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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 9, 1996
Registration No. 33-_________
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
--------------------
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
--------------------
LITHIUM TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
(Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)
Delaware 13-3411148
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(State or other Jurisdiction of) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
5115 Campus Drive
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
(Address of principal executive offices)
1994 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN;
DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN
(Full title of the plans)
THOMAS R. THOMSEN
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Lithium Technology Corporation
5115 Campus Drive
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
(Name and address of agent for service)
(610) 940-6090
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
-----------------------------
Copy to:
THOMAS P. GALLAGHER
Gallagher, Briody & Butler
212 Carnegie Center
Suite 402
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
(609) 452-6000
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed maximum Proposed maximum
Title of securities Amount to be offering price aggregate offering Amount of
to be registered registered per share price registration fee
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock, 1,246,673 $1.468750(1) $1,831,050.97 $631.40
par value $.01 per share 419,979 $.501(2) $210,409.48(2) $ 72.56
786,681 $.90(3) $708,012.90(3) $244.15
66,667 $2.55(4) $170,000.85(4) $ 58.63
480,000 $2.5625(5) $1,230,000.00(5) $424.14
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 3,000,000 $4,149,474.10 $1,430.86
==================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Estimated pursuant to paragraphs (c) and (h) of Rule 457 solely for
the purpose of calculating the registration fee, based upon the
average of the reported bid and asked price of shares of Common Stock
on October 7, 1996, as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board.
(2) Computed in accordance with Rule 457(h) taking into account exercise
price of options outstanding of $.501.
(3) Computed in accordance with Rule 457(h) taking into account exercise
price of options outstanding of $.90.
(4) Computed in accordance with Rule 457(h) taking into account exercise
price of options outstanding of $2.55.
(5) Computed in accordance with Rule 457(h) taking into account exercise
price of options outstanding of $2.5625.
The shares covered by this Registration Statement are shares granted or to be
granted under the plans described herein or shares issuable upon the exercise
of stock options granted or to be granted under such plans. There are also
registered hereunder such additional indeterminate number of shares as may be
issued as a result of the antidilution provisions of the plans.
<PAGE> 2
PROSPECTUS
LITHIUM TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
802,329 SHARES
COMMON STOCK
This Prospectus is being used in connection with the offering, from
time to time, by certain stockholders (the "Selling Stockholders") of Lithium
Technology Corporation (the "Company") of 802,329 shares of Common Stock of the
Company (the "Shares") (i) 236,770 of which were issued to certain employees of
the Company pursuant to the Company's 1994 Stock Incentive Plan (the "1994
Plan") and (ii) 565,559 of which are issuable upon the exercise of vested stock
options granted to certain officers and directors of the Company who may be
deemed affiliates of the Company, pursuant to the 1994 Plan and the Directors
Stock Option Plan (the "Directors Plan). These persons may offer these Shares
for sale as principals for their own accounts at any time and from time to time
in the over-the-counter market or otherwise at prices prevailing at the time of
sale or in private sales and at prices to be negotiated. The Selling
Stockholders, upon sale of the Shares, will receive the entire proceeds from
such sale. The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of
the Shares, but will receive funds upon the exercise of the stock options.
-----------------------------------------------
THE COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY IS TRADED ON THE OTC BULLETIN BOARD UNDER THE
SYMBOL "LITH".
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY
OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
-----------------------------------------------
THESE SECURITIES ARE SPECULATIVE, INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK AND SHOULD NOT
BE PURCHASED BY ANYONE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE LOSS OF HIS/HER ENTIRE INVESTMENT.
SEE "RISK FACTORS" ON PAGES 5 TO 14 OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
-----------------------------------------------
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATION OTHER THAN AS CONTAINED HEREIN IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER
CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AND IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR
REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE
COMPANY OR ANY PERSON. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE
HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS
BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF. THIS
PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY
JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION MAY NOT BE LAWFULLY MADE.
The Date of this Prospectus is October 9, 1996
<PAGE> 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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<S> <C>
Available Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
The Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Risk Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Use of Proceeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Selling Stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Plan of Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Legal Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
</TABLE>
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") on Form
S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), for
the registration of the Shares offered hereby.
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with
the Commission. The reports, proxy statements and other information filed by
the Company with the Commission can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary
Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's
Regional Offices at 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048 and the
Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Room 1400, Chicago,
Illinois 60661. Copies of such material also can be obtained from the Public
Reference Section of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549 at prescribed rates. In addition, the Commission maintains a Web site
(http://www.sec.gov) that will contain certain subsequently filed reports,
proxy and information statements and other information regarding the Company.
This Prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the
Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto. For further information with
respect to the Company and the Shares, reference is made to the Registration
Statement and the exhibits filed therewith. The Company will provide without
charge to each person who receives this Prospectus upon written or oral request
of such person, a copy of the information that was incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus (not including exhibits to the information that is incorporated
by reference, unless the exhibits themselves are specifically incorporated by
reference). All such requests should be directed to the Company at 5115 Campus
Drive, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, Attention: Secretary, or by telephone at
(610) 940-6090 (ext. 109). Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the
contents of any document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement are
qualified in all respects by reference to the exhibit for a complete statement
of its terms and conditions.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents which have been filed by the Company with the
Commission, are hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made a
part hereof:
(i) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
year ended December 31, 1995 as amended on
September 16, 1996 (the "Form 10-KSB");
(ii) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB for
the quarters ended March 31, 1996 and June 30, 1996;
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(iii) the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated March
29, 1996, June 28, 1996 and August 16, 1996; and
(iv) the description of the Common Stock which is
contained in the Company's Form 8-A Registration
Statement filed with the Commission on January 24,
1990, including any amendments or reports filed for
the purpose of updating such description.
All documents and reports subsequently filed by the Company pursuant
to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the
termination of the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be incorporated
herein by reference and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents or reports. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or
is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded, except as so
modified or superseded, shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this
Prospectus.
THE COMPANY
Lithium Technology Corporation (sometimes referred to herein as "LTC")
together with its wholly-owned subsidiary Lithion Corporation (sometimes
referred to herein as "Lithion") (LTC and Lithion are collectively referred to
herein as the "Company") is a development stage company engaged in the business
of developing and seeking to commercialize a unique solid state,
lithium-polymer, rechargeable battery. The Company believes that its battery
technology, which is currently in the pre-prototype development phase, is
capable of providing four to six times the performance of current rechargeable
batteries. The Company's objective is the commercialization of such
technology, inclusive of moving from laboratory-scale product prototypes and
related prototype processes to full scale market introduction, achieving cost
competitiveness, and constructing a manufacturing plant.
The Company is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of
Delaware on December 28, 1995. The Company's predecessor -- Lithium Technology
Corporation (a Nevada corporation) -- merged with and into the Company in a
reincorporation merger that became effective on February 8, 1996. The
principal executive office of the Company is located at 5115 Campus Drive,
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 and its telephone number is (610) 940-6090.
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RISK FACTORS
THE SHARES OFFERED HEREBY ARE SPECULATIVE AND INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF
RISK. AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMPANY IS SUITABLE ONLY FOR PERSONS WHO CAN AFFORD
TO SUSTAIN THE LOSS OF THEIR ENTIRE INVESTMENT. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS, PRIOR
TO MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION, SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER, ALONG WITH OTHER
MATTERS REFERRED TO HEREIN, THE FOLLOWING RISK FACTORS. THERE IS NO ASSURANCE
THAT THE PROPOSED BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY DESCRIBED HEREIN WILL BE COMMERCIALLY
VIABLE. IN ADDITION, ACTUAL RESULTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES,
TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS, MARKET AND COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS, RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS AND OTHER FACTORS MAY REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATIONS OF ALL OR
PART OF THE PROPOSED BUSINESS. INVESTORS SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE
FOLLOWING:
COMPANY IS AT AN EARLY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT. The Company currently
has no commercial products available for sale. Moreover, the Company does not
expect to generate sales in commercial quantities in the near term.
Significant additional development will be necessary in order to make the
Company's lithium-polymer rechargeable battery technically and commercially
viable. No assurance can be given that the Company will be able to complete
such development, engineering or commercialization successfully, or that the
Company will be able to develop products for commercial sale or that, if
developed, they can be produced in commercial quantities or at acceptable costs
or be successfully marketed. The likelihood of the Company's future success
must be considered in light of the risks, expenses, difficulties and delays
frequently encountered in connection with the operation and development of a
relatively early stage business and development activities generally.
NEED FOR ADDITIONAL CAPITAL; UNCERTAINTY OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING. The
amount of capital the Company currently has will not be sufficient to finance
all stages necessary to commercialize the Company's rechargeable battery
technology. The Company believes that it has sufficient capital resources to
meet the Company's needs and satisfy the Company's obligations through
approximately the last quarter of 1996 based on the Company's current
strategies and subject to the uncertainties discussed in this Prospectus. The
Company does not currently have sufficient cash to achieve all its development
and production objectives, including the 1997 installation of the DMF pilot
line (defined and discussed below, see "Obstacles to Development of Commercial
Products") during the first half of 1997. In order to finance its business,
the Company will need to obtain additional financing. In order to raise this
capital, the Company will be required to sell additional debt or equity
securities. The Company has thus far successfully raised approximately $7.1
million through the private sale of its securities including $2,400,000 from a
Japanese consortium consisting of Mitsubishi Materials Corporation and Mitsui &
Co., Ltd. (the "Consortium") earlier in 1996. There can be no assurance that
the incremental capital needed to attain commercial viability of the Company's
battery technology
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will be obtained (which the Company currently estimates at approximately $25
million). There can be no assurance that additional financing will be
available when needed or on terms acceptable to the Company. If additional
funds are raised by issuing equity securities, existing stockholders will incur
further dilution. If the Company is unable to raise sufficient capital, it
will be forced to curtail research and development expenditures which, in turn,
will delay, and could prevent, the completion of the commercialization process.
New capital will be required in order for the Company to proceed with
the Company's business strategy, and such new capital is planned to be sought
from several sources, including the Consortium. The Company is also currently
discussing future funding alternatives with potential unrelated third-party
investors. The Company has no commitments for new capital investment as of
the date of this Prospectus. The completion of any of these transactions is
subject to several conditions including the potential investor's and the
Company's due diligence and the negotiation of mutually satisfactory definitive
agreements. There is no assurance that any of these transactions, or any
portion thereof, will be consummated on a timely basis or on acceptable terms.
HISTORY OF LOSSES. The Company has generated no revenues from
operations. The Company had existed as a capital equipment manufacturer under
various names since 1966. It had pursued research and development on
lithium-polymer rechargeable batteries since the early 1980s. LTC's equipment
business experienced financial difficulties in the early 1990s and all battery
research and development was suspended in early 1992. Until November 1993, the
Company's principal operating subsidiary was Hope Industries, Inc.; as part of
the reorganization plan of Industries under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy
Code, LTC transferred all of the outstanding stock of Industries to Stephen F.
Hope, the then principal stockholder of LTC. On December 10, 1993, the Company
had no personnel, and no assets other than the intellectual property (patents
and other documentation) associated with its battery technology. Since April
1994 the Company has assembled a new management team, including research
scientists, technicians and executives experienced in the battery industry.
The Company's activities have been solely research and development, and
accordingly, its results of operations consist solely of the operating loss
attributable to the cost of such research and development activities and
general and administrative expenses. For the period July 1989 through November
1993, the Company had accumulated losses attributable to the research and
development activities associated with the battery technology of $1,801,000.
For the period November 1993 through June 1996, the Company had accumulated net
losses of $6,658,000, resulting from the Company's research and development
expenses and administrative expenses since November 1993. Therefore, the
Company's aggregate accumulated losses for the battery technology through June
1996 are $8,459,000. The Company spent approximately $505,000 and $1,080,000
on research and development activities during 1994 and 1995, respectively. The
Company expects to incur substantial additional losses because of the research
and development expenses necessary for the development of a commercially
feasible rechargeable lithium-polymer battery.
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STATUS OF TECHNOLOGY. The Company's technologies, whether patented or
unpatented, are in the development stage. The technologies are undergoing
laboratory tests and studies and none have proved in actual operations to be
commercially viable. Further, even if the Company had favorable results from
such laboratory tests and studies, no assurance can be given that any such
technology will ultimately be commercially viable.
RISK OF NEW PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES; PRODUCT LIABILITY. The
proposed marketing of the Company's proposed products have inherent risks. The
proposed technologies have not operated over time and under various conditions
of actual use. Even if a proposed product is successfully developed,
manufactured and marketed, the occurrence of warranty liability and/or product
liability, or retraction of market acceptance due to failure of a proposed
product or failure of such product to meet expectations could prevent the
Company from ever becoming profitable. Failure of a proposed product to
operate as expected could lead to potential liability suits. The Company does
not currently have product liability insurance. The Company intends to obtain
appropriate product liability insurance at the point in time when the Company
places products in distributor or end-user applications. Development of new
technologies for manufacture is frequently subject to unforeseen expenses,
difficulties and complications and in some cases such development cannot be
accomplished.
TIME LAPSE FROM START OF OPERATIONS TO COMMERCIAL SALES. There will
be a period of time before any product resulting from the Company's development
efforts can be commercially marketed, sold and delivered. There can be no
assurances as to when, if ever, the proposed products can be commercially
marketed, sold and delivered. In addition, because of such development period
and other potential delays, other companies may develop and commence production
of similar products prior to the Company commencing commercial production.
OBSTACLES TO DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS. The challenge facing
the Company is the commercialization of its battery product. Commercialization
is the process by which the Company will move from laboratory-scale product
prototypes and related manufacturing processes to the construction of a
manufacturing plant for full-scale market introduction.
The Company continues to work on improving product performance and
refining its manufacturing concepts. During 1995, the Company delivered test
cells and test data for certain potential customers and alliance partners to
demonstrate its laboratory results. The efforts of further developing the
technology to meet product application specific parameters will be ongoing.
The Company must now expand the testing protocols to include specific customer
parameters.
During March 1996, a benchtop continuous flow coating/laminating line
- -- referred to as the Demonstration Manufacturing Facility ("DMF") -- was
installed by the Company. This line will be used to further define the
Company's manufacturing technology, to sharpen manufacturing cost estimates,
and then serve as the initial production facility for battery cells which will
be manually assembled into battery packs for Original Equipment Manufacturer
("OEM") customers. Thereafter, based on design data obtained from the DMF, the
Company must successfully
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construct a pilot manufacturing facility reflecting the cost, quality,
reliability, and performance required for the various target market
applications. It is anticipated that a full pilot manufacturing facility and
associated equipment will cost approximately $7.5 million to construct in the
1998 time frame. The pilot manufacturing facility, according to the Company's
current strategy, will be located within the Company's existing facility in
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. Ultimately, the pilot manufacturing facility
would be replaced with a larger scale second tier manufacturing facility.
Construction of the pilot manufacturing facility will require approximately 12
months. The Company intends to finance the overall estimated $25 million total
capital equipment and operating expense required to bring the Company to the
initial commercial production stage at approximately the end of 1998 (which $25
million includes the aforementioned estimated $7.5 million cost of the pilot
manufacturing facility).
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to meet the
technological objectives and/or satisfy the capital requirements that the
Company believes are necessary to convert battery technology into successful
commercial products. There can be no assurance that the Company's products
will generate any revenues, will not encounter technical problems when used,
will be successfully marketed, will be produced at a competitive cost, or will
achieve customer acceptance or, if commercial products are developed and
revenues produced, that the Company will be profitable. The likelihood of the
success of the Company must be weighed against the problems, expenses,
difficulties, complications and delays frequently encountered in developing and
marketing a new product.
COMPANY'S MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE IS LIMITED; DEPENDENCE ON
SUPPLIERS. The Company currently has no capacity for, or experience in,
manufacturing lithium-polymer rechargeable batteries in commercial quantities.
In order for the Company to be successful in the commercial market, its
products must be manufactured to meet high quality standards in commercial
quantities at competitive prices. The development of such manufacturing
technology and processes will require extensive lead times and the commitment
of significant financial and engineering resources of the Company and others.
There can be no assurance that the Company will successfully develop this
technology or these processes or obtain access to these resources. Moreover,
there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully
implement the quality control measures necessary for commercial manufacturing.
There is no assurance fully committed sources of supply can be located
or that they will provide sufficient supplies at a reasonable cost for the
proposed products. Even if an acceptable supplier can be found, termination of
the services of such supplier could result in interruptions of the ability to
manufacture the products until an alternative source can be secured. The
Company will thus be dependent on third parties in order to timely manufacture
the proposed products in sufficient quantities, at the required specifications,
and at low enough prices to meet the Company's proposed sales prices for its
proposed products.
MARKET ACCEPTANCE. To be successful, the Company's batteries must
gain broad market acceptance. There can be no assurance that such market
acceptance will be achieved or sustained. In addition, the Company's
lithium-polymer batteries can best be optimized when
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<PAGE> 10
configured to the requirements of each application. To determine such
requirements, the Company will be dependent upon OEMS in the portable consumer
electronics and telecommunications markets into whose products the Company's
batteries will be incorporated. No assurances can be given that the Company
will receive adequate assistance from OEMs to successfully commercialize its
products. Furthermore, no assurances can be given that the perceived safety
risks associated with lithium will not impede acceptance of the Company's
batteries by OEMs or end users.
RELIANCE ON STRATEGIC ALLIANCES. Consummation of corporate alliances
is an important step in the Company's commercialization strategy. The
Company's strategy contemplates that these corporate partners will bring
technology and funding support through equity, licensing of the technology, and
manufacturing and distribution rights. Extensive discussions have been held
with numerous potential corporate partners from the United States, the Pacific
Rim and Europe. To date, the Company has only entered into one strategic
alliance with a Japanese Consortium pursuant to a Technology Development
Agreement entered into on March 29, 1996. Pursuant to the Technology
Development Agreement, the Consortium has been granted options on market
specific, exclusive manufacturing and distribution rights. The Company and the
Consortium anticipate that the Technology Development Agreement is the first
step in a broad strategic alliance for the research and development,
manufacture, distribution, promotion and sales of the Company's lithium-polymer
batteries. It is the Company's and the Consortium's strategy that the
Consortium will assist the Company in the development, production and
distribution of the Company's lithium-polymer battery product line with the
Company taking advantage of the Consortium's expertise and experience in the
development of other high tech products, familiarity with the geographic market
for such products, experience in developing new markets and existing
relationships with key OEMs around the world. The Consortium partners are
committed to using their own marketing, sales and product support capabilities
to provide a global network for the distribution of the Company's products.
Although the Company has held its own discussions with OEMs in the portable
consumer electronics and telecommunications markets about possible strategic
relationships as a means to accelerate introduction of its batteries into these
markets, no assurance can be given that the Company will be able to enter into
any such alliances. Moreover, there can be no assurance that any strategic
alliance will achieve its goals. The success of any strategic alliance is
dependent upon the general business condition of the partner, its commitment to
the strategic alliance and the skills and experience of its employees
responsible for the strategic alliance.
COMPANY IS DEPENDENT ON PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS. The Company's
ability to compete effectively will depend on its ability to maintain the
proprietary nature of its technology and manufacturing processes through a
combination of patent and trade secret protection, non-disclosure agreements
and licensing agreements. The Company currently holds 19 U.S. patents and
three foreign patents covering key elements of its technology. In addition,
the Company has patent applications pending in the United States and in foreign
countries, including the European Community and Japan. The Company intends to
continue to file patent applications covering important features of its
technology. There can be no assurance, however, that patents will issue from
any of these pending applications or, if patents issue, that the claims
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allowed will be sufficiently broad to protect the Company's technology, or that
issued patents will not be challenged or invalidated or that any of its issued
patents will afford protection against a competitor. Litigation, or
participation in administrative proceedings, may be necessary to protect the
Company's patent position. Such litigation can be costly and time consuming
and there can be no assurance that the Company would be successful if such
litigation were instituted. The invalidation of patents owned by or licensed
to the Company could have a material adverse effect on the Company. In
addition, patent applications filed in foreign countries are subject to laws,
rules and procedures that differ from those of the United States. Thus, there
can be no assurance that foreign patent applications related to patents issued
in the United States will be granted. Furthermore, even if these patent
applications are granted, some foreign countries provide significantly less
patent protection than the United States. In the absence of patent protection,
and despite the Company's reliance upon its proprietary confidential
information, competitors of the Company may be able to use innovations similar
to those used by the Company to design and manufacture products directly
competitive with the Company's lithium-polymer rechargeable batteries. In
addition, no assurance can be given that patents issued to the Company will not
be infringed upon or designed around by others or that others will not obtain
patents that the Company will need to license or design around. Moreover, to
the extent any of the Company's products are covered by third party patents,
development and marketing of such products by the Company could require a
license under such patents.
Despite the Company's efforts to safeguard and maintain its
proprietary rights, there can be no assurance that the Company will be
successful in doing so. While the Company believes its patents to be unique
from those of its competitors, competition in lithium battery research and
development is intense, and there can be no assurance that the Company's
competitors will not independently develop or patent technologies that are
substantially equivalent or superior to the Company's technology. Moreover, if
the issues were to be placed before a court, the Company cannot be certain that
such a court would determine that the Company was the first creator of
inventions covered by its issued patents or pending patent applications or that
it was the first to file patent applications for such inventions. If the
Company is found to be infringing third party patents, there can be no
assurance that it will be able to obtain the required licenses from the holders
of such patents on acceptable terms, if at all. Failure of the Company to
obtain necessary licenses could result in delays in the introduction of the
Company's lithium-polymer rechargeable battery and in costly attempts to design
around such patents, or could foreclose the development, manufacture or sale of
the Company's products. The Company could also incur substantial costs in
defending itself in patent infringement suits brought by others and in
prosecuting patent infringement suits against infringers.
The Company also relies on trade secrets and proprietary know-how that
it seeks to protect, in part, through non-disclosure and confidentiality
agreements with its employees, consultants, strategic partners and potential
strategic partners. There can be no assurance that these agreements will not
be breached, that the Company would have adequate remedies for any breach or
that the Company's trade secrets will not otherwise become known or be
independently developed by competitors.
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GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS, SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE. The
Company's products incorporate lithium, which is known to cause explosions and
fires if not properly handled. Although the Company believes that its
batteries do not present safety risks, there can be no assurance that safety
problems will not develop in the future. The Company intends to incorporate
safety policies in its manufacturing processes designed to minimize safety
risks, although there can be no assurance that an accident in its facilities
will not occur. Any accident, whether occasioned by the use of a battery or
the Company's manufacturing operations, could result in significant production
delays or claims for damages resulting from injuries, which would adversely
affect the Company's operations and financial condition.
Prior to the commercial introduction of the Company's batteries into a
number of markets, the Company will seek to obtain approval of its products by
one or more of the organizations engaged in testing product safety, such as
Underwriters Laboratories. Such approvals could require significant time and
resources from the Company's technical staff and, if redesign were necessary,
result in a delay in the introduction of the Company's products.
Pursuant to the regulations of the United States Department of
Transportation ("DOT"), a permit is required to transport lithium across state
lines. The International Air Transport Association ("IATA") similarly
regulates the international shipment of lithium. Although the Company believes
that DOT has granted permits for, and IATA has allowed, the transport of
rechargeable lithium-based batteries to be shipped or used by the general
public, there can be no assurance that DOT or IATA will grant such a permit to
the Company or that changes in such regulations, or in their enforcement, will
not impose costly requirements or otherwise impede the transport of lithium.
In addition, the DOT and IATA approval processes will require significant time
and resources from the Company's technical staff and if redesign were
necessary, could delay the introduction of the Company's products.
Various regulatory agencies will have jurisdiction over the operation
of any manufacturing facilities established by the Company. Because of the
risks generally associated with the use of lithium, the Company expects
rigorous enforcement. No assurance can be given that the Company will not
encounter any difficulties in complying with applicable health and safety
regulations.
Federal, state and local regulations impose various environmental
controls on the storage, use and disposal of certain chemicals and metals used
in the manufacture of lithium-polymer batteries. Although the Company believes
its activities will conform to current environmental regulations, there can be
no assurances that changes in such regulations will not impose costly equipment
or other requirements. Any failure by the Company to adequately control the
discharge of hazardous wastes could also subject it to future liabilities.
COMPETITION; TECHNOLOGICAL OBSOLESCENCE. Competition in the battery
industry is intense with a large number of companies offering or seeking to
develop technology and products similar to those of the Company. The industry
consists of development stage companies and major domestic and international
companies, many of which have financial, technical, marketing, sales,
11
<PAGE> 13
manufacturing, distribution and other resources significantly greater than
those of the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company will be
successful in competing with such entities. Furthermore, there can be no
assurance that competitors will not succeed in developing products or
technologies that would render the Company's technology and products obsolete
or in obtaining market acceptance of products more rapidly than the Company.
DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL. The Company's success will to a large
degree be dependent on its ability to retain the services of its key executives
and research scientists, in particular, on the services of Thomas R. Thomsen
(the Chief Executive Officer of the Company), David Cade (the President and
Chief Operating Officer), and Dr. George Ferment (the Executive Vice President
of Operations and Chief Technical Officer). Loss of the services of Mr.
Thomsen, Mr. Cade or Dr. Ferment or any key executives or research scientists
could have a material adverse effect upon the ability of the Company to
commercialize the rechargeable battery technology or to develop its business.
The Company currently has no "key-man" life insurance. The Company's success
will, to a large degree, be dependent on its ability to retain the services of
its key executives and research scientists. The ability of the Company to
pursue effectively its business strategy will also depend upon, among other
factors, the successful recruitment and retention of additional highly skilled
and experienced managerial, marketing, engineering and technical personnel.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to retain or recruit
such personnel.
RISKS RELATING TO GROWTH AND EXPANSION. Rapid growth of the Company's
business may significantly strain the Company's management, operational and
technical resources. If the Company is successful in obtaining rapid market
penetration of its products, the Company will be required to deliver large
volumes of quality products to its customers on a timely basis at a reasonable
cost to those customers. The Company has no experience in delivering large
volumes of its rechargeable batteries or in manufacturing commercial quantities
of rechargeable batteries. There can be no assurance, however, that the
Company's business will achieve rapid growth or that its efforts to expand its
manufacturing and quality control activities will be successful or that it will
be able to satisfy commercial scale production requirements on a timely and
cost-effective basis. The Company will also be required to continue to improve
its operational, management and financial systems and controls. Failure to
manage growth effectively could have an adverse effect on the business of the
Company.
Certain customers for the Company's batteries may be outside the
United States, in various parts of the world. The Technology Development
Agreement the Company has recently entered into is with a Consortium of two
Japanese companies. Thus, the Company may be subject to the risk of foreign
operations including arbitrary governmental actions, currency fluctuation,
import/export controls, lack of a well-defined business or legal system,
arbitrary government actions, and instability of a political system.
PENDING LITIGATION. The Company is a party in three lawsuits, two of
which are pending in United States District Court for the Southern District of
New York and one of which is pending in United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Pennsylvania. All three
12
<PAGE> 14
lawsuits were commenced in early August 1996 and are currently in the earliest
phases of discovery and motions. The Company is currently unable to predict
the likely outcome of these actions but the Company believes that it has
meritorious defenses to the claims asserted in the New York litigation. The
Company intends to vigorously assert its defenses and all of its claims and
counter-claims. In the event of an adverse outcome in these lawsuits, or in
the event of an adverse settlement or the incurring of a significant expense
in litigating these matters, the Company could incur significant obligations
and/or expenses. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful
in the defense of the New York lawsuits or in the prosecution of the
Pennsylvania lawsuit.
LACK OF DIVIDENDS. The Company has never paid a cash dividend on any
class of its capital stock and does not anticipate paying any dividends in the
foreseeable future. It is anticipated that future earnings, if any, will be
retained to finance the development and expansion of the Company's business.
TRADING AND VOLATILITY OF COMMON STOCK. The outstanding shares of the
Common Stock of the Company are quoted only on the OTC Bulletin Board, and on
October 7, 1996, the closing bid price was $1.375 per share and the closing
ask price was $1.5625 per share. There can be no assurance that the existing
market for the Company's Common Stock will be maintained or that the holders of
Common Stock will be able to sell the Common Stock should they so desire.
The market price of the Common Stock has fluctuated significantly
since January 1, 1994 and may continue to be highly volatile. Factors such as
delays by the Company in achieving development goals, inability of the Company
to commercialize or manufacture its products, fluctuation in the Company's
operating results, changes in earnings estimates by analysts, announcements of
technological innovations or new products by the Company or its competitors,
perceived changes in the markets for various OEM applications incorporating the
Company's products, the announcement or termination of relationships with
strategic alliance partners or OEMs, and general market conditions may cause
significant fluctuations in the market price of the Common Stock. The market
prices of the stock of many high technology companies have fluctuated
substantially, often unrelated to the operating or research and development
performance of the specific companies. Such market fluctuations could
adversely affect the market price for the Company's Common Stock.
CONTROL BY EXISTING SHAREHOLDERS. The existing officers and directors
of the Company and related parties currently control approximately 34.23% of
the outstanding Common Stock (including shares that may be acquired upon the
exercise of options that are exercisable or will become exercisable within 60
days). As a result, they will be able to exert significant influence on the
Company. In addition, Mr. Donald C. Taylor and entities affiliated with him own
beneficially approximately 8.55% of the outstanding Common Stock (including
shares that may be obtained upon the exercise of Warrants that are exercisable
or could become exercisable within 60 days). As a result, Mr. Taylor will be
able to exert significant influence on the Company.
13
<PAGE> 15
EXERCISE OF OUTSTANDING OPTIONS AND WARRANTS; ADDITIONAL DILUTION. At
August 19, 1996, there were outstanding stock options to purchase an aggregate
of 2,011,243 shares of common stock at exercise prices ranging from $0.501 to
$2.56 per share. Of this amount, options to purchase 1,009,708 shares were
exercisable as of such date. Additionally, at August 19, 1996, there were
outstanding warrants to purchase 2,307,858 shares of common stock at exercise
prices ranging from $0.50 to $2.56 per share. Of this amount, warrants to
purchase 1,127,858 are immediately exercisable. To the extent that the
outstanding stock options and warrants are exercised, substantial additional
dilution to the interests of the Company's stockholders will occur. Moreover,
the terms upon which the Company will be able to obtain additional equity
capital may be adversely affected since the holders of such outstanding
securities can be expected to exercise them at a time when the Company would,
in all likelihood, be able to obtain any needed capital on terms more favorable
to the Company than those provided in the outstanding options. As noted above,
the Company plans to proceed in raising additional capital in 1996 and 1997
through private placement of its equity securities and possible corporate
alliances, either or both of which are likely to result in further dilution to
the Company's existing stockholders.
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALES. Of the 16,052,319 shares of Common
Stock presently outstanding, approximately 11,638,659 shares are "restricted
securities" as defined by Rule 144. The restricted securities may be resold in
the future only pursuant to registration under the Securities Act, an exemption
from the registration provisions of the Securities Act, or pursuant to Rule
144. On September 27, 1996, a Registration Statement relating to the resale of
up to approximately 12.5 million shares of Common Stock by certain selling
stockholders from time to time was declared effective by the SEC (the "Selling
Stockholder Registration Statement"). The Company has entered into lock-up
agreements with certain selling stockholders with respect to a majority of the
shares included in the Selling Stockholder Registration Statement which lock up
periods terminate with respect to a portion of the shares on March 31, 1997,
June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997. Approximately 5.7 million shares
included in the Selling Stockholder Registration Statement are not subject to
lock-up provisions and are freely tradeable. The sale of restricted shares
under Rule 144, pursuant to the Selling Stockholder Registration Statement or
this Prospectus or otherwise, may have a depressive effect on the market price
of the Common Stock, and such sales, if substantial, might also adversely
affect the Company's ability to raise additional capital.
POTENTIAL ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECT OF AUTHORIZED PREFERRED STOCK. The
Company is authorized to issue 100,000 shares of $0.01 par value preferred
stock with the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof to be
determined by the Board of Directors of the Company. Preferred Stock can thus
be issued without the vote of the holders of Common Stock. Rights could be
granted to the holders of preferred stock which could reduce the attractiveness
of the Company as a potential takeover target, make the removal of management
more difficult, or adversely impact the rights of holders of Common Stock. No
preferred stock is currently outstanding, and the Company has no present plans
for the issuance thereof of any shares of preferred stock.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of
Shares being sold by the Selling Stockholders, but will receive funds upon the
exercise of stock options held by the Selling Stockholders.
14
<PAGE> 16
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The following table lists the Selling Stockholders with respect to the
Shares being offered hereunder which have been acquired by the Selling
Stockholders or may hereafter be acquired by them upon the exercise of options
granted under the Plans. The table sets forth information with respect to the
number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each as of September 30,
1996; the number of shares to be offered pursuant to this Prospectus; and the
percentage of outstanding shares of Common Stock to be beneficially owned by
each before and after the sale of the Shares hereby.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=========================================================================================================================
Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned Upon
Completion of the Offering
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Shares
of Common Stock Number of
Beneficially Shares Offered
Owned Prior to pursuant to this
Name Offering Prospectus Number Percent
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
J. Paul Bagley, III(1) 3,333 3,333 0 --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Hughes(1) 335,179 3,333 331,846 2.07
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ralph Ketchum(1) 93,289 6,667 86,622 *
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gerald Labush(1) 268,319 3,333 264,986 1.59
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John McKey, Jr.(1) 562,534 3,333 559,201 3.48
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas R. Thomsen(1)(2) 203,333 203,333 0 --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kirby W. Beard(3) 24,447 6,113 18,334 *
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
David J. Cade(2) 233,760 233,760 0 --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
George R. Ferment(2) 199,150 199,150 0 --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jay M. Forlino(3) 2,572 2,155 417 *
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Susan M. Gustafson(2) 44,303 44,303 0 --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Howard D. Hancox(3) 22,371 19,037 3,334 *
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andrew Manning(3) 15,229 11,062 4,167 *
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William D. Walker(2) 219,393 63,417 155,976 *
=========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Director of the Company.
(2) Executive Officer of the Company.
(3) Non-executive employee of the Company.
* Less than 1%
15
<PAGE> 17
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Shares offered hereby may be sold by the Selling Stockholders or
by pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest. Such sales
may be made in the over-the-counter market, in privately negotiated
transactions, or otherwise, at prices and at terms then prevailing, at prices
related to the then-current market price, or at negotiated prices. The Shares
may be sold by one or more of the following methods, without limitation: (a) a
block trade in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the
shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal
to facilitate the transaction; (b) purchases by a broker or dealer as principal
and resale by such broker or dealer for its account pursuant to this Prospectus
including resale to another broker or dealer; (c) ordinary brokerage
transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers; and (d)
face-to-face transactions between sellers and purchasers without a
broker-dealer. In effecting sales, brokers or dealers engaged by the Selling
Stockholders may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate. Such
brokers or dealers may receive commissions or discounts from Selling
Stockholders in amounts to be negotiated immediately prior to the sale. Such
brokers or dealers and any other participating brokers or dealers may be deemed
to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act, in connection
with such sales. Any gain realized by such a broker or dealer on the sale of
shares which it purchases as a principal may be deemed to be compensation to
the broker or dealer in addition to any commission paid to the broker by a
Selling Stockholder. In addition, any securities covered by this Prospectus
that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 might be sold under Rule 144 rather
than pursuant to this Prospectus.
The Selling Stockholders have been advised that during the time each
is engaged in distribution of the shares covered by this Prospectus, each must
comply with, among other things, Rule 10b-6 under the Exchange Act, and
pursuant thereto: (i) shall not engage in any stabilization activity in
connection with the Company's securities; (ii) shall furnish each broker
through which securities covered by this Prospectus may be offered the number
of copies of this Prospectus which are required by each broker; and (iii) shall
not bid for or purchase any securities of the Company or attempt to induce any
person to purchase any of the Company's securities other than as permitted
under the Exchange Act.
Upon the Company's being notified by a Selling Stockholder that any
material arrangement has been entered into with a broker or dealer for the sale
of Shares through a secondary distribution, or a purchase by a broker or
dealer, a supplemented Prospectus will be filed, if required, pursuant to Rule
424(c) under the Securities Act, disclosing (a) the name of each such
broker-dealer(s), (b) the number of shares involved, (c) the price at which
such shares were sold, (d) the commissions paid or discounts or concessions
allowed to such broker-dealer(s), where applicable, (e) that such
broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to verify the information
set out or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, and (f) other facts
material to the transaction.
16
<PAGE> 18
In order to comply with certain state securities laws, if applicable,
the Shares will not be sold in Arizona, Washington, D.C., Illinois, or North
Dakota, unless such securities have been registered or qualified for sale in
such state or an exemption from registration for qualification is available and
complied with, nor will Shares be sold in New York unless such sales are
effected through the use of a broker-dealer registered in such state.
No person is authorized to give any information or to make any
representation in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares offered
hereby, other than those contained in this Prospectus, and any such information
or representations not contained in this Prospectus must not be relied upon as
having been authorized. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell
or solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered
securities to which it relates. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer
to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy such securities under any
circumstances where such an offer or solicitation is unlawful. Neither the
delivery of this Prospectus nor any sales made hereunder shall, under any
circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the
affairs of the Company since the date hereof or that the information contained
herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.
LEGAL MATTERS
The legality of the securities offered hereby has been passed upon for
the Company by Gallagher, Briody & Butler, Princeton, New Jersey.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of the Company at December 31,
1995 and December 31, 1994 and for the years then ended appearing in the
Company's Form 10-KSB have been audited by Wiss & Company, LLP, independent
auditors, as set forth in their report thereon included therein and
incorporated herein by reference. Such Company consolidated financial
statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports
given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
17
<PAGE> 19
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
The following documents, as filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, are incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement and made a part hereof:
(i) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 as amended on
September 16, 1996;
(ii) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form
10-QSB for the quarters ended March 31, 1996 and June 30,
1996;
(iii) the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K
dated March 29, 1996, June 28, 1996 and August 16, 1996; and
(iv) the description of the Common Stock which is
contained in the Company's Form 8-A Registration Statement
filed with the Commission on January 24, 1990, including any
amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such
description.
All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the
Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that
indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or that deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents. Any statement contained in any document, all or a portion of which
is incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a
statement contained or incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes
such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration
Statement.
ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
Not applicable.
18
<PAGE> 20
ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
As permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), Article V of the Company's By-laws provides for
the indemnification of an "authorized representative" of the Company (a)
against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by such person, by reason of the fact that such person was
or is an authorized representative of the Company, in connection with a
threatened, pending or completed third party proceeding, whether civil or
criminal, administrative or investigative, if such individual acted in good
faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed
to, the best interests of the Company, and, if the action was a criminal
proceeding, if such person had no reasonable cause to believe that such
person's conduct was unlawful; and (b) against expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of a
threatened, pending or completed corporate proceeding, by reason of the fact
such person was or is an authorized representative of the Company, if such
person acted under the standards set forth in section (a) above and if such
person was not found liable to the Company (or if so found liable, if a proper
court found such person to be fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnification). The Company's By-laws further provide for mandatory
indemnification of authorized representatives of the Company who have been
successful in defense of any third party or corporate proceeding or in defense
of any claim, issue or matter therein, against expenses actually and reasonably
incurred in connection with such defense. An "authorized representative" of
the Company includes a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or
a person serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.
In addition, Article Ninth of the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation provides that, to the full extent that the DGCL permits the
limitation or elimination of the liability of directors or officers of a
corporation, directors of the Company shall not be personally liable to the
Company or its stockholders for monetary damages. As a result of this
provision, the Company and its stockholders may be unable to obtain monetary
damages from a director for breach of such director's duty of care. Although
stockholders may continue to seek injunctive or other equitable relief for an
alleged breach of fiduciary duty by a director, stockholders may not have any
effective remedy against the challenged conduct if equitable remedies are
unavailable.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Company has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company
of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of
the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted against the Company by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in
the opinion of its
19
<PAGE> 21
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.
The Shares of Common Stock which have been issued to employees
of the Company and options which have been granted to certain officers and
directors of the Company, were issued without registration under the Securities
Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") in accordance with the exemption from
registration contained in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this
registration statement.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit Number Exhibit
- -------------- -------
<S> <C>
4.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Appendix
B contained in the Company's Information Statement pursuant to Section 14(c) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, dated January 19, 1996)
5.1 Opinion of Gallagher, Briody & Butler
23.1 Consent of Wiss & Company, LLP
23.2 Consent of Gallagher, Briody & Butler (included as part of Exhibit 5.1)
24.1 Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page)
</TABLE>
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or
sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required
by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
20
<PAGE> 22
(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; and
(iii) To include any material information
with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change
to such information in the registration statement;
Provided, however, that subparagraphs (a)(1)(i) and
(a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be
included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
periodic reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by referenced in
the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a
post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered that remain
unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that,
for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
each filing of the Company'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 a plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this registration
statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to
transmit or cause to be transmitted to all participants in the 1994 Stock
Incentive Plan and/or the Directors Stock Plan who do not otherwise receive
such material as shareholders of the Company, at the time such material is sent
to shareholders, copies of all reports, proxy statements and other
communications distributed to its shareholders generally.
(d) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising
under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the registrant of expenses
21
<PAGE> 23
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by
such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
22
<PAGE> 24
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the Town of Plymouth Meeting, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
on this 31st day of August, 1996.
LITHIUM TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
By: /s/ Thomas R. Thomsen
-----------------------------------------------
Thomas R. Thomsen
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by or on behalf of the following
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Each person, in so signing, also makes, constitutes and appoints
Thomas R. Thomsen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact, in his name, place and stead to execute and cause to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission any or all amendments to this
Registration Statement, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to
be filed with respect thereto, and to do and perform each and every act and
thing necessary to effectuate the same.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
August 31, 1996
/s/ Thomas R. Thomsen Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
------------------------- and Director
Thomas R. Thomsen (Principal and Executive Officer)
September 8, 1996
/s/ J. Paul Bagley, III Director
-------------------------
J. Paul Bagley, III
August 31, 1996
/s/ Harry Edelson Director
-------------------------
Harry Edelson
August 31, 1996
/s/ L. Wayne Harber Director
-------------------------
L. Wayne Harber
/s/ Stephen F. Hope Director August 31, 1996
-------------------------
Stephen F. Hope
August 31, 1996
/s/ David H. Hughes Director
-------------------------
David H. Hughes
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 25
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
September 20, 1996
/s/ Ralph D. Ketchum Director
-------------------------
Ralph D. Ketchum
September 19, 1996
/s/ Gerald M. Labush Director
-------------------------
Gerald M. Labush
August 31, 1996
/s/ John D. McKey, Jr. Director
-------------------------
John D. McKey, Jr.
August 31, 1996
/s/ William D. Walker Treasurer and Chief Financial
------------------------- Officer (Principal Financial
William D. Walker Officer)
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 26
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number Exhibit
------ -------
<S> <C>
4.1 - Certificate of Incorporation of
the Company (incorporated herein
by reference to Appendix B
contained in the Company's
Information Statement pursuant to
Section 14(c) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, dated
January 19, 1996)
5.1 - Opinion of Gallagher, Briody & Butler
23.1 - Consent of Wiss & Company, L.L.P.
23.2 - Consent of Gallagher, Briody & Butler
(included as part of Exhibit 5.1)
24.1 - Power of Attorney (included as
part of the signature page)
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 5.1
October 9, 1996
Lithium Technology Corporation
5115 Campus Drive
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
RE: REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 RELATING TO THE
COMPANY'S 1994 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN AND DIRECTOR
STOCK OPTION PLAN
Dear Sir or Madam:
We have acted as counsel to Lithium Technology Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation of a
registration statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Act"), relating to the offering of up to 2,666,667 shares of
the Company's Common Stock (the "Common Stock"), issued or to be issued
pursuant to the Company's 1994 Stock Incentive Plan (the "1994 Stock Plan") and
333,333 shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to stock options granted
or to be granted under the Company's Directors Stock Option Plan (the
"Directors Plan"). We have examined such records, documents, statutes and
decisions as we have deemed relevant in rendering this opinion. In our
examination we have assumed the genuineness of documents submitted to us as
originals and the conformity with the original of all documents submitted to us
as copies thereof.
In our opinion, (i) the shares of the Company's Common Stock to be
issued as share awards or upon exercise of the options granted or to be granted
in accordance with the terms of the 1994 Stock Plan and (ii) the shares of the
Company's Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of the options granted or to
be granted in accordance with the terms of the Directors Plan, will be, when
issued in accordance with the terms of the 1994 Stock Plan and the Directors
Plan, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of the Common Stock
of the Company.
The opinion set forth above is limited to the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware.
<PAGE> 2
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving such opinion, we do not thereby admit that
we are acting within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Act or the rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission thereunder.
GALLAGHER, BRIODY & BUTLER
By:/s/ Thomas P. Gallagher
-----------------------------------
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITOR
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 pertaining to the Lithium Technology Corporation 1994
Stock Incentive Plan and Directors Stock Option Plan of our report dated March
12, 1996 (March 29, 1996 as to Note 8) relating to the consolidated financial
statements of Lithium Technology Corporation included in its Annual Report on
Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1995, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
WISS & COMPANY, LLP
Livingston, New Jersey
October 9, 1996
