424B2 1 http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/811641/000121390024031688/ea0203569-424b2_immucell.htm PROSPECTUS

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
File No. 333-278438

 

Prospectus

 

IMMUCELL CORPORATION

 

$20,000,000

 

Common Stock

Warrants

Subscription Rights

 

From time to time, we may offer up to $20,000,000.00 of our common stock, warrants and subscription rights, in one or more transactions.

 

We will provide specific terms of these securities and offerings in one or more supplements to this prospectus.  We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings.  The prospectus supplement, and any documents incorporated by reference, may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.  You should read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, any documents incorporated by reference and any related free writing prospectus carefully before buying any of the securities being offered.

 

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.

 

We are a smaller reporting company under Rule 405 of the Securities Act and, as such, have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and future filings.

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, any documents incorporated by reference and any related free writing prospectus for a discussion of information that you should consider in connection with an investment in our common stock.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is April 9, 2024.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS   ii
     
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS   iii
     
ABOUT IMMUCELL CORPORATION   1
     
RISK FACTORS   2
     
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK   3
     
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS   6
     
DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS   7
     
USE OF PROCEEDS   8
     
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION   8
     
LEGAL MATTERS   10
     
EXPERTS   10
     
INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL   10
     
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION   10
     
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE   11

 

i

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Some of the statements in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement we may file constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  These statements relate to future events concerning our business and to our future revenues, operating results and financial condition.  In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “target, ” “forecast,” “seeks,” “predict,” “project”, “propose,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology.

 

Any forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement are only estimates or predictions of future events based on information currently available to our management and management’s current beliefs about the potential outcome of future events.  Whether these future events will occur as management anticipates, whether we will achieve our business objectives, and whether our revenues, operating results or financial condition will be sustained or improve in future periods are subject to numerous risks.  There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by these forward-looking statements.  These important factors include those that we discuss under the heading “Risk Factors” and in other sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as well as in our other reports filed from time to time with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.  You should read these factors and the other cautionary statements made in this prospectus and in the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this prospectus or the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus.  If one or more of these factors materialize, or if any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This document is called a prospectus and is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process.  Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more transactions and in amounts we will determine from time to time, up to a total dollar amount of $20,000,000.00.

 

This prospectus provides you with a general description of ImmuCell Corporation and potential offerings of our securities described herein.  Each time we offer securities we will provide a prospectus supplement or information that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, containing more specific information about the offering.  We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings.  This prospectus, together with applicable prospectus supplements, any information incorporated by reference and any related free writing prospectuses, includes all material information relating to these offerings.  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 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 our securities.

 

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.

 

Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made under it implies that there has been no change in our affairs or that the information in this prospectus is correct as of any date after the date of this prospectus.  You should assume that the information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of common stock.

 

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents.  Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information”. THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO CONSUMMATE A SALE OF SECURITIES, UNLESS IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

 

In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we”, “us”, “our” or similar terms, as well as references to “ImmuCell” or the “Company”, refer to ImmuCell Corporation.

 

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ABOUT IMMUCELL CORPORATION

 

We are a growing animal health company whose purpose is to create scientifically-proven and practical products that result in a measurable economic impact on animal health and productivity in the dairy and beef industries. We were originally incorporated in Maine in 1982 and reincorporated in Delaware in conjunction with our initial public offering of common stock in 1987. After achieving approval from the Center for Veterinary Biologics, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to sell First Defense® in 1991, we focused most of our efforts during the 1990’s attempting to develop human product applications of the underlying milk protein purification technology. Beginning in 1999, we re-focused our business strategy on the First Defense® product line and other products that improve the health and productivity of dairy and beef cattle. We support the dairy and beef industries’ purpose to produce nutritious, protein-rich food efficiently while ensuring food quality and safety. Our products help address the growing human health concern about using less antibiotics in food-producing animals. We aim to capitalize on the growth in sales of the First Defense® product line (a product that provides significant Immediate Immunity™ to newborn dairy and beef livestock) and to revolutionize the mastitis treatment paradigm with Re-Tain®, a novel product we are developing to treat this most significant cause of economic loss to the dairy industry.

 

During 2000, we began the development of Re-Tain®, our purified Nisin treatment for subclinical mastitis in lactating dairy cows. No sales of this product can be made without prior approval of our New Animal Drug Application (NADA) by the Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We have achieved FDA approval for four out of five of the significant Technical Sections required for product approval, and we have made our third submission of the fifth Technical Section. We expect a response to this third submission from the FDA by May of 2024. Regulatory achievements to date have significantly reduced the product development risks in the areas of safety and effectiveness. Our primary product development focus has now turned to completion of the manufacturing objectives required for FDA approval.

 

1

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

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 into, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference herein or therein.  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.

 

2

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK 

 

We may offer, from time to time, shares of our common stock under this prospectus at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering.  This prospectus provides you with a general description of our common stock.  Each time we offer common stock, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, and prices of the common stock. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus also may supplement or, as applicable, add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference. 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.

 

The description below of our common stock and provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws are summaries and are qualified by reference to the certificate of incorporation and the bylaws.  These documents are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 15,000,000 shares of common stock. As of March 8, 2024 there were 7,750,864 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

Common Stock

 

The holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratable dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of or provision for liabilities. The common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable, and the shares of common stock to be issued upon the closing of this offering will be fully paid and nonassessable.

 

The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the shareholders. There is no cumulative voting.

  

Effect of Certain Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and Common Stock Rights Plan

 

Provisions of our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, our Common Stock Rights Plan or Delaware law may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares of our common stock. These provisions may also prevent or frustrate attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our management. These provisions include:

 

  limitations on the removal of directors; advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and nominations;
     
  the ability of our Board of Directors to alter or repeal our bylaws;
     
  the ability of our Board of Directors to refuse to redeem rights issued under our Common Stock Rights Plan or otherwise to limit or suspend its operation that would work to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer, likely preventing acquisitions that have not been approved by our Board of Directors; and

 

3

 

 

  Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder (generally defined as a person which together with its affiliates owns, or within the last three years has owned, 15% of our voting stock, for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder) unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner.

 

The existence of the foregoing provisions and anti-takeover measures could depress the trading price of our common stock or limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock. They could also deter potential acquirers of our Company, thereby reducing the likelihood of obtaining a premium for our common stock in an acquisition.

 

These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to promote stability in our management. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our Board of Directors.

 

  Shareholder Meetings.  Our bylaws provide that a special meeting of shareholders may be called only by the President or by the Board of Directors or by shareholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock.
     
  Requirements for Advance Notification of Shareholder Nominations and Proposals.  Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to shareholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors.
     
  Board of Directors Vacancies.  Under our bylaws, any vacancy on the Board of Directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of the Board of Directors, may only be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining directors.  Any director may be removed by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock.  The limitations on the removal of directors and filling of vacancies would have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, or of discouraging a third party from acquiring control of us.
     
  Board of Directors Size.  Within the range specified by our bylaws, our Board of Directors determines the size of our Board of Directors and may create new directorships and elect new directors, which may enable an incumbent Board of Directors to maintain control by adding directors.
     
  Indemnification.  Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws, as amended, provide that we will indemnify officers and directors against losses as they incur in investigations and legal proceedings resulting from their services to us, which may include service in connection with takeover defense measures.

 

In September 1995, our Board of Directors adopted a Common Stock Rights Plan and declared a dividend of one common share purchase right (a “Right”) for each of the then outstanding shares of the common stock of the Company. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one share of common stock at an initial purchase price of $70.00 per share, subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement between the Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent (as amended from time to time, the “Rights Agreement”).

 

The Rights (as amended) become exercisable and transferable apart from the common stock upon the earlier of i) 10 days following a public announcement that a person or group (Acquiring Person) has, without the prior consent of the Continuing Directors (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement), acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding common stock or ii) 10 days following commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in ownership by a person or group of 20% or more of the outstanding common stock (the earlier of such dates being called the Distribution Date).

 

4

 

 

Upon the Distribution Date, the holder of each Right not owned by the Acquiring Person would be entitled to purchase common stock at a discount to the initial purchase price of $70.00 per share, effectively equal to one half of the market price of a share of common stock on the date the Acquiring Person becomes an Acquiring Person. If, after the Distribution Date, the Company should consolidate or merge with any other entity and the Company were not the surviving company, or, if the Company were the surviving company, all or part of the Company’s common stock were changed or exchanged into the securities of any other entity, or if more than 50% of the Company’s assets or earning power were sold, each Right would entitle its holder to purchase, at the Rights’ then-current purchase price, a number of shares of the acquiring company’s common stock having a market value at that time equal to twice the Right’s exercise price.

 

At any time after a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding common stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of common stock per Right (subject to adjustment). At any time prior to 14 days following the date that any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person (subject to extension by the Board of Directors), the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the then outstanding Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.005 per Right, subject to adjustment.

 

During the third quarter of 2011, our Board of Directors voted to authorize an amendment to the Rights Plan to increase the ownership threshold for determining “Acquiring Person” status to 20%. During the second quarter of 2015, our Board of Directors also voted to authorize an amendment to remove a provision that prevented a new group of directors elected following the emergence of an Acquiring Person (an owner of more than 20% of our stock) from controlling the Rights Plan by maintaining exclusive authority over the Rights Plan with pre-existing directors. We did this because such provisions have come to be viewed with disfavor by Delaware courts. Each time that we made such amendments we entered into amendments to the Rights Agreement with the Rights Agent reflecting such extensions, threshold increases or provision changes. No other changes have been made to the terms of the Rights or the Rights Plan, other than extensions to the Final Expiration Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement). 

 

Our Board of Directors believes that there is some risk that the potential value of the mastitis product development initiative and the potential value of our broadened First Defense® product line offerings are not fairly reflected in the market price of our common stock, as it fluctuates from time to time, and that opportunistic buyers could take advantage of that disparity to the detriment of our stockholders. If this were to happen and result in a potential threat through an unsolicited acquisition effort or otherwise, our Board of Directors feels that the Common Stock Rights Plan could enhance stockholder value by providing management with negotiating leverage.

 

Listing

 

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “ICCC”.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equiniti Trust Company, LLC.

 

5

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and any related warrant agreement and warrant certificate. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer, we will describe the specific terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we indicate in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any warrants offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Specific warrant agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and will be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which includes this prospectus.

 

General

 

We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with common stock, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities.

 

We will evidence each series of warrants by warrant certificates that we may issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into a warrant agreement with a warrant agent. Each warrant agent may be a bank that we select which has its principal office in the United States. We may also choose to act as our own warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of any such warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants.

 

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants, including:

 

the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered;

 

if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;

 

if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

 

the number or amount of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which and currency in which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

the manner of exercise of the warrants, including any cashless exercise rights;

 

the warrant agreement under which the warrants will be issued;

 

the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreement and the warrants;

 

anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;

 

the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;

 

any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire or, if the warrants are not continuously exercisable during that period, the specific date or dates on which the warrants will be exercisable;

 

the manner in which the warrant agreement and warrants may be modified;

 

the identities of the warrant agent and any calculation or other agent for the warrants;

 

federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants;

 

any securities exchange or quotation system on which the warrants or any securities deliverable upon exercise of the warrants may be listed or quoted; and

 

any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants.

 

Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights.

 

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Exercise of Warrants

 

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to 5:00 P.M. eastern time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

 

Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required exercise price by the methods provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate, and in the applicable prospectus supplement, the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent.

 

Upon receipt of the required 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 applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, then we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of warrants.

 

Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants

 

Any warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action the holder’s right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants in accordance with their terms.

 

Governing Law

 

Each warrant agreement and any warrants issued under the warrant agreements will be governed by New York law.

 

Calculation Agent

 

Any calculations relating to warrants may be made by a calculation agent, an institution that we appoint as our agent for this purpose. The prospectus supplement for a particular warrant will name the institution that we have appointed to act as the calculation agent for that warrant as of the original issue date for that warrant, if any. We may appoint a different institution to serve as calculation agent from time to time after the original issue date without the consent or notification of the holders. The calculation agent’s determination of any amount of money payable or securities deliverable with respect to a warrant will be final and binding in the absence of manifest error.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

 

We may issue to our shareholders subscription rights to purchase our common stock. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the subscription rights that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. The particular terms of the subscription rights and the extent, if any, to which the general terms and provisions may apply to the subscription right so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered by this prospectus and may or may not be transferable by the shareholder receiving the rights in the rights offering. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting agreement with one or more underwriters pursuant to which the underwriter will purchase any securities that remain unsubscribed for upon completion of the rights offering, or offer these securities to other parties who are not our shareholders. A copy of the form of subscription rights certificate will be filed with the SEC each time we issue subscription rights, and you should read that document for provisions that may be important to you. For more information on how you can obtain a copy of any subscription rights certificate, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

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The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any subscription rights will describe the terms of the offered subscription rights, including, where applicable, the following:

 

  the exercise price for the subscription rights;

 

  the number of subscription rights issued to each shareholder;

 

  the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable;

 

  any other terms of the subscription rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the subscription rights;

 

  the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights will commence and the date on which the right will expire;

 

  the extent to which the subscription rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; and

 

  the material terms of any standby underwriting arrangement entered into by us in connection with the subscription rights offering.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

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 our securities to repay outstanding indebtedness, for future capital expenditures, working capital and for general corporate purposes.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions, including, without limitation:

 

  through agents;
     
  to or through underwriters;
     
  through broker-dealers (acting as agent or principal);
     
  directly by us to purchasers (including our affiliates and shareholders), through a specific bidding or auction process, a rights offering or otherwise;
     
  through a combination of any such methods of sale; or
     
  through any other methods described in a prospectus supplement.

  

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 NASDAQ Capital Market or any other organized market where the common stock 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.

 

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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 shareholders on a pro rata basis, which may or may not be transferable.  In any distribution of subscription rights to our shareholders, if all of the underlying common stock is not subscribed for, we may then sell the unsubscribed common stock directly to third parties or may engage the services of one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to sell the unsubscribed common stock to third parties. We may pay the standby underwriters a commitment fee for the common stock they commit to purchase on a standby basis.

 

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 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.  This prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus will be used by the underwriters to resell the securities.

 

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 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, documents 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 or 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.

 

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Any person participating in the distribution of securities 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 securities to engage in market-making activities with respect to our securities.  These restrictions may affect the marketability of our securities and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our securities.

 

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 securities.  If any such activities will occur, they will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, as the case may be.

 

If more than 10% of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by FINRA members participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA members, the offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(h).

 

So long as the aggregate market value of our common equity held by non-affiliates is less than $75,000,000.00 and so long as required by the rules of the SEC, the amount of common stock we may offer hereunder will be limited such that the aggregate market value of securities sold by us during a period of 12 calendar months cannot exceed one-third of the aggregate market value of the common equity held by non-affiliates.

 

To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP, New York, New York will pass upon legal matters in connection with the validity of the securities offered hereby for us.

 

EXPERTS

 

The financial statements of ImmuCell Corporation as of and for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, incorporated in this Prospectus and Registration Statement by reference from the ImmuCell Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been audited WIPFLI LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, incorporated herein by reference, and have been incorporated in this Prospectus and Registration Statement in reliance upon such report and upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

 

No expert or counsel named in this prospectus as having prepared or certified any part of this prospectus or having given an opinion upon the validity of the securities being registered or upon other legal matters in connection with the registration or offering of the securities was employed on a contingency basis, or had, or is to receive, in connection with the offering, a substantial interest, direct or indirect, in the registrant. Nor was any such person connected with the registrant as a promoter, managing or principal underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer, or employee.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), with respect to the securities covered by this prospectus.  This prospectus, which is a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules filed therewith.  For further information with respect to us and the securities covered by this prospectus, please see the registration statement and the exhibits filed with the registration statement. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC, including such registration statement.  The address of the website is http://www.sec.gov.

 

We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and, in accordance therewith, we file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.  Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available on the website of the SEC referred to above.  We maintain a website at www.immucell.com.  You may access our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.  Our website and the information contained on that site, or connected to that site, are not incorporated into and are not a part of this prospectus.

 

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INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents.  The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and certain information that we will later file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information.  We incorporate by reference the documents listed below, as well as any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, and any filings made after the date of this prospectus until we sell all of the securities under this prospectus, except that we do not incorporate any document or portion of a document that was furnished and deemed by the rules of the SEC not to have been filed:

 

  Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024;
     
  Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2024, March 6, 2024 and April 9, 2024 (Second Filing);
     
 

Our Form 8-A filed with the SEC on March 18, 1987 with respect to our common stock; and

     
  Our Form 8-A filed with the SEC on September 13, 1995, as amended by Form 8-A/A filed with the SEC on July 1, 2008, with respect to our common stock purchase rights.

 

Additionally, all reports and other documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after (i) the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement; and (ii) the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination or completion of this offering, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such reports and other 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 hereby undertake to provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any and all of the information that has been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents.  Requests for such copies should be directed to our Corporate Secretary at 56 Evergreen Drive, Portland, ME 04103.  Our telephone number is (207) 878-2770.

 

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