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AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON AUGUST 21, 1998
REGISTRATION NO. 333-
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-2
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
AUREAL SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 94-3117385
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
4245 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA 94538
(510) 252-4245
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
Registrant's principal executive offices)
DAVID J. DOMEIER
VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE AND
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
AUREAL SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
4245 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA 94538
(510) 252-4245
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
JAMES M. KOSHLAND, ESQ.
DAVID A. HUBB, ESQ.
Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP
400 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 328-6561
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APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time
to time as described in the Prospectus after the effective date of this
Registration Statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") check the following box: [X]
If the registrant elects to deliver its latest annual report to security
holders, or a complete and legal facsimile thereof, pursuant to Item 11(a) of
this form, check the following box: [ ]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ] _______________
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If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering.
If this form is a post effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434
under the Securities Act, please check the following box. [ ]
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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Proposed
Title of Each Class of Proposed Maximum Maximum Amount of
Securities to be Amount to be Offering Price Aggregate Registration
Registered Registered Per Share (1) Offering Price Fee
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock ($0.001 par value) 23,200,000 shares(2) $ 1.234 $ 28,628,800 $ 8,446
Common Stock ($0.001 par value) 3,600,000 shares(3) $ 1.234 $ 4,442,400 $ 1,311
Common Stock ($0.001 par value) 1,350,000 shares(4) $ 1.234 $ 1,665,900 $ 492
TOTAL 28,150,000 shares N/A $ 34,737,100 $ 10,249
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</TABLE>
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act and based on the average of the
closing bid and asked prices reported on the Over-the-Counter Electronic
Bulletin Board on August 19, 1998.
(2) Represents 100% of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
of all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock as described in the
Prospectus.
(3) Represents 150% of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
of all outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock as described in the
Prospectus, assuming that such conversion is as of the date of this Registration
Statement.
(4) Represents shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants issued
as described in the Prospectus.
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES
AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE
A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON
SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SUCH SECTION 8(a), MAY
DETERMINE.
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INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED AUGUST 21, 1998
23,200,000 SHARES (issuable upon conversion of Series B
Preferred Stock)
3,600,000 SHARES (issuable upon conversion of Series C
Preferred Stock)
1,350,000 SHARES (issuable upon exercise of Warrants)
AUREAL SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
COMMON STOCK
($0.001 Par Value)
Of the aggregate 28,150,000 shares, par value 0.001 (the "Shares"), of
Common Stock of Aureal Semiconductor Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Aureal" or
the "Company"), offered by this Prospectus, 23,200,000 Shares are issuable upon
conversion of issued shares of Series B Preferred Stock of the Company (the
"Series B Shares"), 3,600,000 Shares are issuable upon conversion of issued
shares of Series C Preferred Stock of the Company (the "Series C Shares") and
1,350,000 Shares are issuable upon exercise of issued warrants to purchase
Common Stock (the "Definitive Warrants"). With respect to the Series B Shares,
the Series C Shares and the Definitive Warrants issued by the Company, the
Company relied upon the exemptions provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Regulation D promulgated
thereunder as transactions by an issuer, none of which involved a public
offering (the "Exemption"). With respect to the Shares issuable upon exercise of
the Definitive Warrants and the Shares issuable upon conversion of the Series B
Shares and the Series C Shares, the Company will rely upon the Exemption. None
of the Shares being registered hereby is being offered to the public by the
Company. Accordingly, the Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the
resale of such securities.
The Company issued Series B Shares with a conversion value of $39.375
million in exchange for the cancellation of $31.5 million of indebtedness under
the Company's prior line of credit held by entities controlled by TCW Special
Credits and DDJ Capital Management, LLC (the "Series B Selling Stockholders"),
holders of approximately 44% and 17% of the Company's outstanding Common Stock,
respectively. The Series B Shares are convertible into Shares based on a
conversion rate of $2.50, as set forth in the Company's Certificate of
Designation for Series B Shares (the "Series B Certificate of Designation"). The
Series B Certificate of Designation provides for, among other things, (i) the
payment of dividends, in cash or Series B Shares, at the rate of eight percent
(8%) per annum, (ii) the right of the Series B Selling Stockholders to vote the
equivalent number of shares of the Company's Common Stock as would be held upon
conversion of the Series B Shares and (iii) the redemption of the Series B
Shares at face value (plus accrued but unpaid dividends) at any time at the
option of the Company.
The Company issued the Series C Shares in connection with a privately placed
equity financing to institutional investors (the "Series C Selling
Stockholders") pursuant to a series of subscription agreements (the "Financing
Agreements"). The Series C Shares are convertible into shares of the Company's
Common Stock, calculated pursuant to a formula based on the lower of (i) $2.50
(the "Fixed Conversion Price") or (ii) a defined percentage (not less than 80%)
of the lowest average closing bid price of the Company's Common Stock for any
five consecutive trading days during the 30 trading days immediately preceding
the date of conversion (the "Variable Conversion Price"), all as set forth in
the Company's Certificate of Designation for the Series C Shares (the "Series C
Certificate of Designation"). Conversion of the Series C Shares may commence at
any time after October 26, 1998. Variable Conversion Price conversions can be
completed at the rate of 15% of the originally issued Series C Shares per month.
Hence, 100% of the Series C Shares are available for Variable Conversion Price
conversion as of April 1999. No such limitations apply to Fixed Conversion Price
conversions. The Series C Certificate of Designation also gives the Company the
right to redeem some or all of the Series C Shares at a per share price equal to
a percentage of the purchase price of the Series C Shares being called for
redemption, ranging from 115% to 130%, depending upon the date of the
redemption.
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The Definitive Warrants were issued to Goldman Sachs & Co. and Transamerica
Business Credit Corporation (the "Warrant Selling Stockholders" and together
with the Series B Selling Stockholders and the Series C Selling Stockholders,
the "Selling Stockholders") in connection with a $40 million line of credit
entered into with the Technology Finance Division of Transamerica Business
Credit Corporation and Goldman Sachs Credit Partners LP . The Definitive
Warrants are exercisable at any time during their five year term and have an
exercise price of $2.156 per Share.
The Company will bear all out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with
the registration of the Shares, including, without limitation, all registration
and filing fees imposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"), the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD")
and blue sky laws, printing expenses, transfer agents' and registrars' fees, and
the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Company's outside counsel and
independent accountants, but excluding transfer or other taxes and other costs
and expenses incident to the issuances of the Shares.
The Company's Common Stock is quoted on the Over-the-Counter Electronic
Bulletin Board (the "OTC Bulletin Board") under the symbol "AURL". On August 19,
1998, the average of the closing bid and asking price of the Company's Common
Stock was $1.234. The 28,150,000 Shares being offered hereby represent
approximately 38% of the Company's total outstanding securities, recognizing
that 28,150,000 Shares being registered herein are subject to purchase from the
Company pursuant to conversion of Series B Shares and Series C Shares and
exercise of the Definitive Warrants but are not currently outstanding.
Registering such a large percentage of the Company's total outstanding
securities may have an adverse effect on the market price for the Company's
Common Stock.
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SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 8 FOR A DISCUSSION OF
CERTAIN FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE
PURCHASERS OF THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY.
NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS, OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, IN
CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING DESCRIBED HEREIN, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO
SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF
THESE SECURITIES BY ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR
SUCH PERSON TO MAKE SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF
THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF
ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this Prospectus is August ___, 1998.
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION
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 may be inspected and copied at the public reference
facilities maintained by the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, Room 1024, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Regional Offices of the
Commission located at Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite
1400, Chicago, Illinois 60611 and 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York,
New York 10048. Copies of such material can also be obtained by mail from the
Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Such reports and other information may also be inspected
without charge at a Web site maintained by the Commission. The address of the
site is http:\\www.sec.gov. The Company's Common Stock is traded on the OTC
Bulletin Board under the symbol "AURL".
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
There are hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus the following
documents and information heretofore filed with the Commission:
(1) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 28, 1997, filed on March 30, 1998, as amended by Amendment No.
1 to Form 10-K filed on June 3, 1998, and as amended by Amendment No. 2
to Form 10-K filed on July 2, 1998.
(2) The Company's Report on Form 8-K filed on March 16, 1998, as amended by
Amendment No. 1 to Form 8-K filed on June 3, 1998, and as amended by
Amendment No. 2 to Form 8-K filed on July 2, 1998.
(3) The Company's Definitive Proxy filed on May 6, 1998.
(4) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
29, 1998, filed on May 12, 1998.
(5) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 15, 1998, as
amended by Amendment No. 1 to Form 8-K filed on July 2, 1998.
(6) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 13, 1998.
(7) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
30, 1998, filed on August 3, 1998.
In addition, the Company will deliver a copy of its (i) Annual Report on
Form 10-K/A-2 for the fiscal year ended December 28, 1997, and (ii) most recent
Form 10-Q, without charge, to each person receiving a copy of this Prospectus.
THE COMPANY
Aureal Semiconductor Inc. is a producer of audio semiconductor products and
advanced audio technologies for the PC and consumer electronics markets. The
Company contracts with independent silicon foundries for production of its
semiconductor products, and thus is a "fabless" semiconductor company. The
foundry that manufactures the majority of the Company's semiconductor products
is one of the three largest foundries in the world that manufacture products
exclusively for third parties. The Company's objective is to be a leading
provider of advanced digital audio solutions for the PC and consumer electronics
markets. In its pursuit of this objective, the Company has had several
significant accomplishments over the past year.
Most recently, in August 1998, the Company introduced the Vortex 2 AU8830
audio processor (the "Vortex 2"), the newest generation solution for advanced
audio features on personal computers. The Vortex 2 is the only processor which
provides dedicated processing power for A3D 2.0. It is a significant upgrade to
the original Vortex AU8820 Digital Audio Processor currently shipping. The
Vortex 2 is currently being sampled by customers and is expected to be in
production for sale during the second half of 1998.
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In July 1998, the Company announced that it had entered into a strategic
alliance with Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc., a leader in the interactive
multimedia market, to co-develop and market PC audio solutions for the PC
consumer and game markets.
In June 1998, the Company announced that Compaq Computer Corporation, the
world's leading personal computer company, would begin featuring Aureal's A3D
Interactive 3D audio technology on its new line of Presario desktop computers.
In April 1998, the Company introduced A3D 2.0, a significant enhancement to
the existing version of A3D that was originally introduced in September 1996.
The new A3D 2.0 includes Aureal Wavetracing Technology (which enables real-time
acoustic reflections, reverb and occlusion rendering features), more 3D sources,
a higher sample rate and larger Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) filters.
Together, all of these feature enhancements provide for improved
three-dimensional rendering of audio for interactive applications.
In February and March of 1998, Aureal announced several major design wins
for the Vortex AU8820 Digital Audio Processor, including: Dell Computer
Corporation, the world's leading direct computer systems company; Turtle Beach
Systems, a leading U.S. provider of premier audio products for the PC; TerraTec
Electronic GmbH, a leading European provider of sound card products; and Aztech
Systems Ltd., a leading sound card retail and OEM company. By these design wins,
the foregoing manufacturers have agreed to incorporate the Vortex AU8820 in
their products or in their component parts for their products. In addition,
pursuant to standard open purchase orders with the Company for the purchase of
the Vortex AU8820 chip, these customers or component manufacturers for such
customers, along with others, have agreed to promote the Company's A3D
technology. During the first two quarters of 1998, the Company recorded revenues
of $7.0 million, the vast majority of which consisted of sales of Vortex AU8820
chips.
Earlier in 1998, the Vortex AU8820 received Microsoft's Windows Hardware
Quality Labs ("WHQL") certification. Microsoft's WHQL certification virtually
ensures that customers integrating the Vortex AU8820 chip into their audio
subsystems will receive quality approval from Microsoft which is a key
differentiation for consumers looking for quality in PC products.
The Company also completed some significant financing transactions in 1997
and early 1998. The Company completed the sale of Shares of Series A Preferred
Stock (the "Series A Shares") in March 1998. In June 1998, the Company completed
and exchanged the outstanding balance of $31.5 million under its working capital
line of credit into $39.375 million of Series B Shares. Also in June 1998, the
Company completed the sale of the Series C Shares, and entered into a new $40
million line of credit agreement.
In the consumer electronics field, the Company has announced licensing deals
with Zoran Corporation, LSI Logic Corporation and Yamaha Corporation for its A3D
Surround technology. Advent has introduced its Powered Partners speaker product
line, which is based on Aureal's VSP901 ProLogic chip. The Company continues to
invest significant resources towards the development of semiconductor products
targeted for the multi-channel mini-component and audio receiver markets that
will include the Company's A3D Surround technology for Dolby ProLogic, Dolby
Digital and MPEG II audio.
The Company's revenues for 1997 were primarily related to the up-front
licensing fees for its A3D technologies, the sale of a modest number of VSP901
chips and the initial shipments of the Vortex AU8820 chip. The Company has begun
volume shipments of its Vortex AU8820 device in 1998.
The Company, in May 1996, acquired 100% ownership of Crystal River
Engineering, Inc., a leader in the field of 3D audio technology. This merger of
resources has enabled Aureal to offer hardware and software solutions optimized
for 3D audio presentation.
In August 1995, the Company announced that it was divesting its multimedia
components business to implement its current business plan based on development
and sale of software and semiconductor solutions providing advanced audio for
the PC and consumer electronics markets. The Company was active in the business
of selling multimedia components for the retail market from its founding in 1990
through mid-1995 (operating as Media Vision Technology Inc.). Since November of
1995, the Company has operated under its current name, which was formally
changed at its Annual Stockholders' Meeting in May 1996.
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The Company is headquartered in Fremont, California in a leased 36,000
square foot building. As of December 28, 1997, the Company had 81 employees. Of
this total, 47 were engaged in engineering functions, 23 were in sales and
marketing activities, and 11 were engaged in administrative support. Competition
for employees in the Company's industry is intense. None of the Company's
employees is represented by a labor union. The Company considers its relations
with its employees to be good.
Aureal, Aureal 3D, A3D and the A3D logo are trademarks of Aureal
Semiconductor Inc. Other trademarks referred to herein are properties of their
respective owners.
Aureal was incorporated as Media Vision Inc. in California in May 1990 and
was reincorporated in Delaware as Media Vision Technology Inc. in November 1992.
The Company emerged from reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy
code on December 30, 1994 and in November 1995 changed its name to Aureal
Semiconductor Inc. Unless the context otherwise requires, "Aureal" and the
"Company" refer to Aureal Semiconductor Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its
predecessor and subsidiaries. The Company's principal executive offices are
located at 4245 Technology Drive, Fremont, California 94538, and its telephone
number is (510) 252-4245. See "INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE."
FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
This Prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference herein,
contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could
differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a
result of the risk factors set forth below and others detailed from time to time
in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Commission.
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RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information in this Prospectus or incorporated
herein by reference, the following factors should be considered carefully in
evaluating the Company and its business before purchasing the Shares offered
hereby:
HISTORY OF LOSSES AND ACCUMULATED DEFICIT; EXPECTATION OF FUTURE LOSSES. The
Company emerged from bankruptcy in December 1994. Since that time, the Company
has recorded an accumulated deficit of $162 million as of June 28, 1998
comprised of $150 million of incurred losses (including $11 million in 1998, $18
million in 1997, $17 million in 1996 and $104 million in 1995) from (1) its
previous retail products operations in 1995, (2) the research and development
phases of its advanced audio technologies business operations in 1996 and 1997,
and (3) the start of its sales efforts for its advanced audio products in the
first half of 1998, and $12 million of accretion and dividends on preferred
stock. While the majority of the Company's revenues in 1996 and 1997 were
generated through technology licensing transactions, the Company anticipates
that the majority of its revenues will come from the sale of audio products in
1998 and future years. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able
to sell significant volumes of its products in the future, and the Company's
ability to attain profitability or generate positive cash flows is dependent
thereon.
NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS DEVELOPED WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES. The Company's
success depends on its ability to develop and market new technologies aimed at
advancing the level of audio quality in the PC and consumer electronics devices.
With respect to the PC market, audio technology is shifting from utilization of
the ISA bus to utilization of the more advanced (higher band-width) PCI bus.
This change enables advanced digital audio functionality including positional 3D
audio, streaming audio and higher quality presentation. There can be no
assurance that the shift from ISA-based audio to PCI-based audio will occur in a
time frame for the Company to benefit from its PCI-based products and
technologies. As new technologies are developed, there can be no assurance that
markets will develop for them, or that markets will develop on a timely basis
for the Company to benefit therefrom.
The success of new products depends on a number of factors, including timely
completion of product development, market acceptance of the Company's and its
customers' new products and the Company's ability to offer new products at
competitive prices. Incorporating the Company's new products into its OEM
customers' new product designs requires the anticipation of market trends and
performance and functionality requirements of OEMs, the development and
production of products that meet the timing and pricing requirements of OEMs and
the production of products that can be available in a timely manner consistent
with the OEMs' development and production schedules. A failure in any of these
areas could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations.
Each successive generation of microprocessors has provided increased
performance, which could in the future result in a microprocessor capable of
performing advanced audio functions to an extent that the need or preference for
the Company's products could be diminished or eliminated. Conversely, each new
generation of technology, including digital audio technology, generally requires
increased processing power. In this regard, Intel Corporation has created the
MMX functionality with its Pentium line of processors and is promoting the
processing power of MMX for data and signal intensive functions such as graphics
and audio processing. The Company believes that advanced audio processing, done
in conjunction with either video or graphics processing is best performed with a
separate accelerator chip in addition to the host processor. There can be no
assurance that the increased capabilities of microprocessors in the future will
not adversely affect demand for the Company's products.
PRODUCT CONCENTRATION AND EXPANSION OF BUSINESS MODEL. Substantially all of
the Company's revenues are related to advanced audio solutions for the PC and
consumer electronics markets, and the Company expects this to continue for the
foreseeable future. The Company is just embarking on an expansion of its
semiconductor business model to provide for an increased number of audio related
products including audio cards and audio communications combination cards. This
expansion may require additional working capital funds to provide for
incremental inventory as well as broader marketing programs. The failure of this
market to continue to grow, any reduction in demand as a result of increased
competition in this market, technological change, failure by the Company to
introduce new versions of products acceptable to the marketplace or other
similar factors would have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of
operations.
COMPETITION AND PRICING PRESSURES. The markets in which the Company competes
are intensely competitive and are characterized by evolving industry standards
resulting in relatively short product life cycles, significant pricing and
performance improvement pressures and frequent new product introductions. The
Company expects competition to increase in the future from existing competitors
and from other companies that may enter the markets with products that may be
less costly or provide higher performance or additional features. The Company is
unable to predict the timing and nature of any such competitive product
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offerings. In general, product prices in the semiconductor industry have
decreased over the life of a particular product. The willingness of prospective
customers to design the Company's products into their products depends to a
significant extent upon the ability of the Company to price its products at
levels that are cost-effective for such customers. As the markets for the
Company's products mature and competition increases, the Company anticipates
that prices for its products will generally decline over time. If the Company is
unable to reduce its costs sufficiently to offset declines in product prices or
is unable to introduce new, higher performance products with higher product
prices, the Company's results of operations could be materially adversely
affected.
The Company anticipates that it will compete for the development of new
technologies and for the sale of semiconductor products with a number of
companies who have more extensive resources including financial, manufacturing,
technical, marketing and distribution. In addition, some of those firms have
greater intellectual property rights, broader product lines and longer-standing
relationships with customers than the Company. The Company's competitors may
also include a number of emerging companies.
DEPENDENCE ON CREDIT FACILITY. Because it has not been profitable to date,
the Company has funded its losses through a combination of equity and debt
financing. In June 1998, the Company entered into a credit facility (the "Credit
Facility") with Goldman Sachs Credit Partners LP and the Technology Finance
Division of Transamerica Business Credit Corporation, which provides for an
aggregate maximum borrowing of $40 million. The interest rate on the Credit
Facility is generally the prime rate plus 3% to 5%. Accordingly, while the
Credit Facility provides for working capital, the high cost of servicing any
borrowing thereunder could negatively effect the Company's liquidity. There can
be no assurance that this line of credit will be sufficient to meet the
Company's needs. In the event the Company is required to secure additional
capital, there can be no assurance that such capital will be available on
acceptable terms or at all. The Company's inability to secure such potential
future financing, if necessary, would have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
FACTORS INHIBITING TAKEOVER. The Company is subject to the provision of
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which imposes certain
restrictions on the ability of a third party to effect an unsolicited change in
control of the Company. In addition, the Company's Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting in the
election of directors, and certain provisions of the Company's Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, including the provision which
divides the Board into three separate classes, may have the effect of delaying
or preventing changes in control or management of the Company.
TRADING IN THE NON-NASDAQ OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET; DISCLOSURE RELATING TO
LOW PRICED STOCK. The Company's Common Stock trades only on the OTC Bulletin
Board, and the trading volume has been generally light. The Company does not
currently meet the requirements of the Nasdaq National Market ("Nasdaq") or
other national stock exchanges. There can be no assurance that the Company in
the future will meet such listing requirements or that it will be accepted for
trading on any such national exchange.
Because the Company's Common Stock trades on the non-Nasdaq over-the-counter
market, an investor may find it more difficult to dispose of, or to obtain
accurate quotations as to the market value of, the Company's Common Stock. In
addition, because the Company's Common Stock is not listed on Nasdaq, trading in
its Common Stock is also subject to certain rules promulgated under the Exchange
Act, which require additional disclosure by broker-dealers in connection with
any trades involving a stock defined as a penny stock (generally, any non-Nasdaq
equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to
certain exceptions). The additional burdens imposed upon broker-dealers by such
requirements may discourage broker-dealers from effecting transactions in the
Company's Common Stock, and may limit the ability of purchasers of the Company's
Common Stock to resell such securities in the secondary market.
RISK OF ADDITIONAL SHARES SOLD IN THE PUBLIC MARKET. Because the holders of
the Series A Shares and the Series C Shares may convert such shares into shares
of the Company's Common Stock at variable conversion prices, the exact number of
shares of Common Stock which the Company may issue upon conversion of Series A
Shares and Series C Shares is not currently known, and may fluctuate based on
the market value of the Company's Common Stock. Because of the variable
conversion price feature of the Series A Shares and Series C Shares, holders of
such shares may have incentive to take certain actions, including shorting the
Company's Common Stock, to decrease the market price of such Common Stock. Upon
a decrease in the market price of the Company's Common Stock, holders of the
Series A Shares and Series C Shares may elect to convert such shares at the
variable conversion price and thereby receive a greater number of shares of the
Company's Common Stock. Short selling is illegal if used to
9
<PAGE> 10
manipulate the price of a company's securities for profit, and the Company has
no knowledge that any holders of Series A Shares or Series C Shares intends to
take any action that may cause the price of the Company's Common Stock to fall.
However, there can be no assurance that holders of the Company's Series A Shares
or Series C Shares will not short the Company's Common Stock or take such other
actions, the effect of which may be to drive down the market price of the
Company's Common Stock.
CONCENTRATION OF STOCK OWNERSHIP. Currently, three parties control
approximately 75% of the outstanding Common Stock, each of whom controls at
least 10% individually. There can be no assurance that the liquidity of the
market for the Common Stock will be maintained at or increase over its current
levels, and the trading price for the Common Stock may be influenced by the
volume and liquidity of the market for the Common Stock. Sales of a large
percentage of the Company's total outstanding Common Stock may have an adverse
effect on the market price for such securities.
DEPENDENCE ON FOUNDRIES. The Company is a "fabless" semiconductor firm that
depends on outside manufacturing resources for production of all of its
semiconductor products. Currently the Company utilizes two foundries, one
domestic and one foreign, for production of its existing products. Both of these
foundries have indicated to the Company that they have the manufacturing
availability to provide for the Company's planned production of each of its
products for the next 12 months; however the Company's production relationship
with each foundry is based only upon purchase orders, and there is no assurance
that either foundry will continue to provide adequate manufacturing capacity to
the Company for its current level of production or any potential increases in
production levels. In the event that either or both foundries cease to
manufacture the Company's semiconductor products, the Company would have to
contract with alternative foundries. There can be no assurance that the Company
would be able to contract with alternative foundries in a timely manner or at
all. The failure to do so would have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations.
The manufacture of semiconductor products is a highly complex and precise
process. Minute levels of contaminants in the manufacturing environment, defects
in the masks used to print circuits on wafers, difficulties in the fabrication
process or other factors can cause a substantial percentage of wafers to be
rejected or a significant number of die on each wafer to be non-functional. Many
of these problems are difficult to diagnose and potentially time-consuming or
expensive to remedy. There can be no assurance that the Company's foundries will
not experience irregularities or adverse yield fluctuations in the manufacturing
processes of the Company's products in the future, which could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations.
DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL. The Company's success depends to a significant
extent upon continued services of key engineering, marketing, sales and
management personnel. The Company's employees may voluntarily terminate their
employment with the Company at any time. The Company recognizes the value of the
contributions of each of its employees and has developed compensation programs,
including stock option plans for the granting of options to all employees,
designed to retain its employees. Competition for such employees is intense, and
the loss of the services of such employees could have a material adverse effect
on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
DEPENDENCE ON PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY. The Company's ability to compete
successfully will depend, in part, on its ability to protect its proprietary
technology. The Company relies on a combination of patents, trade secrets,
copyright and trademark laws, nondisclosure agreements and other contractual
provisions and technical measures to protect its proprietary rights. There can
be no assurance that such measures will be adequate or safeguard the proprietary
technology underlying the Company's products, or that its agreements with
employees, consultants and others who participate in the development of its
products will not be breached, that the Company will have adequate remedies for
any breach or that the Company's proprietary information or trade secrets will
not otherwise become known. Moreover, notwithstanding the Company's efforts to
protect its intellectual property, there can be no assurance that competitors
will not be able to develop products that are equal or superior to the Company's
products without infringing any of the Company's intellectual property rights.
In addition, effective protection of intellectual property rights may be
unavailable or limited in certain countries. Accordingly, there can be no
assurance that the Company's means of protecting its intellectual property will
be adequate or that the Company's competitors will not independently develop
similar technologies or products.
Although the Company does not believe that its products infringe the
proprietary rights of any third parties, there can be no assurance that
infringement or invalidity claims (or claims for indemnification resulting from
infringement claims) will not be asserted against the Company or that any such
assertions will not materially adversely affect the Company's business,
financial
10
<PAGE> 11
condition or results of operations. Irrespective of the validity or the
successful assertion of such claims, the Company could incur significant costs
with respect to the defense thereof which could have a material adverse effect
on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
In February 1998, the Company was served with a lawsuit for patent
infringement filed by Creative Technology Ltd., a Singapore corporation
("Creative"), and its subsidiary, E-MU Systems, Inc., a California corporation
("E-MU") in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. The
lawsuit alleges that the Company's Vortex AU8820 Digital Audio Processor
infringes on a patent that describes a specific implementation for an electronic
musical instrument designed by E-MU. Creative and E-MU seek, among other things,
a preliminary and permanent injunction against continuing acts of infringement
by the Company and an accounting of damages plus interest. In response, the
Company filed a motion for summary judgment. In August 1998, E-MU and Creative
filed a motion for a preliminary injunction with respect to the Company's Vortex
AU8820 Digital Audio Processor and the Vortex 2. The Company believes that the
actions filed by Creative and E-MU are without merit and intends to defend
vigorously against these actions.
Litigation may be necessary to resolve the claims asserted by Creative and
E-MU and any other claims asserted in the future to defend against claims of
infringement or invalidity or to enforce and protect the Company's intellectual
property rights. There can be no assurance that the Company will prevail in any
such litigation and any such litigation, whether or not determined in the
Company's favor or settled by the Company, would be costly and would divert the
efforts and attention of the Company's management and technical personnel from
normal business operation, which could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Adverse
determinations in litigation could result in the loss of the Company's
proprietary rights, subject the Company to significant liabilities, require the
Company to seek licenses from third parties or prevent the Company from
licensing its technology, any of which could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE. The Company uses a number of computer software
programs and operating systems in its internal operations, including
applications used in financial business systems and various administration
functions. To the extent that these software applications contain source code
that is unable to appropriately interpret the upcoming calendar year "2000,"
some level of modification or even possible replacement of such source code or
applications could be necessary. Given the information known at this time about
the Company's systems, it is currently not anticipated that such "Year 2000"
costs will have a material impact on the Company. The Company is not aware that
any of its key suppliers or customers are not fully "Year 2000" compliant. If
any of its key suppliers or customers are not yet fully "Year 2000" compliant,
there can be no assurance that such non-compliance would not have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations.
11
<PAGE> 12
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Company will receive the proceeds from the exercise of the Definitive
Warrants, if any, and expects to use such proceeds, if any, for working capital.
The Company will not receive any proceeds from conversions of the Series B
Shares and Series C Shares and all proceeds from any sales of such Shares will
go to the Selling Stockholders to be used for their own purposes.
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The Selling Stockholders will hold the Shares that are issuable upon
conversion of the Series B Shares and Series C Shares and exercise of the
Definitive Warrants, if any. The table below lists the Selling Stockholders, the
number of Shares which each currently owns or will own, assuming the conversion
of the Series B Shares and the Series C Shares on August 17, 1998 and the
exercise of the Definitive Warrants on such date, the number of Shares subject
to sale pursuant to this Registration Statement and the number of shares of
Common Stock each would own assuming the sale of all Shares registered by this
Registration Statement.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP SHARES TO BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
PRIOR TO THE OFFERING(2) BE SOLD AFTER THE OFFERING
---------------------- IN THE -------------------
SELLING STOCKHOLDER (1) SHARES PERCENT OFFERING(3) SHARES PERCENT
- ---------------------------------------------------- ------ ------- ----------- ------ -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
TCW Special Credits Trust (4) 7,846,416 11.4% 2,880,157 4,966,259 7.2%
TCW Special Credits Fund IIIb (4) 14,529,637 20.9% 5,623,763 8,905,874 12.8%
TCW Special Credits Trust IIIb (4) 11,413,777 16.5% 4,389,120 7,024,657 10.1%
TCW Special Credits, as Investment Manager of 2,159,818 3.1% 822,960 1,336,858 1.9%
Delaware State Employees Retirement Fund (4)
B III Capital Partners, L.P. (5) 8,479,182 12.4% 6,904,182 1,575,000 2.3%
EP Opportunity Fund, LLC (6) 689,589 1.0% 689,589 0 *
Queensway Financial Holdings Limited (7) 465,056 * 229,863 235,193 *
Transamerica Business Credit Corporation (8) 506,250 * 506,250 0 *
Goldman Sachs & Co. (9) 843,750 1.2% 843,750 0 *
---------- ----------
TOTAL 46,933,475 22,889,634 N/A
</TABLE>
- ------
* Less than one percent
(1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the
Commission. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a
person and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of the
Company's Common Stock subject to options and warrants held by that
person that are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60
days of August 17, 1998 are deemed outstanding. However, such shares are
not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage
ownership of any other person. This table is based upon information
supplied by officers, directors and principal stockholders. Except as
otherwise indicated, the Company believes that the persons or entities
named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to
all shares of the Company's Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by
them, subject to community property laws where applicable.
12
<PAGE> 13
(2) The number of Shares set forth in the table represents an estimate of
the number of Shares to be offered by the Selling Stockholders and
assumes the exercise of all Definitive Warrants issued as described in
this Prospectus. Pursuant to the Company's agreement with the Series C
Selling Stockholders as set forth in the financing agreements, the
number of Shares registered by this Registration Statement equals
approximately 150% of the Shares that would be issued had the Series C
Shares been converted on August 17, 1998. The actual number of Shares
issuable upon conversion of Series C Shares is indeterminate, is subject
to adjustment and could be materially more than such estimated number
depending on factors that cannot be predicted by the Company at this
time, including the future market price of the Company's Common Stock.
The actual number of Shares offered hereby, and included in the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part, includes such
additional number of Shares as may be issued or issuable upon conversion
of the Series C Shares and by reason of the floating rate conversion
price mechanism or other adjustment mechanisms described in the Series C
Certificate of Designation, or by reason of any stock split, stock
dividend or similar transaction involving the Company's Common Stock, in
order to prevent dilution, in accordance with Rule 416 under the
Securities Act.
(3) Assumes the sale of all Shares offered hereby.
(4) This Stockholder is affiliated with, and controlled by, The TCW Group,
Inc. ("TCW"). TCW and its related entities own, in the aggregate, 35.9
million shares of the Company's Common Stock and Common Stock
equivalents (consisting of Preferred Shares) (the "Equity Securities"),
or approximately 50.4% of the Equity Securities. Mr. Masson, a director
of the Company, was a partner of TCW Special Credits and served as a
managing director of Trust Company of the West and TCW Asset Management
Group ("TAMCO"), both wholly-owned subsidiaries of TCW, from 1988 to May
1995. Since May 1995, Mr. Masson has been a principal of Oaktree Capital
Management, LLC ("Oaktree"). Oaktree has voting and dispositive powers
over an aggregate of 38.3 million shares of the Equity Securities
including both the TCW holdings and 2.3 million shares of the Equity
Securities held by Oaktree as a fiduciary on behalf of a third party
separate account. Mr. Masson may be deemed a beneficial owner to the
extent of any indirect pecuniary interest therein. Mr. Masson disclaims
beneficial ownership of such shares of the Equity Securities. Mr. Smith,
a director of the Company, serves as an officer or authorized
representative of certain entities affiliated with, or related to, TCW.
Mr. Smith has voting and dispositive powers over an aggregate of 35.9
million shares of the Equity Securities. Mr. Smith disclaims beneficial
ownership of such shares of the Equity Securities. The address of this
stockholder is c/o Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, 550 Hope Street,
22nd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071.
(5) This Stockholder is affiliated with, and controlled by, DDJ Capital
Management, LLC ("DDJ"). DDJ and its related entities own, in the
aggregate, 14.9 million shares of the Equity Securities, or
approximately 21.6% of the Equity Securities. The address of this
stockholder is c/o DDJ Capital Management, LLC, 141 Linden Street, Suite
S-4, Wellesley, Massachusetts 02482-7910.
(6) The address for this stockholder is c/o Eisenberg Partners, L.L.C., 33
West Monroe Street, 21st Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60603.
(7) The address for this stockholder is 90 Adelaide Street West, Suite 500,
Toronto, Ontario M6E3A2 Canada.
(8) The address for this warrant holder is 15260 Ventura Blvd., Suite 1240,
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403.
(9) The address for this warrant holder is 1 New York Plaza, New York, New
York 10004.
13
<PAGE> 14
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Shares being offered by the Selling Stockholders or their respective
pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest, will be sold in
one or more transactions (which may involve block transactions) on the OTC
Bulletin Board or on such other market on which the Common Stock may from time
to time be trading, in privately-negotiated transactions, through the writing of
options on the Shares, short sales or any combination thereof. The sale price to
the public may be the market price prevailing at the time of sale, a price
related to such prevailing market price or such other price as the Selling
Stockholders determine from time to time.
The Selling Stockholders or their respective pledgees, donees, transferees
or other successors in interest, may also sell the Shares directly to market
makers acting as principals and/or broker-dealers acting as agents for
themselves or their customers. Brokers acting as agents for the Selling
Stockholders will receive usual and customary commissions for brokerage
transactions, and market makers and block purchasers purchasing the Shares will
do so for their own account and at their own risk. It is possible that a Selling
Stockholder will attempt to sell shares of Common Stock in block transactions to
market makers or other purchasers at a price per share which may be below the
then market price. There can be no assurance that all or any of the Shares
offered hereby will be issued to, or sold by, the Selling Stockholders. The
Selling Stockholders and any brokers, dealers or agents, upon effecting the sale
of any of the Shares offered hereby, may be deemed "underwriters" as that term
is defined under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or the rules and
regulations thereunder.
The Selling Stockholders and any other persons participating in the sale or
distribution of the Shares will be subject to applicable provisions of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, which provisions may
limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the Shares by the Selling
Stockholders or any other such person. The foregoing may affect the
marketability of the Shares.
The Company has agreed to indemnify in certain circumstances the Selling
Stockholders against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act. The Selling Stockholders have agreed to indemnify in certain
circumstances the Company against certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act.
The Company has agreed to use its best efforts to keep the Registration
Statement, of which this Prospectus constitutes a part, effective until the
earlier of (i) the date on which the Selling Shareholders can sell all the
Shares pursuant to Rule 144 of the Security Act (without regard to volume
limitations) or (ii) when all of the Shares have been resold pursuant to Rule
144 or an effective registration statement.
LEGAL MATTERS
The legality of the Shares is being passed upon by Gray Cary Ware &
Freidenrich LLP, Palo Alto, California.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this Prospectus by
reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A-2 of Aureal Semiconductor Inc. for
the year ended December 28, 1997 have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP,
independent public accountants, as indicated in their report with respect
thereto, and are incorporated herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm
as experts in auditing and accounting in giving said report.
14
<PAGE> 15
================================================================================
NO DEALER, SALESMAN OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION
OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING DESCRIBED HEREIN,
AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED
UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, ANY
SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE REGISTERED SECURITIES TO WHICH IT RELATES, OR AN OFFER
TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT
IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE AN
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
ANYTIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Available Information..........................................................5
Information Incorporated By Reference..........................................5
The Company....................................................................5
Forward Looking Information....................................................7
Risk Factors...................................................................8
Use Of Proceeds...............................................................12
Selling Stockholders..........................................................12
Plan Of Distribution..........................................................14
Legal Matters.................................................................14
Experts.......................................................................14
================================================================================
================================================================================
28,150,000 SHARES
AUREAL SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
COMMON STOCK
PROSPECTUS
August ___, 1998
================================================================================
15
<PAGE> 16
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
The following table sets forth the costs and expenses in connection with the
sale and distribution of the securities being registered, other than
underwriting discounts and commissions. All of the amounts shown are estimates
except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fees.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TO BE PAID
BY THE
REGISTRANT
----------
<S> <C>
SEC registration.................... $10,249
Accounting fees and expenses........ 7,500
Legal fees and expenses............. 10,000
Miscellaneous expenses.............. 3,251
Total............................... $31,000
</TABLE>
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
As permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the
"DGCL"), the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provides that each person
who is or was or who had agreed to become a director or officer of the
Registrant or who had agreed at the request of the Registrant's Board of
Directors or an officer of the Registrant to serve as an employee or agent of
the Registrant or as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be
indemnified by the Registrant to the full extent permitted by the DGCL or any
other applicable laws. Such Certificate of Incorporation also provides that no
amendment or repeal of such Certificate of Incorporation shall apply to or have
any effect on the right to indemnification permitted or authorized thereunder
for or with respect to claims asserted before or after such amendment or repeal
arising from acts or omissions occurring in whole or in part before the
effective date of such amendment or repeal.
The Registrant's Bylaws provide that the Registrant shall indemnify to the
full extent authorized by law any person made or threatened to be made a party
to an action or a proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or
investigative, by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate was or
is a director, officer or employee of the Registrant or any predecessor of the
Registrant or serves or served any other enterprise as a director, officer or
employee at the request of the Registrant or an predecessor of the Registrant.
The Registrant's Bylaws also provide that the Registrant may enter into one or
more agreements with any person which provides for indemnification greater or
different than that provided in such Certificate of Incorporation.
The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its
directors and its officers.
The Registrant intends to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any
person who is a director or officer against any loss arising from any claim
asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, subject to
certain exclusions.
See also the undertakings set out in response to Item 17 herein.
II-1
<PAGE> 17
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.
The following exhibits are filed with this Registration Statement:
Exhibit No Description of Document
- ---------- -----------------------
4.7(1) Aureal Semiconductor Inc. Regulation D Subscription Agreement for
Series C Preferred Stock.
4.8(1) Certificate of Designation of Series C Preferred Stock of Aureal
Semiconductor Inc.
4.9(1) Registration Rights Agreement (Common Stock underlying Series C
Preferred Stock).
4.11(1) Form of Definitive Warrants.
4.12(1) 8% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement.
4.13(1) Certificate of Designation of Series B Preferred Stock of Aureal
Semiconductor Inc.
4.14(1) Amendment No. 4 to Registration Rights Agreement.
5.1 Opinion of Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP.
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen, LLP.
23.2 Consent of Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1 Power of Attorney (see page II-4 of the Registration Statement).
(1) Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Company's Form
8-K on June 15, 1998.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement;
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3)of the
Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration
statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of
securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not
exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of
the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum
aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee"
table in the effective registration statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or
any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided,
however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) 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 Registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(2)That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, 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
bonafide offering thereof.
(3)To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.
II-2
<PAGE> 18
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to deliver or cause to be
delivered with the prospectus, to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or
given, the latest annual report to security holders that is incorporated by
reference in the prospectus and furnished pursuant to and meeting the
requirements of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934; and, where interim financial information required to be presented by
Article 3 of Regulation S-X are not set forth in the prospectus, to deliver, or
cause to be delivered to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given,
the latest quarterly report that is specifically incorporated by reference in
the prospectus to provide such interim financial information.
(d) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in The Securities Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by
such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.
(e) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of
prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h)
under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of the registration
statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-3
<PAGE> 19
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant has duly
caused this Registration Statement on Form S-2 to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Fremont, State of
California on the 21st day of August, 1998.
AUREAL SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
By: /s/ David J. Domeier
---------------------------------------------
David J. Domeier, Vice President,
Finance and Chief Financial Officer
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned does hereby make,
constitute and appoint Kenneth A. Kokinakas and David J. Domeier and each of
them, acting together or alone, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents
with full power of substitution, in his name, place and stead to execute on his
behalf, in his capacity as a Director and/or officer of Aureal Semiconductor
Inc. (the "Company"), a registration statement on Form S-2 or other appropriate
form and any and all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments),
registering shares of the Common Stock of the Company, to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and any and all instruments which
said attorneys-in-fact and agents deem necessary or advisable to enable the
Company to comply with the Securities Act and the rules, regulations and
requirements of the Commission in respect thereof, giving and granting to said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, acting together or alone, full
power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing whatsoever
necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the premises as fully to all
intents as he might or would do if personally present at the doing thereof, with
full power of substitution and revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that his said attorneys-in-fact or substitutes may or shall lawfully do or cause
to be done by virtue hereof.
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES
INDICATED:
August 21, 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Kenneth A. Kokinakas President, Chief Executive Officer and August 21, 1998
- ---------------------------- Director
Kenneth A. Kokinakas
/s/ David J. Domeier Vice President, Chief Financial August 21, 1998
- ---------------------------- Officer and
David J. Domeier Chief Accounting Officer
/s/ L. William Krause Director August 21, 1998
- ----------------------------
L. William Krause
/s/ D. Richard Masson Director August 21, 1998
- ----------------------------
D. Richard Masson
/s/ Thomas K. Smith, Jr. Director August 21, 1998
- ----------------------------
Thomas K. Smith, Jr.
/s/ Richard E. Christopher Director August 21, 1998
- ----------------------------
Richard E. Christopher
</TABLE>
II-4
<PAGE> 20
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No Description of Document
- ---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
4.7(1) Aureal Semiconductor Inc. Regulation D Subscription Agreement for
Series C Preferred Stock.
4.8(1) Certificate of Designation of Series C Preferred Stock of Aureal
Semiconductor Inc.
4.9(1) Registration Rights Agreement (Common Stock underlying Series C
Preferred Stock).
4.11(1) Form of Definitive Warrants.
4.12(1) 8% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement.
4.13(1) Certificate of Designation of Series B Preferred Stock of Aureal
Semiconductor Inc.
4.14(1) Amendment No. 4 to Registration Rights Agreement.
5.1 Opinion of Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP.
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen, LLP.
23.2 Consent of Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP (included in Exhibit
5.1).
24.1 Power of Attorney (see page II-4 of the Registration Statement).
</TABLE>
(1) Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Company's Form
8-K on June 15, 1998.
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 5.1
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
RE: AUREAL SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-2
Ladies and Gentlemen:
As legal counsel for Aureal Semiconductor Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), we are rendering this opinion in connection with the preparation and
filing of a registration statement on Form S-2 (the "Registration Statement")
relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of
28,150,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common
Stock"), to be issued by the Company upon conversion of shares of the Company's
Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock and upon exercise of certain
warrants.
We have examined such instruments, documents and records as we deemed relevant
and necessary for the basis of our opinion hereinafter expressed. In such
examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to
the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.
Based on such examination, we are of the opinion that the 28,150,000 shares of
Common Stock of the Company being registered pursuant to the Registration
Statement and to be issued to the purchasers thereof will be, upon issuance in
accordance with the terms of the Company's Certificate of Designation of Series
B Preferred Stock, Certificate of Designation of Series C Preferred Stock or the
terms of the warrants, as applicable, duly authorized shares, validly issued,
fully paid, and nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement referred to above and the use of our name wherever it
appears in said Registration Statement.
This opinion is to be used only in connection with the issuance of the Common
Stock while the Registration Statement is in effect.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP
GRAY CARY WARE & FREIDENRICH LLP
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 23.1
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this registration statement of our report dated March 12, 1998
included in Aureal Semiconductor Inc.'s Form 10-K/A for the year end December
28, 1997 and to all references to our Firm included in this registration
statement.
/s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
-------------------------------
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
San Jose, California
August 21, 1998
