<PAGE>
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 2, 1996.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
--------------
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
--------------
HUDSON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New York 13-3641530
- --------------------------------- ------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation or organization)
25 Torne Valley Road, Hillburn, New York 10931
- ---------------------------------------- ----------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Stock Option Plan
(Full title of the plan)
Kevin J. Zugibe, P.E., Hudson Technologies, Inc.
25 Torne Valley Road, Hillburn, New York 10931
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name and address of agent for service)
(914) 368-4990
--------------
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
Robert J. Mittman, Esq.
Tenzer Greenblatt LLP
405 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10174
<PAGE>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Proposed Proposed
Maximum Maximum
Aggregate Aggregate Amount of
Title of Securities Amount to Price Per Offering Registra-
to be Registered be Registered Share(1) Price(1) tion Fee
- ------------------- -------------- --------- ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock, par 725,000 shares $7 $5,069,125 $1,536
value $.01
per share(2)
</TABLE>
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration
fee and based (a) as to the 715,600 shares purchasable upon the exercise of
options previously granted under the registrant's Option Plan ("Plan") upon the
average price at which such options may be exercised and (b) as to the remaining
9,400 shares issuable upon exercise of options reserved for issuance under the
Plan on the basis of the closing sale price for the Common Stock as quoted on
NASDAQ on November 18, 1996.
(2) Pursuant to Rule 416, there are also being registered additional
shares of Common Stock as may become issuable pursuant to the anti-dilution
provisions of the Plan.
<PAGE>
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Item 1. Plan Information.*
Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee
Plan Annual Information.*
* Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a)
prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule
428 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Note to Part I of Form S-8.
<PAGE>
465,000 Shares of Common Stock
Hudson Technologies, Inc.
This Prospectus relates to an offering by certain persons (the "Selling
Stockholders") of an aggregate of up to 465,000 shares of Common Stock of Hudson
Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") issuable upon exercise of options granted
under the Company's Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). The Company will not receive
any of the proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock by the Selling
Stockholders.
The Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol
"HDSN." On November 18, 1996, the closing sale price of the Common Stock as
reported by NASDAQ was $6.375.
----------------------
THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY ARE SPECULATIVE AND INVOLVE
A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK AND SHOULD NOT BE PURCHASED BY INVESTORS
WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE LOSS OF THEIR ENTIRE INVESTMENT.
SEE "RISK FACTORS" ON PAGE 6.
-------------------------
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 December 2, 1996
<PAGE>
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 Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information filed by the Company can be inspected and
copied at the public reference facilities of the Commission located at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's regional offices
at 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400 Chicago, Illinois 60661 and 7 World Trade
Center, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can also be obtained
from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission are incorporated herein by reference:
(a) Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, as amended, for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1995;
(b) Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the three month
period ended March 31, 1996;
(c) Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the three month
period ended June 30, 1996;
(d) Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the three month
period ended September 30, 1996;
(e) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed in April 1996; and
(f) The description of the Company's Common Stock contained
in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A.
All documents filed by the Company 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 termination of the offering of the Common Stock
offered hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be
a part hereof on the date of filing of such documents.
The Company will furnish without charge to each person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of such person, a copy
of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference, except for the
exhibits to such documents. Requests should be directed to Mr. William A.
Barron, Hudson Technologies, Inc., 25 Torne Valley Road, Hillburn, New York
10931, telephone: (914) 368-4990
2
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information and financial statements, including the notes thereto, contained in
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December
31, 1995 and the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB for the three months
ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 1996 incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus. Prospective investors are urged to read this Prospectus in its
entirety.
The Company
Hudson Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") provides refrigerant
management services, consisting primarily of the recovery and reclamation of
refrigerants used in commercial air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
Recovery and reclamation involve removing and restoring contaminated
refrigerants to original purity standards. The Company currently operates
reclamation facilities in New York, Illinois, Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina
and Nevada and uses proprietary equipment designed to rapidly recover and
reclaim substantial amounts of refrigerants on-site and at its facilities, on a
cost-effective basis. The Company's services are intended to permit compliance
with regulations adopted under the Federal Clean Air Act, which prohibit venting
and require the recovery of used refrigerants.
The production and use of refrigerants containing chlorofluorocarbons
("CFCs") and hydrochlorofluorocarbons ("HCFCs"), the most commonly used
refrigerants, are subject to extensive and changing regulation under the Clean
Air Act. The Clean Air Act, which was amended in 1990 in response to evidence
linking the use of CFCs to damage to the earth's ozone layer, prohibits the
production of CFC refrigerants for domestic consumption effective January 1,
1996. Prior to such date, domestic production of CFC refrigerants was
substantially limited. Pursuant to the Clean Air Act, the production of
refrigerants containing HCFCs is limited and is scheduled to be phased out by
the year 2030.
Due principally to regulations under the Clean Air Act governing the
production and use of CFC refrigerants, demand for refrigerant management
services has increased in recent years. The Company believes that the following
factors will contribute favorably to the expected continued growth in demand for
the Company's services:
o The Clean Air Act imposes civil and criminal penalties on
owners and operators of air conditioning and refrigeration systems who
fail to monitor CFC leakage or knowingly vent or otherwise dispose of
ozone depleting substances;
3
<PAGE>
o Higher costs associated with replacing CFC refrigerants with
alternative refrigerants and replacing equipment designed to use CFC
refrigerants with new equipment makes it economical to reclaim CFC
refrigerants;
o Alternative refrigerants (including HCFCs) may cause
equipment damage and may be less effective than CFC refrigerants when
used in air conditioning and refrigeration systems which require
significant capacity;
o Owners and operators of air conditioning and refrigeration
systems who convert existing equipment or purchase new equipment over
the next several years will require refrigerant recovery services;
o Capacity to manufacture commercial-size air conditioning and
refrigeration equipment in the United States is currently limited.
Since its inception, the Company has sought to capitalize on
opportunities arising from the emerging markets for refrigerant management
services, focusing its efforts on penetrating new geographic markets, primarily
by establishing and acquiring additional reclamation facilities and expanding
the range of services offered. During 1991, the Company was engaged in
organizational activities, including researching the industry, developing a
business plan and establishing its first reclamation facility. The Company
commenced reclamation operations in early 1992 and, in June 1994, the Company
moved its operations to a larger facility in Hillburn, New York. In December
1994, the Company acquired recovery and reclamation facilities in Urbana,
Illinois through the acquisition of CFC Reclamation. In 1995, the Company
established facilities in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Baton Rouge, Louisiana and
acquired the operations of Refrigerant Reclamation Corporation of America
("RRCA"), which currently operates reclamation facilities in Charlotte, North
Carolina and Sparks, Nevada. Effective August 1996, RRCA's name has been changed
to Hudson Technologies Company ("HTC"). In 1996, the Company acquired all of the
issued and outstanding shares of Environmental Support Solutions, Inc. ("ESS"),
a developer and producer of environmental software, training and management
services, located in Phoenix, Arizona, and all of the issued and outstanding
shares of common stock of GRR Co., Inc. d/b/a Golden Refrigerants ("Golden"), a
refrigerant reclamation and recovery company located in Punta Gorda, Florida.
Subsequent to the Company's acquisition of ESS, ESS acquired the assets of
E-Soft, Inc. ("E-Soft"), a Georgia based developer and marketer of software
programs related to hazardous material management.
The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York in
January 1991. The Company's executive offices are located at 25 Torne Valley
Road, Hillburn, New York 10931, and its telephone number at that address is
(914) 368-4990.
4
<PAGE>
The Offering
Securities offered ..........................465,000 shares
Common Stock outstanding.....................4,349,495 shares (1)
Use of Proceeds..............................Assuming that all of the options
are exercised, of which there
can be no assurance, the Company
will realize net proceeds of
approximately $2,848,250 which
will be used for working capital
and general corporate purposes.
The Company will not receive any
of the proceeds from the sale of
the Common Stock by the Selling
Stockholders. See "Use of
Proceeds."
Risk Factors.................................The shares offered hereby are
speculative and a high degree of
risk and should not be purchased
by investors who cannot afford
the loss of their entire
investment. See "Risk Factors."
NASDAQ Symbol................................HDSN
- ----------------
(1) As of November 7, 1996.
5
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
The shares offered hereby are speculative and involve a high degree of
risk. Prospective investors should carefully consider the following risk factors
before making an investment in the Company.
Limited Operating History; Recent Loss; Future Operating Results. The
Company commenced recovery and reclamation operations in early 1992 and has a
limited operating history upon which an evaluation of its performance and
prospects can be made. The Company's prospects must be considered in light of
the numerous risks, expenses, delays, problems and difficulties frequently
encountered in the establishment of a new business in an emerging industry
characterized by intense competition and stringent regulation. From inception
until the year ended December 31, 1994, the Company incurred net losses
aggregating $692,644 and, although the Company achieved profitability in 1995,
the Company incurred a loss of $412,000 for the nine months ended September 30,
1996 principally due to a non-recurring restructuring reserve established by the
Company during such period. The Company's operating expenses have increased
significantly and can be expected to continue to increase significantly in
connection with any expansion activities which may be undertaken by the Company.
Accordingly, the Company's future profitability will depend upon corresponding
increases in revenues from operations. Future events, including unanticipated
expenses, increased competition, changes in government regulation or the
inability to obtain sufficient quantities of used refrigerants for processing or
management, could have an adverse effect on the Company's operating results.
There can be no assurance that the Company's rate of revenue growth will
continue in the future or that the Company's operations will be profitable.
Potential Liability and Insurance. The refrigerant recovery and
reclamation industry involves potentially significant risks of statutory and
common law liability for environmental damage and personal injury. The Company,
and in certain instances, its officers, directors and employees, may be subject
to claims arising from the Company's on-site or off-site services, including the
improper release, spillage, misuse or mishandling of refrigerants classified as
hazardous or nonhazardous substances or materials. The Company may be strictly
liable for damages, which could be substantial, regardless of whether it
exercised due care and complied with all relevant laws and regulations. Prior to
November 1996, the Company did not maintain environmental impairment insurance.
In June 1995, United Water of New York Inc. ("United") alleged that it
discovered that two of its wells within close proximity to the Company's
facility showed elevated levels of refrigerant contamination. In June 1996,
United notified the Company that it was seeking indemnification by the Company
6
<PAGE>
for costs incurred to date as well as costs expected to be incurred in
connection with United taking remedial action. In July 1996, United threatened
to institute legal action in the event that the Company declined to settle this
matter. The Company is currently conducting an investigation to determine the
source of the alleged contamination in United's wells and the need, if any, for
remediation. There can be no assurance that United will not commence legal
action seeking substantial damages and/or other relief, that any legal action of
settlement will be resolved in a manner favorable to the Company or that the
ultimate outcome of any legal action or settlement will not have a material
adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
In August 1996, the Company received a letter from the New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation ("DEC") which states that in the opinion of DEC
the Company's refrigerants were the cause of the contamination of United's
wells. The DEC report states that it is not aware of the extent of the
contamination or how the Company's refrigerants entered the groundwater. The
Company is cooperating with the DEC's direction to develop a proposal to
quantify and remediate the contamination. There can be no assurance that the
Company will not face claims resulting in substantial liability for which the
Company is uninsured, that hazardous substances or materials are not or will not
be present at the Company's or United's facilities or that the Company will not
incur liability for environmental impairment or personal injury. On November 14,
1996, the Company obtained a general liability insurance policy which covers
claims up to $1,000,000 with an umbrella insurance policy which covers claims of
up to $6,000,000. The Company has also obtained environmental impairment
insurance in the amount of $6,000,000. There can be no assurance that such
insurance will be sufficient to cover potential claims or that an adequate level
of coverage will be available in the future at a reasonable cost. A partially or
completely uninsured claim against the Company, if successful and of sufficient
magnitude, would have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Risks Associated with Rapid Expansion. The Company has achieved rapid
and substantial growth which has placed and is expected to continue to place a
significant strain on its management, administrative, operational, financial and
other resources. The Company's success will be largely dependent upon its
ability to manage such growth (including monitoring operations, controlling
costs and maintaining effective management, inventory, quality and regulatory
controls). The Company has limited experience in effectuating rapid expansion
and in managing a broader range of services which are geographically dispersed.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to
successfully manage its operations or that any inability to do so will not
adversely affect its business, financial condition or results of operations. The
Company is also seeking to expand its operations through acquisitions. While the
Company continually evaluates possible acquisition opportunities and from time
to time engages in discussions or negotiations relating to possible
7
<PAGE>
acquisitions, as of the date of this Prospectus, the Company has no agreements,
understandings or commitments and is not engaged in any negotiations relating to
any potential acquisitions. There can be no assurance that the Company will
effect any acquisitions or that the Company will be able to successfully
integrate into its operations any acquired businesses. Any inability to do so,
particularly in instances in which the Company has made significant capital
investments, could have a material adverse effect on the Company. In addition,
the Company may acquire existing reclamation facilities which require the
Company to develop or upgrade such facilities. There can be no assurance that
the Company would be able to successfully complete development or upgrading of
any such acquired facilities.
Dependence on Environmental Regulation. The Company's business and
prospects are largely dependent upon continued regulation of the production, use
and disposition of refrigerants containing ozone depleting substances. Changes
in government regulations which would permit the emission of refrigerants into
the atmosphere or prohibit the use of refrigerants containing ozone depleting
substances, resulting in decreased demand for the Company's services, could have
a material adverse effect on the Company, including possibly requiring the
Company to significantly curtail its operations. Failure by government
authorities to otherwise continue to enforce existing regulations or significant
relaxation of regulatory requirements could also adversely affect demand for the
Company's services. Current regulations require that a recovered refrigerant
satisfy purity standards set by the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute
("ARI") prior to resale to a person other than the owner of the system from
which it was recovered. Such regulation is scheduled to expire on December 31,
1996. Failure by government authorities to extend such regulation could
significantly reduce demand for the Company's services, which would have a
material adverse effect on the Company.
Government Regulation. The refrigerant management business is subject
to extensive, stringent and frequently changing federal, state and local laws
and substantial regulation under these laws by governmental agencies, including
the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA"), the United States
Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA") and the United States
Department of Transportation ("DOT"). Among other things, these regulatory
authorities impose requirements which regulate the handling, packaging,
labeling, transportation and disposal of hazardous and nonhazardous materials
and the health and safety of workers, and require the Company and, in certain
instances, its employees, to obtain and maintain licenses and permits in
connection with its operations. This extensive regulatory framework imposes
significant compliance burdens and risks on the Company and subjects the Company
to periodic inspections by regulatory authorities. The Company believes that it
is in compliance with all regulations governing its operations and has obtained
8
<PAGE>
all licenses and permits necessary for the operation of its business.
Nevertheless, amendments to existing statutes and regulations, adoption of new
statutes and regulations and the Company's expansion into new jurisdictions and
services could require the Company to discontinue or continually alter methods
of operations at costs that could be substantial. There can be no assurance that
the Company will be able, for financial or other reasons, to comply with
applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements, particularly as it
seeks to enter into new geographic markets. Failure to comply with applicable
laws, rules or regulations or permitting requirements could subject the Company
to civil remedies, including substantial fines, penalties and injunctions, as
well as possible criminal sanctions, which would have a material adverse effect
on the Company.
Competition; Emerging Industry. The markets for the Company's services
and products are highly competitive. The Company competes with numerous
companies which provide refrigerant recovery and reclamation services, as well
as companies which market and deal in reclaimed and new refrigerants, including
certain of the Company's suppliers, some of which possess substantially greater
financial, technical, marketing, personnel and other resources than the Company.
The Company also competes with numerous manufacturers of refrigerant recovery
and reclamation equipment. Certain of these competitors, including National
Refrigerants, Inc., Refron, Inc. and Full Circle, Inc., have established
reputations for success in the service of air conditioning and refrigeration
systems. In addition, the refrigerant recovery and reclamation industry is
relatively new and emerging and competition from existing competitors as well as
from new market entrants is expected to increase. As is typically the case in an
emerging industry, demand and market acceptance for newly introduced services is
subject to a high degree of uncertainty. There can be no assurance as to the
ultimate level of demand and market acceptance for the Company's services or
that the Company will be able to compete successfully, particularly as it seeks
to enter into new geographic markets.
Factors Affecting the Availability and Price of Refrigerants. The
Company's business is dependent on the availability of used refrigerants in
large quantities and corresponding demand for reclaimed refrigerants. The
availability and price of refrigerants are influenced by several factors,
primarily the limitations on commercial production and use imposed by the Clean
Air Act, as well as the introduction and commercial use of new refrigerants and
air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, new market entrants resulting in
significantly increased price competition, changes in government regulation
(particularly regulations repealing or imposing taxes on the use of
refrigerants) and the availability and demand for large quantities of used
refrigerants. Prior to May 1995, the Company purchased large quantities of used
refrigerants from importers and currently purchases and/or processes used
refrigerants from many domestic sources. In connection with its operations, the
9
<PAGE>
Company holds significant amounts of refrigerants in inventory and, at October
1, 1996, the Company had inventories of approximately $9.7 million. Although the
Company believes that sufficient quantities of used domestic refrigerants will
continue to be available to it at a reasonable cost, the Company does not
maintain agreements with any of its domestic suppliers and obtains refrigerants
from time to time in the ordinary course of business. There can be no assurance
that substantial amounts of used refrigerants will be available to the Company
in the future on commercially reasonable terms, that the Company will not be
subject to price fluctuations, periodic delays or shortages or that demand for
reclaimed refrigerants will be sustained. Due to fluctuating market conditions,
there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to sell its inventory at
a profit, or at all. Failure to recover and reclaim refrigerants for customers
or to otherwise obtain, reclaim and resell sufficient quantities of refrigerants
would have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating margins and
results of operations.
Fluctuations in Operating Results. The Company's operating results may
vary from period to period as a result of the seasonal nature of the Company's
business, as well as the purchasing patterns of potential customers,
non-recurring sales, the availability of large amounts of used refrigerants and
the costs associated with expansion activities which may be undertaken by the
Company. The Company's business is seasonal in nature with peak sales occurring
in the first and fourth quarters. Unforeseen events, including delays in
securing adequate supplies of refrigerants at a time of peak sales or decreases
in sales during such periods, could result in significant fluctuations in
operating results or losses which would not easily be reversed before the
following year. For the nine months ended September 30, 1996, the Company's
revenues declined by approximately $436,000 from the six months ended June 30,
1995, primarily as a result of the discontinuation of the Company's program to
resell imported refrigerants. There can be no assurance that the foregoing
factors will not result in significant fluctuations in operating results in the
future.
Outstanding Indebtedness; Loan Covenants and Security Interest. Of the
Company's total outstanding indebtedness of $7,003,000 at November 10, 1996,
$3,675,000 is outstanding under Convertible Debentures issued to Cameron Capital
Ltd., $459,000 remains outstanding under a note issued by HTC to James J. Todack
("Todack") which is payable in sixteen equal monthly installments of principal
and interest in the amount of $52,515.21 commencing on May 10, 1995. The Note
issued to Todack is secured by certain assets of HTC. The Company also has an
agreement with MTB Bank, New York City (the "Bank") which provides for
borrowings of up to $3 million and contains covenants which require, among other
things, that the Company maintain a tangible net worth of $4 million. As of
September 30, 1996 the Company was in compliance with such covenant.
Substantially all of the Company's assets are pledged to the Bank as collateral
10
<PAGE>
to secure the Company's obligations under such agreement. In the event of a
violation of such loan covenant or other default by the Company on its
obligations to its lenders, the Company's lenders could declare the Company's
indebtedness to be immediately due and payable and foreclose on the Company's
assets. To the extent that substantially all of the assets of the Company
continue to be pledged to secure outstanding indebtedness, such assets will not
be available to secure future indebtedness, which may adversely affect the
Company's ability to borrow in the future. As of November 10, 1996,
approximately $1,845,000 was outstanding under the Company's loan agreement with
the Bank. The Company also owes $209,000 to certain unsecured debtors of HTC
which was assumed in connection with the Company's acquisition of HTC and owes
an aggregate of $815,000 under various equipment leases.
Possible Need for Additional Financing. The refrigerant management
business is capital intensive. The Company may be dependent on other financing
in order to implement its proposed expansion and to fund its cash requirements
necessary to finance its anticipated growth. In the event that the Company does
not generate cash flow from operations sufficient to satisfy its capital
requirements, the Company may be required to seek additional financing or
curtail its expansion activities. The Company may determine, depending upon the
opportunities available to it, to seek additional debt or equity financing to
fund the costs of purchasing capital equipment or continuing expansion. To the
extent that the Company finances an acquisition with equity securities in whole
or in part, any such issuance of equity securities would result in dilution to
the interests of the Company's stockholders. Additionally, to the extent that
the Company incurs indebtedness to fund increased levels of inventories and
accounts receivable or to finance the acquisition of capital equipment or issues
debt securities in connection with any acquisition, the Company will be subject
to the risks associated with incurring substantial indebtedness, including the
risks that interest rates may fluctuate and cash flow may be insufficient to pay
principal and interest on any such indebtedness. Other than borrowing
availability under the agreement with the Bank, the Company has no current
arrangements with respect to, or sources of, additional financing. There can be
no assurance that any additional financing will be available to the Company on
acceptable terms, or at all.
Patents and Proprietary Information. The Company holds a United States
patent relating to various high speed equipment components and a process to
recover and reclaim refrigerants which expires in January 2012. The Company
believes that patent protection is important to its business and has received an
allowance for an additional patent pending relating to a high speed refrigerant
recovery process. Other recovery and reclamation equipment and processes not
covered by the Company's patents or patent applications are currently in
commercial use by the Company's competitors. There can be no assurance as to
11
<PAGE>
the breadth or degree of protection that patents may afford the Company, that
any patent applications will result in issued patents or that patents will not
be circumvented or invalidated. Technological development in the refrigerant
industry may result in extensive patent filings and a rapid rate of issuance of
new patents. Although the Company believes that its existing patents and the
Company's equipment do not and will not infringe patents or violate proprietary
rights of others, it is possible that its existing patent rights may not be
valid or that infringement of existing or future patents or violations of
proprietary rights of others may occur. In the event that the Company's
equipment infringes or is alleged to infringe patents or other proprietary
rights of others, the Company may be required to modify the design of its
equipment, obtain a license or defend a possible patent infringement action.
There can be no assurance that the Company will have the financial or other
resources necessary to enforce or defend a patent infringement or proprietary
rights violation action or that the Company will not become liable for damages,
which could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
The Company also relies on trade secrets and proprietary know-how, and
employs various methods to protect its technology. However, such methods may not
afford complete protection and there can be no assurance that others will not
independently develop such know-how or obtain access to the Company's know-how,
concepts, ideas and documentation. Failure to protect its trade secrets could
have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Control by Management. The Company's officers and directors own
approximately 30.3% of the Company's outstanding Common Stock. Accordingly, such
persons, acting together, will be in a position to effectively control the
Company, elect all of the Company's directors and generally direct the affairs
of the Company. There is no provision for cumulative voting for directors. The
Company's By-Laws divide the Board of Directors into two classes serving
staggered two-year terms. The staggered Board of Directors could have the effect
of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in the control of the Company,
which might otherwise be in the best interests of the Company's shareholders.
Dependence on Key Personnel. The success of the Company is largely
dependent on the personal efforts of Kevin J. Zugibe, its Chairman and
President, and other key personnel. Although the Company has entered into an
employment agreement with Mr. Zugibe, the loss or interruption of his services
or the loss of services of other key employees could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business and prospectus. The success of the Company will
also be dependent upon its ability to hire and retain additional qualified
marketing, technical and other personnel. Competition for qualified personnel in
the refrigerant industry is intense, and there can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to hire or retain additional qualified personnel.
12
<PAGE>
No Dividends. The Company has not paid any cash dividends since its
inception and does not anticipate paying any dividends on its Common Stock in
the foreseeable future.
No Assurance of Continued Listing on NASDAQ. While the Company's Common
Stock is listed on the NASDAQ National Market, there can be no assurance that
such listing will continue. If the Common Stock were to be delisted for failure
to meet NASDAQ's maintenance requirements, the Common Stock might be subject to
the penny stock rules promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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). Such rules require the delivery, prior to any penny stock
transaction, of a disclosure schedule explaining the penny stock market and the
risks associated therewith, and impose various sales practice requirements on
broker-dealers who sell penny stocks to persons other than established customers
and accredited investors (generally institutions). For these types of
transactions, the broker-dealer must make a special suitability determination
for the purchaser and have received the purchaser's written consent to the
transaction prior to sale. The additional burdens imposed upon broker-dealers by
such requirements may discourage broker-dealers from effecting transactions in
the Common Stock, which could materially adversely affect the market price and
liquidity of the Common Stock and the ability of purchasers in this offering to
sell the Common Stock in the secondary market.
Possible Volatility of Market Price of Common Stock. The market price
for the Common Stock following this offering may be highly volatile as has been
the case with the securities of other companies in emerging businesses. Factors
such as the Company's financial results and changes in government regulations
and various factors affecting the refrigerant industry generally, may have a
significant impact on the market price of the Common Stock. Additionally, in
recent years, the stock market has experienced a high level of price and volume
volatility and market prices for the stock of many companies particularly of
small and emerging companies, the common stock of which trade in the
over-the-counter market, have experienced wide price fluctuations which have not
necessarily been related to the operating performance of such companies.
13
<PAGE>
USE OF PROCEEDS
In the event that the Options are exercised, of which there can be no
assurance, the Company would realize up to approximately $2,848,250 in net
proceeds. Any such proceeds will be used by the Company for working capital and
general corporate purposes. The Company has agreed to pay certain expenses in
connection with this offering, currently estimated to be approximately $13,000.
The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of Common Stock by the
Selling Stockholders.
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS AND PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
Selling Stockholders:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Beneficial Ownership of
Shares of Common Stock Shares to be Sold Shares Owned After Percentage of Shares
Selling Stockholder Prior to Sale in the Offering(1) the Offering Owned After the Offering
- ------------------- ----------------------- --------------- ------------------ ------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Kevin J. Zugibe(2) 288,000(3) 75,000 234,000 5.4%
Stephen J. Cole-Hatchard(4) 288,000(3) 75,000 234,000 5.4
Stephen P. Mandracchia(5) 276,000(3) 75,000 222,000 5.1
Thomas P. Zugibe(6) 288,000(3) 75,000 234,000 5.4
Frederick P. Zugibe(7) 266,500(2) 75,000 212,500 4.9
Robert Johnson(8) 9,500(9) 60,000 -- *
Walter A. Phillips(10) 17,700(11) 25,000 -- *
William A. Barron(12) 5,000(13) 5,000 -- *
</TABLE>
- ----------
* less than 1%
(1) Represents shares subject to options which, as of the date of this
Prospectus, have not been exercised and includes all shares subject to
options, whether or not currently exercisable.
(2) Kevin J. Zugibe is President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of
the Company.
(3) Includes options to purchase 54,000 shares which are immediately
exercisable. Does not include options to purchase 21,000 shares which
are not currently exercisable.
(4) Stephen J. Cole-Hatchard is a director of the Company.
(5) Stephen P. Mandracchia is Vice President of the Company.
(6) Thomas P. Zugibe is Vice President and director of the Company.
(7) Frederick P. Zugibe is the father of Kevin J. Zugibe and Thomas P.
Zugibe.
(8) Robert Johnson is Vice President and director of the Company.
(9) Represents immediately exercisable options. Does not include options to
purchase 50,500 shares which are not currently exercisable.
(10) Walter A. Phillips is Vice President of Sales and Marketing of the
Company.
(11) Represents immediately exercisable options. Does not include options to
purchase 7,300 shares which are not currently exercisable.
(12) William A. Barron is Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
(13) Represents immediately exercisable options.
14
<PAGE>
The Common Stock will be offered and sold from time to time as market
conditions permit in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise, at prices and
terms then prevailing or at prices related to the then-current market price, or
in negotiated transactions. The shares offered hereby may be sold by one or more
of the following methods, without limitation: (a) a block trade in which a
broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may
position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the
transaction; (b) purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by such
broker or dealer for its account pursuant to this Prospectus; (c) ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers;
and (d) face-to-face transactions between sellers and purchasers without a
broker-dealer. In effecting sales, brokers or dealers engaged by the Selling
Stockholders may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate. Such
broker or dealers may receive commissions or discounts from Selling Stockholders
in amounts to be negotiated. Such brokers and dealers and any other
participating brokers or dealers may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Act, in connection with such sales.
INDEMNIFICATION
The New York Business Corporation Law (Sections 721 through 726) permits a
corporation to indemnify its directors and officers for acts performed in their
respective capacities, subject to certain conditions. The Company's Certificate
of Incorporation provides that a director shall not be liable to the Company or
its shareholders for damages for any breach of duty in such capacity except for
liability if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director
establishes that his or her acts or omissions were in bad faith or involved
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or that the director
personally gained a financial profit or other advantage to which he or she was
not legally entitled or that the director's acts violated Section 719 of the
Business Corporation Law. The Company's By-laws provide for the indemnification
of directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the New York
Business Corporation Law.
Insofar as indemnification against liabilities arising under the Act may
be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised
that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable.
15
<PAGE>
LEGAL MATTERS
The legality of the Common Stock offered hereby will be passed upon for
the Company by Tenzer Greenblatt LLP, New York, New York.
EXPERTS
The financial statements incorporated by reference in this Prospectus have
been audited by BDO Seidman, LLP, independent certified public accountants, to
the extent and for the periods set forth in their report incorporated herein by
reference, and are incorporated herein in reliance upon such report given upon
the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("Commission") a Registration Statement with respect to the Securities offered
by this Prospectus. This Prospectus omits certain information contained in the
Registration Statement as permitted by the Rules and Regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. For further information, reference is made
to the Registration Statement and to the Exhibits filed therewith, which may be
examined without charge at the Commission's principal office in Washington, D.C.
or its regional office in New York City, and copies of all or any part thereof
may be obtained from the Commission upon payment of certain fees prescribed by
the Commission. Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of
any contract or other document referred to are not complete and where such
contract or other document is an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each
such statement is deemed to be qualified in all respects by the provisions of
the exhibit.
16
<PAGE>
No dealer, salesperson or other person has been authorized to give any
information or to make any representations other than those contained in this
Prospectus, and if given or made, such information or representations must not
be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company. This Prospectus does
not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy and
security other than the shares offered by this Prospectus, or an offer to sell
or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security by any person in any
jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation would be unlawful. Neither the
delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any
circumstances, imply that the information in this Prospectus is correct as of
any time subsequent to the date of this Prospectus.
-----------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Available Information...................................... 2
Information Incorporated by Reference 2
Prospectus Summary......................................... 3
Risk Factors............................................... 6
Use of Proceeds............................................ 14
Selling Stockholders and Plan of
Distribution............................................. 14
Indemnification............................................ 15
Legal Matters.............................................. 16
Experts.................................................... 16
Additional Information..................................... 16
465,000 Shares of
Common Stock
-----------------
HUDSON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
-----------------
PROSPECTUS
-----------------
December 2, 1996
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents previously,filedhbyethef registrant
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are incorporated
by reference in thisCRegistration Statement:
(1) Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, as amended, for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1995;
(2) Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the three month period ended
March 31, 1996;
(3) Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the three month period ended
June 30, 1996;
(4) Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the three month period ended
September 30, 1996;
(5) Current Report on Form 8-K, filed in April 1996;
(6) The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in its
Registration Statement on Form 8-A; and
(7) All documents subsequently filed by the registrant pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then
remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the respective date of
filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated by
reference herein is modified or superseded for all purposes to the extent that a
statement contained in this Registration Statement or in any other subsequently
filed document which is incorporated by reference modifies or replaces such
statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
II-1
<PAGE>
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
The New York Business Corporation Law (Sections 721 through
726) permits a corporation to indemnify any of its directors and officers for
acts performed in their capacities, subject to certain conditions. Paragraph 3
of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant provides that a director
shall not be liable to the corporation or its shareholders for damages for any
breach of duty in such capacity except for liability if a judgment or other
final adjudication adverse to the director establishes that his or her acts or
omissions were in bad faith or involved intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law or that the director personally gained a financial profit or
other advantage to which he or she was not legally entitled or that the
director's acts violated Section 719 of the Business Corporation Law. Paragraph
17 or Article III of the Registrant's By-laws provide for indemnification of
directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the New York Business
Corporation Law.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
Exhibit No. Description
1.1 Stock Option Plan of the
Registrant (incorporated by
reference to Registration
Statement on Form SB-2,
No. 33-80279-NY)
5 Opinion of Tenzer Greenblatt LLP
23.2 Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP
23.4 Consent of Tenzer Greenblatt LLP
(included in Exhibit 5)
24.1 Powers of Attorney (included on
Page II-4)
Item 9. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or
sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this
Registration Statement:
II-2
<PAGE>
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.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-
effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold
at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each
filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and where applicable, each filing
of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in 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) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under
the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing procedures, or
otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim
for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-3
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
The Registrant. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the Village of Hillburn, Town of Ramapo, State of
New York, on this 18th day of November 1996.
HUDSON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: /s/ Kevin J. Zugibe
------------------------------
Kevin J. Zugibe, President
Each person whose signature appears below authorizes each of Kevin J.
Zugibe and William A. Barron or either of them as his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution to execute in the name and on
behalf of each person, individually and in each capacity stated below, and to
file any and all amendments to this Registration Statement, including any and
all post-effective amendments thereto.
In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement was signed by the following person in the capacities and
on the dates stated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
- --------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Kevin J. Zugibe President and Director November 18, 1996
- ----------------------------- (Principal Executive
Kevin J. Zugibe Officer)
/s/ Stephen J. Cole-Hatchard Vice President, November 18, 1996
- ----------------------------- Treasurer and Director
Stephen J. Cole-Hatchard
/s/ William A. Barron Vice President November 18, 1996
- ----------------------------- (Principal Financial
William A. Barron and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Stephen P. Mandracchia Vice President and November 18, 1996
- ----------------------------- Secretary
Stephen P. Mandracchia
/s/ Thomas P. Zugibe Vice President and November 18, 1996
- ----------------------------- Director
Thomas P. Zugibe
/s/ Vincent P. Abbatecola Director November 18, 1996
- -----------------------------
Vincent P. Abbatecola
/s/ Otto C. Morch Director November 18, 1996
- -----------------------------
Otto C. Morch
/s/ Robert Johnson Vice President and November 18, 1996
- ----------------------------- Director
Robert Johnson
November 18, 1996
/s/ Dominic J. Monetta Director
- -----------------------------
Dominic J. Monetta
</TABLE>
II-4
<PAGE>
Exhibit Index
Exhibit
No. Description Page
------- ----------- ----
1.1 Stock Option Plan of Registrant
(incorporated by reference to
Registration Statement on Form SB-2,
No. 33-80279-NY)
5 Opinion of Tenzer Greenblatt LLP
23.2 Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP
23.4 Consent of Tenzer Greenblatt LLP (included
in Exhibit 5)
24.1 Powers of Attorney (included on Page II-4
of the Registration Statement)
<PAGE>
November 18, 1996
Hudson Technologies, Inc.
25 Torne Valley Road
Hillburn, New York 10931
Gentlemen:
You have requested our opinion with respect to the offer and
sale by you, Hudson Technologies, Inc., a New York corporation (the "Company"),
pursuant to a Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") on Form S-8
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of up to 725,000
shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company,
issuable upon exercise of stock options (the "Plan Options") granted under the
Company's Stock Option Plan.
We have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction, of such documents and corporate and public
records as we deem necessary as a basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed.
With respect to such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures appearing on all documents presented to us as originals, and the
conformity to the originals of all documents presented to us as conformed or
reproduced copies. Where factual matters relevant to such opinion were not
independently established, we have relied upon certificates of executive
officers and responsible employees and agents of the Company.
Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that the Shares
have been duly and validly authorized and when sold, paid for and issued as
contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Plan Options will be duly and
validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to
the Registration Statement, and to the use of our name as your counsel in
connection with the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus forming a part
thereof. In giving this consent,
<PAGE>
Hudson Technologies, Inc.
November 18, 1996
Page 2
we do not thereby concede that we come within the categories of persons whose
consent is required by the Act or the General Rules and Regulations promulgated
thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/TENZER GREENBLATT LLP
------------------------
TENZER GREENBLATT LLP
<PAGE>
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Hudson Technologies, Inc.
Hillburn, New York
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus
constituting a part of this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report
dated March 13, 1996, relating to the consolidated financial statements of
Hudson Technologies, Inc. appearing in the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1995.
We also consent to the reference to us under the caption "Experts" in the
Prospectus.
BDO SEIDMAN, LLP
Valhalla, New York
December 2, 1996
