of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not known to us or that we deem immaterial may also impair our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
We are a growth-oriented renewable fuels technology and development company that is commercializing the next generation of renewable low-carbon liquid transportation fuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel (“renewable jet fuel” or “SAF”), renewable isooctane (“renewable gasoline”) and renewable diesel fuel, with the potential to achieve a “net zero” greenhouse gas (“GHG”) footprint and address global needs of reducing GHG emissions with sustainable alternatives to petroleum fuels. Our technology transforms carbon from the atmosphere using photosynthetic energy, wind energy, and biogas energy into liquid hydrocarbons with a low GHG footprint.
As next generation renewable fuels, our hydrocarbon transportation fuels have the advantage of being “drop-in” substitutes for conventional fuels that are derived from crude oil, working seamlessly and without modification in existing fossil-fuel based engines, supply chains and storage infrastructure. In addition, with SAF, the carbon footprint of air travel can be reduced, or in the long run, eliminated on a net carbon basis, without change to planes or fuel systems. In addition to the potential of net zero carbon emissions across the whole fuel life-cycle, our renewable fuels eliminate other pollutants associated with the burning of traditional fossil fuels such as particulates and sulfur, while delivering superior performance. We believe that the world is substantially under-supplied with low-carbon, drop-in renewable fuels that can be immediately used in existing transportation engines and infrastructure, and we are uniquely positioned to grow in serving that demand.
We use low-carbon, renewable resource-based raw materials as feedstocks. In the near-term, our feedstocks will primarily consist of non-food corn. As our technology is applied globally, feedstocks can consist of sugar cane, molasses or other cellulosic sugars derived from wood, agricultural residues and waste. Our patented fermentation yeast biocatalyst produces isobutanol, a four-carbon alcohol, via the fermentation of renewable plant biomass carbohydrates. The resulting renewable isobutanol has a variety of direct applications but, more importantly to our fundamental strategy, serves as a building block to make renewable isooctane (which we refer to as renewable premium gasoline) and renewable jet fuel using simple and common chemical conversion processes. We also reduce or eliminate fossil-based process energy inputs by replacing them with renewable energy such as wind-powered electricity and renewable natural gas.
We were incorporated in Delaware in June 2005 under the name Methanotech, Inc. and filed an amendment to our certificate of incorporation changing our name to Gevo, Inc. on March 29, 2006.
Our principal executive offices are located at 345 Inverness Drive South, Building C, Suite 310, Englewood, CO 80112, and our telephone number is (303) 858-8358. We maintain an Internet website at www.gevo.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus and you should not consider information contained on our website as part of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of any securities offered by us under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include, among others, repayment or refinancing of debt, acquisitions, working capital, capital expenditures, and repurchases or redemptions of securities. We will retain broad discretion over the allocation of net proceeds from the sale of any securities offered by us.
The following description of our capital stock is intended as a summary only. This description is based upon, and is qualified by reference to, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, our amended and restated bylaws, and the applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”). This summary is not complete. You should read our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, each of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, for the provisions that are important to you.
Authorized and Outstanding Capital Stock
Our authorized capital stock consists of 250,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, issuable in one or more series designated by our board of directors. As of January 15, 2021, there were 150,401,012 shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Common Stock
The holders of our common stock have one vote per share. Holders of common stock are not entitled to vote cumulatively for the election of directors. Generally, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a majority, or, in the case of election of directors, by a plurality, of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present, voting together as a single class, subject to any voting rights granted to holders of any then outstanding preferred stock. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to participate equally in dividends when and as dividends may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends. In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the prior rights of our creditors and the liquidation preference of any preferred stock then outstanding must first be satisfied. The holders of common stock will be entitled to share in the remaining assets on a pro rata basis. No shares of common stock are subject to redemption or have redemptive rights to purchase additional shares of common stock.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “GEVO”.
Preferred Stock
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we may issue shares of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series. Our board of directors is authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable to the shares of each series of preferred stock. Our board of directors may, without stockholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of our common stock, including the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation, and could have anti-takeover effects, including preferred stock or rights to acquire preferred stock in connection with implementing a stockholder rights plan. The ability of our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control or the removal of our existing management. There are currently no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and Delaware Law
The DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and our amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that could discourage or make more difficult a change in control of us, including an acquisition of us by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest and removal of our incumbent officers and directors, without the support of our board of directors. A summary of these provisions follows.
Statutory Business Combination Provision
We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, which, subject to certain exceptions, prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
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the board of directors of the corporation approves either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, prior to the time the interested stockholder attained that status; |
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upon the closing of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding, for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding, those shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or |
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at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
With certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person or group who or which owns 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock (including any rights to acquire stock pursuant to an option, warrant, agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion or exchange rights, and stock with respect to which the person has voting rights only), or is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of such voting stock at any time within the previous three years.
In general, Section 203 defines a business combination to include:
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any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; |
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any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder; |
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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 of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or |
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the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation. |
A Delaware corporation may “opt out” of this provision with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or an express provision in its amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws resulting from a stockholders’ amendment approved by at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares. However, we have not “opted out” of this provision. Section 203 could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change-in-control attempts and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire us.
Election and Removal of Directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for our board of directors to be divided into three classes, with staggered three-year terms. Only one class of directors is elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms. Because our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights, our stockholders holding a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding are able to elect all of our directors. Directors may be removed only with cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on such removal
No Stockholder Action by Written Consent
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of common stock at an annual or special meeting of stockholders must be effected at a duly called meeting and may not be taken or effected by written consent of the stockholders.
Stockholder Meetings
Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, only our board of directors, acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the directors then in office, may call a special meeting of the stockholders, and any business conducted at any special meeting will be limited to the purpose or purposes specified in the notice for such special meeting.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals
In order for our stockholders to bring nominations or business before an annual meeting properly, they must comply with certain notice requirements as provided by our amended and restated bylaws. Typically, in order for such notices to be timely, they must be provided to us not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. For such notices to be timely in the event the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 70 days after the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice must be provided to us not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or, if later, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.
Exclusive Forum Provision
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or its stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. Notwithstanding this exclusive forum provision, the exclusive forum provision shall not preclude or contract the scope of exclusive federal or concurrent jurisdiction for actions brought under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, or the respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our securities shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to these provisions. This exclusive forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum of its choosing for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and other employees.
Amendment of Charter Provisions
The affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of our voting stock, voting together as a single class, is required to, among other things, alter, amend or repeal certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, including those related to the classification of our board of directors, the amendment of our bylaws and certificate of incorporation, restrictions against stockholder actions by written consent, the designated parties entitled to call a special meeting of the stockholders and the indemnification of officers and directors.
Our amended and restated bylaws may only be amended (or new bylaws adopted) by our board of directors or the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of our voting stock.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company. Its address is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219 and its telephone number is (718) 921-8300. The transfer agent for any series of preferred stock that we may offer under this prospectus will be named and described in the prospectus supplement for that series.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol "GEVO."
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities from time to time under this prospectus. We will set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement a description of the debt securities that may be offered under this prospectus. The debt securities will be issued under one or more indentures, which may include existing indentures. The applicable prospectus supplement and other offering material relating to such offering will describe the specific terms relating to the series of debt securities being offered, including a description of the material terms of the indenture (and any supplemental indentures) governing such series. These terms may include the following:
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the title of the series of the offered debt securities; |
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the price or prices at which the offered debt securities will be issued; |
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any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the offered debt securities; |
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the date or dates on which the principal of the offered debt securities will be payable; |
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the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per year at which the offered debt securities will bear interest, if any, or the method of determining the rate or rates and the date or dates from which interest, if any, will accrue; |
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if the amount of principal, premium or interest with respect to the offered debt securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which these amounts will be determined; |
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the date or dates on which interest, if any, on the offered debt securities will be payable and the regular record dates for the payment thereof; |
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the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the corporate trust office of the trustee, where the principal, premium and interest with respect to the offered debt securities will be payable; |
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the period or periods, if any, within which, the price or prices of which, and the terms and conditions upon which the offered debt securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, pursuant to optional redemption provisions; |
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the terms on which we would be required to redeem or purchase the offered debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or similar provision, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on which the offered debt securities will be so redeemed and purchased in whole or in part; |
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the denominations in which the offered debt securities will be issued; |
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the form of the offered debt securities and whether the offered debt securities are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary for the global security or securities; |
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the portion of the principal amount of the offered debt securities that is payable on the declaration of acceleration of the maturity, if other than their principal amount; |
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if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which the offered debt securities will be denominated and payable, and the holders' rights, if any, to elect payment in a foreign currency or a foreign currency unit other than that in which the offered debt securities are otherwise payable; |
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whether the offered debt securities will be issued with guarantees and, if so, the terms of any guarantee of the payment of principal and interest with respect to the offered debt securities; |
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any addition to, or modification or deletion of, any event of default or any covenant specified in the indenture; |
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whether the offered debt securities will be convertible or exchangeable into other securities, and if so, the terms and conditions upon which the offered debt securities will be convertible or exchangeable; |
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whether the offered debt securities will be senior or subordinated debt securities; |
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any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or other agents with respect to the offered debt securities; and |
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any other specific terms of the offered debt securities. |
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
General
We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, which we call depositary shares, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we do, we will issue to the public receipts, called depositary receipts, for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction, to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, of a share of a particular series of preferred stock. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. Those rights include dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights.
The shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited with a bank or trust company selected by us to act as depositary under a deposit agreement between us, the depositary and the holders of the depositary receipts. The depositary will be the transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursing agent for the depositary shares.
The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Holders of depositary receipts agree to be bound by the deposit agreement, which requires holders to take certain actions such as filing proof of residence and paying certain charges.
The summary of terms of the depositary shares contained in this prospectus is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by, all provisions of the applicable deposit agreement, our certificate of incorporation and the certificate of designation for the applicable series of preferred stock that are, or will be, filed with the SEC.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions, if any, received in respect of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares to the record holders of depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of depositary shares owned by those holders on the relevant record date. The relevant record date for depositary shares will be the same date as the record date for the underlying preferred stock.
If there is a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property (including securities) received by it to the record holders of depositary shares, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, adopt another method for the distribution, including selling the property and distributing the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.
Liquidation Preference
If a series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares has a liquidation preference, in the event of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us, holders of depositary shares will be entitled to receive the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each share of the applicable series of preferred stock, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Withdrawal of Stock
Unless the related depositary shares have been previously called for redemption, upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the office of the depositary, the holder of the depositary shares will be entitled to delivery, at the office of the depositary or upon his or her order, of the number of whole shares of the preferred stock and any money or other property represented by the depositary shares. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to the holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. In no event will the depositary deliver fractional shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts. Holders of preferred stock thus withdrawn may not thereafter deposit those shares under the deposit agreement or receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares therefor.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing shares of the preferred stock so redeemed, so long as we have paid in full to the depositary the redemption price of the preferred stock to be redeemed plus an amount equal to any accumulated and unpaid dividends on the preferred stock to the date fixed for redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the redemption price and any other amounts per share payable on the preferred stock multiplied by the fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by one depositary share. If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata or by any other equitable method as may be determined by the depositary.
After the date fixed for redemption, depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the monies payable upon redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of the depositary shares were entitled upon redemption upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares.
Voting the Preferred Stock
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts relating to that preferred stock. The record date for the depositary receipts relating to the preferred stock will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of shares of preferred stock represented by that holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares in accordance with those instructions, and we will agree to take all action that may be deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary will not vote any shares of preferred stock except to the extent it receives specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing that number of shares of preferred stock.
Charges of Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay transfer, income and other taxes and governmental charges and such other charges (including those in connection with the receipt and distribution of dividends, the sale or exercise of rights, the withdrawal of the preferred stock and the transferring, splitting or grouping of depositary receipts) as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts. If these charges have not been paid by the holders of depositary receipts, the depositary may refuse to transfer depositary shares, withhold dividends and distributions and sell the depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipt.
Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may be amended by agreement between us and the depositary. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares, other than fee changes, will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding depositary shares. The deposit agreement may be terminated by the depositary or us only if:
|
● |
all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed; or |
|
● |
there has been a final distribution of the preferred stock in connection with our dissolution and such distribution has been made to all the holders of depositary shares. |
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may remove the depositary at any time. Any resignation or removal of the depositary will take effect upon our appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having the requisite combined capital and surplus as set forth in the applicable agreement.
Notices
The depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all notices, reports and other communications, including proxy solicitation materials received from us, that are delivered to the depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock. In addition, the depositary will make available for inspection by holders of depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary, and at such other places as it may from time to time deem advisable, any reports and communications we deliver to the depositary as the holder of preferred stock.
Limitation of Liability
Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if either we or it is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations. Our obligations and those of the depositary will be limited to performance in good faith of our and their duties thereunder. We and the depositary will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, on information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent to give such information and on documents believed to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of warrants. 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 of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants. The summary of the terms of the warrants contained in this prospectus is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety to, all provisions of the applicable warrant agreement.
Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of warrants offered pursuant to such prospectus supplement for the terms of and information relating to such warrants, including, where applicable:
|
● |
the specific designation and aggregate number of, and the offering price at which we will issue, the warrants; |
|
● |
the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
|
● |
the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which that right will expire or, if you may not continuously exercise the warrants throughout that period, the specific date or dates on which you may exercise the warrants; |
|
● |
whether the warrants are to be sold separately or with other securities as parts of units; |
|
● |
whether the warrants will be issued in definitive or global form or in any combination of these forms, although, in any case, the form of a warrant included in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any security included in that unit; |
|
● |
any applicable material U.S. federal income tax consequences; |
|
● |
the identity of the warrant agent for the warrants and of any other depositaries, execution or paying agents, transfer agents, registrars or other agents; |
|
● |
the proposed listing, if any, of the warrants or any securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants on any securities exchange; |
|
● |
the designation and terms of any equity securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants; |
|
● |
the designation, aggregate principal amount, currency and terms of any debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants; |
|
● |
if applicable, the designation and terms of the debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each security; |
|
● |
if applicable, the date from and after which any warrants issued as part of a unit and the related debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock will be separately transferable; |
|
● |
the number of shares of preferred stock, the number of depositary shares or the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which those shares may be purchased; |
|
● |
if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
|
● |
information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
|
● |
the antidilution provisions of, and other provisions for changes to or adjustment in the exercise price of, the warrants, if any; |
|
● |
any redemption or call provisions; and |
|
● |
any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange or exercise of the warrants. |
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
We may issue, from time to time, purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us and us to sell to the holders, a specified principal amount of debt securities, shares of common stock or preferred stock, or any of the other securities that we may sell under this prospectus at a future date or dates. The consideration payable upon settlement of the purchase contracts may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by a specific reference to a formula set forth in the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a purchase contract and other securities or obligations issued by us or third parties, including United States treasury securities, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the relevant securities under the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase contracts or units or vice versa, and the payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the purchase contracts. The summary of the terms of the purchase contracts contained in this prospectus is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by, all provisions of the applicable purchase contracts.
The prospectus supplement related to any particular purchase contracts will describe, among other things, the material terms of the purchase contracts and of the securities being sold pursuant to such purchase contracts, a discussion, if appropriate, of any special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase contracts and any material provisions governing the purchase contracts that differ from those described above. The description in the prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, relating to the purchase contracts.
We may, from time to time, issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities that may be offered under this prospectus, in any combination. Each unit may also include debt obligations of third parties, such as U.S. Treasury securities. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately at any time, or at any time before a specified date or other specific circumstances occur. The summary of the terms of the units contained in this prospectus is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by, all provisions of the applicable unit agreements.
Any prospectus supplement related to any particular units will describe, among other things:
|
● |
the material terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
|
● |
any material provisions relating to the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; |
|
● |
if appropriate, any special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and |
|
● |
any material provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described above. |
The applicable provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Capital Stock,” “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Depositary Shares,” “Description of Warrants” and “Description of Purchase Contracts,” will apply to each unit and to each security included in each unit, respectively.
We may sell the securities being offered hereby:
|
● |
directly to one or more purchasers; |
|
● |
through agents; |
|
● |
through dealers; |
|
● |
through underwriters; |
|
● |
through a combination of any of the above methods of sale; or |
|
● |
through any other methods described in a prospectus supplement. |
We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any direct purchasers, agents, dealers, underwriters and, if applicable, their compensation, the purchase price, the net proceeds to us, the public offering price, and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers, in a prospectus supplement.
The distribution of securities may be effected, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including block transactions, at-the-market offerings and transactions on the Nasdaq Capital Market or any other organized market where the securities may be traded. The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The consideration may be cash or another form negotiated by the parties. Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the securities. That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us or from the purchasers of the securities.
Offers to purchase the securities may be solicited directly by us or by agents designated by us from time to time. We will, in the prospectus supplement relating to an offering, name any agent that could be viewed as an underwriter under the Securities Act and describe any commissions we must pay. 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.
If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer, which may be deemed to be an underwriter as that term is defined in the Securities Act, may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. Dealer trading may take place in certain of the securities, including securities not listed on any securities exchange.
If an underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale, we will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriters at the time of sale to them and the names of the underwriters will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, which will be used by the underwriters to make resales of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered to the public. The obligations of underwriters to purchase securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities of a series if any are purchased.
We may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities and we may make sales of securities directly to institutional investors or others. These persons may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities. To the extent required, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any such sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if used.
Underwriters, dealers, agents and other persons may be entitled, under agreements that may be entered into with us, to indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments that they may be required to make in respect thereof. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
Any person participating in the distribution of common stock registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of our common stock by any such person. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock. These restrictions may affect the marketability of our common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock.
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.
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Perkins Coie LLP, Denver, Colorado.
The audited consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available free of charge over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. Our filings with the SEC are also available free of charge on our website at www.gevo.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, and later information filed with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and all documents subsequently filed with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the termination of the offering under this prospectus and any prospectus supplement (other than information deemed furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules, including Items 2.02 and 7.01 of Form 8-K):
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● |
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2020; |
|
● |
our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, filed with the SEC on May 13, 2020, August 10, 2020 and November 12, 2020, respectively; |
|
● |
our Current Reports on Forms 8-K filed with the SEC on January 13, 2020, March 23, 2020, March 31, 2020, April 9, 2020, June 5, 2020, July 8, 2020, August 14, 2020, August 18, 2020, August 20, 2020, August 24, 2020, August 26, 2020, December 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020; and |
|
● |
the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on February 4, 2011 under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description (including Exhibit 4.13 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2020). |
Upon written or oral request, we will provide to you, without charge, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus, including exhibits which are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. Requests should be directed to: Gevo, Inc., Attention: Investor Relations, 345 Inverness Drive South, Building C, Suite 310, Englewood, Colorado 80112, telephone (303) 858-8358.
Gevo, Inc.
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Units
_______________________________________
PROSPECTUS
_______________________________________
January 19, 2021
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The registrants’ estimated expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered are set forth in the following table.
|
SEC Registration Fee |
$ | * | ||
|
Legal Fees and Expenses |
** | |||
|
Trustee Fees and Expenses |
** | |||
|
Accounting Fees and Expenses |
** | |||
|
Printing Expenses |
** | |||
|
Stock Exchange and Other Listing Fees |
** | |||
|
Miscellaneous |
** | |||
|
Total |
$ | ** |
________________________________
|
* |
In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act, the registrants are deferring payment of the registration fee for the securities offered by this prospectus. |
|
** |
These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), a corporation has the power to indemnify its directors and officers under certain prescribed circumstances and, subject to certain limitations, against certain costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, to which any of them is a party by reason of his being a director or officer of the corporation if it is determined that he acted in accordance with the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such statutory provision. In addition, a corporation may advance expenses incurred by a director or officer in defending a proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking from such person to repay any amount so advanced if it is ultimately determined that such person is not eligible for indemnification. The registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, pursuant to the DGCL, the registrant’s directors shall not be liable for monetary damages to the fullest extent authorized under applicable law, including for breach of the directors’ fiduciary duty of care to the registrant and the registrant’s stockholders. This provision in the registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not eliminate the duty of care, and in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies such as injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief will remain available under Delaware law. In addition, each director will continue to be subject to liability for breach of the director’s duty of loyalty, for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or knowing violations of the law, for actions leading to improper personal benefit to the director, and for payment of dividends or approval of stock repurchases or redemptions that are unlawful under Delaware law. The provision also does not affect a director’s responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal securities laws or state or federal environmental laws.
Article 10 of the registrant’s amended and restated bylaws provides that the registrant will indemnify, to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the registrant, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer against all expenses, liability and loss reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith.
In addition to the above, the registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of the registrant’s directors and officers. These indemnification agreements provide the registrant’s directors and officers with the same indemnification and advancement of expenses as described above, and provide that our directors and officers will be indemnified to the fullest extent authorized by any future Delaware law that expands the permissible scope of indemnification. The registrant also has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, which provides coverage against certain liabilities that may be incurred by the registrant’s directors and officers in their capacities as directors and officers of the registrant.
Item 16. Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration statement:
|
Exhibit No. |
Description |
Form |
File No. |
Filing Date |
Exhibit |
||||||
|
1.1* |
Form of Underwriting Agreement. |
||||||||||
|
4.1 |
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Gevo, Inc. |
10-K |
001-35073 |
03/29/11 |
3.1 |
||||||
|
4.2 |
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Gevo, Inc. |
8-K |
001-35073 |
06/10/13 |
3.1 |
||||||
|
4.3 |
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Gevo, Inc. |
8-K |
001-35073 |
07/09/14 |
3.1 |
||||||
|
4.4 |
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Gevo, Inc. |
8-K |
001-35073 |
04/22/15 |
3.1 |
||||||
|
4.5 |
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Gevo, Inc. |
8-K |
001-35073 |
01/06/17 |
3.1 |
||||||
|
4.6 |
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Gevo, Inc. |
8-K |
001-35073 |
06/04/18 |
3.1 |
||||||
|
4.7 |
10-K |
001-35073 |
03/29/11 |
3.2 |
|||||||
|
4.8 |
S-1 |
333-168792 |
01/19/11 |
4.1 |
|||||||
|
4.9* |
Specimen Preferred Stock Certificate. |
||||||||||
|
4.10* |
Form of Indenture. |
||||||||||
|
4.11* |
Form of Note. |
||||||||||
|
4.12* |
Form of Deposit Agreement. |
||||||||||
|
4.13* |
Form of Warrant Agreement. |
||||||||||
|
4.14* |
Form of Purchase Contract. |
||||||||||
|
4.15* |
Form of Unit Agreement. |
||||||||||
|
5.1† |
|||||||||||
|
23.1† |
|||||||||||
|
23.2† |
|||||||||||
|
24.1† |
|||||||||||
|
25.1# |
Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, with respect to the Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.10. |
_________________________________
|
† |
Filed herewith. |
|
* |
To be filed by amendment, as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or by other applicable filing with the SEC to be incorporated by reference herein. |
|
# |
To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. |
Item 17. Undertakings
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
|
(1) |
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
| (i) | to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; | |
|
(ii) |
to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this 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 this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and |
|
(iii) |
to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement; |
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.
|
(2) |
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at the 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 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 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 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: |
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrants will be sellers to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
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(i) |
any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
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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; |
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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 |
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any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrants to the purchaser. |
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The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
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Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrants of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant sin 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 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
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The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Englewood, State of Colorado, on January 19, 2021.
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GEVO, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Patrick R. Gruber |
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Name: |
Patrick R. Gruber |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Patrick R. Gruber, L. Lynn Smull and Geoffrey T. Williams, Jr., and each of them acting individually, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to execute any and all amendments to this Registration Statement (including any post-effective amendments, and any new registration statement with respect to the offering contemplated thereby filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act), and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of each to act alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
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.
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Signature |
Title |
Date |
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/s/ Patrick R. Gruber |
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
January 19, 2021 |
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| Patrick R. Gruber, Ph.D. | and Director | |||
| /s/ L. Lynn Smull |
Chief Financial Officer |
January 19, 2021 |
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| L. Lynn Smull | (Principal Financial Officer) | |||
| /s/ Carolyn M. Romero |
VP - Controller |
January 19, 2021 |
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| Carolyn M. Romero, CPA | (Principal Accounting Officer) | |||
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/s/ Ruth I. Dreessen |
Chairperson of the Board of Directors |
January 19, 2021 |
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| Ruth I. Dreessen | ||||
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/s/ Gary W. Mize |
Director |
January 19, 2021 |
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| Gary W. Mize | ||||
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/s/ Andrew J. Marsh |
Director |
January 19, 2021 |
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| Andrew J. Marsh | ||||
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/s/ Johannes Minho Roth |
Director |
January 19, 2021 |
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| Johannes Minho Roth | ||||
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Director |
January 19, 2021 |
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| William H. Baum |
Exhibit 5.1
January 19, 2021
Gevo, Inc.
345 Inverness Drive South
Building C, Suite 310
Englewood, Colorado 80112
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Re: |
Registration Statement on Form S-3 Filed by Gevo, Inc. |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Gevo, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) for the registration of the sale from time to time of one or more series of the following securities by the Company (collectively, the “Securities”):
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(a) |
shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), |
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shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”), which may be issued as part of a series established pursuant to a certificate of designation filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (a “Certificate of Designation”), |
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(c) |
debt securities of the Company, which may be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities (“Debt Securities”), |
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depositary shares, each representing a fraction of a share of a particular series of Preferred Stock (“Depositary Shares”), |
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(e) |
warrants representing rights to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or Debt Securities (“Warrants”), |
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purchase contracts for the purchase of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities or any of the other Securities (“Purchase Contracts”), and |
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units consisting of any combination of the Securities (“Units”). |
In our capacity as counsel to the Company, we have examined the Registration Statement and such documents, records and instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion. As to matters of fact material to the opinions expressed herein, we have relied on (a) information in public authority documents (and all opinions based on public authority documents are as of the date of such public authority documents and not as of the date of this opinion letter), and (b) information provided in certificates of officers of the Company. We have not independently verified the facts so relied on.
In such examination, we have assumed the following without investigation: (a) the authenticity of original documents and the genuineness of all signatures; (b) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; and (c) the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, representations and warranties contained in the records, documents, instruments and certificates we have reviewed.
Based upon the foregoing examination and in reliance thereon, and subject to (a) the assumptions stated and in reliance on statements of fact contained in the documents that we have examined and (b) completion of all corporate action required to be taken by the Company to duly authorize each proposed issuance of Securities (including the due reservation of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock for issuance upon conversion or exchange of any other Securities), we are of the opinion that:
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With respect to Common Stock, when the shares of Common Stock have been issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against the receipt of requisite consideration therefor provided for therein, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
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With respect to Preferred Stock, when (a) the applicable Certificate of Designation for the Preferred Stock to be issued has been duly filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and (b) the shares of Preferred Stock have been issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against the receipt of requisite consideration therefor provided for therein, such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
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With respect to Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be issued upon conversion or exercise, as applicable, of the Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or Warrants, when (a) if applicable, the Certificate of Designation for the Preferred Stock to be issued has been duly filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and (b) such Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, has been issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or Warrants, as the case may be, such shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
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With respect to Debt Securities to be issued under one or more indentures (each, an “Indenture”), when (a) the terms of the Debt Securities have been established in accordance with the Indenture, (b) the Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (c) the Indenture and the applicable supplement thereto, if any, has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the trustee thereunder and (d) the Debt Securities have been executed, issued, delivered and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against the receipt of requisite consideration therefor provided for therein, the Debt Securities will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company. |
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With respect to Depositary Shares, when (a) a deposit agreement relating to the Depositary Shares (the “Deposit Agreement”) has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and each party thereto, (b) the terms of the Depositary Shares have been established in accordance with the Deposit Agreement and (c) the Depositary Shares have been issued and delivered in accordance with the Deposit Agreement and the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against the receipt of requisite consideration therefor provided for therein, the Depositary Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
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With respect to the Warrants, when (a) a warrant agreement relating to the Warrants (the “Warrant Agreement”) has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and each party thereto, (b) the terms of the Warrants have been established in accordance with the Warrant Agreement and (c) the Warrants have been executed and delivered in accordance with the related Warrant Agreement and the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against the receipt of requisite consideration therefor provided for therein, the Warrants will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company. |
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With respect to Purchase Contracts, when (a) a purchase contract agreement relating to the Purchase Contracts (the “Purchase Contract Agreement”) has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and each party thereto, (b) the terms of the Purchase Contracts have been established in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement, (c) the terms of any collateral or security arrangements relating to such Purchase Contracts have been established and the agreements related thereto have been validly executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto and any collateral has been deposited with the collateral agent, if applicable, in accordance with such arrangements and (d) such Purchase Contracts have been executed and delivered in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement and the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against the receipt of requisite consideration therefor provided for therein, the Purchase Contracts will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company. |
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With respect to the Units, when (a) a unit agreement relating to the Units (the “Unit Agreement”) has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and each party thereto, (b) the terms of the Units have been established in accordance with the Unit Agreement and (c) the Units have been executed and delivered in accordance with the related Unit Agreement and the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against the receipt of requisite consideration therefor provided for therein, the Units will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company. |
The foregoing opinions are subject to the following exclusions and qualifications:
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(a) |
Our opinions are as of the date hereof, and we have no responsibility to update this opinion for events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or as to facts relating to prior events that are subsequently brought to our attention. This opinion is limited to the laws, including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof, and we disavow any undertaking to advise you of any changes in law. |
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We express no opinion as to enforceability of any right or obligation to the extent such right or obligation is subject to and limited by (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, conservatorship, arrangement, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other laws affecting or relating to the rights of creditors generally; (ii) rules governing the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and general principles of equity, regardless of whether arising prior to or after the date hereof or considered in a proceeding in equity or at law; or (iii) the effect of federal and state securities laws and principles of public policy on the rights of indemnity and contribution. |
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We do not express any opinions herein concerning any laws other than the laws in their current forms of the States of Delaware and New York and the federal securities laws of the United States of America, and we express no opinion with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction and expressly disclaim responsibility for advising you as to the effect, if any, that the laws of any other jurisdiction may have on the opinions set forth herein. |
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto, including any and all post-effective amendments, and to the reference to our firm in the prospectus and any prospectus supplements relating thereto under the heading “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or related rules and regulations of the Commission issued thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ PERKINS COIE LLP
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We have issued our report dated March 17, 2020, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Gevo, Inc. and subsidiaries included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, which is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement. We consent to the incorporation by reference of the aforementioned report in this Registration Statement, and to the use of our name as it appears under the caption “Experts.”
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
Denver, CO
January 19, 2021