Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
File No. 333-37622
PROSPECTUS
1,447,815 SHARES
OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK
LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
6820 Academy Parkway, N.E.
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109
Telephone: (505) 342-1100
All of the 1,447,815 shares of Class A Common Stock being sold are being offered
and sold by certain of our shareholders on a delayed or continuous basis,
pursuant to the exercise of registration rights. We have agreed to bear all the
expenses of registration of the shares in this Prospectus.
Our Class A Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter market through the
Nasdaq SmallCap Market system under the symbol LPTHA. On May 18, 2000, the
closing price of the Class A Common Stock on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market system
was $30.25 per share.
This investment involves a high degree of risk. You should purchase shares only
if you can afford a complete loss. See "Risk Factors" beginning at page 6.
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 June 12, 2000.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy any
document that we have filed at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, DC, 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information about the operation of its public reference facilities. Our
SEC filings are also available to you free of charge at the SEC's web site at
http://www.sec.gov.
Copies of publicly available documents that we have filed with the SEC
can also be inspected and copied at the offices of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.
We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC that
covers the resale of the common stock offered by this prospectus. This
prospectus is a part of that registration statement, but the prospectus does not
include all of the information included in the registration statement. You
should refer to the registration statement for additional information about us
and the common stock being offered in this prospectus. Statements that we make
in this prospectus relating to any documents filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement or any document incorporated by reference into the
registration statement may not be complete and you should review the referenced
document itself for a complete understanding of its terms.
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" to the information we
file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you in
this prospectus by referring you to those documents. The documents that have
been incorporated by reference are an important part of the prospectus, and you
should be sure to review that information in order to understand the nature of
any investment by you in the common stock. In addition to previously filed
documents that are incorporated by reference, documents that we file with the
SEC after the date of this prospectus will automatically update the registration
statement. The documents that we have previously filed and that are incorporated
by reference into this prospectus include the following:
+ our annual report on Form 10-KSB/A-2 for the fiscal year ended June 30,
1999;
+ our proxy statement relating to the 1999 Annual Meeting except that
information shown under "Security Ownership of Principal Stockholders and
Management" has been modified by certain recent events as described in this
prospectus on page 16;
+ our quarterly report on Form 10-QSB/A for the quarter ended September 30,
1999;
+ our quarterly report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31,
1999;
+ our quarterly report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended March 31, 2000; +
our current report on Form 8-K filed January 18, 2000;
+ our current report on Form 8-K filed December 20, 1999;
+ our current report on Form 8-K filed April 19, 2000;
+ our current report on Form 8-K/A filed May 19, 2000; and
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+ the description of our Class A Common Stock included in our registration
statement on Form 8-A filed on January 13, 1996.
All documents and reports filed by us pursuant to Sections 13 (a), 13
(c), 14 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 after the date of this
prospectus and prior to the date that this offering is terminated will
automatically be incorporated by reference into this prospectus
We will provide you with copies of any of the documents incorporated by
reference, at no charge to you, however, we will not deliver copies of any
exhibits to those documents unless the exhibit itself is specifically
incorporated by reference. If you would like a copy of any document, please
write or call us at:
LightPath Technologies, Inc.
6820 Academy Parkway, N.E.
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109
Attn: Investor Relations
Telephone: (505) 342-1100
You should only rely upon the information included in or incorporated
by reference into this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement that is
delivered to you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with additional
or different information. You should not assume that the information included in
or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement
is accurate as of any date later than the date on the front of the prospectus or
prospectus supplement.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THE
SELLING SHAREHOLDER MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES PURSUANT TO THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS DECLARED EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO
SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
LightPath produces GRADIUM(R) glass, utilizes other optical materials
and specialized optical packaging concepts to produce products that manipulate
light, and performs research and development for optical solutions in the fiber
telecommunications and traditional optics markets.
WHAT IS GRADIUM GLASS? GRADIUM glass is an optical quality glass
material with varying refractive indices, capable of reducing optical
aberrations inherent in conventional lenses and performing with a single lens
tasks traditionally performed by multi-element conventional lens systems. We
believe that GRADIUM glass lenses provide advantages over conventional lenses
for certain applications. By reducing optical aberrations, we believe that
GRADIUM glass lenses can provide sharper images, higher resolution, less image
distortion, a wider usable field of view and a smaller focal spot size. By
reducing the number of lenses in an optical system, GRADIUM glass can provide
more efficient light transmission and greater brightness, lower production
costs, and a simpler, smaller product. Although other researchers have likely
sought to produce optical quality lens material with properties similar to that
of GRADIUM glass, we are not aware of any other person or firm that has
developed a repeatable manufacturing process for producing such material on a
prescribable basis. To date, LightPath has been issued eighteen US patents for
GRADIUM glass products and currently has numerous filed patent applications
pending related to our GRADIUM glass materials composition, product design and
fabrication processes for production. Additional patent applications have been
filed or are in process for laser fusion techniques and fiberoptic
optomechanical switch technologies. We are continually developing new GRADIUM
glass materials with various refractive indexes and dispersion profiles and
products for the telecommunications field such as fiberoptic optomechanical
switches, multiplexers, interconnects and cross-connects.
TO WHAT INDUSTRIES ARE LIGHTPATH'S GRADIUM GLASS PRODUCTS BEING
MARKETED? We believe that GRADIUM glass and our other optical materials can
potentially be marketed for use in most optics and optoelectronics products.
During 1998, we restructured our internal organization and marketing focus with
the intended purpose of serving two distinct markets: optoelectronics and fiber
telecommunications, and traditional optics (e.g. lasers, medical equipment,
consumer optics, etc.).
Optoelectronics technologies consist of an overlap of photonics and
electronics and are key enablers of "Information Age" technologies, such as
fiber optic communications, optical data storage, laser printers, digital
imaging, and sensors for machine vision and environmental monitoring. Prior to
1998, we targeted various optoelectronic industry market niches as potential
purchasers of our GRADIUM glass products. During 1998, we began to develop
products for the emerging optoelectronics markets, specifically in the areas of
fiber telecommunications. With the resolution of fiber optic issues concerning
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packaging and alignment and utilizing advances made by LightChip, an affiliate,
in the area of WDM equipment, we began to produce and demonstrate a passive
optoelectronic product, the single mode fiber collimator assembly. During 1999
we expanded this product line with the goal of demonstrating to the
telecommunication optical components industry our ability to provide low cost
products and provide solutions to their telecom needs. For the nine months
ending March 31, 2000, the telecom product line represent approximately 30% of
our product sales.
For traditional optics, we initially emphasized laser products because
our management believed at that time that GRADIUM lenses could have a
substantial immediate commercial impact in laser products with a relatively
small initial financial investment. Generally, optical designers can substitute
GRADIUM glass components from our standard line of products in lieu of existing
conventional laser lens elements. Lasers are presently used extensively in a
broad range of consumer and commercial products, including fiber optics,
robotics, wafer chip inspection, bar code reading, document reproduction and
audio and video compact disc machines. Because GRADIUM glass can concentrate
light transmission into a much smaller focal spot than conventional lenses, we
believe, and customers' test results confirm, that GRADIUM glass has the ability
to improve the current standard of laser performance. One of our distributors,
Permanova Lasersystems AB of Sweden, qualified GRADIUM YAG lenses into systems
produced by Rofin-Sinar GmbH, a significant original equipment manufacturer
(OEM) of high-powered CO2 and YAG lasers headquartered in Germany. Our growth
strategy is to increase our emphasis on key laser market niches and establish
the necessary products and partnership alliances to sell into Europe and Asia as
well as the U.S. market. During fiscal 1999, LightPath and Rodenstock
Prazisionsoptik GmbH (Rodenstock) executed an agreement to transfer to
Rodenstock the exclusive, application-related utilization and distribution of
GRADIUM lenses throughout the whole of Europe. The agreement was for an initial
five-year period. We believe Rodenstock's one hundred years of experience in the
field of advanced optical systems and over 6,000 employees worldwide, will be a
strong asset to the expansion of our presence in Europe. We have established
relationships with eight foreign distributors. We believe these distributors
will enable us to establish and maintain a presence in foreign and domestic
markets without further investment in this product area. In addition to laser
applications through our printed and Internet on-line catalog, we offer a
standard line of GRADIUM glass lenses for commercial sales to optical designers
developing particular systems for OEMs or in-house products. For the nine months
ending March 31, 2000, the traditional optics product line represent
approximately 70% our of product sales.
HOW HAS LIGHTPATH DEVELOPED GRADIUM GLASS PRODUCTS? From our inception
in 1985 until June 1996, we were classified as a development stage enterprise
that engaged in basic research and development. We believe that most of our
product sales made during this period were to persons evaluating the commercial
application of GRADIUM glass or using the products for research and development.
During fiscal year 1997, our operational focus begin to shift to commercial
product development and sales. We completed numerous prototypes for production
orders and received our first orders for catalog sales of standard lens
profiles. We also began to offer standard, computer-based profiles of GRADIUM
glass that engineers use for product design. During fiscal 1998, sales of lenses
to the traditional optics market continued with significant increases in sales
of lenses used in the YAG laser market, catalog and distributor sales, and
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lenses used in the wafer inspection markets. In fiscal year 1998, we also began
to explore the development of products for emerging markets such as
optoelectronics, photonics and solar energy due to the number of potential
customers' inquiries into the ability of GRADIUM glass to solve optoelectronic
problems, specifically in the areas of fiber telecommunications. Our resolution
of packaging and alignment issues, and advances made by LightChip, an affiliate,
with WDM equipment, led us in 1998 to develop a strategy for entering the
optoelectronic markets. Our first passive optoelectronic product, a single mode
fiber collimator assembly, or SMF assembly, was demonstrated in February 1998.
The SMF assembly is a key element in all fiber optic systems, including WDM
equipment. The SMF assembly straightens and makes parallel, diverging light as
it exits a fiber. Beginning in fiscal 1999, we began offering, and have
delivered for testing to potential customers, three product levels: the
collimating lens, the SMF assembly and the large beam collimating assembly. The
telecommunications collimator marketplace is currently estimated by industry
experts to have generated annual gross revenues of $125 million in 1999 with
projected growth to $256 million in five years.
The current focus of our development group has been to expand
application of GRADIUM products to the areas of fiberoptic optomechanical
switches, multiplexers, interconnects and cross-connects for the
telecommunications field, further refinement of the crown glass product line to
supplement our existing flint products, and further development of acrylic axial
gradient material to extend the range of existing product applications.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND US. LightPath was incorporated in Delaware in 1992.
Our corporate headquarters are located at 6820 Academy Parkway East N.E.,
Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87109 and our telephone number is (505) 342-1100.
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THE OFFERING
Securities Offered by the
Selling Shareholders ................ A maximum of 1,447,815 shares of Class A
Common Stock are covered by this
prospectus. These shares are being
offered as follows:
1,447,815 shares of Class A Common Stock
issued to former shareholders of Horizon
Photonics, Inc. (HPI) in connection with
LightPath's acquisition of HPI.
A description of the terms of the Class
A Common Stock is included in this
prospectus under "Selling Shareholders"
at page 15.
Common Stock Outstanding as of March 31, 2000
Class A Common Stock 13,753,365 shares(1)(3)
Class E-1 Common Stock 1,506,663 shares(2)
Class E-2 Common Stock 1,506,663 shares(2)
Class E-3 Common Stock 1,004,434 shares(2)
Use of Proceeds ...................... We will not receive any of the proceeds
of sales of common stock by the selling
shareholders.
Risk Factors ......................... The shares of common stock offered
hereby involve a high degree of risk.
See "Risk Factors" on page 6.
Nasdaq SmallCap Market Symbols........ Class A Common Stock - "LPTHA"
Class B Warrants - "LPTHZ"
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(1) Does not include shares underlying options outstanding at March 31, 2000 to
purchase 1,189,204 shares of Class A Common Stock, (which includes 61,211
options pursuant to which the holders would receive, upon exercise, an
aggregate of 61,211 Class A shares, 91,817 shares of Class E-1, 91,817
shares of Class E-2 and 61,211 shares of Class E-3 Common Stock) which are
exercisable at option exercise prices ranging from $2.84 to $51.56 per
share and approximately 613,000 shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for
issuance upon future grants of options under LightPath's stock option
plans.
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(2) Each share of outstanding Class E-1 Common Stock, Class E-2 Common Stock
and Class E-3 Common Stock, collectively referred to as the Class E shares,
will, on a class basis, automatically convert into Class A Common Stock if
and as the Company attains certain earnings levels with respect to each of
the three separate classes. The Class E shares will be redeemed by
LightPath in September 2000 for a nominal amount if such earnings levels
are not achieved by June 30, 2000.
(3) Does not include an aggregate of 4,895,881 shares of Class A Common Stock
consisting of (i) 29,670 shares of Class A common stock and 29,670 Class B
Warrants granted to the underwriter in connection with our initial public
offering; (ii) 2,768,458 Class B Warrants (iii) 58,297 shares of Class A
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of private placement warrants; (vi)
328,875 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the 153
remaining shares of Series F Preferred Stock; (vii) 281,250 shares of Class
A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a warrant; (viii) 1,207,158 shares
issued to the former shareholders of HPI and 250,721 stock options issued
to employees of HPI as of the closing of the acquisition of HPI; and (ix)
an additional 240,657 shares issued to the former shareholders of HPI on
May 29, 2000 due to a post closing adjustment.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Throughout this prospectus and the other documents incorporated by
reference into this prospectus we make certain "forward-looking" statements.
These are statements about future events, results of operation, business plans
and other matters. We use words such as "expect", "anticipate", "intend" or
other similar words to identify forward looking statements. These statements are
made based on our current knowledge and understanding. However, there can be no
assurances as to whether or not actual results will be consistent with these
statements. In fact, actual events or results could vary dramatically from these
statements as a result of among other factors:
+ Economic conditions, domestically and internationally
+ Technological developments
+ Industry trends
+ Risk factors described in this prospectus.
We have no obligation to update the forward-looking statements made in
this prospectus or incorporated by reference herein.
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RISK FACTORS
THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY SHOULD BE READ BY YOU TOGETHER WITH THE MORE
DETAILED INFORMATION INCLUDED AT OTHER SECTIONS OF THIS PROSPECTUS. IN ADDITION,
YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE FACTORS DESCRIBED UNDER "RISK FACTORS"
BEGINNING AT PAGE 6 OF THIS PROSPECTUS. OUR FISCAL YEAR ENDS ON JUNE 30 AND
REFERENCES TO YEARS IN THIS PROSPECTUS REFER TO OUR FISCAL YEAR ENDED AS OF JUNE
30 OF THE REFERENCED CALENDAR YEAR.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSSES IN PRIOR YEARS.
Our operations have never been profitable. We believe that our
introduction of products for the telecommunication market in 1999 may generate
sales in excess of amounts realized to date, although there can be no assurance
in this regard. We expect to continue operating at a deficit during the current
fiscal year and until such time, if ever, as our operations generate sufficient
revenues to cover our costs. The likelihood of our financial success must be
considered in light of the delays, uncertainties, difficulties and risks
inherent in a new business, many of which are beyond our ability to control.
These risks include, but are not limited to, unanticipated problems relating to
product development, testing, manufacturing, marketing and competition, and
additional costs and expenses that may exceed our current estimates. There can
be no assurance that our revenues will increase significantly in the future or
that, even if they do increase, our operations will ever be profitable.
WE MAY BE UNABLE TO CONTINUE OPERATING AS A GOING CONCERN.
Our June 30, 1999 financial statements received a report from our
independent auditors that includes an explanatory paragraph regarding
uncertainty as to our ability to continue as a going concern. The factors cited
by the auditors as raising substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a
going concern are our recurring losses from operations and resulting continued
dependence on external sources of capital. We may incur losses for the
foreseeable future due to the significant costs associated with the development,
manufacturing and marketing of our products and due to the continued research
and development activities that will be necessary to further refine our
technology and products and to develop products with additional applications.
WE ANTICIPATE THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUTURE FINANCING IN ORDER TO FUND OUR
OPERATIONS AND PLANS FOR GROWTH.
There can be no assurance that the Company will generate sufficient
revenues to fund its future operations and growth strategies. At this time the
Company does not believe product sales will reach the level required to sustain
its operations and growth plans beyond the near term. We do not have any
commitments from others to provide additional financing in the future and there
can be no assurance that any such additional financing will be available if
needed or, if available, will be on terms favorable to us. In the event such
needed financing is not obtained, our operations will be materially adversely
affected and we will have to cease or substantially reduce operations. Any
additional equity financing may be dilutive to stockholders, and debt
financings, if available, may involve restrictive covenants.
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WE MAY HAVE DIFFICULTIES IN MANAGING GROWTH.
We will need to grow our product sales and manufacturing output
significantly in order to be successful. If we are unable to manage growth
effectively, it could have material adverse effects on our results of
operations, financial condition or liquidity. We cannot guarantee that we will
successfully expand or that any expansion will enhance our profitability. We
expect our planned growth will place a significant strain on our management and
operations. Our future growth will depend in part on the ability of our officers
and other key employees to implement and expand financial control systems and to
expand, train and manage our employee base and provide support to an expanded
customer base.
WE MAY HAVE ADVERSE IMPACT FROM ACQUISTIONS.
Our strategy includes the potential acquisition of complimentary
businesses, and integration of additional products, technologies and personnel.
We have limited experience in acquiring outside businesses. Acquisition of
businesses requires substantial time and attention of management personnel and
may require additional equity or debt financing. There can be no assurance that
we will be successful in identifying, consummating or integrating strategic
acquisitions.
Integration of newly established or acquired business can be
disruptive. There can be no assurance that we will be able to integrate such
companies into our business successfully. Financial consequences of our
acquisitions may include potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities;
large one-time expenses; higher fixed expenses which require a higher level of
revenues to maintain gross margins; the incurrence of debt and contingent
liabilities; and amortization expenses related to goodwill and other intangible
assets.
OUR PRODUCTS ARE AT AN EARLY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT AND MAY NOT ACHIEVE MARKET
ACCEPTANCE.
Through June 1996, our primary activities were basic research and
development of glass material properties. Our current line of GRADIUM products
have not generated sufficient revenues to sustain operations and our
telecommunications products are still in the introductory phase. While we
believe our existing products are commercially viable, we anticipate the need to
educate the optical components market in order to generate market demand and
market feedback may require us to further refine these products. Development of
additional product lines will require significant further research, development,
testing and marketing prior to commercialization. There can be no assurance that
any proposed products will be successfully developed, demonstrate desirable
optical performance, be capable of being produced in commercial quantities at
reasonable costs or be successfully marketed.
OUR PRODUCTS HAVE NOT BEEN DEMONSTRATED TO BE COMMERCIALLY SUCCESSFUL.
Our telecommunication products have not yet achieved broad commercial
acceptance. The traditional optics have been accepted commercially; however,
their benefits are not widely known. Although we are engaged in negotiations and
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discussions with potential customers, there can be no assurance that any such
discussions will lead to development of commercially viable products or
significant revenues, if any, or that any products currently existing or to be
developed in the future will attain sufficient market acceptance to generate
significant revenues. In order to persuade potential customers to purchase
GRADIUM products, we will need to overcome industry resistance to, and suspicion
of, gradient lens technology that has resulted from previous failed attempts by
various researchers and manufacturers unrelated to us to develop a repeatable,
consistent process for producing lenses with variable refractive indices. We
must also satisfy industry-standard Bellcore Testing on telecommunication
products to meet customer requirements, as well as satisfy prospective customers
that we will be able to meet their demand for quantities of products, since we
may be the sole supplier and licensor. We do not have demonstrated experience as
a manufacturer and have limited financial resources. We may be unable to
accomplish any one or more of the foregoing to the extent necessary to develop
market acceptance of our products. Prospective customers will need to make
substantial expenditures to redesign products to incorporate GRADIUM lenses.
There can be no assurances that potential customers will view the benefits of
our products as sufficient to warrant such design expenditures.
WE DEPEND UPON KEY PERSONNEL.
Our inability to retain or attract key employees could have a material
adverse effect on our business and results of operations. Our operations depend,
to a great extent, upon the efforts of our CEO and President, Donald Lawson, who
conceived our strategic plan and who is substantially responsible for planning
and guiding our direction, and upon Mark Fitch, our Senior Vice President. We
also depend upon our ability to attract additional members to our management and
operations teams to support our expansion strategy. The loss of any of these key
employees would adversely affect our business. We have obtained a key employee
life insurance policy in the amount $1,000,000 on the life of Mr. Lawson. We had
sixty employees on March 31, 2000. Additional personnel will need to be hired if
we are able to successfully expand our operations. There can be no assurance
that we will be able to identify, attract and retain employees with skills and
experience necessary and relevant to the future operations of our business.
COMPETITION MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL RESULTS.
The optical lens and telecommunication components markets are intensely
competitive and numerous companies offer products and services competitive to
those offered by us. Substantially all of these competitors have greater
financial and other resources than we do. We compete with manufacturers of
conventional spherical lens products and aspherical lens products, producers of
optical quality glass and other developers of gradient lens technology and
telecom product manufacturers. In the both the optical lens and
telecommunications componets markets, we are competing against, among others,
established international industry giants. Many of these companies also are
primary customers for optical and telecommunication components, and therefore
have significant control over certain markets for our products. We are also
aware of other companies that are attempting to develop radial gradient lens
technology. There may also be others of which we are not aware that are
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attempting to develop axial gradient lens technology similar to our technology.
There can be no assurance that existing or new competitors will not develop
technologies that are superior to or more commercially acceptable than our
existing and planned technologies and products.
WE HAVE LIMITED MARKETING AND SALES CAPABILITIES AND MUST MAKE SALES IN A
FRAGMENTED MARKET.
Our operating results will depend to a large extent on our ability to
educate the various industries utilizing telecommunication components and
optical glass about the advantages of our products to market products to the
participants within those industries. We currently have very limited marketing
capabilities and experience and have recently hired additional sales and
marketing personnel to develop additional sales and marketing programs and
establish sales distribution channels in order to achieve and sustain commercial
sales of our products. Although we have developed a marketing plan, there can be
no assurance that the plan will be implemented or, if implemented, will succeed
in creating sufficient levels of customer demand for our products. The markets
for optical lenses and telecommunication components are highly fragmented.
Consequently, we will need to identify and successfully target particular market
segments in which we believe we will have the most success. These efforts will
require a substantial, but unknown, amount of effort and resources.
The fragmented nature of the optical products market may impede our
ability to achieve commercial acceptance for our products. In addition, our
success will depend in great part on our ability to develop and implement a
successful marketing and sales program. There can be no assurance that any
marketing and sales efforts undertaken by us will be successful or will result
in any significant product sales.
WE ARE HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON OUR PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY.
Our success will depend, in part, on our ability to obtain protection
for products and technologies under United States and foreign patent laws, to
preserve trade secrets, and to operate without infringing the proprietary rights
of others. There can be no assurance that patent applications relating to our
products or potential products will result in patents being issued, that any
issued patents will afford adequate protection or not be challenged,
invalidated, infringed or circumvented, or that any rights granted will afford
competitive advantages to us. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that others
have not independently developed, or will not independently develop, similar
products and/or technologies, duplicate any of our product or technologies, or,
if patents are issued to, or licensed by, us, design around such patents. There
can be no assurance that patents owned or licensed and issued in one
jurisdiction will also issue in any other jurisdiction. Furthermore, there can
be no assurance that we can adequately preserve proprietary technology and
processes that we maintain as trade secrets. If we are unable to develop and
adequately protect our proprietary technology and other assets, our business,
financial condition and results of operations will be materially adversely
affected.
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OUR BUSINESS DEPENDS UPON THE EFFORTS OF THIRD PARTIES.
Our strategy for the research, development and commercialization of
certain products entails entering into various arrangements with corporate
partners, OEMs, licensees and others in order to generate product sales, license
fees, royalties and other funds adequate for product development. We may also
rely on our collaborative partners to conduct research efforts, product testing
and to manufacture and market certain of our products. Although we believe that
parties to any such arrangements would have an economic motivation to succeed in
performing their contractual responsibilities, the amount and timing of
resources to be devoted to these activities may not be within our control. There
can also be no assurance that we will be successful in establishing any such
collaborative arrangements or that, if established, the parties to such
arrangements will assist us in commercializing products. We currently have
development agreements with a mechanical switch manufacturer and an endoscope
manufacturer pursuant to which we have developed prototypes of products for use
in each of those areas. However, there can be no assurance that such agreements
will progress to a production phase or, if production commences, that we will
receive significant revenues from these relationships. We have a non-exclusive
agreement with a catalog company to distribute certain of its products. We have
formalized relationships with eight foreign distributors to create markets for
GRADIUM in their respective countries. There can be no assurance that these
parties, or any future partners, will perform their obligations as expected or
that any revenue will be derived from such arrangements.
WE HAVE ONLY LIMITED MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES.
We believe that our present manufacturing facilities, with the clean
room addition which was completed in October 1999, are sufficient for our
planned operations in fiscal 2000. We have acquired additional manufacturing
space in January 2000 to allow for expansion of our manufacturing capabilities.
However, we do not have substantial experience manufacturing products in
quantities sufficient to meet commercial demand. If we are unable to manufacture
products in sufficient quantities and in a timely manner to meet customer
demand, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be
materially adversely affected.
WE FACE PRODUCT LIABILITY RISKS.
The sale of our optical products will involve the inherent risk of
product liability claims by others. We do not currently maintain product
liability insurance coverage, although we do intend to procure such insurance in
the future. Product liability insurance is expensive, subject to various
coverage exclusions and may not be obtainable on terms acceptable to us.
Moreover, the amount and scope of any coverage may be inadequate to protect us
in the event that a product liability claim is successfully asserted.
WE WILL RECOGNIZE A SUBSTANTIAL CHARGE TO INCOME UPON CONVERSION OF OUR CLASS E
COMMON STOCK.
In the event any shares of the Class E Common Stock held by
stockholders who are officers, directors, employees or consultants of the
Company reach targets to enable conversion into shares of Class A Common Stock,
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we will record compensation expense for financial reporting purposes during the
period in which the targets are reached and conversion appears probable. These
targets will expire in September 2000 based on the operating results as of June
30, 2000. Such charge will equal the fair market value of such shares on the
date of release, which may be substantial. Although the amount of compensation
expense recognized will not affect the total stockholders' equity, it may have a
material negative effect on the market price of our securities, particularly the
shares of Class A Common Stock. Additionally, since shares of Class E common
stock are not treated as outstanding for purposes of earnings per share
calculations, the increase in the number of shares of Class A Common Stock upon
conversion of any series of Class E Common Stock may have a material adverse
effect on our earnings per share.
OUR STOCK PRICE IS VOLATILE.
Broad market fluctuations or fluctuations in our operations may
adversely affect the market price of our common stock. The market for our common
stock is volatile. The trading price of our common stock has been and will
continue to be subject to:
+ volatility in the trading markets generally and in our particular
market segment;
+ significant fluctuations in response to quarterly variations in
operating results;
+ announcements regarding our business or the business of our
competitors;
+ changes in prices of our or our competitors' products and services;
+ changes in product mix; and
+ changes in revenue and revenue growth rates for us as a whole or for
geographic areas, and other events or factors.
Statements or changes in opinions, ratings or earnings estimates made
by brokerage firms or industry analysts relating to the markets in which we
operate or expect to operate could have an adverse effect on the market price of
our common stock. In addition, the stock market as a whole, as well as our
particular market segment, have from time to time experienced extreme price and
volume fluctuations which have particularly affected the market price for the
securities of many companies and which often have been unrelated to the
operating performance of these companies.
POTENTIAL CONTROL BY THE EXISTING MANAGEMENT AND SHAREHOLDERS.
If our management and shareholders act in concert, disposition of
matters submitted to shareholders or the election of the entire Board of
Directors may be hindered. We estimate that the principal stockholders
beneficially owned 26.5% of the total combined voting power of all of the Common
Stock outstanding at April 14, 2000.
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<PAGE>
SOME PROVISIONS IN OUR CHARTER DOCUMENTS AND BYLAWS MAY HAVE ANTI-TAKEOVER
EFFECTS.
Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws contain some provisions
that could have the effect of discouraging a prospective acquirer from making a
tender offer, or which may otherwise delay, defer or prevent a change in
control.
ABSENCE OF DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS.
Our Board has never declared a dividend on our common stock. We do not
anticipate paying dividends on the common stock in the foreseeable future. It is
anticipated that earnings, if any, will be reinvested in the expansion of our
business.
OUR CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, WARRANTS AND OPTIONS MAY AFFECT OUR FUTURE
FINANCING.
The existence of our outstanding Convertible Preferred Stock, options
or warrants may adversely affect the terms on which we can obtain additional
financing. As of March 31, 2000, there was outstanding:
+ 2,768,458 Class B Warrants to purchase 2,768,458, shares of Class A
Common Stock;
+ the Unit Purchase Option to purchase an aggregate of 29,670 shares of
Class A Common Stock and 29,670 Class B Warrants;
+ 58,297 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise private
placement warrants;
+ 328,875 shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance to the
selling shareholders upon conversion of the 153 remaining shares
Series F Preferred stock;
+ 281,250 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a
warrant held by Robert Ripp, our Chairman of the Board;
+ outstanding options to purchase an aggregate of 1,189,204 shares of
Class A Common Stock (which includes 61,211 options pursuant to which
the holders would receive, upon exercise, an aggregate of 61,211
shares of Class A, 91,817 shares of Class E-1, 91,187 shares of Class
E-2 and 61,211 shares of Class E-3 Common Stock);
+ approximately 613,000 shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for
issuance pursuant to future grants to be made under the Omnibus
Incentive Plan and Directors Stock Incentive Plan;
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<PAGE>
+ in addition, 1,207,158 shares of Class A Common Stock issued to the
former shareholders of HPI and 250,721 stock options to acquire shares
of Class A Common Stock granted to employees of HPI as of the April
14, 2000 closing. An additional 240,657 shares of Class A Common Stock
were issued to the former shareholders of HPI in post closing
adjustments on May 29, 2000.
+ in addition, 1,500,000 nonqualified stock options to purchase shares
of Class A Common Stock granted to the Chairman of the Board of the
Company on April 12, 2000.
For the life of such options, warrants and Convertible Preferred Stock,
the holders will have the opportunity to profit from a rise in the price of the
underlying common stock, with a resulting dilution in the interest of other
holders of common stock upon exercise or conversion. Further, the option and
warrant holders can be expected to exercise their options and warrants at a time
when we would, in all likelihood, be able to obtain additional capital by an
offering of our unissued common stock on terms more favorable to us than those
provided by such options or warrants.
The eligibility of the foregoing shares to be sold to the public,
whether pursuant an effective registration statement, Rule 144 or an exemption
from the registration requirements may have a material adverse effect on the
market value and trading price of the Class A Common Stock.
WE HAVE AGREED TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS UPON POTENTIAL LIABILITY OF OUR DIRECTORS.
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that directors will not be
personally liable for monetary damages to LightPath or its stockholders for a
breach of fiduciary duty as a director, subject to limited exceptions. Although
such limitation of liability does not affect the availability of equitable
remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission, the presence of these
provisions in the Certificate of Incorporation could prevent the recovery of
monetary damages by LightPath or its stockholders.
WE MUST MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN CRITERIA IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN LISTING
OF OUR SHARES ON THE NASDAQ MARKET.
The Class A Common Stock and Class B Warrants are currently traded on
the Nasdaq SmallCap Market. Failure to meet the applicable quantitative and/or
qualitative maintenance requirements of Nasdaq could result in our securities
being delisted from Nasdaq, with the result that such securities may trade on
the OTC Bulletin Board or in the "pink sheets" maintained by the National
Quotation Bureau Incorporated. As a consequence of such delisting, an investor
could find it more difficult to dispose of or to obtain accurate quotations as
to the market value of our securities. Among other consequences, delisting from
Nasdaq may cause a decline in the stock price and difficulty in obtaining future
financing.
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WE MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS AVAILABLE TO REDEEM OUTSTANDING SHARES OF PREFERRED
STOCK.
In the event of automatic conversion of the Series F Preferred Stock,
three years after issuance LightPath has the right to redeem such preferred
stock for cash. In addition, a Liquidation Event, as defined in the applicable
Certificate of Designation, may require redemption of the Series F Preferred
Stock for cash. There can be no assurance that we will have adequate cash to
effect such cash redemptions in the future.
RISK THAT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS MAY NOT COME TRUE.
This prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference,
contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. We use
words such as "believe", "expect," "anticipate," "plan" or similar words to
identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made based
upon our belief as of the date that such statements are made. These
forward-looking statements are based largely on our current expectations and are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our
control. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which apply only as of the date of this prospectus. Our actual
results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking
statements for many reasons, including the risks faced by us described above and
elsewhere in this prospectus.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT
The Proxy Statement for the 1999 Annual Meeting contained information
concerning the number of shares included in the Voting Trust that Leslie
Danziger, former Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, was entitled to vote. As
of September 16, 1999, Ms. Danziger was no longer the Chairwoman of the Board
and as a result the Voting Trust has dissolved by its terms. All shares
previously subject to the Voting Trust are now held directly by their beneficial
owners, each of whom (to LightPath's knowledge) independently votes and has the
power to dispose of such shares.
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SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
On April 14, 2000, we issued 1,207,158 shares of Class A Common Stock
in connection with our acquisition of Horizon Photonics, Inc. (HPI) pursuant to
a Merger Agreement of the same date. The number of shares of Class A Common
Stock issued to the former HPI shareholders was subject to post closing
adjustment based on the trading price of our Class A Common Stock during the
period between the acquisition closing date and the earlier to occur of the date
such Class A Common Stock is registered or May 29, 2000. An additional 240,657
shares of Class A Common Stock were issued to the former HPI shareholders for
post closing adjustments on May 29, 2000. The range of the aggregate number of
shares that could be issued was a minimum of 603,579 to a maximum of 2,011,934
shares of Class A Common Stock. On May 29, 2000 the post closing adjustment
resulted in the final computation of shares to be issued at 1,447,815, this
prospectus covers the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that were issued
under the terms of the Merger Agreement.
The following table provides information as of April 17, 2000, with
respect to the Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by each selling
shareholder. For purposes of the information set forth in this table, the number
of shares beneficially owned includes shares issuable upon the exercise of stock
options that are vested on April 17, 2000 or within sixty days thereafter.
TOTAL SHARES CLASS A COMMON STOCK
OUTSTANDING AS OF APRIL 17, 2000: 14,960,523
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Beneficially Owned After the Offering
--------------------------------------
Number of Shares Number of Percent of
Beneficially Owned Shares Percent of All Classes
Prior to the being Number Class A of Common
Offering (1) Offered of Shares Common Stock Stock
------------ ------- --------- ------------ -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert Cullen 485,579 485,579 0 * *
Richard Sweeney 485,579 485,579 0 * *
Randall Niles 68,009(2) 19,424(2) 48,585(2) * *
Lucent Technologies, Inc. 457,233 457,233 0 * *
</TABLE>
----------
* Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%
1) Except as otherwise noted, and subject to community property laws, where
applicable, each person named in the table has sole voting power and
investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned.
2) Includes 48,585 shares issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase
Class A Common Stock that are vested on April 17, 2000 or vest within sixty
days thereafter. On April 25, 2000, options to purchase 48,585 shares were
exercised. Does not include options to purchase an additional 7,000 shares
which will vest over four years ending April 2004.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
Each of the selling shareholders will receive the net proceeds from the
sale of its shares of common stock. We will not receive any proceeds from these
sales.
DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE
The selling shareholders may use this prospectus from time to time to
sell their shares of common stock at a price determined by the shareholder
making such sale. The price at which the common stock is sold may be based on
market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to such
prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The common stock may be sold from time to time by the selling
shareholders, or by pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in
interest. Such sales may be made on one or more exchanges or in the
over-the-counter market or otherwise, at prices and at terms then prevailing or
at prices related to the then current market price, or in negotiated
transactions. The common stock may be sold in one or more of the following types
of transactions:
(a) a block trade in which a selling shareholder will engage a
broker-dealer who will then attempt to sell the common stock, or position and
resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
(b) purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by such
broker-dealer for its account pursuant to this prospectus;
(c) an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of such
exchange; and
(d) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
broker solicits purchasers. In effecting sales, broker-dealers engaged by the
selling shareholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in the
resales.
In connection with distributions of the common stock or otherwise, the
selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers. In
connection with such transactions, broker-dealers may engage in short sales of
the common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume with selling
shareholders. The selling shareholders may also sell common stock short and
redeliver the common stock to close out such short positions. The selling
shareholders may also enter into option or other transactions with
broker-dealers that require the delivery to the broker-dealer of the common
stock, which the broker-dealer may resell or otherwise transfer pursuant to this
prospectus. The selling shareholders may also loan or pledge common stock to a
broker-dealer and the broker-dealer may sell the common stock so loaned or, upon
a default, the broker-dealer may effect sales of the pledged common stock
pursuant to this prospectus.
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<PAGE>
Broker-dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of
commissions, discounts or concessions from the selling shareholders in amounts
to be negotiated in connection with the sale. Such broker-dealers and any other
participating broker-dealers may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales and any such
commission, discount or concession may be deemed to be underwriting discounts or
commissions under the Securities Act. In addition, any securities covered by
this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 may be sold in an
unregistered transaction under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.
We will bear all of the costs and expenses of registering under the
Securities Act the sale of the common stock offered by this prospectus.
Commissions and discounts, if any, attributable to the sales of the common stock
will be borne by the selling shareholders.
We have agreed to indemnify the selling shareholders against certain
liabilities in connection with the offering of the common stock, including
liabilities arising under the Securities Act. The selling shareholders may agree
to indemnify any broker-dealer or agent that participates in transactions
involving sales of the common stock against various liabilities, including
liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
In order to comply with the securities laws of various states, if
applicable, sales of the common stock made in those states will only be made
through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, some states do
not allow the securities to be sold unless they have been registered or
qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration
or qualification requirement is available and is complied with by us and the
selling shareholders.
Under applicable rules and regulations of the Exchange Act, any person
engaged in the distribution of the common stock may not simultaneously engage in
market-making activities with respect to our common stock for a period of up to
five business days prior to the commencement of such distribution. In addition
to those restrictions, each selling shareholder will be subject to the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, including, Regulation
M and Rule 10b-7, which provisions may limit the timing of the purchases and
sales of our securities by the selling shareholders.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
We have previously registered our Class A Common Stock under the
Exchange Act by filing a Form 8-A on January 13, 1996. Please refer to that
registration statement for a description of the rights, privileges and
preferences of our common stock.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters have been passed upon for us by Squire, Sanders &
Dempsey L.L.P., Phoenix, Arizona.
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<PAGE>
EXPERTS
Our financial statements as of June 30, 1999 and 1998, and for the
years then ended, have been incorporated by reference herein, in reliance upon
the report of KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants, incorporated
by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.
The report of KPMG LLP covering the June 30, 1999, financial statements
contains an explanatory paragraph that states that the Company's recurring
losses from operations and resulting continued dependence on external sources of
capital raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a
going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that
might result from the outcome of that uncertainty.
HPI's financial statements as of March 31, 2000 and 1999, and for the
years then ended, have been incorporated by reference herein, in reliance upon
the report of Windes & McClaughry, Accountancy Corporation, incorporated by
reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting
and auditing.
INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
On October 13, 1997, James L. Adler, Jr. was appointed to serve as a
director of LightPath until the 2000 annual meeting of shareholders. Mr. Adler
is a partner of the law firm of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P., which has
issued an opinion as to the validity of the shares offered by this prospectus
and also provides legal services to us on a regular basis. Mr. Adler holds
options under the Directors Stock Option Plan to purchase 40,176 shares of Class
A Common Stock at exercise prices ranging from $2.84 to $9.81. As of April 17,
2000, these shares represented less than 1% of the total outstanding shares of
Class A Common Stock.
INDEMNIFICATION
Article TENTH of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended, provides as follows:
TENTH: No director of the corporation shall be personally liable to the
corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director; provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply
to any liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director's duty of
loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not
in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, (iii) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit, or (iv) under Section 174 of the DGCL. This Article shall not
eliminate or limit the liability of a director for any act or omission occurring
prior to the time this Article became effective.
Article VII of the Company's Bylaws provides, in summary, that the
Company is required to indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law, any person made or threatened to be made a party or involved in a lawsuit,
action or proceeding by reason that such person is or was an officer, director,
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employee or agent of the Company. Indemnification is against all liability and
loss suffered and expenses reasonably incurred. Unless required by law, no such
indemnification is required by the Company of any person initiating such suit,
action or proceeding without board authorization. Expenses are payable in
advance if the indemnified party agrees to repay the amount if he is ultimately
found to not be entitled to indemnification. For a full text of Article VI of
the Bylaws, see Exhibit 3.3 to this Registration Statement.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933, the Securities Act, may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling person of LightPath pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
otherwise, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
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====================================== ======================================
NO DEALER, SALES PERSON OR OTHER
PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATION OTHER THAN THOSE
CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR
REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON
AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE
COMPANY OR ANY UNDERWRITER. THIS
PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN
OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN
OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES 1,447,815 SHARES
OFFERED HEREBY BY ANYONE IN ANY CLASS A COMMON STOCK
JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR
SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN
WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER OR
SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO PROSPECTUS
OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS
UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR
SOLICITATION IN SUCH JURISDICTION.
NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER
SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE
ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION
HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME
SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT
THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE
AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE SUCH
DATE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
Where You Can Find More
Information (ii)
Prospectus Summary 1
The Offering 4
Risk Factors 6
Security Ownership of Principal
Stockholders and Management 14
Selling Shareholders 15
Use of Proceeds 16
Determination of Offering Price 16
Plan of Distribution 16
Description of Securities 17
Legal Matters 17 June 12, 2000
Experts 18
Interest of Named Experts
and Counsel 18
Indemnification 18
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