Table of Contents
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-161538
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated September 17, 2009)
JMP GROUP INC.
Up to 3,000,000 Shares
Common Stock
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relate to the offer and sale from time to time of up to 3,000,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share. Our common shares to which this prospectus supplement relates will be offered over a period of time and from time to time through Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. and Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P., as our agents (collectively referred to throughout this prospectus supplement as the placement agents), or to the placement agents for resale, in accordance with the terms of the equity distribution agreement we have entered into with such placement agents. Sales of our common shares, if any, may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at-the-market” offerings as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, including without limitation sales made directly on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, on any other existing trading market for the common stock or to or through a market maker or otherwise, in negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, and/or any other method permitted by law. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
Our common stock is listed on the NYSE and trades under the symbol “JMP.” The last reported sales price of our common stock on the NYSE on April 21, 2011 was $7.98 per share.
We will pay the placement agents a commission equal to 2.0% of the gross proceeds of common stock sold by the placement agents, as our agents, pursuant to this prospectus supplement, and we shall reimburse them for certain expenses as further described herein. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, the placement agents may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the compensation of the placement agents may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. The net proceeds we receive from the sale of our common shares to which this prospectus supplement relates will be the gross proceeds received from such sales less the commissions or discounts and any other expenses we may incur in issuing the common stock. See “Use of Proceeds” on page S-6 and “Plan of Distribution” on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement for further information.
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of which this prospectus supplement forms a part, and in the documents incorporated by reference herein, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before making a decision to invest in our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
| Keefe, Bruyette &Woods, Inc. | Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P. |
The date of this prospectus supplement is April 21, 2011.
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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
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PROSPECTUS
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You should rely only on the information we have provided or incorporated by reference in this document or to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this document may only be accurate on the date of this document.
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms on which we are offering and selling shares of our common stock and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which provides more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer only to the “prospectus,” we are referring to both parts combined. If the information varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in this prospectus supplement; provided that if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date—for example, a document incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus—the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement in accordance with Rule 412 under the Securities Act.
Except as otherwise specified or used in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, the terms “we,” “our,” “us,” “the company,” “JMP” “JMP Group” and “JMP Group, Inc.” refer to JMP Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. References in this prospectus supplement to “U.S. dollars,” “U.S. $” or “$” are to the currency of the United States of America.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus, as modified and superseded pursuant to Rule 412 under the Securities Act. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the placement agents are not, making an offer to sell shares of our common stock in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the attached prospectus and the offering of the common stock in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus must inform themselves about and observe any restrictions relating to the offering of the common stock and the distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus outside the United States. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any common stock offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus that we authorized to be delivered to you is only accurate as of the respective dates of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
You should not consider any information in this prospectus supplement or the prospectus to be investment, legal or tax advice. You should consult your own counsel, accountant and other advisors for legal, tax, business, financial and related advice regarding the purchase of the common stock. We are not making any representation to you regarding the legality of an investment in the common stock by you under applicable investment or similar laws.
You should read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus that we authorized to be delivered to you when making your investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the documents we have referred you to in the sections of the accompanying prospectus entitled “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” and “Available Information.”
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This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the documents we incorporate by reference herein or therein or that are deemed to be a part hereof or thereof, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding our expectations, hopes or intentions regarding the future. These forward looking statements can often be identified by their use of words such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “outlook,” “could,” “target,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “estimate,” “should,” “may” and “assume,” as well as variations of such words and similar expressions referring to the future. They also include statements concerning anticipated revenues, income or loss, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure or other financial terms. For a non-exhaustive list of certain forward-looking statements that are incorporated by reference into or deemed to be a part of the accompanying prospectus, please refer to the “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
Forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. If any of those risks and uncertainties materialize, actual results could differ materially from those discussed in any such forward-looking statement. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in forward-looking statements are those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” and in other sections of (i) our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 or (ii) our other reports filed from time to time with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into the accompanying prospectus. See the sections entitled “Available Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” in the accompanying prospectus for information about how to obtain copies of those documents.
All forward-looking statements in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein are made only as of the date of the document in which they are contained, based on information available to us as of the date of that document, and we caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in light of the risks and uncertainties associated with them. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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Investing in our common stock involves significant risks. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 as well as our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, each of which is incorporated by reference into the accompanying prospectus, as well as other information we have provided or incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus, before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock. Each of the referenced risks and uncertainties could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our common stock. Additional risks not known to us or that we believe are immaterial may also adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition and the value of an investment in our common stock.
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This summary highlights the material information contained in this prospectus supplement. It does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our common stock. You should read carefully this entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the more detailed information set forth under “Risk Factors,” the financial statements and related notes thereto, and other information appearing elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
Overview
We are a full-service investment banking and asset management firm. We provide investment banking, sales and trading, and equity research services to corporate and institutional clients, and alternative asset management products and services to institutional investors and high net-worth individuals. In addition, we manage and invest in corporate credits through collateralized loan obligations.
We focus our efforts on small and middle-market companies in the following five growth industries: consumer, financial services, healthcare, real estate, and technology. Our specialization in these areas has enabled us to develop recognized expertise and to cultivate extensive industry relationships. As a result, we have established our firm as a key advisor for our corporate clients, a trusted resource for institutional investors, and an effective investment manager for our asset management clients. We currently operate from our headquarters in San Francisco and from additional offices in New York, Boston, Chicago and Alpharetta, GA.
We provide our corporate clients with a wide variety of services, including strategic advice and capital raising solutions, sales and trading support, and equity research coverage. We provide institutional investors with capital markets intelligence and objective, informed investment recommendations about individual equities that are not widely followed. We believe that our concentration on small and middle-market companies, as well as our broad range of product offerings, positions us as a leader in what has traditionally been an underserved and high-growth market.
The selection of our five target industries, the development of multiple products and services and the establishment of our three revenue-producing business lines—investment banking, equity sales and trading, and asset management—has created a diversified business model, especially when compared to that of our more specialized competitors. We have been able to balance somewhat volatile revenue streams from our investment banking activities and incentive-based asset management fees with more stable revenue streams from our sales and trading commissions and base asset management fees. In addition, our target industries have historically performed, in certain respects, counter-cyclically to one another, allowing us to win business and generate revenues in various economic and capital markets conditions. In 2009, as part of our ongoing efforts to diversify our asset management business, we acquired a corporate credit business that operates as a manager of collateralized loan obligations.
Corporate Information
We are a Delaware corporation organized in 2004. We completed our initial public offering in May 2007. Our principal executive offices are located at 600 Montgomery Street, Suite 1100 San Francisco, California 94111. Our phone number is (415) 835-8900. Our corporate website is http://www.jmpg.com. The reference to our website is an inactive textual reference only and the information on our website is not intended to form a part of or be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
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The Offering
| Issuer |
JMP Group Inc. | |
| Common Stock Offered by Us |
Up to 3,000,000 shares | |
| Common Stock Outstanding After the Offering(1) |
25,083,967 shares | |
| Manner of Offering |
Sales of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus supplement, if any, may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at-the-market” offerings as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the NYSE, on any other existing trading market for the common stock or to or through a market maker. Sales may be made over a period of time and from time to time through Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. and Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P., as our agents, subject to the terms and conditions of the distribution agreement. The placement agents will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the shares of common stock on our behalf. See “Plan of Distribution” on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement. | |
| Conflict of Interest |
Because our wholly-owned subsidiary JMP Securities LLC is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, referred to throughout this prospectus supplement as FINRA, there may be a “conflict of interest” under Rule 5121 of the FINRA rules. Accordingly, this offering will comply with FINRA Rule 5121. See “Plan of Distribution” on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement. | |
| Use of Proceeds |
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement. | |
| Risk Factors |
Investing in our common stock involves significant risks. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 as well as our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, each of which is incorporated by reference herein, before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock. See “Risk Factors” on page S-3 of this prospectus supplement. | |
| NYSE Listing Symbol |
JMP | |
| (1) | The number of shares of common stock outstanding after the offering assumes that all 3,000,000 shares offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement are issued and is based on 22,083,967 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2011, which does not include the following, all as of March 31, 2011: |
| • | 1,793,165 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options at a weighted average exercise price of $11.23 per share; |
| • | 2,036,279 shares of common stock issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units under our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan; and |
| • | 3,639,498 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan. |
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We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus supplement for general corporate purposes.
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We have entered into an equity distribution agreement, dated as of April 21, 2011, with both of the placement agents, under which we may issue and sell up to an aggregate of 3,000,000 shares of our common stock from time to time through the placement agents, as our agents for the offer and sale of the shares, or to the placement agents for resale. The sales, if any, of the common stock under the equity distribution agreement will be made in “at-the-market” offerings as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the NYSE, on any other existing trading market for the common stock or to or through a market maker or otherwise, in negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, and/or any other method permitted by law.
From time to time during the term of the equity distribution agreement, in connection with the placement agents acting as our agents, we may deliver a placement notice to one of the placement agents, to be selected by us in our sole discretion (referred to herein as the selected placement agent), which shall at a minimum include the number of shares of common stock to be issued, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of shares that may be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made. Upon acceptance of a placement notice from us, and subject to the terms and conditions of the equity distribution agreement, if acting as agent, such selected placement agent agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such shares. We or the selected placement agent may suspend the offering of our common stock at any time upon proper notice in writing to the other, upon which the selling period will immediately terminate.
As sales agents, the placement agents will not engage in any transactions that stabilize our common stock.
We will pay the placement agents commissions, or allow a discount, not to exceed, in the aggregate, 2.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of all shares sold through the respective selected placement agent under the equity distribution agreement, to be split equally between the selected placement agent and the other placement agent. The remaining sales proceeds, after deducting any expenses payable by us and any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in connection with the sales, will equal our net proceeds for the sale of our common stock. We have agreed to reimburse the placement agents for certain expenses in certain circumstances, including fees and disbursements of counsel to the placement agents incurred in connection with or incident to the distribution agreement and the transactions and obligations contemplated thereby, in an amount not to exceed $50,000 in the aggregate, provided however, that the obligation to reimburse the fees and disbursements of counsel to the placement agents will increase to an amount not to exceed $75,000 in the aggregate if we do not sell at least 3,000,000 shares of our common stock within one year from the date of the equity distribution agreement.
Under the terms of the equity distribution agreement, we may also sell shares of our common stock to the placement agents as principals for their own accounts at prices agreed upon at the time of sale.
Settlement for sales of our common stock are generally anticipated to occur on the third trading day following the date on which any sales were made in return for payment of the net proceeds to us, unless we agree otherwise with the selected placement agent. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
Sales of our common stock as contemplated by this prospectus supplement will be settled through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and the placement agents may agree upon.
The selected placement agent will provide written confirmation to us and the other placement agent no later than the opening of trading on the NYSE immediately following the trading day on which common stock is sold by it as agent for us under the equity distribution agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of shares sold on that day, the compensation payable by us to the placement agents with respect to such sales and the net proceeds to us. We will report at least quarterly in our periodic filings and/or a prospectus supplement the number of shares of common stock sold through the placement agents in at-the-market offerings, the compensation payable by us to the placement agents with respect to such sales and the net proceeds to us in connection with such sales of our common stock.
In connection with the sale of our common stock hereunder, each of the placement agents may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation paid to each of them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to each of the placement agents against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
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The placement agents and their affiliates have provided in the past and may provide, from time to time in the future, certain financial advisory, investment banking and other services to us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of their business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. In addition, from time to time, the placement agents and their affiliates may effect transactions for their own account or the account of customers, and hold on behalf of themselves or their customers, long or short positions in our debt or equity securities or loans, and may do so in the future.
We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding commissions, discounts or other items of value payable or provided to the placement agents under the distribution agreement, will be approximately $100,000.
The offering of our common shares pursuant to the equity distribution agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (1) the termination of the distribution agreement by us the placement agents at any time in the respective party’s sole discretion and upon one (1) day written notice to the other party or parties, as the case may be, and (2) upon sale of all 3,000,000 shares of our common stock under the distribution agreement.
In no event will the maximum compensation to be received by any FINRA member in connection with this offering exceed 8.0%.
Conflicts of Interest
Because our wholly-owned subsidiary JMP Securities LLC is a FINRA member, there may be a “conflict of interest” under Rule 5121(f)(5) of the FINRA Rules. Accordingly, this offering will be made in compliance with the applicable provisions of FINRA Rule 5121. Rule 5121 requires prominent disclosure of the nature of the conflict of interest in the prospectus supplement for the public offering. In addition, FINRA Rule 5121(a) provides that the public offering may be conducted as long as the member(s) primarily responsible for managing the public offering do not have a conflict of interest, is not an affiliate of any member that does have a conflict of interest, and meets the requirements of Rule 5121(f)(12)(E). JMP Securities LLC is not participating in the at-the-market offering of JMP Group Inc. The placement agents are conducting this public offering in compliance with Rule 5121.
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The validity of our common stock offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and certain legal matters in connection with the offering of common stock will be passed upon for us by Morrison & Foerster LLP, San Francisco, California. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the placement agents by DLA Piper LLP (US), New York, New York.
JMP Group Inc.
The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of JMP Group Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2010 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
New York Mortgage Trust, Inc.
The consolidated financial statements of New York Mortgage Trust, Inc. as of and for the years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, have been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report appearing therein, and are included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of New York Mortgage Trust, Inc. as of and for the year ended December 31, 2008, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report appearing therein, and are included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
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PROSPECTUS
JMP Group Inc.
$100,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Rights
Units
We may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more transactions, common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights and units that include any of these securities. We may also offer any of these securities that may be issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange of debt securities, preferred stock, rights or warrants.
We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described in a supplement to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and each applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol “JMP.” The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listing, if any, of the securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the “Risk Factors” section of our filings with the SEC and the applicable prospectus supplement for certain risks that you should consider before investing in our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is September 17, 2009.
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This document is called a prospectus and is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings in amounts that we will determine from time to time.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of securities described in this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement, or information that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, containing more specific information about the terms of the securities that are being offered. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings and securities. We may also add, update or change in the prospectus supplement any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including without limitation, a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations that apply to these offerings or securities or the specific plan of distribution. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and a prospectus supplement or information incorporated by reference having a later date, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement or incorporated information having a later date. We urge you to read carefully this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” before buying any of the securities being offered.
You should rely only on the information we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus.
The registration statement containing this prospectus, including exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have filed and plan to continue to file other documents with the SEC that contain information about us and our business. Also, we will file legal documents that control the terms of the securities offered by this prospectus as exhibits to the reports that we file with the SEC. The registration statement and other reports can be read at the SEC Internet site or at the SEC offices mentioned under the heading “Available Information.”
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We are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any documents filed by us at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public through the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov and through the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, on which our common stock is listed.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not contain all the information in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or other document of the Company, the reference is only a summary and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s Internet site.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC and applicable law permits us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus information that we have or may in the future file with or furnish to the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information by referring you to those documents. You should read carefully the information incorporated herein by reference because it is an important part of this prospectus.
We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents or information filed with the SEC (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules):
| • | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008; |
| • | An amendment to our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2009; |
| • | Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2009 and June 30, 2009; |
| • | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 7, 2009, February 5, 2009, March 5, 2009, April 1, 2009, and April 13, 2009. |
| • | Our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on June 18, 2009. |
| • | The description of our common stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-1, which became effective on May 10, 2007, including any amendment or report filed for the purposes of updating such description; and |
| • | All documents filed by JMP Group Inc. under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on or after the date of this prospectus and before the termination of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus from the respective dates of filing of such documents. |
In addition, all documents filed by JMP Group Inc. with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus from the respective dates of filing of such documents. Any information that we subsequently file with the SEC that is incorporated by reference as described above will automatically update and supersede any previous information that is part of this prospectus.
We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon his or her written or oral request, a copy of any or all documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus excluding exhibits to those documents unless they are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents. Written or telephone requests should be directed to JMP Group Inc., 600 Montgomery Street, Suite 1100, San Francisco, California 94111, Attention: Investor Relations; telephone (415) 835-8978.
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This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, including the documents we incorporate by reference therein or that are deemed to be a part thereof, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding our expectations, hopes or intentions regarding the future. These forward looking statements can often be identified by their use of words such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “outlook,” “could,” “target,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “estimate,” “should,” “may” and “assume,” as well as variations of such words and similar expressions referring to the future. They also include statements concerning anticipated revenues, income or loss, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure or other financial terms. For a non-exhaustive list of certain forward-looking statements that are incorporated by reference into or deemed to be a part of this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, please refer to the “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. If any of those risks and uncertainties materialize, actual results could differ materially from those discussed in any such forward-looking statement. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in forward-looking statements are those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” and in other sections of (i) our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, (ii) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, (iii) our other reports filed from time to time with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, or (iv) any prospectus supplement to this prospectus. See “Available Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” for information about how to obtain copies of those documents.
All forward-looking statements in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference therein are made only as of the date of the document in which they are contained, based on information available to us as of the date of that document, and we caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in light of the risks and uncertainties associated with them. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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Investing in our securities involves significant risks. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, and any related free writing prospectus. Each of the referenced risks and uncertainties could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities. Additional risks not known to us or that we believe are immaterial may also adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition and the value of an investment in our securities.
D ESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
We may issue from time to time, in one or more offerings the following securities:
| • | shares of common stock; |
| • | shares of preferred stock; |
| • | debt securities; |
| • | warrants exercisable for debt securities, common stock or preferred stock; |
| • | or rights to purchase any of such securities; and |
| • | units of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, rights or warrants, in any combination. |
This prospectus contains a summary of the material general terms of the various securities that we may offer. The specific terms of the securities will be described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus, which may be in addition to or different from the general terms summarized in this prospectus. Where applicable, the prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus will also describe any material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the securities offered and indicate whether the securities offered are or will be listed on any securities exchange. The summaries contained in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplements, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus may not contain all of the information that you would find useful. Accordingly, you should read the actual documents relating to any securities sold pursuant to this prospectus. See “Available Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” for information about how to obtain copies of those documents.
The terms of any particular offering, the initial offering price and the net proceeds to us will be contained in the prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, relating to such offering.
General
The following summary of the material features of our capital stock does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, our amended and restated bylaws and other applicable law. See “Available Information.”
Pursuant to our amended and restated articles of incorporation, we are currently authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. The authorized shares of our common stock and preferred stock will be available for issuance without further action by our stockholders, unless such action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded. If the approval of our stockholders is not required, our board of directors may determine not to seek stockholder approval.
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Common Stock
Dividends
Subject to provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, and to any future rights which may be granted to the holders of any series of our preferred stock, dividends are paid on our common stock when and as declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividend payments.
Voting rights
Each holder of shares of our common stock is entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of our common stockholders. Holders of our common stock are not entitled to cumulative voting rights.
Liquidation
If we are liquidated, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive all remaining assets available for distribution to stockholders after satisfaction of our liabilities and the preferential rights of any of our preferred stock that may be outstanding at that time.
Preemptive rights
The holders of our common stock do not have any preemptive, conversion or redemption rights by virtue of their ownership of the common stock.
Preferred Stock
Shares of our preferred stock may be issued in one or more series, and our board of directors is authorized to determine the designation and to fix the number of shares of each series. Our board of directors is further authorized to fix and determine the dividend rate, premium or redemption rates, conversion rights, voting rights, preferences, privileges, restrictions and other variations granted to or imposed upon any wholly unissued series of our preferred stock.
Prior to the issuance of shares of a series of preferred stock, our board of directors will adopt resolutions and file a certificate of designation with the SEC. The certificate of designation will fix for each series the designation and number of shares and the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the shares including, but not limited to, the following:
| • | the maximum number of shares in the series and the distinctive designation; |
| • | voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock; |
| • | the dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation applicable to the preferred stock; |
| • | whether dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative, and if cumulative, the date from which dividends on the preferred stock will accumulate; |
| • | the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs; |
| • | the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred stock will be convertible into common stock, another series of preferred stock, or any other class of securities being registered hereby, including the conversion price (or manner of calculation) and conversion period; |
| • | the provision for redemption, if applicable, of the preferred stock; |
| • | the provisions for a sinking fund, if any, for the preferred stock; |
| • | liquidation preferences; |
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| • | any limitations on the issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the class or series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs; and |
| • | any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of the preferred stock. |
There shall be no limitation or restriction on any variation between any of the different series of preferred stock as to the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof; and the several series of preferred stock may, except as otherwise expressly provided in any prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or any free writing prospectus, as applicable, vary in any and all respects as fixed and determined by the resolution or resolutions of our board of directors or any committee thereof, providing for the issuance of the various series; provided, however, that all shares of any one series of preferred stock shall have the same designation, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions.
Except as otherwise required by law, or as otherwise fixed by resolution or resolutions of our board of directors with respect to one or more series of preferred stock, the entire voting power and all voting rights shall be vested exclusively in the common stock, and each holder of shares of our common stock who at the time possesses voting power for any purpose shall be entitled to one vote for each share of such stock standing in such stockholder’s name on our books.
Certain Anti-Takeover Matters
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws include a number of provisions that may have the effect of encouraging persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals to negotiate with our board of directors rather than pursue non-negotiated takeover attempts. These provisions include:
Advance Notice Requirements
Our amended and restated bylaws establish advance notice procedures with regard to stockholder proposals relating to the nomination of candidates for election as directors or new business to be brought before meetings of our stockholders. These procedures provide that notice of such stockholder proposals must be timely and given in writing to our Secretary prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken. Generally, to be timely, notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days or more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year. The notice must contain certain information specified in the amended and restated bylaws.
No Written Consent of Stockholders
Our charter requires all stockholder actions to be taken by a vote of the stockholders at an annual or special meeting, and does not permit our stockholders to act by written consent without a meeting.
Preferred Stock
Our charter provides for 10,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock may enable the board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. For example, if in the due exercise of its fiduciary obligations, the board of directors were to determine that a takeover proposal is not in our best interests, the board of directors could cause shares of preferred stock to be issued without stockholder approval in one or more private offerings or other transactions that might dilute the voting or other rights of the proposed acquiror or insurgent stockholder or stockholder group. In this regard, the charter grants our board of directors broad power to establish the rights and preferences of authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock. The issuance of shares of preferred stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to holders of
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shares of common stock. The issuance may also adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of such holders and may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change of control of us.
Delaware Takeover Statutes
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law regulating corporate takeovers. In general, Section 203 prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
| • | the transaction is approved by the board before the date the interested stockholder attained that status; |
| • | upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced; or |
| • | on or after the date the business combination is approved by the board and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Section 203 defines “business combination” to include the following:
| • | any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder; a |
| • | any merger or consolidation involving the corporation or any majority-owned subsidiary and the interested stockholder; |
| • | subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation or by any majority-owned subsidiary of any stock of the corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder; |
| • | any transaction involving the corporation or any majority-owned subsidiary that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or |
| • | the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation or any majority-owned subsidiary. |
In general, Section 203 defines “interested stockholder” to be any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by any of these entities or persons.
A Delaware corporation may opt out of this provision either with an express provision in its original Certificate of Incorporation or in an amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws approved by its stockholders. We have not opted out of this provision. Section 203 could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire us.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a director of ours will not be liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except in certain cases where liability is mandated by the Delaware General Corporation Law. Our amended and restated bylaws also provide for indemnification, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by us of any person made or threatened to be made a party to, or who is involved in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was our director or officer, or at our request, serves or served as a director or officer of
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any other enterprise, against all expenses, liabilities, losses and claims actually incurred or suffered by such person in connection with the action, suit or proceeding. Our amended and restated bylaws also provide that, to the extent authorized from time to time by our board of directors, we may provide indemnification to any one or more employees and other agents of ours to the extent and effect determined by the board of directors to be appropriate and authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law. Our amended and restated bylaws also permit us to purchase and maintain insurance for the foregoing and we expect to maintain such insurance.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol “JMP.”
Transfer Agent And Registrar
The Transfer Agent and Registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, N.A.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the base indenture, to be entered into between us and an entity, identified in the applicable prospectus supplement, as trustee, under which the debt securities are to be issued from time to time. We have filed a form of the base indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. When the debt securities are offered in the future, the applicable offering material will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which the general provisions may apply. The base indenture, as it may be supplemented, amended or modified from time to time, is referred to in this prospectus as the “indenture.” Wherever particular sections or defined terms of the indenture are referred to, it is intended that such sections or defined terms shall be incorporated herein by reference. In this section of the prospectus, the term “the Company” refers only to JMP Group Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.
This summary and any description of the indenture and any debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the indenture, any indenture supplement and the terms of the debt securities, including, in each case, the definitions therein of certain terms. We will file each of these documents, as applicable, with the SEC and incorporate them by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part on or before the time we issue a series of debt securities. See “Available Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” for information on how to obtain a copy of a document when it is filed. The specific terms of the debt securities as described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.
The debt securities will represent unsecured general obligations of the Company, unless otherwise provided in the applicable offering material. As indicated in the applicable offering material, the debt securities will be either senior debt or subordinated debt.
General
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued thereunder. The applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus with respect to any debt securities will set forth the following terms of the debt securities offered pursuant thereto:
| • | the title and series of such debt securities; |
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| • | any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of such debt securities of such series; |
| • | whether such debt securities will be in global or other form; |
| • | the date or dates and method or methods by which principal and any premium on such debt securities is payable; |
| • | the interest rate or rates (or method by which such rate will be determined), if any; |
| • | the dates on which any such interest will be payable and the method of payment; |
| • | whether and under what circumstances any additional amounts are payable with respect to such debt securities; |
| • | the notice, if any, to holders of such debt securities regarding the determination of interest on a floating rate debt security; |
| • | the basis upon which interest on such debt securities shall be calculated, if other than that of a 360 day year of twelve 30-day months; |
| • | the place or places where the principal of and interest or additional amounts, if any, on such debt securities will be payable; |
| • | any redemption or sinking fund provisions, or the terms of any repurchase at the option of the holder of the debt securities; |
| • | the denominations of such debt securities, if other than $1,000 and integral multiples thereof; |
| • | any rights of the holders of such debt securities to convert the debt securities into, or exchange the debt securities for, other securities or property; |
| • | the terms, if any, on which payment of principal or any premium, interest or additional amounts on such debt securities will be payable in a currency other than U.S. dollars; |
| • | the terms, if any, by which the amount of payments of principal or any premium, interest or additional amounts on such debt securities may be determined by reference to an index, formula, financial or economic measure or other methods; |
| • | if other than the principal amount hereof, the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or provable in bankruptcy; |
| • | any events of default or covenants in addition to or in lieu of those described herein and remedies therefor; |
| • | whether such debt securities will be subject to defeasance or covenant defeasance; |
| • | the terms, if any, upon which such debt securities are to be issuable upon the exercise of warrants, units or rights; |
| • | any trustees and any authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or any other agents with respect to such debt securities; |
| • | the terms, if any, on which such debt securities will be subordinate to other debt of the Company; |
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| • | whether such debt securities will be guaranteed and the terms thereof; |
| • | whether such debt securities will be secured by collateral and the terms of such security; and |
| • | any other specific terms of such debt securities and any other deletions from or additions to or modifications of the indenture with respect to such debt securities. |
Debt securities may be presented for exchange, conversion or transfer in the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions set forth in the debt securities and the applicable offering material. Such services will be provided without charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith, but subject to the limitations provided in the indenture.
The indenture does not contain any covenant or other specific provision affording protection to holders of the debt securities in the event of a highly leveraged transaction or a change in control of the Company, except to the limited extent described below under “—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets.”
Modification and Waiver
The indenture provides that supplements to the indenture and the applicable supplemental indentures may be made by the Company and the trustee for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of debt securities of a series under the indenture or the debt securities of such series, with the consent of the holders of a majority (or such greater amount as is provided for a particular series of debt securities) in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities issued under such indenture that are affected by the supplemental indenture, voting as a single class; provided that no such supplemental indenture may, without the consent of the holder of each such debt security affected thereby, among other things:
(a) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any premium, interest or additional amounts on, such debt securities, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest or any additional amounts thereon, or reduce any premium payable on redemption thereof or otherwise, or reduce the amount of the principal of debt securities issued with original issue discount that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity thereof or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy, or change the redemption provisions or adversely affect the right of repayment at the option of the holder, or change the place of payment or currency in which the principal of, or any premium, interest or additional amounts with respect to any debt security is payable, or impair or affect the right of any holder of debt securities to institute suit for the payment after such payment is due (except a rescission and annulment of acceleration with respect to a series of debt securities by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of such series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(b) reduce the percentage of outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of the holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver or reduce the quorum required for voting;
(c) modify any of the provisions of the sections of such indenture relating to supplemental indentures with the consent of the holders, waivers of past defaults or securities redeemed in part, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of such indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of each holder affected thereby; or
(d) make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any security into or for common stock or other securities, cash or other property in accordance with the terms of the applicable debt security.
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The indenture provides that a supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the indenture that has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of debt securities, or that modifies the rights of the holders of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under the indenture of the holders of debt securities of any other series.
The indenture provides that the Company and the trustee may, without the consent of the holders of any series of debt securities issued thereunder, enter into additional supplemental indentures for one of the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company in such indenture and in the debt securities issued thereunder;
(b) to add to the covenants of the Company or to surrender any right or power conferred on the Company pursuant to the indenture;
(c) to establish the form and terms of debt securities issued thereunder;
(d) to evidence and provide for a successor trustee under such indenture with respect to one or more series of debt securities issued thereunder or to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts under such indenture by more than one trustee;
(e) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision in the indenture that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of the indenture or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under such indenture; provided that no such action pursuant to this clause (e) shall adversely affect the interests of the holders of any series of debt securities issued thereunder in any material respect;
(f) to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of securities under the indenture;
(g) to add any additional events of default with respect to all or any series of debt securities;
(h) to supplement any of the provisions of the indenture as may be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities, provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of an outstanding debt security of such series or any other security in any material respect;
(i) to make provisions with respect to the conversion or exchange rights of holders of debt securities of any series;
(j) to pledge to the trustee as security for the debt securities of any series any property or assets;
(k) to add guarantees in respect of the debt securities of one or more series;
(l) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture, provided that any such change or elimination become effective only when there is no security of any series outstanding created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision;
(m) to provide for certificated securities in addition to or in place of global securities;
(n) to qualify such indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended;
(o) with respect to the debt securities of any series, to conform the text of the indenture or the debt securities of such series to any provision of the description thereof in the Company’s offering memorandum
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or prospectus relating to the initial offering of such debt securities, to the extent that such provision, in the good faith judgment of the Company, was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the indenture or such securities; or
(p) to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of holders of any series of debt securities issued thereunder in any material respect.
Events of Default
Unless otherwise provided in any applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, the following will be events of default under the indenture with respect to each series of debt securities issued thereunder:
(a) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or any additional amount in respect of, any series of debt securities;
(b) default in the payment of principal or any premium on any series of the debt securities outstanding under the indenture when due;
(c) default in the payment, if any, of any sinking fund installment when and as due by the terms of any debt security of such series, subject to any cure period that may be specified in any debt security of such series;
(d) failure by the Company for 60 days after receipt by registered or certified mail of written notice from the trustee upon instruction from holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of such series to comply with any of the other agreements in the indenture and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” under the indenture; provided, that if such failure cannot be remedied within such 60-day period, such period shall be automatically extended by another 60 days so long as (i) such failure is subject to cure and (ii) the Company is using commercially reasonable efforts to cure such failure; and provided, further, that a failure to comply with any such other agreement in the indenture that results from a change in generally accepted accounting principles shall not be deemed to be an event of default;
(e) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company; and
(f) any other event of default provided in a supplemental indenture with respect to a particular series of debt securities, provided that any event of default that results from a change in generally accepted accounting principles shall not be deemed to be an event of default.
In case an event of default specified in clause (a) or (b) above shall occur and be continuing with respect to any series of debt securities, holders of at least 25%, and in case an event of default specified in any clause other than clause (a), (b) or (e) above shall occur and be continuing with respect to any series of debt securities, holders of at least a majority, in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding may declare the principal (or, in the case of discounted debt securities, the amount specified in the terms thereof) of such series to be due and payable. If an event of default described in (e) above shall occur and be continuing then the principal amount (or, in the case of discounted debt securities, the amount specified in the terms thereof) of all the debt securities outstanding shall be and become due and payable immediately, without notice or other action by any holder or the trustee, to the full extent permitted by law. Any past or existing default or event of default with respect to particular series of debt securities under such indenture may be waived by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, except in each case a continuing default (1) in the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, any debt security of such series, or (2) in respect of a covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each holder affected thereby.
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The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any default with respect to any series of debt securities (except in payment of principal of or interest or premium on, or sinking fund payment in respect of, the debt securities) if the trustee considers it in the interest of holders to do so.
The indenture contains a provision entitling the trustee to be indemnified by the holders before proceeding to exercise any trust or power under the indenture at the request of such holders. The indenture provides that the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series; provided, however, that the trustee may decline to follow any such direction if, among other reasons, the trustee determines in good faith that the actions or proceedings as directed may not lawfully be taken or would be unduly prejudicial to the holders of the debt securities of such series not joining in such direction. The right of a holder to institute a proceeding with respect to a series of debt securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent including, without limitation, that in case of an event of default specified in clause (a), (b) or (e) of the first paragraph above under “—Events of Default,” holders of at least 25%, or in case of an event of default other than specified in clause (a), (b) or (e) of the first paragraph above under “—Events of Default”, holders of at least a majority, in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding make a written request upon the trustee to exercise its powers under such indenture, indemnify the trustee and afford the trustee reasonable opportunity to act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder has an absolute right to receipt of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest when due on the debt securities, to require conversion of debt securities if such indenture provides for convertibility at the option of the holder and to institute suit for the enforcement thereof.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
The indenture provides that the Company may not directly or indirectly consolidate with or merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets and properties and the assets and properties of its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to another person in one or more related transactions unless the successor person is a person organized under the laws of any domestic jurisdiction and assumes the Company’s obligations on the debt securities issued thereunder, and under the indenture, and after giving effect thereto no event of default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing, and that certain other conditions are met.
Certain Covenants
Payment of Principal, any Premium, Interest or Additional Amounts. The Company will duly and punctually pay the principal of, and premium and interest on or any additional amounts payable with respect to, any debt securities of any series in accordance with their terms.
Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will be required to maintain an office or agency in each place of payment for each series of debt securities for notice and demand purposes and for the purposes of presenting or surrendering debt securities for payment, registration of transfer, or exchange.
Reports. So long as any debt securities of a particular series are outstanding under the indenture, the Company will file with the trustee, within 30 days after the Company has filed the same with the Commission, unless such reports are available on the Commission’s EDGAR filing system (or any successor thereto), copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with the trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required
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pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations.
Additional Covenants. Any additional covenants of the Company with respect to any series of debt securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus relating thereto.
Conversion Rights
The terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities are convertible into common stock or preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus relating thereto. Such terms will include the conversion price (or manner of calculation thereof), the conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion will be at the option of the holders or the Company, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion in the event of redemption of such debt securities and any restrictions on conversion.
Redemption; Repurchase at the Option of the Holder; Sinking Fund
The terms and conditions, if any, upon which (a) the debt securities are redeemable at the option of the Company, (b) the holder of debt securities may cause the Company to repurchase such debt securities or (c) the debt securities are subject to any sinking fund will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus relating thereto.
Repurchases on the Open Market
The Company or any affiliate of the Company may at any time or from time to time repurchase any debt security in the open market or otherwise. Such debt securities may, at the option of the Company or the relevant affiliate of the Company, be held, resold or surrendered to the trustee for cancellation.
Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The indenture provides, with respect to each series of debt securities issued thereunder, that the Company may satisfy and discharge its obligations under such debt securities of a series and such indenture with respect to debt securities of such series if:
(a) all debt securities of such series previously authenticated and delivered, with certain exceptions, have been accepted by the trustee for cancellation; or
(b) (i) the debt securities of such series have become due and payable, or mature within one year, or all of them are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for giving the notice of redemption and the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the trustee, as trust funds solely for the benefit of the holders of such debt securities, for that purpose, money or governmental obligations or a combination thereof sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the trustee) to pay the entire indebtedness on the debt securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and pays all other sums payable by it under such indenture; and
(ii) the Company delivers to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent provided for in such indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of such indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series have been complied with.
Notwithstanding such satisfaction and discharge, the obligations of the Company to compensate and indemnify the trustee, to pay additional amounts, if any, in respect of debt securities in certain circumstances and to convert or exchange debt securities pursuant to the terms thereof and the obligations of the Company and the trustee to hold funds in trust and to apply such funds pursuant to the terms of the
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indenture, with respect to issuing temporary debt securities, with respect to the registration, transfer and exchange of debt securities, with respect to the replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities and with respect to the maintenance of an office or agency for payment, shall in each case survive such satisfaction and discharge.
Unless inapplicable to debt securities of a series pursuant to the terms thereof, the indenture provides that (i) the Company will be deemed to have paid and will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities issued thereunder of any series, and the provisions of such indenture will, except as noted below, no longer be in effect with respect to the debt securities of such series (“defeasance”) and (ii) (1) the Company may omit to comply with the covenant under “—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets” and any other additional covenants established pursuant to the terms of such series, and such omission shall be deemed not to be an event of default under clause (d) or (f) of the first paragraph of “—Events of Default” and (2) the occurrence of any event described in clause (f) of the first paragraph of “—Events of Default” shall not be deemed to be an event of default, in each case with respect to the outstanding debt securities of such series ((1) and (2) of this clause (ii), “covenant defeasance”); provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied with respect to such series:
(a) the Company has irrevocably deposited in trust with the trustee as trust funds solely for the benefit of the holders of the debt securities of such series, for payment of the principal of and interest of the debt securities of such series, money or government obligations or a combination thereof sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the trustee) without consideration of any reinvestment to pay and discharge the principal of and accrued interest on the outstanding debt securities of such series to maturity or earlier redemption (irrevocably provided for under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee), as the case may be;
(b) such defeasance or covenant defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, such indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
(c) no event of default or event which with notice or lapse of time would become an event of default with respect to such debt securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
(d) the Company shall have delivered to such trustee an opinion of counsel as described in the indenture to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the Company’s exercise of its option under this provision of such indenture and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred;
(e) the Company has delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent provided for in such indenture relating to the defeasance contemplated have been complied with;
(f) if the debt securities are to be redeemed prior to their maturity, notice of such redemption shall have been duly given or in another manner satisfactory to the trustee; and
(g) any such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall comply with any additional or substitute terms provided for by the terms of such debt securities of such series.
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Notwithstanding a defeasance or covenant defeasance, the Company’s obligations with respect to the following in respect of debt securities of such series will survive with respect to such securities until otherwise terminated or discharged under the terms of the indenture or no debt securities of such series are outstanding:
(a) the rights of holders of outstanding debt securities of such series to receive payments in respect of the principal of, interest on or premium or additional amounts, if any, payable in respect of, such debt securities when such payments are due from the trust referred in clause (a) in the preceding paragraph;
(b) the issuance of temporary debt securities, the registration, transfer and exchange of debt securities, the replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and holding payments in trust;
(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee, and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith; and
(d) the defeasance or covenant defeasance provisions of the indenture.
Applicable Law
The indenture provides that the debt securities and the indenture will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
General
We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or any combination of these securities. We may issue the warrants independently or together with any underlying securities, and the warrants may be attached or separate from the underlying securities. We may also issue a series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants.
The following description is a summary of selected provisions relating to the warrants that we may issue. The summary is not complete. When warrants are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus as applicable, will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. The specific terms of the warrants as described in a prospectus supplement information, incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.
This summary and any description of warrants in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of any specific warrant document or agreement, which we will file with the SEC for incorporation by reference into this prospectus. See “Available Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” for information on how to obtain a copy of a warrant document when it is filed.
When we refer to a series of warrants, we mean all warrants issued as part of the same series under the applicable warrant agreement.
Terms
The applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, may describe the terms of any warrants that we may offer, including but not limited to the following:
| • | the title of the warrants; |
| • | the total number of warrants; |
| • | the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued; |
| • | the currency or currencies that investors may use to pay for the warrants; |
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| • | the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire; |
| • | whether the warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form; |
| • | information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| • | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| • | if applicable, the designation and terms of the underlying securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each underlying security; |
| • | if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related underlying securities will be separately transferable; |
| • | if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations; |
| • | if applicable, the terms of redemption of the warrants; |
| • | the identity of the warrant agent, if any; |
| • | the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the warrants; and |
| • | any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants. |
Warrant Agreements
We may issue the warrants in one or more series under one or more warrant agreements, each to be entered into between us and a bank, trust company, or other financial institution as warrant agent. We may add, replace, or terminate warrant agents from time to time. We may also choose to act as our own warrant agent or may choose one of our subsidiaries to do so.
The warrant agent under a warrant agreement will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants issued under that agreement. The warrant agent will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of those warrants. Any holder of warrants may, without the consent of any other person, enforce by appropriate legal action, on its own behalf, its right to exercise those warrants in accordance with their terms. Until the warrant is properly exercised, no holder of any warrant will be entitled to any rights of a holder of the warrant property purchasable upon exercise of the warrant.
Form, Exchange, and Transfer
We may issue the warrants in registered form or bearer form. Warrants issued in registered form, i.e., book-entry form, will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depository, which will be the holder of all the warrants represented by the global security. Those investors who own beneficial interests in a global warrant will do so through participants in the depository’s system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depository and its participants. In addition, we may issue warrants in non-global form, i.e., bearer form. If any warrants are issued in non-global form, warrant certificates may be exchanged for new warrant certificates of different denominations, and holders may exchange, transfer, or exercise their warrants at the warrant agent’s office or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporate by reference or free writing prospectus.
Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for debt securities will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to payments of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise. Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for shares of preferred stock or common stock will not have any rights of holders of the preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to dividend payments, if any, or voting rights of the preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon such exercise.
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Exercise of Warrants
A warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash an amount of securities at an exercise price that will be stated in, or that will be determinable as described in, the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void. Warrants may be redeemed as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus.
Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, we will forward, as soon as practicable, the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the warrants represented by such warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants.
General
We may issue rights to purchase our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities. These rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the stockholder receiving the rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of such rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.
Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement which we will enter into with a bank or trust company, as rights agent, all which will be set forth in the relevant offering material. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights.
The following description is a summary of selected provisions relating to rights that we may offer. The summary is not complete. When rights are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or a free writing prospectus, as applicable, will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. The specific terms of the rights as described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or other offering material will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.
This summary and any description of rights in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the rights agreement and the rights certificates. We will file each of these documents, as applicable, with the SEC and incorporate them by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part on or before the time we issue a series of rights. See “Available Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” for information on how to obtain a copy of a document when it is filed.
The applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus may describe:
| • | In the case of a distribution of rights to our stockholders, the date of determining the stockholders entitled to the rights distribution; |
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| • | In the case of a distribution of rights to our stockholders, the number of rights issued or to be issued to each stockholder; |
| • | the exercise price payable for each share of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities upon the exercise of the rights; |
| • | the number and terms of the shares of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities which may be purchased per each right; |
| • | the extent to which the rights are transferable; |
| • | the date on which the holder’s ability to exercise the rights shall commence, and the date on which the rights shall expire; |
| • | the extent to which the rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; |
| • | if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of such rights; and |
| • | any other terms of the rights, including, but not limited to, the terms, procedures, conditions and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the rights. |
The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of Capital Stock,” will apply, as applicable, to any rights we offer.
General
We may issue units composed of any combination of our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock and warrants. We will issue each unit so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. As a result, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
The following description is a summary of selected provisions relating to units that we may offer. The summary is not complete. When units are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus as applicable, will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. The specific terms of the units as described in a prospectus supplement or information incorporated by reference will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.
This summary and any description of units in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the unit agreement, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, if applicable. We will file these documents with the SEC for incorporation by reference into this prospectus, as applicable. See “Available Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” for information on how to obtain a copy of a document when it is filed.
The applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus may describe:
| • | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
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| • | any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer, or exchange of the units or of the securities composing the units; |
| • | whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form; and |
| • | any other terms of the units. |
The applicable provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Capital Stock” and “Description of Warrants,” will apply to each unit and to each security included in each unit, respectively.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated. For purposes of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings are defined as earnings from continuing operations before income taxes, and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle adjusted to exclude income or loss from equity investees. Fixed charges consist of interest expense primarily related to borrowings under our credit facility, and prior to May 16, 2007, interest paid on capital contributed by our Predecessor’s employee members.
| Year Ended December 31, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 |
Year Ended December 31, 2008 |
January 1, 2007 through May 15, 2007 |
May 16, 2007 through December 31, 2007 |
Year Ended December 31, 2006 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Successor | Predecessor | Successor | Predecessor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations adjusted to exclude income or loss from equity investees |
$ | 3,092,882 | $ | (18,553,476 | ) | $ | (112,115,946 | ) | $ | 2,477,366 | $ | 1,735,090 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed charges: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense on all indebtedness |
$ | 192,069 | $ | 402,733 | $ | 569,901 | $ | 160,044 | $ | 1,536,192 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations adjusted to exclude income or loss from equity investees plus fixed charges (1) |
$ | 3,284,951 | $ | (18,150,743 | ) | $ | (111,546,045 | ) | $ | 2,637,410 | $ | 3,271,282 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ratio of (losses) earnings to fixed charges (1) |
17.10 | x | — | (2) | — | (2) | 16.48 | x | 2.13 | x | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | The ratio of earnings to fixed charges was computed by dividing earnings available for fixed charges by fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense primarily related to borrowings under our credit facility, and, prior to May 16th, 2007 interest paid on capital contributed by our Predecessor's employee members. |
| (2) | Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations adjusted to exclude income or loss from equity investees for the year ended December 31, 2008, and the period from January 1, 2007 through May 15, 2007 were inadequate to cover fixed charges. We would have needed additional pre-tax income from continuing operations of $18,553,476, and $112,115,946 respectively, to achieve coverage of 1:1 in these periods. |
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities for general corporate purposes.
We may sell the securities through underwriters or dealers, through agents, directly to one or more purchasers, through a rights offering, or otherwise. We will describe the terms of the offering of the securities in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, including:
| • | the name or names of underwriters, if any; |
| • | the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will receive from the sale; |
| • | any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation; |
| • | any initial public offering price; |
| • | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
| • | any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed. |
Only underwriters we name in the prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus are underwriters of the securities offered thereby.
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The distribution of securities may be effected, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including:
| • | block transactions (which may involve crosses) and transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or any other organized market where the securities may be traded; |
| • | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to a prospectus supplement; |
| • | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
| • | sales “at the market” to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise; and |
| • | sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers. |
The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The consideration may be cash or another form negotiated by the parties. Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the securities. That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us or from the purchasers of the securities. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. If such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities Act.
We may also make direct sales through subscription rights distributed to our existing stockholders on a pro rata basis, which may or may not be transferable. In any distribution of subscription rights to our stockholders, if all of the underlying securities are not subscribed for, we may then sell the unsubscribed securities directly to third parties or may engage the services of one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to sell the unsubscribed securities to third parties.
Some or all of the securities that we offer though this prospectus may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom we sell our securities for public offering and sale may make a market in those securities, but they will not be obligated to do so and they may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of the liquidity of, or continued trading markets for, any securities that we offer.
Agents may, from time to time, solicit offers to purchase the securities. If required, we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, as applicable, any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and set forth any compensation payable to the agent. Unless otherwise indicated, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any agent selling the securities covered by this prospectus may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities.
If underwriters are used in an offering, securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or under delayed delivery contracts or other contractual commitments. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of securities, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for the sale is reached. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriter or underwriters, with respect to a particular underwritten offering of securities, and will set forth the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers and the public offering price, if applicable. The prospectus, and the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus will be used by the underwriters to resell the securities.
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If a dealer is used in the sale of the securities, we or an underwriter will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. To the extent required, we will set forth in the prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, as applicable, the name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions.
We may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities and may make sales of securities directly to institutional investors or others. These persons may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities. To the extent required, the prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, as applicable, will describe the terms of any such sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if used.
Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against specified liabilities, including liabilities incurred under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments they may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. If required, the prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, as applicable, will describe the terms and conditions of such indemnification or contribution. Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us, our subsidiaries or affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
Under the securities laws of some states, the securities offered by this prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.
Any person participating in the distribution of common stock registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of our common stock by any such person. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock. These restrictions may affect the marketability of our common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock.
Certain persons participating in an offering may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the offered securities. If any such activities may occur, they will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.
All securities we offer other than common stock will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.
JMP Securities LLC, our wholly-owned subsidiary, is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), formerly known as the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”), and may participate in distributions of the offered securities. Accordingly, offerings of offered securities in which JMP Securities LLC participates will conform to the requirements set forth in Rule 2720 of the Conduct Rules of the NASD and/or any other rule which might complement, substitute or supersede Rule 2720. In compliance with the guidelines of FINRA, as of the date of this prospectus, the maximum discount or commission to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer may not exceed 8% of the offering proceeds.
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Morrison & Foerster LLP, San Francisco, California, will pass upon the validity of the securities offered hereby.
JMP Group Inc.
The consolidated financial statements of JMP Group Inc. as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and for the year ended December 31, 2008 (Successor), the period from May 16, 2007 to December 31, 2007 (Successor), the period from January 1, 2007 to May 15, 2007 (Predecessor) and the year ended December 31, 2006 (Predecessor) and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) as of December 31, 2008 incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
New York Mortgage Trust, Inc.
The consolidated financial statements of New York Mortgage Trust, Inc. incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2008, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report is incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
Cratos Capital Partners, LLC
The consolidated financial statements of Cratos Capital Partners, LLC as of December 31, 2008 and for the year then ended which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements of Cratos Capital Partners, LLC as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and for the year ended December 31, 2007 and period from May 12, 2006 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2006, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
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3,000,000 Shares
Common Stock
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
| Keefe, Bruyette &Woods, Inc. | Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P. |
April 21, 2011