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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 24, 2016

Registration No. 333-208274

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

MEDICINOVA, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware		33-0927979
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

4275 Executive Square, Suite 650

La Jolla, California 92037

(858) 373-1500

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

Yuichi Iwaki, M.D., Ph.D.

President and Chief Executive Officer

MEDICINOVA, INC.

4275 Executive Square, Suite 650

La Jolla, California 92037

(858) 373-1500

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

 

 

Copies to

Kirt W. Shuldberg, Esq.

Ryan J. Gunderson, Esq.

Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve

Franklin & Hachigian, LLP

3570 Carmel Mountain Rd., Suite 200

San Diego, CA 92130

(858) 436-8000

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective, as determined by market conditions and other factors.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, 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, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

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

The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. Neither we nor any selling stockholder may sell any of these securities until the registration statement filed with Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject To Completion, Dated August 24, 2016

PROSPECTUS

$100,000,000

 

MEDICINOVA, INC.

Common Stock, Preferred Stock,

Depositary Shares, Debt Securities,

Warrants and Rights

2,000,000 Shares of Common Stock Offered by

Selling Stockholders

 

 

We may, from time to time, offer and sell common stock, preferred stock, either separately or represented by depositary shares, debt securities, warrants or rights, either separately or together in any combination, in one or more offerings. The preferred stock, debt securities and warrants may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common or preferred stock or debt securities. The rights may be exercisable for common or preferred stock. The aggregate initial offering price of all securities sold under this prospectus will not exceed $100,000,000.

In addition, certain of our stockholders may, from time to time, offer and sell up to an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of our common stock in one or more offerings. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of our common stock by the selling stockholders.

We will specify in an accompanying prospectus supplement more specific information about any such offering, the identity of any selling stockholders and the number of shares that any such selling stockholders will be selling. This prospectus may not be used to sell any of these securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.

We and the selling stockholders may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement directly to investors or through underwriters, dealers or agents. We will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents and their compensation in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “MNOV” and on the Jasdaq Market of the Tokyo Securities Exchange under the code “4875.” On August 23, 2016, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The NASDAQ Global Market was $6.55 per share.

Investing in our securities involves risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the accompanying prospectus supplement and in the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus.

 

 

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.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is                 , 2016

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
About This Prospectus			1
Risk Factors			4
Forward-Looking Statements			4
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends			5
Use of Proceeds			5
Description of Common Stock			6
Description of Preferred Stock			8
Description of Depositary Shares			8
Description of Debt Securities			10
Description of Warrants			18
Description of Rights			19
Selling Stockholders			20
Plan of Distribution			20
Legal Matters			23
Experts			23
Where You Can Find More Information			24
Information Incorporated by Reference			24

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration, or continuous offering, process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell separately or together in any combination the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $100,000,000. In addition to securities we may offer and sell, certain of our stockholders may, from time to time, offer and sell up to an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of our common stock in one or more offerings.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we and the selling stockholders may offer. Each time we or the selling stockholders sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the offered securities. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement. The registration statement we filed with the SEC includes exhibits that provide more detail of the matters discussed in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related exhibits filed with the SEC and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” before making your investment decision.

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the registration statement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, or incorporated by reference, is accurate only as of the dates of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement to “MediciNova,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to MediciNova, Inc.

The MediciNova logo is a registered trademark of MediciNova, Inc. This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus may also contain trademarks and trade names that are the property of their respective owners. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply relationships with, or endorsements or sponsorship of us by, these other companies.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risk. The prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering will contain a discussion of risks applicable to an investment in the securities offered. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the specific factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement together with all of the other information contained in the prospectus supplement or appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

When used in this prospectus, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “may,” “could,” “intends,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or otherwise implied by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We will discuss many of these risks and uncertainties in greater detail in any prospectus supplement under the heading “Risk Factors.” Additional cautionary statements or discussions of risks and uncertainties that could affect our results or the achievement of the expectations described in forward-looking statements may also be contained in the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus.

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. You should, however, review additional disclosures we make in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends on a historical basis for the periods indicated. The ratios are calculated by dividing earnings by the fixed charges.

 

		Fiscal Year Ended December 31,																				Six Months Ended June 30,
		2011				2012				2013				2014				2015				2016
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends (1)			N/A				N/A				N/A				N/A				N/A				N/A

 

(1)

For the purposes of computing ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of loss before income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest charges. Earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $6.6 million, $8.8 million, $9.2 million, $4.0 million, $10.9 million and $17.7 million, respectively.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include additions to working capital, financing of capital expenditures, repayment or redemption of existing indebtedness, and future acquisitions and strategic investment opportunities. Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, pending the application of net proceeds, we expect to invest the net proceeds in short- and intermediate-term, interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government. Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of our common stock by the selling stockholders.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

This section describes the general terms and provisions of the shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share. This description is only a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the description of our common stock incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated bylaws have been filed as exhibits to our periodic reports filed with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should read our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated bylaws for additional information before you buy any of our common stock or other securities. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

We have 100,000,000 shares of authorized common stock. As of August 17, 2016, there were 34,471,495 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. We have not provided for cumulative voting for the election of directors in our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended. This means that the holders of a majority of the shares voted can elect all of the directors then standing for election. Subject to preferences that may apply to shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of outstanding shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of assets legally available at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may determine from time to time. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of all liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any outstanding preferred stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

Registration Rights

As of August 17, 2016, the holders of approximately 1,911,781 shares of our common stock are entitled to contractual rights to require us to register those shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). These rights are provided under the terms of our amended and restated registration rights agreement. We will pay all expenses relating to any such registration, other than underwriting discounts and selling commissions. The registration rights terminate with respect to any holder if all of the following conditions are met: (a) as reflected on our books and records, such holder (together with its affiliates) holds less than 1% of our outstanding common stock (on an as-if-converted to common stock basis), (b) our securities trade on a national securities exchange or list on a national automatic quotation system, in each case, located in the United States, and (c) all shares of common stock issued or issuable upon conversion of the registrable securities held by such holder (and its affiliates) either (i) may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act during any ninety (90) day period or (ii) have ceased to be outstanding.

Piggyback Registration Rights. If we propose to register any of our securities under the Securities Act either for our own account or for the account of other stockholders, the holders of shares having registration rights will, subject to certain exceptions, be entitled to include their shares in our registration statement. These piggyback registration rights are subject to specified conditions and limitations, including the right of the underwriters to limit the number of shares included in any such registration statement under certain circumstances, but not below 25% of the total number of shares covered by the registration statement without the consent of more than 50% of the holders of registrable securities.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law, Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as Amended, and Bylaws

Certain provisions of Delaware law, our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated bylaws could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us. These provisions, which are summarized below, are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors.

 

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Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. Our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and amended and restated bylaws include provisions that:

 

•

authorize our board of directors to issue, without further action by the stockholders, up to 3,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock;

 

•

require that any action to be taken by our stockholders be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting and not by written consent;

 

•

specify that special meetings of our stockholders can be called only at the request of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or by a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of our board of directors;

 

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establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder approvals to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our board of directors;

 

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establish that our board of directors is divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, with each class serving staggered terms;

 

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provide that our directors may be removed only for cause; and

 

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provide that vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum.

Delaware Law. We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware regulating corporate takeovers. In general, those provisions prohibit a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

•

the transaction is approved by the board of directors of the corporation before the date the interested stockholder attained that status;

 

•

upon completion 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 voting stock outstanding (1) shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and (2) shares owned by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

•

on or after the date the business combination is approved by the board of directors of the corporation and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

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

 

•

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

 

•

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.

 

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In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by any of these entities or persons.

A Delaware corporation may opt out of these provisions either with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or in an amendment to its certificate of incorporation or bylaws approved by its stockholders. However, we have not opted out, and do not currently intend to opt out of, these provisions. The statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire us.

Transfer Agent

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

As of August 17, 2016, our authorized preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, was 3,000,000 shares, none of which were issued and outstanding. We may issue preferred stock, in series, with such designations, powers, preferences and other rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions as our board of directors may authorize, without further action by our stockholders, including:

 

•

the distinctive designation of each series and the number of shares that will constitute the series;

 

•

the voting rights, if any, of shares of the series and the terms and conditions of the voting rights;

 

•

the dividend rate on the shares of the series, the dates on which dividends are payable, any restriction, limitation or condition upon the payment of dividends, whether dividends will be cumulative, and the dates from and after which dividends shall accumulate;

 

•

the prices at which, and the terms and conditions on which, the shares of the series may be redeemed, if the shares are redeemable;

 

•

the terms and conditions of a sinking or purchase fund for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series, if such a fund is provided;

 

•

any preferential amount payable upon shares of the series in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon the distribution of any of our assets; and

 

•

the prices or rates of conversion or exchange at which, and the terms and conditions on which, the shares of the series may be converted or exchanged into other securities, if the shares are convertible or exchangeable.

The particular terms of any series of preferred stock, and the transfer agent and registrar for that series, will be described in a prospectus supplement. Any material United States federal income tax consequences and other special considerations with respect to any preferred stock offered under this prospectus will also be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

The following description of the depositary shares does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by the relevant deposit agreement and the depositary receipts with respect to the depositary shares relating to any particular series of preferred stock. You should read these documents as they, and not this description, will define your rights as a holder of depositary shares. Forms of these documents will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of depositary shares.

 

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General

If we elect to offer fractional interests in shares of preferred stock, we will provide for the issuance by a depositary to the public of receipts for depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent fractional interests of preferred stock. We will deposit the shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares under a deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company selected by us. The bank or trust company must have its principal office in the United States and a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. The depositary receipts will evidence the depositary shares issued under the deposit agreement.

The deposit agreement will contain terms applicable to the holders of depositary shares in addition to the terms stated in the depositary receipts. Each owner of depositary shares will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in the underlying shares of preferred stock. The depositary will issue the depositary receipts to individuals purchasing the fractional interests in shares of the related preferred stock according to the terms of the offering described in a prospectus supplement.

Dividends and Other Distributions

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received for the preferred stock to the entitled record holders of depositary shares in proportion to the number of depositary shares that the holder owns on the relevant record date. The depositary will distribute only an amount that can be distributed without attributing to any holder of depositary shares a fraction of one cent. The depositary will add the undistributed balance to and treat it as part of the next sum received by the depositary for distribution to holders of depositary shares.

If there is a non-cash distribution, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the entitled record holders of depositary shares, in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by the holders, unless the depositary determines, after consultation with us, that it is not feasible to make such distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders. The deposit agreement also will contain provisions relating to how any subscription or similar rights that we may offer to holders of the preferred stock will be available to the holders of the depositary shares.

Conversion, Exchange, Redemption and Liquidation

If any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares may be converted or exchanged, each record holder of depositary receipts will have the right or obligation to convert or exchange the depositary shares represented by the depositary receipts.

The terms on which the depositary shares relating to the preferred stock of any series may be redeemed, and any amounts distributable upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement.

Voting

When the depositary receives notice of a meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the particulars of the meeting to the record holders of the depositary shares. Each record holder of depositary shares on the record date may instruct the depositary on how to vote the shares of preferred stock underlying the holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will try, if practical, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares according to the instructions. We will agree to take all reasonable action requested by the depositary to enable it to vote as instructed.

 

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Amendments

We and the depositary may agree to amend the deposit agreement and the depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares. Any amendment that (a) imposes or increases certain fees, taxes or other charges payable by the holders of the depositary shares as described in the deposit agreement or that (b) otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of holders of depositary shares, will not take effect until 30 days after the depositary has mailed notice of the amendment to the record holders of depositary shares. Any holder of depositary shares that continues to hold its shares at the end of the 30-day period will be deemed to have agreed to the amendment.

Termination

We may direct the depositary to terminate the deposit agreement by mailing a notice of termination to holders of depositary shares at least 30 days prior to termination. In addition, a deposit agreement will automatically terminate if the depositary has redeemed all related outstanding depositary shares, or we have liquidated, terminated or wound up our business and the depositary has distributed the preferred stock of the relevant series to the holders of the related depositary shares.

Payment of Fees and Expenses

We will pay all fees, charges and expenses of the depositary, including the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary shares will pay transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges as are stated in the deposit agreement for their accounts.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

At any time, the depositary may resign by delivering notice to us, and we may remove the depositary. Resignations or removals will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of the 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 a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.

Reports

The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary shares all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the depositary and that we are required by law, the rules of an applicable securities exchange or our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock. Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if the depositary is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstances beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. The deposit agreement limits our obligations and the depositary’s obligations to performance in good faith of the duties stated in the deposit agreement. Neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding connected with any depositary shares or preferred stock unless the holders of depositary shares requesting us to do so furnish us with satisfactory indemnity. In performing our obligations, we and the depositary may rely upon the written advice of our counsel or accountants, on any information that competent people provide to us and on documents that we believe are genuine.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following is a summary of the general terms of the debt securities. We will file a prospectus supplement that may contain additional terms when we issue debt securities. The terms presented here, together with the terms in a related prospectus supplement, together with any pricing supplement or term sheet, will be a description of the material terms of the debt securities.

 

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We may issue, from time to time, debt securities, in one or more series. These debt securities that we may issue include senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities, subordinated debt securities, convertible debt securities and exchangeable debt securities. The debt securities we offer will be issued under an indenture between us and the trustee named in the indenture. The following is a summary of the material provisions of the form of indenture filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. For each series of debt securities, the applicable prospectus supplement for the series may change and supplement the summary below.

General Terms of the Indenture

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

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

You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities for a description of the following terms of the debt securities offered by that prospectus supplement and by this prospectus:

 

•

the title and authorized denominations of those debt securities;

 

•

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

 

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

 

•

interest rates, and the dates from which interest, if any, on the debt securities of that series will accrue, and the dates when interest is payable and the maturity;

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

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

 

•

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

 

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

 

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the denominations in which those debt securities will be issuable;

 

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if other than the entire principal amount of the debt securities when issued, the portion of the principal amount payable upon acceleration of maturity as a result of a default on our obligations;

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

any other specific terms of any debt securities.

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

Conversion or Exchange Rights

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

 

•

the conversion or exchange price;

 

•

the conversion or exchange period;

 

•

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

 

•

events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price; and

 

•

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

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

We cannot consolidate with or merge with or into, or transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to, any person, unless we are the surviving corporation or the successor person is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture. In addition, we cannot complete such a transaction unless immediately after completing the transaction, no event of default under the indenture, and no event that, after

 

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notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default under the indenture, has occurred and is continuing. When the successor person has assumed our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture, we will be discharged from all our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture except in limited circumstances.

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

Events of Default

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

 

•

failure to pay interest for 30 days after the date payment is due and payable;

 

•

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

 

•

failure to make sinking fund payments when due and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

 

•

failure to perform other covenants for 60 days after notice that performance was required;

 

•

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

 

•

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

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

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

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

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•

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

 

•

the trustee has not received inconsistent direction by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series.

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

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

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

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

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

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

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

Modification of the Indenture

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

 

•

evidence the assumption by a successor entity of our obligations;

 

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•

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

 

•

add any additional events of default;

 

•

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

 

•

add guarantees with respect to or secure any debt securities;

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

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

 

•

extend the final maturity of any debt security;

 

•

reduce the principal amount or premium, if any;

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

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

 

•

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

 

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•

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

Registered Global Securities and Book Entry System

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

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

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

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

Concerning the Trustee

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

The indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an event of default, the trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the indenture. During the existence of an event of default, the

 

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trustee will exercise those rights and powers vested in it under the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

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

No Individual Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers or Directors

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

Governing Law

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

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities or any combination thereof. We may issue warrants independently or together with any other securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from the other offered securities. Each series of warrants may be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into by us with a warrant agent. The applicable warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreements will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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

 

•

the title of the warrants;

 

•

the aggregate number of the warrants;

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

the price at which each share of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

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•

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

 

•

a discussion of certain federal income tax considerations; and

 

•

any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

We and the applicable warrant agent may amend or supplement the warrant agreement for a series of warrants without the consent of the holders of the warrants issued thereunder to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.

DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

We may issue rights to purchase common stock or preferred stock. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms and conditions for each right. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the rights as described in this prospectus.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms and conditions of the issue of rights being offered, the rights agreement relating to the rights and the rights certificates representing the rights, including, as applicable:

 

•

the title of the rights;

 

•

the date of determining the stockholders entitled to the rights distribution;

 

•

the title, aggregate number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of the rights;

 

•

the exercise price;

 

•

the aggregate number of rights issued;

 

•

the date, if any, on and after which the rights will be separately transferable;

 

•

the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the right will expire; and

 

•

any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange and exercise of the rights.

Each right will entitle the holder of rights to purchase for cash the principal amount of shares of common stock or preferred stock at the exercise price provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will be void.

Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

This prospectus also relates to the possible resale by some of our stockholders of up to an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of our common stock that were issued and outstanding prior to the original date of filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and may include shares acquired by our directors or entities affiliated with our directors that were issued in one or more of the following transactions: Prior to our initial public offering in 2005, we sold shares of our common stock and preferred stock in private placements to accredited investors, including some of our directors or entities affiliated with our directors. All outstanding shares of our preferred stock were converted to shares of our common stock in connection with the closing of our initial public offering in February 2005.

The selling stockholders may be our directors or entities affiliated with our directors. The prospectus supplement for any offering of common stock by selling stockholders will include the following information:

 

•

the names of the selling stockholders;

 

•

the nature of any position, office or other material relationship each selling stockholder has had within the last three years with us or any of our predecessors or affiliates;

 

•

the number of shares held by each of the selling stockholders before and after the offering;

 

•

the percentage of common stock held by each of the selling stockholders before and after the offering; and

 

•

the number of shares of common stock offered by each of the selling stockholders.

Selling stockholders may not sell any shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus until we have identified those selling stockholders and the shares being offered for resale by those selling stockholders in a subsequent prospectus supplement. However, the selling stockholders may sell or transfer all or a portion of their shares of our common stock pursuant to any available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Company Distributions

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus to one or more underwriters or dealers for public offering and sale by them or to investors directly or through agents. The accompanying prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering and the method of distribution and will identify any firms acting as underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering, including:

 

•

the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

•

the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us from the sale;

 

•

any underwriting discounts and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

•

any public offering price;

 

•

any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers; and

 

•

any securities exchange or market on which the securities offered in the prospectus supplement may be listed.

Only those underwriters identified in such prospectus supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities offered in the prospectus supplement.

 

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The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at prices determined as the applicable prospectus supplement specifies. The securities may be sold through an at-the-market offering, a rights offering, forward contracts or similar arrangements. In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

In connection with the sale of the securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and also may receive commissions from securities purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and the dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.

We will provide in the applicable prospectus supplement information regarding any underwriting discounts or other compensation that we pay to underwriters or agents in connection with the securities offering, and any discounts, concessions or commissions that underwriters allow to dealers. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the securities distribution may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts, commissions or concessions they receive and any profit they realize on the resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933. Underwriters and their controlling persons, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification against and contribution toward specific civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Some of the underwriters, dealers or agents who participate in the securities distribution may engage in other transactions with, and perform other services for, us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Our common stock is currently listed on The NASDAQ Global Market and the Jasdaq Market of the Tokyo Securities Exchange, but any other securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.

Selling Stockholder Distributions

The selling stockholders, which as used herein includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest selling shares of common stock or interests in shares of common stock received after the date of this prospectus from a selling stockholder as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other transfer, may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of their shares of common stock or interests in shares of

 

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common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.

The selling stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when disposing of shares or interests therein:

 

•

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

•

block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

•

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

•

an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

•

privately negotiated transactions;

 

•

short sales effected after the date the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part is declared effective by the SEC;

 

•

through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

•

broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share; and

 

•

a combination of any such methods of sale.

The selling stockholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock, from time to time, under this prospectus, or under an amendment or supplement to this prospectus amending the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus. The selling stockholders also may transfer the shares of common stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

In connection with the sale of our common stock or interests therein, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of our common stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

The aggregate proceeds to the selling stockholders from the sale of the common stock offered by them will be the purchase price of the common stock less discounts or commissions, if any. Each of the selling stockholders reserves the right to accept and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of common stock to be made directly or through agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering.

The selling stockholders also may resell all or a portion of the shares in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule.

 

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The selling stockholders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents that participate in the sale of the common stock or interests therein may be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act. Any discounts, commissions, concessions or profit they earn on any resale of the shares may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Selling stockholders who are “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. Underwriters and their controlling persons, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us and the selling stockholders, to indemnification against and contribution toward specific civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

To the extent required, the shares of our common stock to be sold, the names of the selling stockholders, the respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the nature of any position, office, or other material relationship which the selling stockholders have had with us or any of our predecessors or affiliates within the past three years, the names of any agents, dealer or underwriter, and any applicable discounts, commissions, concessions or other compensation with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.

To facilitate the offering of the shares offered by the selling stockholders, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the common stock. This may include over-allotments or short sales, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more shares than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the common stock by bidding for or purchasing shares in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if shares sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the common stock at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of any securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP, San Diego, California.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015 and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 incorporated by reference in this Prospectus have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The consolidated financial statements of MediciNova, Inc. appearing in MediciNova, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report, given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933. This prospectus is part of the registration statement but the registration statement includes and incorporates by reference additional information and exhibits. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy the registration statement and any other document we file with the SEC at the public reference room maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding companies, such as ours, that file documents electronically with the SEC. The address of that site on the world wide web is http://www.sec.gov. The information on the SEC’s web site is not part of this prospectus, and any references to this web site or any other web site are inactive textual references only.

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The SEC permits us to “incorporate by reference” the information contained in documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents rather than by including them in this prospectus. Information that is incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and you should read it with the same care that you read this prospectus. Later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information that is either contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus, and will be considered to be a part of this prospectus from the date those documents are filed. We have filed with the SEC, and incorporate by reference in this prospectus (excluding any portions of any Form 8-K that are not deemed “filed” pursuant to the General Instructions of Form 8-K):

 

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (filed on February 25, 2016);

 

•

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2016 (filed on April 27, 2016 and July 26, 2016, respectively);

 

•

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2016 and June 13, 2016 (other than the portions of any of these reports furnished but not filed pursuant to SEC rules and the exhibits filed on such form that relate to such portions);

 

•

the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 from our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 27, 2016; and

 

•

the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on January 26, 2005.

We are not, however, incorporating any documents or information that we are deemed to furnish and not file in accordance with SEC rules (including with respect to the above-listed periodic reports). We also incorporate by reference all additional documents that we file with the SEC under the terms of Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are made after the initial filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the effectiveness of the registration statement, as well as between the date of this prospectus and the termination of any offering of securities offered by this prospectus.

You may request a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference but not delivered with this prospectus, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address and number: Investor Relations, MediciNova, Inc., 4275 Executive Square, Suite 650, La Jolla, California 92037, telephone (858) 373-1500. We will not, however, send exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in those documents.

 

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Up to $100,000,000 of Shares

Common Stock, Preferred Stock,

Depositary Shares, Debt Securities,

Warrants and Rights

2,000,000 Shares of Common Stock Offered by

Selling Stockholders

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

                , 2016

 

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PART II

Information Not Required In Prospectus

 

Item 14.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following is a statement of estimated expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

SEC Registration Fee		$	10,758
FINRA Fee		$	15,500
The NASDAQ Stock Market Listing Fees				(1)
Transfer Agent and Registrar, Trustee and Depositary Fees				(1)
Printing Expenses				(1)
Legal Fees and Expenses				(1)
Accounting Fees and Expenses				(1)
Miscellaneous				(1)
		$		(1)

 

(1)	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.

Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) provides for the indemnification of officers, directors, and other corporate agents in terms sufficiently broad to indemnify such persons under certain circumstances for liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933. Article VIII of the Registrant’s restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 9, 2012), and Article 6 of the Registrant’s amended and restated bylaws (Exhibit 3.4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-119433) filed October 1, 2004) provide for indemnification of the Registrant’s directors, officers, employees and other agents to the extent and under the circumstances permitted by the DGCL. The Registrant has also entered into agreements with its directors and officers that will require the Registrant, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers to the fullest extent not prohibited by law.

At the present time, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving a director, officer, employee or other agent of the Registrant in which indemnification would be required or permitted. The Registrant is not aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding which may result in a claim for such indemnification.

 

Item 16.

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.		Description
1.1*		Form of Underwriting Agreement.
3.1		Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as subsequently amended by certificates of amendment (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 9, 2012).
3.2		Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-119433) filed October 1, 2004).
4.1**		Form of Indenture relating to debt securities.

 

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4.2*		Form of supplemental indenture or other instrument establishing the issuance of one or more series of debt securities (including the form of such debt security).
4.3*		Form of Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate.
4.4*		Form of Deposit Agreement.
4.5*		Form of Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.4).
4.6*		Form of Specimen Preferred Stock Certificate.
4.7*		Form of Rights Agreement and Rights Certificate.
4.8		Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-33185) filed February 15, 2007).
4.9		Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 2, 2004, by and among the Registrant, its founders and the investors named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-119433) filed October 1, 2004).
5.1		Opinion of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP.
12.1		Statement Regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.
23.1		Consent of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.3		Consent of BDO USA, LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
24.1**		Power of Attorney.
25.1+		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of the trustee for the debt securities.

 

*	To be filed by amendment or pursuant to a report to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if applicable, and incorporated herein by reference.

**	Previously filed.

+	To be filed by amendment or pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 305(b)(2), if applicable.

 

Item 17.

Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

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(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

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

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

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(A) 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

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which 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 registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

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(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(6) That, for the 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 the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(7) 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 (the “Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period (if any), to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to any charter provision, by law or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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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 Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of La Jolla, State of California, on this 24th day of August, 2016.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name		Title		Date
/s/ Yuichi Iwaki, M.D., Ph.D. Yuichi Iwaki, M.D., Ph.D.		President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)		August 24, 2016
/s/ Ryan Selhorn Ryan Selhorn		Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)		August 24, 2016
* Jeff Himawan, Ph.D.		Chairman of the Board of Directors		August 24, 2016
* Yoshio Ishizaka		Director		August 24, 2016
* Yutaka Kobayashi		Director		August 24, 2016

 

*By:		/s/ Yuichi Iwaki, M.D., Ph.D.
		Yuichi Iwaki, M.D., Ph.D.
		Attorney-in-fact

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.		Description
1.1*		Form of Underwriting Agreement.
3.1		Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as subsequently amended by certificates of amendment (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 9, 2012).
3.2		Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-119433) filed October 1, 2004).
4.1**		Form of Indenture relating to debt securities.
4.2*		Form of supplemental indenture or other instrument establishing the issuance of one or more series of debt securities (including the form of such debt security).
4.3*		Form of Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate.
4.4*		Form of Deposit Agreement.
4.5*		Form of Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.4).
4.6*		Form of Specimen Preferred Stock Certificate.
4.7*		Form of Rights Agreement and Rights Certificate.
4.8		Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-33185) filed February 15, 2007).
4.9		Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 2, 2004, by and among the Registrant, its founders and the investors named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-119433) filed October 1, 2004).
5.1		Opinion of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP.
12.1		Statement Regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.
23.1		Consent of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.3		Consent of BDO USA, LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
24.1**		Power of Attorney.
25.1+		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of the trustee for the debt securities.

 

*	To be filed by amendment or pursuant to a report to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if applicable, and incorporated herein by reference.

**	Previously filed.

+	To be filed by amendment or pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 305(b)(2), if applicable.

		SILICON VALLEY ANN ARBOR BEIJING BOSTON LOS ANGELES NEW YORK SAN DIEGO SAN FRANCISCO

Exhibit 5.1

August 24, 2016

Medicinova, Inc.

4275 Executive Square,

Suite 650, La Jolla, CA

Re:    Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel for MediciNova, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing on the date hereof of Amendment No. 2 to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”) of (a) the following securities of the Company having an aggregate initial public offering price of up to $100,000,000: (i) shares (the “Company Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), (ii) shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”), in one or more series, (iii) depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts, each representing fractional interests in Preferred Stock (“Depositary Shares”), (iv) senior or subordinated debt securities (“Debt Securities”), (v) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities or any combination thereof (“Warrants”) and (vi) stock purchase rights (“Rights”) to purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock and (b) 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock to be offered and sold by certain stockholders of the Company (the “Selling Stockholder Shares”). The Company Shares, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants and Rights are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Securities shall include any additional amounts of such securities the offer and sale of which are registered pursuant to a registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act in connection with one or more offerings contemplated by such Registration Statement. Such Registration Statement, as amended, and including any registration statement related thereto and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act, is herein referred to as the “Registration Statement.”

The Debt Securities will be issued under an Indenture in substantially the form of Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement (the “Indenture”) to be entered into between the Company and a trustee to be identified in the Indenture (the “Trustee”).

We have reviewed the Registration Statement and such other agreements, documents, records, certificates and other materials, and have reviewed and are familiar with such corporate proceedings and satisfied ourselves as to such other matters, as we have considered relevant or necessary as a basis for this opinion. In such review, we have assumed the accuracy and completeness of all agreements, documents, records, certificates and other materials submitted to us, the conformity with the originals of all such materials submitted to us as copies (whether or not certified and including facsimiles), the authenticity of the originals of such materials and all materials submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures and the legal capacity of all natural persons.

On the basis of the assumptions and subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

1.

With respect to the Company Shares, when (a) the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee of such Board (such Board of Directors or committee being referred to herein as the “Board”) has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of the offering of the Company Shares and related matters and (b) such shares have been issued and sold by the Company in

 

GUNDERSON    DETTMER    STOUGH    VILLENEUVE    FRANKLIN     &    HACHIGIAN, LLP

3570 CARMEL MOUNTAIN ROAD, SUITE 200, SAN DIEGO, CA 92130 / PHONE: 858.436.8000 / FAX: 877.881.9192

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Medicinova, Inc.

August 24, 2016

Page 2

 

the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Board action, such Company Shares (including any Company Shares duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with the terms of such other Security or the instrument governing such other Security providing for such conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board) will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

2.

With respect to the Preferred Stock, when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of any particular series of Preferred Stock, the offering thereof and related matters, including the filing of a certificate of designations conforming to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware regarding such series of Preferred Stock with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and (b) shares of such series of Preferred Stock have been issued and sold by the Company in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Board action, such shares of such series of Preferred Stock (including any shares of such series of Preferred Stock duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with the terms of such other Security or the instrument governing such other Security providing for such conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board) will be duly authorized, legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

3.

With respect to any of the Depositary Shares, when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of the series of Preferred Stock to be issued in connection therewith, the offering of such Depositary Shares in such series of Preferred Stock, and related matters, including the filing of a certificate of designations conforming to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware regarding the Preferred Stock with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (b) a deposit agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and a bank or trust company to be selected by the Company, as depositary (a “Deposit Agreement”), which Deposit Agreement establishes the terms of the Depositary Shares and their issuance and sale, (c) the shares of such series of Preferred Stock have been deposited with such depositary in accordance with such Deposit Agreement, (d) such shares of such series of Preferred Stock have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Board action and (e) receipts (“Receipts”) evidencing Depositary Shares are duly issued against the deposit of such series of Preferred Stock in accordance with such Deposit Agreement, such Depositary Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and such Receipts will be duly authorized and validly issued and entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in such Deposit Agreement.

 

4.

With respect to any of the Debt Securities, when (a) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of such Debt Securities, the terms of the offering and related matters, (c) such Debt Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and (d) such Debt Securities have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with the Indenture, such Debt Securities (including any Debt Securities duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with the terms of such other Security or the instrument governing such other Security providing for such conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board) will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

5.

With respect to any of the Warrants, when (a) one or more agreements incorporating the terms and other provisions thereof has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and a warrant agent (a “Warrant Agreement”), (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of such Warrants, the terms of the offering of such Warrants, and related matters, (c) the Warrant certificates have been duly executed and authenticated or countersigned in accordance with the terms of such Warrant Agreement and (d) such Warrants have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Warrant Agreement, such Warrants will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

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Medicinova, Inc.

August 24, 2016

Page 3

 

6.

With respect to any of the Rights, when (a) one or more agreements incorporating the terms and other provisions thereof has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and a rights holder (a “Rights Agreement”), (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of such Rights, the terms of the offering of such Rights, and related matters, (c) such Rights have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the terms of such Rights Agreement and (d) such Rights have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Rights Agreement, such Rights will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

7.

The Selling Stockholder Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

Our opinions set forth above are subject to and limited by the effect of (a) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, receivership, conservatorship, arrangement, moratorium and other laws affecting and relating to the rights of creditors generally, (b) general equitable principles and (c) general principles of equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief and limitation of rights of acceleration, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

In connection with the opinions expressed above, we have assumed that at or prior to the time of the delivery of any of the Securities (a) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), will have been declared effective under the Act and a Prospectus Supplement relating to the offer and sale of such Securities to the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement will have been prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, (b) in the case of the issuance of the Company Shares or the Preferred Stock, the Company will have a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares thereof under the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company at the time of such issuance, (c) the Board shall not have rescinded or otherwise modified the authorization of such Securities, (d) that a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto and (e) that any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise of any Securities being offered will be duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise (f) neither the establishment of any terms of such Securities after the date hereof nor the issuance and delivery of, or the performance of the Company’s obligations under, such Securities will require any authorization, consent, approval or license of or exemption from, or registration or filing with, or report or notice to, any governmental unit, agency, commission, department or other authority (a “Governmental Approval”) or violate or conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, (i) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its affiliates is a party or by which the Company or any of its affiliates or any of their respective properties may be bound, (ii) any Governmental Approval that may be applicable to the Company or any of its affiliates or any of their respective properties, (iii) any order, decision, judgment or decree that may be applicable to the Company or any of its affiliates or any of their respective properties or (iv) any applicable law (other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the law of the State of New York in each case as in effect on the date hereof).

The opinions set forth in this letter are limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the law of the State of New York, in each case as in effect on the date hereof.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus forming a part thereof and any supplement thereto. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

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Medicinova, Inc.

August 24, 2016

Page 4

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP

GUNDERSON DETTMER STOUGH VILLENEUVE FRANKLIN & HACHIGIAN, LLP

Exhibit 12.1

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends

 

		Year Ended December 31,																				Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
(in thousands)		2011				2012				2013				2014				2015
Earnings:
Loss before income taxes		$	(17,723	)		$	(10,950	)		$	(4,024	)		$	(9,199	)		$	(8,838	)		$	(6,578	)
Add: Fixed charges			1,595				—				—				1				1				—
Total Earnings		$	(16,128	)		$	(10,950	)		$	(4,024	)		$	(9,198	)		$	(8,837	)		$	(6,578	)
Fixed Charges:
Interest expense			1,595				—				—				1				1				—
Fixed charges		$	1,595			$	—			$	—			$	1			$	1			$	—
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends			Note 1				Note 1				Note 1				Note 1				Note 1				Note 1

Note 1: Earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $6.6 million, $8.8 million, $9.2 million, $4.0 million, $10.9 million and $17.7 million, respectively. The Company has never paid dividends on its preferred stock.

Exhibit 23.2

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” and to the use of our report dated March 12, 2015, in Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-208274) and related Prospectus of MediciNova, Inc. for the registration of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, depositary shares, warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, or depositary shares and rights to purchase common stock or preferred stock.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

San Diego, California

August 23, 2016

Exhibit 23.3

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

MediciNova, Inc.

La Jolla, California

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our reports dated February 25, 2016, relating to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of MediciNova, Inc.’s (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

La Jolla, California

August 23, 2016