Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Table of Contents

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration No. 333-173576

Dated May 23, 2011

 

This preliminary prospectus and the accompanying prospectus related to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, but the information in this prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities, and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 23, 2011

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated May 3, 2011)

             Shares

LOGO

Common Stock

 

 

We are offering             shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “INVE” and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “INV.” On May 20, 2011, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The NASDAQ Global Market was $3.04 per share.

 

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Please read “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus supplement, page 5 of the accompanying prospectus and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

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 supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

     Per Share      Total  

Public offering price

   $         $     

Underwriting discount(1)

   $         $     

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

   $         $     

 

(1) Excludes underwriters’ out-of-pocket expenses we have agreed to reimburse. See the section captioned “Underwriting” in this prospectus supplement for additional information.

The underwriters may also purchase up to an additional             shares from us at the public coffering price, less the underwriting discount, within 30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement to cover over-allotments, if any. If the underwriters exercise the option in full, the total discount and commission payable by us will be $ and the total proceeds to us, before expenses, will be $            .

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares against payment on or about             , 2011.

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

Cowen and Company    Morgan Joseph TriArtisan LLC

Prospectus Supplement dated             , 2011

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement   
     Page  

Prospectus Supplement Summary

     S-1   

Risk Factors

     S-5   

Forward-Looking Statements

     S-7   

Use of Proceeds

     S-8   

Capitalization

     S-9   

Dilution

     S-10   

Underwriting

     S-11   

Legal Matters

     S-15   

Experts

     S-15   

Where You Can Find Additional Information

     S-15   

Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference

     S-16   
Prospectus   

About this Prospectus

     1   

Where You Can Find More Information

     1   

Incorporation By Reference

     2   

Forward-Looking Statements

     3   

Prospectus Summary

     4   

Risk Factors

     5   

Use of Proceeds

     5   

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     5   

Description of Securities

     6   

Description of Debt Securities

     6   

Description of Preferred Stock

     17   

Description of Common Stock

     18   

Description of Warrants

     19   

Plan of Distribution

     20   

Certain Provisions of our Charter Documents and Delaware Law

     23   

Legal Matters

     25   

Experts

     25   

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference, which describes the specific terms of this offering. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference, provides more general information. Generally, when we refer to this prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. Before you invest, you should carefully read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, all information incorporated by reference herein and therein, as well as the additional information described under “Where You Can Find Additional Information” on page S-15 this prospectus supplement. These documents contain information you should consider when making your investment decision. This prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in the accompanying prospectus. To the extent that any statement that we make in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements made in the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated by reference therein, the statements made in this prospectus supplement will be deemed to modify or supersede those made in the accompanying prospectus and such documents incorporated by reference therein.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and in any free writing prospectuses we may provide to you in connection with this offering. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with any information that is different. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.

No action has been or will be taken in any jurisdiction by the Company or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the common stock or the possession or distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in any jurisdiction, other than in the United States. 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 securities 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.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information about us, this offering and information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, in the accompanying prospectus and in the documents we incorporate by reference. This summary is not complete and does not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our common stock pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Before making an investment decision, to fully understand this offering and its consequences to you, you should carefully read this entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus supplement, beginning on page 5 of the accompanying prospectus, and the financial statements, and related notes, and the other information that we incorporated by reference herein, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

Identive Group, Inc.

Overview

We are an international technology company focused on building the world’s signature group in secure identification-based technologies. We are comprised of a group of businesses with deep industry expertise and are well-known global brands in their individual markets, providing leading-edge products and solutions in the areas of physical and logical access control, identity management and radio frequency identification, or RFID, systems to governments, commercial and industrial enterprises, healthcare and consumers. Our growth model is based on a combination of strong technology-driven organic growth from the businesses within the group and disciplined acquisitive expansion.

At the beginning of 2010, we acquired Bluehill ID AG, a Swiss industrial holding group focused on technologies within the high-growth RFID/contactless smart card technology and identity management markets. As a result of this business combination, we adopted a new organizational structure, enhanced and broadened our management team, and changed the name of the company from “SCM Microsystems, Inc.” to “Identive Group, Inc,” which reflects our focus on providing secure identification systems and solutions. Following the acquisition of Bluehill ID we also changed our stock trading symbols to reflect our new name. Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Market in the U.S. under the symbol “INVE” and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Germany under the symbol “INV.”

We operate in two segments, Identity Management Solutions & Services, or Identity Management, and Identification Products & Components, or ID Products. Each segment is comprised of two or more business units within the group that focus on specific products, markets and channels.

 

   

The businesses in our Identity Management segment provide solutions and services that enable the secure management of credentials in diverse markets. These credentials are used for the identification of people and the granting of rights and privileges based on defined security policies. The businesses in our Identity Management segment specialize in the design, manufacturing, supply and servicing of products and integrated systems that can enhance security and better meet compliance and regulatory requirements while providing users the benefits and convenience of simple and secure solutions. Our Identity Management customers operate in government, commercial, enterprise and consumer markets and can be found in multiple vertical market segments including healthcare, finance, industrial, retail and critical infrastructure. The businesses in our Identity Management segment include Hirsch and Multicard. Sales in this segment are typically made to high level dealer / integrators, and less frequently, directly to end users.

 

 

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The businesses in our ID Products segment design and manufacture both standard and highly specialized products and components that help identify people, animals and objects in a multitude of applications and markets. Products and components in our ID Products segment include semiconductors, cards, tags, inlays, readers and terminals that are used by original equipment manufacturers and system integrators to deliver identity based systems and solutions. These products are used for applications such as eHealth, eGovernment, mobile banking, loyalty schemes, transportation and event ticketing, corporate identification, logical access, physical access and passport control in the government, enterprise and financial markets. Within the ID Products segment we also offer commercial digital media readers that are used in digital kiosks to transfer digital content to and from various flash media. Businesses in our ID Products segment include ACiG Technology, SCM Microsystems, Smartag, Syscan ID and TagStar Systems.

Each of the businesses within Identive conducts its own sales and marketing activities in the markets in which it competes, utilizing its own sales and marketing organization, and in most cases selling primarily through indirect sales channels that may include dealers, systems integrators, value added resellers, resellers or Internet sales. Within our Identity Management segment, the majority of sales in our Hirsch business are made through a dealer/systems integrator distribution channel. Businesses in our ID Products segment primarily sell to original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, that typically either bundle our products with their own solutions, or repackage our products for resale to their customers. Our OEM customers typically sell our ID Products solutions to government contractors, systems integrators, large enterprises and computer manufacturers, as well as to banks and other financial institutions. Additionally, we sell our digital media readers primarily to major brand computer and photo processing equipment manufacturers.

Corporate Information

Identive Group, Inc. was founded in 1990 in Munich, Germany and incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on December 13, 1996 under the name SCM Microsystems, Inc. Our corporate headquarters are located in Santa Ana, California at 1900-B Carnegie Avenue, Santa Ana, California 92705 and our telephone number is (949)250-8888. Our European and operational headquarters are located in Ismaning, Germany at Oskar-Messter-Strasse 13, 85737 Ismaning, Germany, telephone +49 89 9595-5000. Our web site is located on the world wide web at http://www.identive-group.com. We do not incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus the information on, or accessible through, our website, and you should not consider it as part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

 

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THE OFFERING

 

Common stock offered by us    shares
Over-allotment option    shares
Common stock to be outstanding after this offering    shares
Use of proceeds    We plan to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes, and possibly acquisitions of other businesses, products or technologies. Please see “Use of Proceeds” on page S-8.
Risk factors    See “Risk Factors” on page S-5 of this prospectus supplement, beginning on page 5 of the accompanying prospectus, and beginning on page 18 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, for a discussion of factors that you should read and consider before investing in our securities.
Nasdaq Global Market Symbol    INVE
Frankfurt Stock Exchange Symbol    INV

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering as shown above is based on 48,075,789 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2011. This number of shares excludes the following:

 

   

38,956 shares of common stock issued as stock awards under our equity incentive plans or upon exercise of outstanding options after March 31, 2011, and 2,044,669 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options outstanding prior to this offering under our equity incentive plans;

 

   

10,850,270 shares of common stock available for future grants under our equity incentive plans, which includes 4,000,000 shares we expect to be approved at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 6, 2011;

 

   

2,000,000 shares of common stock available for future sale to our employees under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which we expect to be approved at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 6, 2011;

 

   

405,941 shares of common stock issued upon exercise of outstanding warrants after March 31, 2011 and 10,628,183 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants and options granted outside our equity incentive plans outstanding prior to this offering;

 

   

3,328 shares of common stock issued after March 31, 2011 and 1,261,421 shares of common stock issuable to former holders of Bluehill ID AG bearer shares not tendered in the connection with the acquisition of Bluehill ID AG pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, dated September 20, 2009, as amended October 20, 2009;

 

   

approximately 15,170 shares of common stock issuable to the certain former owners of Bluehill ID AG pursuant to the Earn-Out Agreements assumed by the Company in its acquisition of Bluehill ID AG;

 

 

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approximately 122,098 shares of common stock issuable to the former shareholders of RockWest Technology Group LLC pursuant to the earn-out provisions contained in the Share Purchase Agreement dated March 30, 2010, as amended on April 9, 2010;

 

   

the issuance of 995,675 shares of common stock to certain former stockholders of idOnDemand, Inc. on May 2, 2011; and

 

   

potential issuances of shares of common stock to the former shareholders of idOnDemand, Inc. pursuant to the earn-out provisions contained in the Stock Purchase Agreement dated April 29, 2011.

Except as otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus supplement assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before acquiring any offered securities pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should carefully consider the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any accompanying prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference, the risk factors described under the caption “Risk Factors” in any applicable prospectus supplement and any risk factors set forth in our other filings with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act before making an investment decision. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or a part of your investment in the offered securities. Please see “Where You Can Find Additional Information” on page S-15 of this prospectus supplement.

Risks Related to This Offering

We will have broad discretion as to the use of the proceeds from this offering, and we may not use the proceeds effectively.

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could spend the proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock. Our failure to apply these funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business or the development of our product candidates and cause the price of our common stock to decline.

You will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value per share of the stock you purchase.

Since the price per share of our common stock being offered is higher than the net tangible book value per share of our stock, you will suffer substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of the stock you purchase in this offering. Based on the public offering price of $            per share, if you purchase shares of common stock in this offering, you will suffer immediate and substantial dilution of $            per share in the net tangible book value of the common stock. See the section entitled “Dilution” in this prospectus supplement for a more detailed discussion of the dilution you will incur if you purchase stock in this offering.

You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings or other equity issuances.

To raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our common stock, preferred stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is equal to or greater than the price per share paid by investors in this offering. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share in this offering.

The price of our common stock may continue to be volatile.

Our common stock is currently traded on The NASDAQ Global Market (NASDAQ) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The trading price of our common stock from time to time has fluctuated widely and may be subject to similar volatility in the future. For example, in the four months ended April 30, 2011, our common stock traded on NASDAQ as low as $2.23 and as high as $5.90, and in 2010, traded as low as $1.29 and as high as $2.88. The trading price of our common stock in the future may be

 

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affected by a number of factor. In recent years, broad stock market indices, in general, and smaller capitalization companies, in particular, have experienced substantial price fluctuations. In a volatile market, we may experience wide fluctuations in the market price of our common stock. These fluctuations may have a negative effect on the market price of our common stock regardless of our operating performance.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may include forward-looking statements made 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 forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements about projections of financing needs, revenue, expenses, earnings or losses from operations, or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; our market opportunities, strategies, competition; and our expected activities. At times, these statements may be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “potential,” “intend,” “continue” and variations of these words or comparable words. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the risks described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this prospectus and the various factors as described below.

We believe it is important to communicate our expectations to our stockholders. However, there may be events in the future that we are not able to predict accurately or over which we have no control. The risk factors and cautionary language discussed in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events that may cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations described in the forward-looking statements, including our ability to:

 

   

execute our strategic growth plan, including the identification of potential acquisition or strategic partnership opportunities;

 

   

obtain additional capital, use internally-generated cash, or use shares of our common stock to finance growth strategies;

 

   

adapt to the competitive and rapidly-evolving nature of our industry;

 

   

adjust to the effect of competing products on our business;

 

   

retain key personnel;

 

   

manage any disruptions at our manufacturing facilities or in our customer, supplier, or employee base;

 

   

manage the growth of the businesses within our company in a cost efficient manner; and

 

   

adjust to economic and financial uncertainty resulting from terrorism or global economic conditions.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements included in this registration statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this registration statement. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, will be approximately $            million (or approximately $            million if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). “Net proceeds” is what we expect to receive after paying the underwriting discount and other expenses associated with this offering payable by us.

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes, and possibly acquisitions of other businesses, products or technologies. Working capital and other general corporate purposes may include research and development expenditures and capital expenditures. We have not yet determined the amount of net proceeds to be used specifically for any of the foregoing purposes. Accordingly, our management will have significant discretion and flexibility in applying the net proceeds from the sale of these shares of our common stock. Pending any use, as described above, we intend to invest the net proceeds in high-quality, short-term, interest-bearing securities.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of March 31, 2011:

 

   

on an actual basis;

 

   

on an adjusted basis to give effect to (i) the issuance of              shares of our common stock, at the offering price of $            per share, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and our estimated offering expenses, and without exercise of the option granted to the underwriter to purchase additional shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any, (ii) the issuance of 405,941 shares of our common stock in connection with a warrant exercises in April and May 2011, (iii) the issuance of 38,956 shares of our common stock for stock awards or upon exercise of outstanding options under our equity incentive plans after March 31, 2011, (iv) the issuance of 3,328 shares of our common stock to certain former holders of bearer shares of Bluehill ID AG not tendered in the acquisition of Bluehill ID AG, and (v) the issuance of 995,675 shares of our common stock to certain former stockholders of idOnDemand, Inc. in May 2011.

The information set forth in the following table should be read in conjunction with and is qualified in its entirety by our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. See “Prospectus Summary – The Offering” for information relating to the expected number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering.

 

     As of March 31, 2011  
(in thousands except share and per share data)    Actual     As Adjusted  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 9,928      $     
          

Long-term liability to related party

     7,559        7,559   

Long-term mortgage loan payable to bank

     886        886   

Long-term debt note

     716        716   
                

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock: $0.001 par value; 110,000,000 shares authorized; 48,075,789 shares issued and outstanding, actual;              shares issued and outstanding, as adjusted

     48     

Additional paid-in capital

     308,012             (1) 

Treasury shares, 618,400 shares

     (2,777     (2,777

Accumulated deficit

     (227,758     (227,758

Other accumulated comprehensive income

   $ 2,667      $ 2,667   
                

Total stockholders’ equity

   $ 80,192     
          

Total capitalization

   $ 89,353     
          

 

(1) Reflects the addition of $             million of estimated net proceeds from our sale of an aggregate of shares in this offering.

 

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DILUTION

Purchasers of common stock offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus will suffer immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value per share of common stock. Our net tangible book value as of March 31, 2011 was approximately $6,776,000, or approximately $0.14 per share of common stock. Net tangible book value per share represents the amount of total tangible assets less total liabilities, divided by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2011.

Dilution in net tangible book value per share represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering. After giving effect to an assumed sale of              shares of common stock in this offering at an assumed public offering price of $            per share, and after deduction of the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2011 would have been approximately $            , or $             per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $            per share of common stock to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $ per share of common stock to investors participating in this offering. The following table illustrates this per share dilution:

 

Assumed public offering price per share

      $                

Net tangible book value per share of common stock as of March 31, 2011

   $ 0.14      

Increase per share attributable to this offering

   $               

As adjusted net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2011, after giving effect to this offering

      $                

Dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering

      $                

If the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase              additional shares of common stock at the assumed public offering price of $            per share, the as adjusted net tangible book value after these offerings would be $            per share, representing an increase in net tangible book value of $            per share to existing stockholders and immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $            per share to participating investors at the assumed offering price.

To the extent that any options or warrants are exercised, new options are issued under our equity incentive plans, shares of common stock are sold under our employee stock purchase plan or we otherwise issue additional shares of common stock in the future, there will be further dilution to new investors.

 

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UNDERWRITING

We and the underwriters for the offering named below have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the common stock being offered. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase from us the number of shares of our common stock set forth opposite its name below. Cowen and Company, LLC and Morgan Joseph TriArtisan LLC are the representatives of the underwriters.

 

Underwriter

   Number
of Shares
 

Cowen and Company, LLC

  

Morgan Joseph TriArtisan LLC

  

Total

  

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase all of the shares sold under the underwriting agreement if any of these shares are purchased, other than those shares covered by the overallotment option described below. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof. The underwriters are offering the shares, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel and other conditions specified in the underwriting agreement. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Overallotment option to purchase additional shares. We have granted to the underwriters an option to purchase up to additional shares of common stock at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount. This option is exercisable for a period of 30 days. The underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering overallotments, if any, made in connection with the sale of common stock offered hereby. To the extent that the underwriters exercise this option, the underwriters will purchase additional shares from us in approximately the same proportion as shown in the table above.

Discounts and commissions. The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds, before expenses to us. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

We estimate that the total expenses of the offering (which includes approximately $35,000 that we have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for out-of-pocket expenses, including fees, costs, expenses or disbursements for legal counsel, incurred in connection with this offering), excluding underwriting discount, will be approximately $            and are payable by us. Pursuant to FINRA interpretations, total underwriter compensation shall not exceed 8% of the gross proceeds of this offering.

 

     Total  
      Per
Share
     Without
Over-
Allotment
     With
Over-
Allotment
 

Public offering price

   $                    $                    $                

Underwriting discount

        

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

        

 

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The underwriters propose to offer the shares of common stock to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement. The underwriters may offer the shares of common stock to securities dealers at the public offering price less a concession not in excess of $ per share. If all of the shares are not sold at the public offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and other selling terms.

Discretionary accounts. The underwriters do not intend to confirm sales of the shares to any accounts over which they have discretionary authority.

Stabilization. In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, overallotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions, penalty bids and purchases to cover positions created by short sales.

 

   

Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase shares of common stock so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum, and are engaged in for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock while the offering is in progress.

 

   

Overallotment transactions involve sales by the underwriters of shares of common stock in excess of the number of shares the underwriters are obligated to purchase. This creates a syndicate short position which may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of shares over-allotted by the underwriters is not greater than the number of shares that they may purchase in the overallotment option. In a naked short position, the number of shares involved is greater than the number of shares in the overallotment option. The underwriters may close out any short position by exercising their overallotment option and/or purchasing shares in the open market.

 

   

Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of common stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of shares to close out the short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared with the price at which they may purchase shares through exercise of the overallotment option. If the underwriters sell more shares than could be covered by exercise of the overallotment option and, therefore, have a naked short position, the position can be closed out only by buying shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that after pricing there could be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock in the open market may be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of these transactions. Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. These transactions may be effected on the NASDAQ Global Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

Passive market making. In connection with this offering, underwriters and selling group members may engage in passive market making transactions in our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,

 

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as amended (the “Exchange Act”), during a period before the commencement of offers or sales of common stock and extending through the completion of the distribution. A passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid of that security. However, if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, that bid must then be lowered when specified purchase limits are exceeded.

Lock-up agreements. Pursuant to certain “lock-up” agreements, we and our executive officers and directors, have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to offer, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of or announce the intention to otherwise dispose of, or enter into any swap, hedge or similar agreement or arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequence of ownership of, directly or indirectly, or make any demand or request or exercise any right with respect to the registration of, or file with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act (except for a registration statement on Form S-8 relating to employee benefit plans, a registration statement on Form S-4 in connection with a strategic transaction, or any amendments or supplements to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-171134) for the purpose of updating or supplementing the information contained therein) relating to, any common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any common stock without the prior written consent of Cowen and Company, LLC, and Morgan Joseph TriArtisan, LLC for a period of 30 days after the date of the pricing of the offering. The 30-day restricted period will be automatically extended if (i) during the last 17 days of the 30-day restricted period we issue an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to us occurs or (ii) prior to the expiration of the 30-day restricted period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 30-day restricted period, in either of which case the restrictions described above will continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the public announcement of the material news or the occurrence of the material event, as applicable, unless Cowen and Company, LLC and Morgan Joseph TriArtisan LLC each waive, in writing, such extension.

This lock-up provision applies to common stock and to securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common stock. It also applies to common stock owned now or acquired later by the person executing the agreement or for which the person executing the agreement later acquires the power of disposition. The exceptions to the lock-up for executive officers and directors are: (a) transactions relating to shares of common stock or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the offering; (b) the transfer of shares of common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock (i) to the spouse, domestic partner, parent, child or grandchild of the executive officer or director or to a trust formed for the benefit of an immediate family member or (ii) by bona fide gift; (c) the transfer of shares of common stock or any securities convertible into shares of common stock to us upon a vesting event of our securities or upon the exercise of options or warrants to purchase our securities, in each case on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis or to cover tax withholding obligations; (d) the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of common stock; and (e) the transfer of shares of common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock that occurs by operation of law, such as pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement; each of which is subject to certain conditions set forth in the lock-up agreements with the executive officers and directors.

The exceptions to the lock-up for us are: (1) our sale of shares in this offering; (2) the issuance of common stock, options to acquire common stock or other equity awards pursuant to our stock option plan, restricted stock plan and employee stock purchase plan, including such stock option plans approved by our Board of Directors and pending stockholder approval, and such other plans and arrangements, and other contractual obligations as are in existence on the date hereof, and described in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus; (3) the issuance of common stock or warrants in

 

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connection with strategic transactions, which in the aggregate shall not exceed 10% of our outstanding common stock; (4) the issuance of common stock pursuant to the valid exercises, vesting or settlements of options, warrants or rights outstanding as of the date of the offering; and (5) the issuance of common stock to former holders of Bluehill ID AG bearer shares not tendered in connection with the acquisition of Bluehill ID AG in January 2010.

Electronic offer, sale and distribution of shares. A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by one or more of the underwriters or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering and one or more of the underwriters participating in this offering may distribute prospectuses electronically. The representatives may agree to allocate a number of shares to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the underwriters and selling group members that will make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on these websites is not part of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the registration statement of which the accompanying prospectus forms a part, has not been approved or endorsed by us or any underwriter in its capacity as underwriter, and should not be relied upon by investors.

Other relationships. Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, various investment banking, commercial banking and other financial services for us and our affiliates for which they have received, and may in the future receive, customary fees.

Stock Exchange Listing. Our common shares are traded on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “INVE” and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “INV.” The transfer agent for our common shares to be issued in this offering is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Boston, Massachusetts. Certain matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Goodwin Procter LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule of Identive Group, Inc. (formerly known as SCM Microsystems, Inc.) incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche GmbH, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements of Bluehill ID AG as of and for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the Company’s Amendment No. 2 to Current Report on Form 8-K/A, as filed August 6, 2010, have been audited by Ernst & Young Ltd, independent auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The financial statements of Hirsch Electronics Corporation as of and for the years ended November 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006 incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-162618) have been audited by Squar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda & Williamson, LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements and other information can be read and copied 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 about the public reference room. The SEC maintains an internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding companies that file electronically with the SEC, including us. Reports, proxy statements and other information filed by us with the SEC can also be obtained on our internet site at http://www.identive-group.com. Information on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus and is not a part of this prospectus.

You should rely only on the information provided in, and incorporated by reference in, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the registration statement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. Our securities are not being offered in any state where the offer is not permitted. The information contained in documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the dates of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS 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 another document that we have filed separately with the SEC. You should read the information incorporated by reference because it is an important part of this prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference the following information or documents that we have filed with the SEC (excluding those portions of any Form 8-K that are not deemed “filed” pursuant to the General Instructions of Form 8-K):

 

   

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the SEC on March 7, 2011;

 

   

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 filed with the SEC on May 6, 2011;

 

   

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 4, March 9, May 4 (two filings), May 5 and May 12, 2011, and our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on May 9, 2011; and

 

   

the audited financial statements of Bluehill ID AG for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 appearing in Exhibit 99.2 of Amendment No. 2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on August 6, 2010;

 

   

the audited financial statements as of and for the years ended November 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006 and the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets as of February 28, 2009 and November 30, 2008 and the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and statements of cash flows for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 of Hirsch Electronics Corporation appearing in pages F-51 through F-84 of Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed with the SEC on November 10, 2009 (File No. 333-162618);

 

   

the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on September 5, 1997 (which incorporates the Registrant’s Description of Capital Stock included in the Registrant’s 424(b)(4) prospectus, File No. 333-29073, as filed with the Commission on October 7, 1997), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

 

   

the description of our preferred share purchase rights contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on November 14, 2002, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating the description.

All documents filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of this offering, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, other than information that is furnished but not filed with the SEC under those filings, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and deemed to be part of this prospectus supplement from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

Any statement contained in any document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement or any additional prospectus supplements modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.

We will provide without charge upon written or oral request to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus supplement is delivered, a copy of any or all of the documents

 

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which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement but not delivered with the prospectus (other than exhibits to those documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this prospectus supplement). Requests should be directed to Identive Group, Inc., Attn: Investor Relations, 1900-B Carnegie Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705, or by calling (collect) 1-949-250-8888 x106.

 

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PROSPECTUS

LOGO

IDENTIVE GROUP, INC.

Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Common Stock

Warrants

Identive Group, Inc. may offer, issue and sell, from time to time, (i) senior debt securities which may be convertible or non-convertible, (ii) preferred stock, (iii) common stock, (iv) warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or other securities, and (v) any combination of the foregoing. We may offer these securities in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of offering.

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market and trades under the symbol “INVE” and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “INV.” If we decide to seek a listing of any securities offered by this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement will disclose the exchange or market on which such securities will be listed, if any, or where we have made an application for listing, if any.

We may sell the securities directly to you, through agents we select, or through underwriters and dealers we select, on a continuous or delayed basis. If we use agents, underwriters or dealers to sell the securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.

Based on the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on April 13, 2011, of $3.63 per share, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $132,462,870. We urge prospective purchasers of our common stock to obtain current information about the market prices of our common stock.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of debt and equity securities that we may offer and sell, from time to time, either individually or in combination. Each time we sell securities we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of any debt or equity securities we offer and the specific manner in which we will offer the debt or equity securities. The prospectus supplement will also contain information, where appropriate, about material United States federal income tax consequences relating to, and any listing on a securities exchange of, the debt or equity securities covered by the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our securities.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated herein by reference and described under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5.

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

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 May 3, 2011.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     1   

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     2   

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     3   

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     4   

RISK FACTORS

     5   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     5   

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     5   

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

     6   

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     6   

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

     17   

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

     18   

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     19   

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     20   

CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF OUR CHARTER DOCUMENTS AND DELAWARE LAW

     23   

LEGAL MATTERS

     25   

EXPERTS

     25   

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $100,000,000.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that contains specific information about the terms of that offering, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered. The prospectus supplement may also add information to this prospectus or update or change information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read carefully this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.” We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale of these securities is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, as well as the information incorporated by reference herein or therein, is accurate only as of the date of the documents containing the information. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

In this prospectus, except as otherwise indicated, “Identive,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Identive Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

SCM, the Identive logo, @MAXX and CHIPDRIVE are registered trademarks of Identive Group, Inc.; ScramblePad, ScrambleProx and IDK are registered trademarks of Hirsch Electronics, LLC, and the Hirsch logo, the Velocity logo, ScrambleSmart, ScrambleSmartProx, MATCH, DIGI*TRAC, Hirsch Verification Station, RUU-201, MOMENTUM, BioSmart, Secure Success, Putting Digital Identities to Work, From Credential to Cloud, Presence as a Policy, We Secure Buildings, Upgrade to Hirsch, The Secure Decision, DigiLock, Rapid Deployment Kit, ScrambleNet, XBox, NET*MUX4, S*NET, X*NET, SNIB and SNIB2 are trademarks of Hirsch Electronics, LLC; ACiG, Card Express Service, MIR-RT, Multicard, Mybility, Syscan, Trustoffice, and TOM are foreign registered trademarks of affiliated companies. Other product and brand names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements and other information can be read and copied 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 about the public reference room. The SEC maintains an internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding companies that file electronically with the SEC, including us. Reports, proxy statements and other information filed by us with the SEC can also be obtained on our internet site at http://www.identive-group.com. Information on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus and is not a part of this prospectus.


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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, except for any information superseded by information contained directly in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any subsequently filed document deemed incorporated by reference. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC (other than information deemed furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules, including Items 2.02 and 7.01 of Form 8-K):

 

   

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 (filed with the SEC on March 7, 2011);

 

   

the audited financial statements of Bluehill ID AG for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 appearing in Exhibit 99.2 of Amendment No. 2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on August 6, 2010;

 

   

the audited financial statements as of and for the years ended November 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006 and the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets as of February 28, 2009 and November 30, 2008 and the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and statements of cash flows for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 of Hirsch Electronics Corporation appearing in pages F-51 through F-84 of Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed with the SEC on November 10, 2009 (File No. 333-162618);

 

   

Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 4, 2011 and March 9, 2011; and

 

   

The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on September 5, 1997 (which incorporates the Registrant’s Description of Capital Stock included in the Registrant’s 424(b)(4) prospectus, File No. 333-29073, as filed with the Commission on October 7, 1997), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), after April 18, 2011 (the date the initial registration statement was filed with the SEC) but prior to effectiveness of the registration statement and after the date of this prospectus but prior to the termination of the offering of the securities covered by this prospectus shall also be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference, other than information that is furnished but not filed with the SEC under those filings.

We will provide without charge upon written or oral request to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the documents which are incorporated by reference into the prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus (other than exhibits to those documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this prospectus). Requests should be directed to Identive Group, Inc., Attn: Investor Relations, 1900-B Carnegie Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705, or by calling (collect) 1-949-250-8888 x106.

You should rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any person to provide you with any information that is different from that contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We are not making an offer to sell or seeking an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, sale or solicitation is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of the securities.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein may include forward-looking statements made 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 forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements about projections of financing needs, revenue, expenses, earnings or losses from operations, or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; our market opportunities, strategies, competition; and our expected activities. At times, these statements may be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “potential,” “intend,” “continue” and variations of these words or comparable words. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the risks described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this prospectus and the various factors as described below.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements included in this registration statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this registration statement. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

Identive Group, Inc. (“Identive,” the “Company,” “the group,” “we” and “us”) is an international technology company focused on building the world’s signature group in secure identification-based technologies. We are comprised of a group of businesses with deep industry expertise and well-known global brands in their individual markets, which provide leading-edge products and solutions in the areas of physical and logical access control, identity management and radio frequency identification (“RFID”) systems to governments, commercial and industrial enterprises, healthcare and consumers. Our goal is to build a lasting business of scale and technology to both enable and capitalize on the growth of the security and RFID industries. Our growth model is based on a combination of strong technology-driven organic growth from the businesses within the group and disciplined acquisitive expansion.

At the beginning of 2010, we acquired Bluehill ID AG (“Bluehill ID”), a Swiss industrial holding group focused on technologies within the high-growth RFID / contactless smart card technology and identity management markets. As a result of this business combination, we have adopted a new organizational structure, enhanced and broadened our management team, and changed the name of the Company from “SCM Microsystems, Inc.” to “Identive Group, Inc,” which reflects our focus on providing secure identification systems and solutions. Following the acquisition of Bluehill ID we also changed our stock trading symbols to reflect our new name. Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market in the U.S. under the symbol “INVE” and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Germany under the symbol “INV.”

Through 2009 and prior to the business combination with Bluehill ID, we operated in two business segments, Security and Identity Solutions and Digital Media and Connectivity. Following our business combination with Bluehill ID, our Company’s organizational structure has changed, and we now operate in the following two business segments: Identity Management Solutions & Services (“ID Management”) and Identification Products & Components (“ID Products”). Each business segment is comprised of two or more businesses that focus on specific markets and technologies.

 

   

The businesses in our ID Management segment provide solutions and services that enable the secure management of credentials in diverse markets. These credentials are used for the identification of people and the granting of rights and privileges based on defined security policies. The businesses in our ID Management segment specialize in the design and manufacturing of highly secured and integrated systems that can enhance security and better meet compliance and regulatory requirements while providing users the benefits and convenience of simple and secure solutions. Our ID Management customers operate in government, commercial, enterprise and consumer markets and can be found in multiple vertical market segments including healthcare, finance, industrial, retail and critical infrastructure. The businesses in our ID Management segment include Hirsch Electronics and Multicard.

 

   

The businesses in our ID Products segment design and manufacture both standard and highly specialized products and components that help identify people, animals and objects in a multitude of applications and markets. Products and components in our ID Products segment include semiconductors, cards, tags, inlays, readers and terminals that are used by original equipment manufacturers and system integrators to deliver identity-based systems and solutions. These products are used for applications such as eHealth, eGovernment, mobile banking, loyalty schemes, transportation and event ticketing, corporate identification, logical access, physical access and passport control in the government, enterprise and financial markets. Within the ID Products segment we also offer commercial digital media readers that are used in digital kiosks to transfer digital content to and from various flash media. Businesses in our ID Products segment include ACiG Technology, SCM Microsystems, Smartag, Syscan ID and TagStar Systems.

Sales from our ID Management segment accounted for approximately 56% of our total revenue in 2010 and 42% of our total revenue in 2009. Sales from our ID Products segment accounted for approximately 44% of our total revenue in 2010, 58% of our total revenue in 2009 and 100% of our revenue in 2008. Additional information about our results for the last three years for these segments is provided in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. See Note 15 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 below for further details about revenue and assets by region.

 

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Each of the businesses within Identive conducts its own sales and marketing activities in the markets in which it competes, utilizing its own sales and marketing organization, and in most cases selling primarily through indirect sales channels that may include dealers, systems integrators, value added resellers, resellers or the Internet. Within our ID Management segment, the majority of sales in our Hirsch business are made through a dealer/systems integrator distribution channel. Businesses in our ID Products segment primarily sell to original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) that typically either bundle our products with their own solutions, or repackage our products for resale to their customers. Our OEM customers typically sell our ID Products solutions to government contractors, systems integrators, large enterprises and computer manufacturers, as well as to banks and other financial institutions. Additionally, we sell our digital media readers primarily to major brand computer and photo processing equipment manufacturers.

Our corporate headquarters are co-located with our Hirsch business headquarters in Santa Ana, California and our European operational headquarters are in Ismaning, Germany. We maintain facilities in Chennai, India for technology research and development and in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the U.S. for individual business operations and sales.

The Company was founded in 1990 in Munich, Germany and incorporated in 1996 under the laws of the state of Delaware. Our corporate headquarters are located at 1900 Carnegie Avenue, Building  B, Santa Ana, California 92705.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before acquiring any offered securities pursuant to this prospectus, you should carefully consider the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any accompanying prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference, the risk factors described under the caption “Risk Factors” in any applicable prospectus supplement and any risk factors set forth in our other filings with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act before making an investment decision. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or a part of your investment in the offered securities. See “Where You Can Find More Information” included elsewhere in this prospectus.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures and working capital. We may use a portion of our net proceeds to invest in or acquire businesses or technologies that we believe are complementary to our own. We will set forth in the prospectus supplement our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities. Pending the application of the net proceeds, we intend to invest the net proceeds in investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

If we offer debt securities and/or preference equity securities under this prospectus and at the time of such offer we are no longer a smaller reporting company, then we will, at that time, provide a ratio of earnings to fixed charges and/or ratio of combined fixed charges and preference dividends to earnings, respectively, in the applicable prospectus supplement for such offering.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

We may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings, up to $100,000,000 of the following securities:

 

   

senior debt securities;

 

   

preferred stock;

 

   

common stock;

 

   

warrants; or

 

   

any combination of the foregoing securities.

The aggregate initial offering price of the offered securities that we may issue will not exceed $100,000,000. If we issue debt securities at a discount from their principal amount, then, for purposes of calculating the aggregate initial offering price of the offered securities issued under this prospectus, we will include only the initial offering price of the debt securities and not the principal amount of the debt securities.

This prospectus contains a summary of the general terms of the various securities that we may offer. The prospectus supplement relating to any particular securities offered will describe the specific terms of the securities, which may be in addition to or different from the general terms summarized in this prospectus. Because the summary in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement does not contain all of the information that you may find useful, you should read the documents relating to the securities that are described in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement. Please read “Where You Can Find More Information” to find out how you can obtain a copy of those documents.

The applicable prospectus supplement will also contain the terms of a given offering, the initial offering price and our net proceeds. Where applicable, a prospectus supplement will also describe any material United States federal income tax consequences relating to the securities offered and indicate whether the securities offered are or will be quoted or listed on any quotation system or securities exchange.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

This prospectus describes the general terms and provisions of the debt securities we may issue. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the securities in a supplement to this prospectus, including any additional covenants or changes to existing covenants relating to such series. The prospectus supplement also will indicate whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities. You should read the actual indenture if you do not fully understand a term or the way we use it in this prospectus.

Each series of debt securities may have different terms and may be either secured or unsecured. The senior debt securities will be issued under one or more senior indentures, dated as of a date prior to such issuance, between us and the trustee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement, as amended or supplemented from time to time. We will refer to any such indenture throughout this prospectus as the “indenture.” We will refer to the trustee under the indenture as the “trustee.” The indenture will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We included a copy of the form of the indenture as an exhibit to our registration statement and it is incorporated into this prospectus by reference.

If we issue debt securities at a discount from their principal amount, then, for purposes of calculating the aggregate initial offering price of the offered securities issued under this prospectus, we will include only the initial offering price of the debt securities and not the principal amount of the debt securities.

We have summarized below the material provisions of the indenture and the debt securities, or indicated which material provisions will be described in the related prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement relating to any particular securities offered will describe the specific terms of the securities, which may be in addition to or different from the general terms summarized in this prospectus. Because the summary in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement does not contain all of the information that you may find useful, you should read the documents relating to the securities that are described in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement. Please read “Where You Can Find More Information” to find out how you can obtain a copy of those documents. As used under this caption, the term “debt securities” includes the debt securities being offered by this prospectus and all other debt securities issued by us under the indenture.

 

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General

The indenture:

 

   

does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue;

 

   

allows us to issue debt securities in one or more series;

 

   

does not require us to issue all of the debt securities of a series at the same time;

 

   

allows us to reopen a series to issue additional debt securities without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series; and

 

   

provides that the debt securities will be unsecured, except as may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Unless we give you different information in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.

The indenture provides that we may, but need not, designate more than one trustee under an indenture. Any trustee under an indenture may resign or be removed and a successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to the series of debt securities administered by the resigning or removed trustee. If two or more persons are acting as trustee with respect to different series of debt securities, each trustee shall be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus, any action described in this prospectus to be taken by each trustee may be taken by each trustee with respect to, and only with respect to, the one or more series of debt securities for which it is trustee under the indenture.

The prospectus supplement for each offering will provide the following terms, where applicable:

 

   

the title of the debt securities;

 

   

the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities being offered, the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities outstanding as of the most recent practicable date and any limit on their aggregate principal amount, including the aggregate principal amount of debt securities authorized;

 

   

the price at which the debt securities will be issued, expressed as a percentage of the principal and, if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or, if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities that is convertible into common stock or preferred stock or the method by which any such portion shall be determined;

 

   

if convertible, the terms on which such debt securities are convertible, including the initial conversion price or rate and the conversion period and any applicable limitations on the ownership or transferability of common stock or preferred stock received on conversion;

 

   

the date or dates, or the method for determining the date or dates, on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable;

 

   

the fixed or variable interest rate or rates of the debt securities, or the method by which the interest rate or rates is determined;

 

   

the date or dates, or the method for determining the date or dates, from which interest will accrue;

 

   

the dates on which interest will be payable;

 

   

the record dates for interest payment dates, or the method by which we will determine those dates;

 

   

the persons to whom interest will be payable;

 

   

the basis upon which interest will 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 any premium and interest on, the debt securities will be payable;

 

   

where the debt securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or conversion or exchange;

 

   

where notices or demands to or upon us in respect of the debt securities and the indenture may be served;

 

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the times, prices and other terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities;

 

   

any obligation we have to redeem, repay or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of holders of the debt securities, and the times and prices at which we must redeem, repay or purchase the debt securities as a result of such an obligation;

 

   

the currency or currencies in which the debt securities are denominated and payable if other than United States dollars, which may be a foreign currency or units of two or more foreign currencies or a composite currency or currencies and the terms and conditions relating thereto, and the manner of determining the equivalent of such foreign currency in United States dollars;

 

   

whether the principal of, and any premium or interest on, the debt securities of the series are to be payable, at our election or at the election of a holder, in a currency or currencies other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or stated to be payable, and other related terms and conditions;

 

   

whether the amount of payments of principal of, and any premium or interest on, the debt securities may be determined according to an index, formula or other method and how such amounts will be determined;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be in registered form, bearer form or both and (1) if in registered form, the person to whom any interest shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name the security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest, or (2) if in bearer form, the manner in which, or the person to whom, any interest on the security shall be payable if otherwise than upon presentation and surrender upon maturity;

 

   

any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of securities in bearer form and the terms upon which securities in bearer form of the series may be exchanged for securities in registered form of the series and vice versa if permitted by applicable laws and regulations;

 

   

whether any debt securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any debt securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form with or without coupons and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global security may or shall be required to exchange their interests for other debt securities of the series, and the manner in which interest shall be paid;

 

   

the identity of the depositary for securities in registered form, if such series are to be issuable as a global security;

 

   

the date as of which any debt securities in bearer form or in temporary global form shall be dated if other than the original issuance date of the first security of the series to be issued;

 

   

the applicability, if any, of the defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture;

 

   

whether and under what circumstances we will pay any additional amounts on the debt securities in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the debt securities in lieu of making such a payment;

 

   

whether and under what circumstances the debt securities being offered are convertible into common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, including the conversion price or rate or manner or calculation thereof;

 

   

the circumstances, if any, specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, under which beneficial owners of interests in the global security may obtain definitive debt securities and the manner in which payments on a permanent global debt security will be made if any debt securities are issuable in temporary or permanent global form;

 

   

any provisions granting special rights to holders of securities upon the occurrence of such events as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement;

 

   

if the debt securities of such series are to be issuable in definitive form only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and/or terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

 

   

the name of the trustee and the nature of any material relationship with us or any of our affiliates, and the percentage of debt securities of the class necessary to require the trustee to take action;

 

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any deletions from, modifications of, or additions to our events of default or covenants and any change in the right of any trustee or any of the holders to declare the principal amount of any of such debt securities due and payable;

 

   

applicable CUSIP numbers; and

 

   

any other terms of such debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the indenture.

We may issue debt securities at a discount below their principal amount and provide for less than the entire principal amount thereof to be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities. We refer to any such debt securities throughout this prospectus as “original issue discount securities.” The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the United States federal income tax consequences and other relevant considerations applicable to original issue discount securities.

We also may issue indexed debt securities. Payments of principal of and premium and interest on, indexed debt securities are determined with reference to the rate of exchange between the currency or currency unit in which the debt security is denominated and any other currency or currency unit specified by us, to the relationship between two or more currencies or currency units or by other similar methods or formulas specified in the prospectus supplement.

Except as described under “— Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” or as may be set forth in any prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions that (1) would limit our ability to incur indebtedness or (2) would afford holders of debt securities protection in the event of (a) a highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us, or (b) a change of control or reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction involving us that may adversely affect the holders of the debt securities. In the future, we may enter into transactions, such as the sale of all or substantially all of our assets or a merger or consolidation, that may have an adverse effect on our ability to service our indebtedness, including the debt securities, by, among other things, substantially reducing or eliminating our assets.

Neither Delaware General Corporation Law nor our governing instruments define the term “substantially all” as it relates to the sale of assets. Additionally, Delaware cases interpreting the term “substantially all” rely upon the facts and circumstances of each particular case. Consequently, to determine whether a sale of “substantially all” of our assets has occurred, a holder of debt securities must review the financial and other information that we have disclosed to the public.

We will provide you with more information in the applicable prospectus supplement regarding any deletions, modifications, or additions to the events of default or covenants that are described below, including any addition of a covenant or other provision providing event risk or similar protection.

Payment

Unless we give you different information in the applicable prospectus supplement, the principal of, and any premium and interest on, any series of the debt securities will be payable at the corporate trust office of the trustee. We will provide you with the address of the trustee in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may also pay interest by mailing a check to the address of the person entitled to it as it appears in the applicable register for the debt securities or by wire transfer of funds to that person at an account maintained within the United States.

All monies that we pay to a paying agent or a trustee for the payment of the principal of, and any premium or interest on, any debt security will be repaid to us if unclaimed at the end of two years after the obligation underlying payment becomes due and payable. After funds have been returned to us, the holder of the debt security may look only to us for payment, without payment of interest for the period which we hold the funds.

Denomination, Interest, Registration and Transfer

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities of any series will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.

Subject to the limitations imposed upon debt securities that are evidenced by a computerized entry in the records of a depository company rather than by physical delivery of a note, a holder of debt securities of any series may:

 

   

exchange them for any authorized denomination of other debt securities of the same series and of a like aggregate principal amount and kind upon surrender of such debt securities at the corporate trust office of the trustee or at the office of any transfer agent that we designate for such purpose; and

 

   

surrender them for registration of transfer or exchange at the corporate trust office of the trustee or at the office of any transfer agent that we designate for such purpose.

 

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Every debt security surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange must be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer satisfactory to the trustee or transfer agent. Payment of a service charge will not be required for any registration of transfer or exchange of any debt securities, but we or the trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. If in addition to the trustee, the applicable prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agent initially designated by us for any series of debt securities, we may at any time rescind the designation of any such transfer agent or approve a change in the location through which any such transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for such series. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents for any series of debt securities.

Neither we, nor any trustee, will be required to:

 

   

issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day that the notice of redemption of any debt securities selected for redemption is mailed and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing;

 

   

register the transfer of or exchange any debt security, or portion thereof, so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part; and

 

   

issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security that has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the holder, except the portion, if any, of such debt security not to be so repaid.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

The indenture provides that we may, without the consent of the holders of any outstanding debt securities, (1) consolidate with, (2) sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of our assets to, or (3) merge with or into, any other entity provided that:

 

   

either we are the continuing entity, or the successor entity, if other than us, (A) is organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and (B) assumes the obligations (i) to pay the principal of, and any premium and interest on, all of the debt securities and (ii) to duly perform and observe all of the covenants and conditions contained in each indenture;

 

   

after giving effect to the transaction, there is no event of default under the indenture and no event which, after notice or the lapse of time, or both, would become such an event of default, occurs and continues; and

 

   

an officers’ certificate and legal opinion covering such conditions are delivered to the trustee.

Covenants

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement with respect to a particular series of debt securities, the debt securities will not contain any financial or restrictive covenants.

Events of Default, Notice and Waiver

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, when we refer to “events of default” as defined in the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities, we mean:

 

   

default in the payment of any installment of interest on any debt security of such series continuing for 30 days;

 

   

default in the payment of principal of, or any premium on any debt security of such at its stated maturity;

 

   

default in making any sinking fund payment as required for any debt security of such series for five business days;

 

   

default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty in the debt securities or in the indenture by Identive continuing for 90 days after written notice as provided in the indenture, but not of a covenant added to the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities issued thereunder other than such series;

 

   

bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of Identive or any significant subsidiary of Identive; and

 

   

any other event of default provided with respect to a particular series of debt securities.

 

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When we use the term “significant subsidiary,” we refer to the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act.

If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to debt securities of any series outstanding, then the trustee or the holders of 25% or more in principal amount of the debt securities of that series will have the right to declare the principal amount of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable. If the debt securities of that series are original issue discount securities or indexed securities, then the trustee or the holders of 25% or more in principal amount of the debt securities of that series will have the right to declare the portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof to be due and payable. However, at any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of such series or of all debt securities then outstanding under the indenture may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

   

we have deposited with the trustee all required payments of the principal, any premium or interest and, to the extent permitted by law, interest on overdue installment of interest, plus applicable fees, expenses, disbursements and advances of the trustee; and

 

   

all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal, or a specified portion thereof, and any premium, have been cured or waived.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indenture will provide that we may, at our option, elect that the sole remedy for an event of default relating to our failure to comply with our obligations described under the section entitled “Reports” below or our failure to comply with the requirements of Section 314(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act will, for the first 180 days after the occurrence of such an event of default, consist exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the relevant series of debt securities at an annual rate equal to (i) 0.25% of the principal amount of such series of debt securities for the first 90 days after the occurrence of such event of default and (ii) 0.50% of the principal amount of such series of debt securities from the 91st day to, and including, the 180th day after the occurrence of such event of default, which we call “additional interest.” If we so elect, the additional interest will accrue on all outstanding debt securities from and including the date on which such event of default first occurs until such violation is cured or waived and shall be payable on each relevant interest payment date to holders of record on the regular record date immediately preceding the interest payment date. On the 181st day after such event of default (if such violation is not cured or waived prior to such 181st day), the debt securities will be subject to acceleration as provided above. In the event we do not elect to pay additional interest upon any such event of default in accordance with this paragraph, the debt securities will be subject to acceleration as provided above.

In order to elect to pay the additional interest as the sole remedy during the first 180 days after the occurrence of any event of default relating to the failure to comply with the reporting obligations in accordance with the preceding paragraph, we must notify all holders of debt securities and the trustee and paying agent of such election prior to the close of business on the first business day following the date on which such event of default occurs. Upon our failure to timely give such notice or pay the additional interest, the debt securities will be immediately subject to acceleration as provided above.

After acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal, or other specified amounts or interest, have been cured or waived.

The indenture also provides that the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series or of all debt securities then outstanding under the indenture may, on behalf of all holders, waive any past default with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default:

 

   

in the payment of the principal, any premium, or interest;

 

   

in respect of a covenant or provision contained in the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holders of the outstanding debt security that is affected by the default; or

 

   

in respect of a covenant or provision for the benefit or protection of the trustee, without its express written consent.

The indenture requires the trustee to give notice to the holders of debt securities within 90 days of a default unless such default has been cured or waived. However, the trustee may withhold notice if specified persons of such trustee consider such withholding to be in the interest of the holders of debt securities. The trustee may not withhold notice of a default in the payment of principal, any premium or interest on any debt security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment in respect of any debt security of such series.

 

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The indenture provides that holders of debt securities of any series may not institute any proceedings, judicial or otherwise, with respect to such indenture or for any remedy under the indenture, unless the trustee fails to act for a period of 60 days after the trustee has received a written request to institute proceedings in respect of an event of default from the holders of 25% or more in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, as well as an offer of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee. However, this provision will not prevent any holder of debt securities from instituting suit for the enforcement of payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, such debt securities at the respective due dates thereof.

The indenture provides that, subject to provisions in the indenture relating to its duties in the case of a default, the trustee has no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers at the request or direction of any holders of any series of debt securities then outstanding under the indenture, unless the holders have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity. The holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series or of all debt securities then outstanding under an indenture shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon such trustee. However, the trustee may refuse to follow any direction which:

 

   

is in conflict with any law or the indenture;

 

   

may involve the trustee in personal liability; or

 

   

may be unduly prejudicial to the holders of debt securities of the series not joining the proceeding.

Within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, we will be required to deliver to the trustee a certificate, signed by one of our several specified officers, stating whether or not that officer has knowledge of any default under the indenture. If the officer has knowledge of any default, the notice must specify the nature and status of the default.

Modification of the Indenture

The indenture provides that modifications and amendments may be made only with the consent of the affected holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities issued under that indenture. However, no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities affected by the modification or amendment:

 

   

change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any premium on, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any such debt security;

 

   

reduce the principal amount of, the rate or amount of interest on or any premium, payable on redemption of any such debt security;

 

   

reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or would be provable in bankruptcy, or adversely affect any right of repayment of the holder of any such debt security;

 

   

change the place of payment or the coin or currency for payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, any such debt security;

 

   

impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any such debt security;

 

   

reduce the percentage in principal amount of any outstanding debt securities necessary to modify or amend the indenture with respect to such debt securities, to waive compliance with particular provisions thereof or defaults and consequences thereunder or to reduce the quorum or voting requirements set forth in the indenture;

 

   

modify any of the foregoing provisions or any of the provisions relating to the waiver of particular past defaults or covenants, except to increase the required percentage to effect such action or to provide that some of the other provisions may not be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of such debt security; and

 

   

make any change that adversely affects any applicable right to convert any such debt security.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series may, on behalf of all holders of debt securities of that series, waive, insofar as that series is concerned, our compliance with material restrictive covenants of the indenture.

 

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We and our trustee may make modifications and amendments of an indenture without the consent of any holder of debt securities for any of the following purposes:

 

   

to evidence the succession of another person to us as obligor under such indenture;

 

   

to add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in such indenture;

 

   

to add events of default for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities;

 

   

to add or change any provisions of an indenture (1) to change or eliminate restrictions on the payment of principal of, or premium, or interest on, debt securities in bearer form, or (2) to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities in uncertificated form, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the debt securities of any series in any material respect;

 

   

to add to, change or eliminate any provisions of an indenture, provided that any such addition, change or elimination shall become effective only when there are no debt securities outstanding of any series created prior thereto which are entitled to the benefit of such provision;

 

   

to secure the debt securities;

 

   

to add or provide for a guaranty of the securities or additional obligors on the securities;

 

   

to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series;

 

   

to provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee or facilitate the administration of the trusts under an indenture by more than one trustee;

 

   

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in an indenture, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of holders of debt securities of any series issued under such indenture; and

 

   

to supplement any of the provisions of an indenture to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate defeasance and discharge of any series of such debt securities, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the outstanding debt securities of any series.

Voting

The indenture provides that in determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding debt securities of a series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under the indenture or whether a quorum is present at a meeting of holders of debt securities:

 

   

the principal amount of an original issue discount security that shall be deemed to be outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

   

the principal amount of any debt security denominated in a foreign currency that shall be deemed outstanding shall be the United States dollar equivalent, determined on the issue date for such debt security, of the principal amount or, in the case of an original issue discount security, the United States dollar equivalent on the issue date of such debt security of the amount determined as provided in the preceding bullet point;

 

   

the principal amount of an indexed security that shall be deemed outstanding shall be the principal face amount of such indexed security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided for such indexed security under such indenture; and

 

   

debt securities owned by us or any other obligor upon the debt securities or by any affiliate of ours or of such other obligor shall be disregarded.

The indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the holders of debt securities of a series. A meeting will be permitted to be called at any time by the trustee, and also, upon request, by us or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, in any such case upon notice given as provided in the indenture. Except for any consent that must be given by the holder of each debt security affected by the modifications and amendments of an indenture described above, any resolution presented at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series represented at such meeting.

 

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Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, except as referred to above, any resolution relating to a request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series, may be adopted at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of such specified percentage.

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any properly held meeting of holders of debt securities of any series will be binding on all holders of such series. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a resolution, and at any reconvened meeting, will be persons holding or representing a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series. However, if any action is to be taken relating to a consent or waiver which may be given by the holders of at least a specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series, the persons holding such percentage will constitute a quorum.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the indenture provides that if any action is to be taken at a meeting with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that the indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities affected by such action, or of the holders of such series and one or more additional series:

 

   

there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for such meeting; and

 

   

the principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series that vote in favor of such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be taken account in determining whether such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action has been made, given or taken under the indenture.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

We may be discharged from our obligations on the debt securities, subject to limited exceptions, of any series that have matured or will mature or be redeemed within one year if we deposit enough money with the trustee to pay all the principal, interest and any premium due to the stated maturity date or redemption date of the debt securities.

The indenture contains a provision that permits us to elect either or both of the following:

 

   

we may elect to be discharged from all of our obligations, subject to limited exceptions, with respect to any series of debt securities then outstanding. If we make this election, the holders of the debt securities of the series will not be entitled to the benefits of the indenture, except for the rights of holders to receive payments on debt securities or the registration of transfer and exchange of debt securities and replacement of lost, stolen or mutilated debt securities.

 

   

we may elect to be released from our obligations under some or all of any financial or restrictive covenants applicable to the series of debt securities to which the election relates and from the consequences of an event of default resulting from a breach of those covenants.

To make either of the above elections, we must irrevocably deposit in trust with the trustee enough money to pay in full the principal, interest and premium on the debt securities. This amount may be made in cash and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, cash in the currency in which such series of securities is denominated and/or foreign government obligations. As a condition to either of the above elections, for debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that the holders of the debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the action.

With respect to debt securities of any series that are denominated in a currency other than United States dollars, “foreign government obligations” means:

 

   

direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued the currency in which such securities are denominated and for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged, or, with respect to debt securities of any series which are denominated in Euros, direct obligations of certain members of the European Union for the payment of which obligations the full faith and credit of such members is pledged, which in each case are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof; or

 

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obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of a government described in the bullet above the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

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. The terms will include whether the debt securities are convertible into shares of common stock or preferred stock, the conversion price, or manner of calculation thereof, the conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion will be at the issuing company’s option or the option of the holders, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion in the event of the redemption of the debt securities and any restrictions on conversion.

Global Securities

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depository identified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such series. Global securities, if any, issued in the United States are expected to be deposited with The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, as depository. We may issue global securities in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. We will describe the specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such series. We expect that unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, the following provisions will apply to depository arrangements.

Once a global security is issued, the depository for such global security or its nominee will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer system the respective principal amounts of the individual debt securities represented by such global security to the accounts of participants that have accounts with such depository. Such accounts shall be designated by the underwriters, dealers or agents with respect to such debt securities or by us if we offer such debt securities directly. Ownership of beneficial interests in such global security will be limited to participants with the depository or persons that may hold interests through those participants.

We expect that, under procedures established by DTC, ownership of beneficial interests in any global security for which DTC is the depository will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee, with respect to beneficial interests of participants with the depository, and records of participants, with respect to beneficial interests of persons who hold through participants with the depository. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records of DTC or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of DTC or any of its participants relating to beneficial ownership interests in the debt securities. The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and laws may impair the ability to own, pledge or transfer beneficial interest in a global security.

So long as the depository for a global security or its nominee is the registered owner of such global security, such depository or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as described below or in the applicable prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interest in a global security will not be entitled to have any of the individual debt securities represented by such global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any such debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture. Beneficial owners of debt securities evidenced by a global security will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any direction, instructions or approvals to the trustee under the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global security with respect to which DTC is the depository must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if such person is not a participant with the depository, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interests, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture. We understand that, under existing industry practice, if DTC requests any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security desires to give or take any action which a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, DTC would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interest to give or take such action, and such participants would authorize beneficial owners through such participants to give or take such actions or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

 

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Payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, individual debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depository or its nominee will be made to or at the direction of the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global security under the indenture. Under the terms of the indenture, we and the trustee may treat the persons in whose name debt securities, including a global security, are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments. Consequently, neither we nor the trustee have or will have any responsibility or liability for the payment of such amounts to beneficial owners of debt securities including principal, any premium or interest. We believe, however, that it is currently the policy of DTC to immediately credit the accounts of relevant participants with such payments, in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings of beneficial interests in the relevant global security as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in such global security held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in street name, and will be the responsibility of such participants. Redemption notices with respect to any debt securities represented by a global security will be sent to the depository or its nominee. If less than all of the debt securities of any series are to be redeemed, we expect the depository to determine the amount of the interest of each participant in such debt securities to be redeemed to be determined by lot. Neither we, the trustee, any paying agent nor the security registrar for such debt securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global security for such debt securities or for maintaining any records with respect thereto.

Neither we nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by the holders of a global security or the depository in identifying the beneficial owners of debt securities, and we and the trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from the holder of a global security or the depository for all purposes. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

If a depository for any debt securities is at any time unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depository and we do not appoint a successor depository within 90 days, we will issue individual debt securities in exchange for the global security representing such debt securities. In addition, we may at any time and in their sole discretion, subject to any limitations described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities, determine not to have any of such debt securities represented by one or more global securities and in such event will issue individual debt securities in exchange for the global security or securities representing such debt securities. Individual debt securities so issued will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.

The debt securities of a series may also be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more bearer global securities that will be deposited with a depository, or with a nominee for such depository, identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any such bearer global securities may be issued in temporary or permanent form. The specific terms and procedures, including the specific terms of the depositary arrangement, with respect to any portion of a series of debt securities to be represented by one or more bearer global securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

No Recourse

There is no recourse under any obligation, covenant or agreement in the indenture or with respect to any security against any of our or our successor’s past, present or future stockholders, employees, officers or directors.

Reports

The indenture provides that any reports or documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act will be filed with the trustee within 15 days thereafter. Documents filed by us with the SEC through the SEC’s EDGAR system, or any successor thereto, will be deemed filed with the trustee as of the time such documents are filed with the SEC.

Notices

Notices to holders will be given by mail to the addresses of the holders in the security register.

No Personal Liability of Certain Persons

None of our directors, officers, employees, agents, stockholders or subsidiaries will have any liability for any obligations of our, or because of the creation of any indebtedness under the debt securities, the indenture or any supplemental indenture. The indenture provides that all such liability is expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of the indenture and the issuance of the debt securities.

 

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Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

The Trustee

The indenture limits the right of the trustee, should it become our creditor, to obtain payment of claims or to secure its claims.

The trustee will be permitted to engage in certain other transactions with us. However, if the trustee acquires any conflicting interest and there is a default under the debt securities of any series for which it is trustee, the trustee will be required to eliminate the conflict or resign.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

We are authorized to issue 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, 40,000 of which have been designated as Series A Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of the date of this prospectus, no shares of our preferred stock, including the Series A Participating Preferred Stock, were outstanding.

The following summary of certain provisions of our preferred stock does not purport to be complete. You should refer to our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, the Certificate of Designation of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, and our amended and restated by-laws, each of which are included as exhibits to the registration statement we have filed with the SEC in connection with this offering. The summary below is also qualified by provisions of applicable law.

General Terms

Our board of directors may, without further action by our stockholders, from time to time, direct the issuance of shares of preferred stock in series and may, at the time of issuance, determine the rights, preferences and limitations of each series, including voting rights, dividend rights and redemption and liquidation preferences. Satisfaction of any dividend preferences of outstanding shares of preferred stock would reduce the amount of funds available for the payment of dividends on shares of our common stock. Holders of shares of preferred stock may be entitled to receive a preference payment in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our company before any payment is made to the holders of shares of our common stock. In some circumstances, the issuance of shares of preferred stock may render more difficult or tend to discourage a merger, tender offer or proxy contest, the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of our securities or the removal of incumbent management as discussed below. Upon the affirmative vote of our board of directors, without stockholder approval, we may issue shares of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights which could adversely affect the holders of shares of our common stock.

If we offer a specific series of preferred stock under this prospectus, we will describe the terms of the preferred stock in the prospectus supplement for such offering and will file a copy of the certificate establishing the terms of the preferred stock with the SEC. To the extent required, this description will include:

 

   

the title and stated value;

 

   

the number of shares offered, the liquidation preference per share and the purchase price;

 

   

the dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s), or method(s) of calculation for such dividends;

 

   

whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate;

 

   

the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any;

 

   

the provisions for a sinking fund, if any;

 

   

the provisions for redemption, if applicable;

 

   

any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market;

 

   

whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, and, if applicable, the conversion price (or how it will be calculated) and conversion period;

 

   

whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange price (or how it will be calculated) and exchange period;

 

   

voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock;

 

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a discussion of any material and/or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock;

 

   

the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up; and

 

   

any material limitations on issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

The preferred stock offered by this prospectus will, when issued, not have or be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

Series A Participating Preferred Stock

On November 8, 2002, our board of directors declared a dividend of one Preferred Share Purchase Right (each, a “Right” and collectively, the “Rights”) to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of our Series A Participating Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred”) for each outstanding share of common stock. The dividend was payable on November 25, 2002 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on that date. Certificates representing shares of common stock issued after the record date contain a notation incorporating the rights agreement by reference. The terms of the Rights are governed by a Preferred Stock Rights Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2002, as amended from time to time, between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust, LLC, as most fully discussed below under “Anti-Takeover Provisions — Preferred Stock Rights Agreement.” The rights only become exercisable if a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more (or 19.99% or more for certain designated holders) of the shares of common stock then outstanding, or announces a tender or exchange offer, the consummation of which would result in ownership by a person or group of 15% or more (or 19.99% or more for certain designated holders) of the Company’s common stock then outstanding.

The Company has authorized 40,000 of Series A Preferred, par value $0.001 per share, none of which are currently outstanding. Each one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred has rights and preferences substantially equivalent to those of one share of common stock. Each share of Series A Preferred is entitled to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders. Holders of Series A Preferred vote together with holders of our common stock as one class. The Series A Preferred are not redeemable and rank junior to all other series of the Company’s Preferred Stock as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our preferred stock is American Stock Transfer and Trust Company.

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

The following summary of certain provisions of our common stock does not purport to be complete. You should refer to our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated by-laws, both of which are included as exhibits to the registration statement we have filed with the SEC in connection with this offering. The summary below is also qualified by provisions of applicable law.

General Terms

We are authorized to issue 110,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share. On April 1, 2011, we had 48,075,789 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and approximately 2,000 stockholders of record. Except as otherwise provided in any resolution providing for the issue of any series of preferred stock, holders of our common stock have exclusive voting rights for the election of directors and for all other purposes. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by our stockholders. Neither our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, nor our amended and restated by-laws authorize cumulative voting. The holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, subject to the rights of any series of preferred stock. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of the preferential amounts, if any, to which the holders of our preferred stock, if any, are entitled. Our common stock has no preemptive, conversion or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. All of our outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

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Our Board of Directors

Our board of directors currently has seven (7) members. Our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated by-laws provide that the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by resolution adopted by the vote of a majority of the directors then in office. Our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that the board of directors shall be divided into three nearly equal classes, with each class’s term expiring on a staggered basis. Vacancies and newly created directorships may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum. Directors may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, cast at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer and Trust Company.

NASDAQ Global Market

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “INVE” and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “INV”.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or other securities. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities. Warrants sold with other securities may be attached to or separate from the other securities. We will issue warrants under one or more warrant agreements between us and the parties named therein, which may include a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, that we will name in the prospectus supplement. If a warrant agent is so named, the warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms may include some or all of the following:

 

   

the title of such warrants;

 

   

the aggregate number of such warrants;

 

   

the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;

 

   

the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the price of such warrants may be payable;

 

   

the designation and terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants and the number of such securities issuable upon exercise of such warrants;

 

   

the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right will expire;

 

   

whether such warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form;

 

   

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

 

   

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

 

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

 

   

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and

 

   

any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants.

The description in the prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable warrant agreement, which will be filed with the SEC.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities in any one or more of the following methods from time to time:

 

   

directly to investors, directly to agents, or to investors through agents;

 

   

through underwriting syndicates led by one or more managing underwriters, or through one or more underwriters acting alone, for resale to the public or investors;

 

   

purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by such broker or dealer for its own account;

 

   

through a block trade (which may involve crosses) in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

   

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers;

 

   

in “at the market offerings,” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise;

 

   

transactions not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales or privately negotiated transactions;

 

   

exchange distributions and/or secondary distributions;

 

   

by delayed delivery contracts or by remarketing firms;

 

   

transactions in options, swaps or other derivatives that may or may not be listed on an exchange; or

 

   

through a combination of any such methods of sale.

The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions:

 

   

at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

 

   

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

   

at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

 

   

at negotiated prices.

Any of the prices may represent a discount from the prevailing market prices.

Any underwritten offering may be on a best efforts or a firm commitment basis. If underwriters are used in the sale, the securities acquired by the underwriters will be for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including without limitation negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at a varying price determined at the time of sale. The obligations, if any, of the underwriter to purchase any securities will be subject to certain conditions. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if any are purchased, other than securities covered by any over-allotment option. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed, reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

If a dealer is used in an offering of securities, we may 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 sale.

 

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We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

We may also sell securities directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters, dealers or agents.

We may also make direct sales through subscription rights distributed to our stockholders on a pro rata basis, which may or may not be transferable. In any distribution of subscription rights to 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.

In the sale of the securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of the securities, for whom they may act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on the resale of securities they realize may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. The applicable prospectus supplement will, where applicable:

 

   

identify any such underwriter or agent;

 

   

describe any compensation in the form of discounts, concessions, commissions or otherwise received from us by each of such underwriter, dealer or agent and in the aggregate to all underwriters, dealers and agents;

 

   

identify the purchase price and proceeds from such sale;

 

   

identify the amounts underwritten;

 

   

identify the nature of the underwriter’s obligation to take the securities;

 

   

identify any over-allotment option under which the underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; and

 

   

identify any quotation systems or securities exchanges on which the securities may be quoted or listed.

Unless otherwise specified in the related prospectus supplement, each series of securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than the common stock, which is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed on the NASDAQ Global Market and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, subject to applicable notices. We may elect to apply for quotation or listing of any other class or series of our securities, on a quotation system or an exchange but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a class or series of our securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or the trading market for, any other class or series of our securities. In connection with an offering, an underwriter may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of securities than they are required to purchase in the offering. “Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional securities, if any, from us in the offering. If the underwriters have an over-allotment option to purchase additional securities from us, the underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their over-allotment option or purchasing securities in the open market. In determining the source of securities to close out the covered short position, the underwriters may consider, among other things, the price of securities available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase securities through the over-allotment option. “Naked” short sales are any sales in excess of such option or where the underwriters do not have an over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing securities in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the securities in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

 

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Accordingly, to cover these short sales positions or to otherwise stabilize or maintain the price of the securities, the underwriters may bid for or purchase securities in the open market and may impose penalty bids. If penalty bids are imposed, selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers participating in the offering are reclaimed if securities previously distributed in the offering are repurchased, whether in connection with stabilization transactions or otherwise. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. The impositions of a penalty bid may also affect the price of the securities to the extent that it discourages resale of the securities. The magnitude or effect of any stabilization or other transactions is uncertain. These transactions may be effected on the NASDAQ Global Market, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

We do not make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above might have on the price of the securities. In addition, we do not make any representation that underwriters will engage in such transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice at any time.

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third parties may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. We may loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell those securities using this prospectus. Such financial institution or third party may transfer its short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a simultaneous offering of other securities offered by this prospectus or otherwise.

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, securities may also be offered or sold by a “remarketing firm” in connection with a remarketing arrangement contemplated by the terms of the securities. Remarketing firms may act as principals for their own accounts or as agents. The applicable prospectus supplement will identify any remarketing firm and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us. It will also describe the remarketing firms compensation. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the remarketing of the securities.

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters, dealers or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by particular institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in such prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on such future date or dates stated in such prospectus supplement. Each delayed delivery contract will be for an amount no less than, and the aggregate principal amounts of securities sold under delayed delivery contracts shall be not less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Institutions with which such delayed delivery contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but will in all cases be subject to our approval. The obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the conditions that (1) the purchase of the securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which the purchaser is subject, and (2) if the securities are being sold to underwriters, we shall have sold to the underwriters the total principal amount of the securities less the principal amount thereof covered by the delayed delivery contracts. The underwriters and such other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such delayed delivery contracts.

Under agreements into which we may enter, underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of the securities may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution from us to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

To comply with applicable state securities laws, the securities offered by this prospectus will be sold, if necessary, in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, securities may not be sold in some states unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

 

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CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF OUR CHARTER DOCUMENTS AND DELAWARE LAW

Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Delaware Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws

In addition to the board of directors’ ability to issue shares of preferred stock, our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated by-laws contain other provisions that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the board of directors and which may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a future takeover or change in control of our Company unless such takeover or change in control is approved by our board of directors. These provisions include a classified board of directors as discussed above, elimination of stockholder action by written consents, advance notice procedures for stockholder proposals and supermajority vote requirements for business combinations.

Classified Board; Limitation on Ability of Stockholders to Remove Directors. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the certificate of incorporation otherwise provides, directors serving on a classified board can only be removed by the stockholders for cause. The provision for a classified board could prevent a party who acquires control of a majority of our outstanding common stock from obtaining control of the board until our second annual stockholders meeting following the date the acquirer obtains the controlling stock interest. The classified board provision could have the effect of discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us and could increase the likelihood that incumbent directors will retain their positions. In addition, our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that our stockholders may only remove a director from office for cause.

Elimination of Stockholder Action Through Written Consent. Our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that stockholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and cannot be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting.

Advanced Notice Procedures for Stockholder Proposals. Our amended and restated by-laws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our board. Stockholders at our annual meeting may only consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our board or by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has given to our secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the stockholder’s intention to bring that business before the meeting. Although our amended and restated by-laws do not give our board the power to approve or disapprove stockholder nominations of candidates or proposals regarding other business to be conducted at a special or annual meeting, our amended and restated by-laws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of some business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or defer a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.

Business Combinations. Our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provide that the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66-2/3% of the total outstanding shares eligible to vote is required in the event of (i) a merger or combination between the company and an entity or person owning, directly or indirectly, 10% of our shares (an “Interested Purchaser”) or (ii) any sale of the company or a sale of all or substantially all of our assets to an Interested Purchaser (a transaction described in (i) or (ii) being a “Transaction”), unless: (a) the Transaction is approved by two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors; or (b) as a result of the Transaction, all holders of then-outstanding share (other than the Interested Purchaser) receive cash in an amount at least equal to the greatest of (x) the highest price paid by the Interested Purchaser for any shares during the offer, (y) an amount reflecting the same or a greater percentage relationship to the then market price of the company’s stock as the highest price per share paid by the Interested Purchaser during the tender offer bears to the market price of the stock immediately prior to the commencement of the tender offer, or (z) an amount equal to the earnings per share of the company for the four full consecutive fiscal quarters immediately preceding the proposed Transaction multiplied by the then current price/earnings ratio of the Interested Purchaser.

 

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Preferred Stock Rights Agreement

On November 8, 2002, our board of directors declared a dividend of one Preferred Share Purchase Right (each, a “Right” and collectively, the “Rights”) to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of our Series A Participating Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred”) for each outstanding share of Common Stock. The dividend was payable on November 25, 2002 (the “Record Date”) to stockholders of record as of the close of business on that date. Prior to the distribution date, the Rights will be evidenced by and trade with the certificates for the common stock. After the distribution date, each Right will entitle the holder to purchase for $30.00 a fraction of a share of the Company’s Preferred Stock with economic terms similar to that of one share of the Company’s common stock. The terms of the Rights are governed by a Preferred Stock Rights Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2002, as amended on December 10, 2008, November 16, 2009, and November 15, 2010, between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust, LLC (the “Rights Agreement”). The Rights will expire on the earlier to occur of (i) November 25, 2012, or (ii) redemption or exchange of the Rights. The rights only become exercisable if a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more (or 19.99% or more for certain designated holders) of the shares of common stock then outstanding, or announces a tender or exchange offer, the consummation of which would result in ownership by a person or group of 15% or more (or 19.99% or more for certain designated holders) of the Company’s common stock then outstanding.

The Rights approved by our board of directors are designed to protect and maximize the value of the outstanding equity interests in the Company in the event of an unsolicited attempt by an acquirer to take over the Company in a manner or on terms not approved by the board of directors. Takeover attempts frequently include coercive tactics to deprive our board of directors and our stockholders of any real opportunity to determine the destiny of the Company. The Rights have been declared by our board of directors in order to deter such tactics, including a gradual accumulation of shares in the open market of 15% or greater (or 19.99% or greater for certain designated holders) position to be followed by a merger or a partial or two-tier tender offer that does not treat all stockholders equally. We believe that these tactics unfairly pressure stockholders, squeeze them out of their investment without giving them any real choice and deprive them of the full value of their shares.

The Rights are not intended to prevent a takeover of the Company and will not do so. Subject to the restrictions described above, the Rights may be redeemed by the Company at $0.001 per Right generally on or prior to the fifth day after public announcement that a Person has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more (or 19.99% or more for certain designated holders) of the Company’s common stock. Accordingly, the Rights should not interfere with any merger or business combination approved by the board of directors.

However, the Rights may have the effect of rendering more difficult or discouraging an acquisition of the Company deemed undesirable by the board of directors. The Rights may cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company on terms or in a manner not approved by the Company’s board of directors, except pursuant to an offer conditioned upon the negation, purchase or redemption of the Rights.

Issuance of the Rights does not in any way weaken the financial strength of the Company or interfere with its business plans. The issuance of the Rights themselves has no dilutive effect, will not affect reported earnings per share, should not be taxable to the Company or to its stockholders, and will not change the way in which the Company’s shares are presently traded. The Company’s board of directors believes that the Rights represent a sound and reasonable means of addressing the complex issues of corporate policy created by the current takeover environment.

The foregoing is a summary of certain principal terms of the Rights Agreement only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, as amended. A copy of the Rights Agreement and the amendments thereto are attached as exhibits to this registration statement and are incorporated herein by reference.

Provisions of Delaware Law Governing Business Combinations

We are subject to the “business combination” provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, such provisions prohibit a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in any “business combination” transactions with any “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date on which the person became an “interested stockholder,” unless:

 

   

prior to such date, the board of directors approved either the “business combination” or the transaction which resulted in the “interested stockholder” obtaining such status;

 

   

upon consummation of the transaction which 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, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the “interested stockholder”) those shares owned by (a) persons who are directors and also officers and (b) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

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at or subsequent to such time, the “business combination” is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the “interested stockholder.”

A “business combination” is defined to include mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in financial benefit to a stockholder. In general, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock or within three years did own 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. The statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts with respect to us and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire us.

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, limits the liability of our directors to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law and provides that we will indemnify them to the fullest extent permitted by such law. We have entered into indemnification agreements with all of our current directors and expect to enter into a similar agreement with any new directors.

LEGAL MATTERS

In connection with particular offerings of the securities in the future, unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of those securities will be passed upon for us by Greenberg Traurig LLP, Boston, Massachusetts. Any underwriters will also be advised about legal matters by their own counsel, which will be named in the prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule of Identive Group, Inc. (formerly known as SCM Microsystems, Inc.) incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche GmbH, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements of Bluehill ID AG as of and for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the Company’s Amendment No. 2 to Current Report on Form 8-K/A, as filed August 6, 2010, have been audited by Ernst & Young Ltd, independent auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The financial statements of Hirsch Electronics Corporation as of and for the years ended November 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006 incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-162618) have been audited by Squar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda & Williamson, LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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Shares

LOGO

Common Stock

 

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

 

Cowen and Company

Morgan Joseph TriArtisan LLC

 

 

            , 2011