As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 14, 2023
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
GROVE COLLABORATIVE HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| | | | | | | | |
| Delaware | | 88-2840659 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
1301 Sansome Street
San Francisco, California 94111
(800) 231-8527
(Address, including zip code, and telephone Number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Stuart Landesberg
President and Chief Executive Officer
1301 Sansome Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
Telephone: (800) 231-8527
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Martin A. Wellington
J. Carlton Fleming
Sidley Austin LLP
1001 Page Mill Road Building 1
Palo Alto, California 94304
Telephone: (650) 565-7100
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
| Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | | Smaller reporting company | ☒ |
| | | Emerging growth company | ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities or accept an offer to buy these securities until the Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state or jurisdiction where such offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion
Dated July 14, 2023
PROSPECTUS
Grove Collaborative Holdings, Inc.
$200,000,000
Class A Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Units
We may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, our shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”); shares of preferred stock; debt securities; warrants; or units that include any combination of the foregoing securities. We may sell any combination of these securities in one or more offerings with an aggregate offering price of up to $200,000,000.
This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we decide to offer securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific terms of the particular offering together with this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in any securities. The prospectus supplements also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.
This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.
Our Class A Common Stock is listed on The New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under the symbol “GROV.” On July 13, 2023, the last reported sale price of our Class A Common Stock was $2.18. As of July 13, 2023, the aggregate market value of our common stock held by our non-affiliates, as calculated pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, was $$44,357,933, which is based on 20,347,676 shares of Class A Common Stock held by non-affiliates as of such date and a price of $2.18 per share, the last reported sales price of our Class A Common Stock on July 13, 2023, a date within 60 days of the filing of this prospectus. Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3, in no event will we sell securities in a public offering with a value exceeding more than one-third of our “public float” (the market value of our voting and non-voting common stock held by our non-affiliates) in any 12-month period so long as our public float remains below $75,000,000. We have not sold any securities in reliance on General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 during the 12 calendar months prior to and including the date of this prospectus.
We may sell the securities directly or to or through underwriters or dealers, and also to other purchasers or through agents. The names of any underwriters or agents that are included in a sale of securities to you, and any applicable commissions or discounts, will be stated in an accompanying prospectus supplement. In addition, the underwriters, if any, may over-allot a portion of the securities.
We are an “emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” under the U.S. securities laws and as such, have elected to comply with reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and may elect to comply with reduced public company reporting requirements in future filings. See “Summary — Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company.”
Investing in our securities involves significant risks. We strongly recommend that you read carefully the risks we describe in this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as the risk factors that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus from our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 of this 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. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2023.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, (the “SEC”), using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell from time to time any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings in amounts, at prices and on terms that we determine at the time of the offering, with an aggregate offering price of up to $200,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer.
Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that describes the terms of the relevant offering. The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. and, accordingly, to the extent inconsistent, information in this prospectus is superseded by the information in any prospectus supplement. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. Before making an investment decision, you should read carefully this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, together with the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus as described below under the heading “Information Incorporated by Reference.” This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, together with the additional information incorporated herein by reference. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference.” We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus is accurate at any date other than the date indicated on the cover page of these documents or the filing date of any document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of its delivery or the time of any sale of a security in connection therewith. We are not making an offer to sell the securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. We may sell our securities to or through underwriters, dealers or agents, directly to purchasers or through a combination of any of these methods of sale, as designated from time to time. We and our agents reserve the sole right to accept or reject in whole or in part any proposed purchase of our securities. An applicable prospectus supplement, which we will provide each time we offer the securities, will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of our securities, and any related fee, commission or discount arrangements and any over-allotment options held by them. See “Plan of Distribution.” Unless the context indicates otherwise, references in this prospectus to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and similar terms refer to Grove Collaborative Holdings, Inc., a Delaware public benefit corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries. References to “Virgin Group Acquisition Corp. II” or “VGAC II” refer to the Company prior to the consummation of the Domestication and the Merger (as defined herein). “Grove Collaborative, Inc.” refers to Grove Collaborative, Inc. prior to the Business Combination.
On June 5, 2023, the Company effected a 1-for-5 reverse stock split of its Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (the "Reverse Stock Split"). The Class A Common Stock began trading on a split-adjusted basis on The New York Stock Exchange at the market open on June 6, 2023. Unless otherwise indicated, all share and per share amounts herein have been adjusted to reflect the Reverse Stock Split.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus may contain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Although the Company believes that its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions, or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning the Company’s possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, are forward-looking statements. In some instances, these statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates” or “intends” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements which speak only as of the date hereof. You should understand that the following important factors, among others, could affect the Company’s future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the Company’s forward-looking statements:
•competition and the ability of the business to grow and manage growth profitably;
•expansion plans and opportunities, including future acquisitions or additional business combinations;
•litigation, complaints, and/or adverse publicity;
•the impact of changes in consumer spending patterns, consumer preferences, local, regional and national economic conditions, crime, weather, demographic trends, and employee availability;
•privacy and data protection laws, privacy or data breaches, or the loss of data;
•our financial and business performance following the Merger, including financial projections and business metrics;
•changes in the market for the Company’s products, and expansion plans and opportunities;
•anticipated customer retention by the Company;
•the extent to which the Company is able to protect its intellectual property rights and not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others;
•new or adverse regulatory developments relating to automatic renewal laws;
•our anticipated use of proceeds of any offering; and
•the effect of COVID-19 on the foregoing, including its effect on the business and financial conditions of the Company.
These and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements in this prospectus are more fully described in the “Risk Factors” section. The risks described in the “Risk Factors” section are not exhaustive. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all such risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all such risk factors on its business or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. The Company undertakes no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary highlights selected information contained or incorporated by reference elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before investing in our securities, you should carefully read this entire prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, including the information under the heading “Risk Factors” herein, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should also carefully read the other information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Overview of the Company
The Company is a digital-first, sustainability-oriented consumer products innovator specializing in the development and sale of household, personal care, beauty and other consumer products with an environmental focus. In the United States, the Company sells its products through two channels: a direct-to-consumer platform at www.grove.co and its mobile applications, where it sells products from Grove-owned brands and third parties, and the retail channel into which it sells products from Grove-owned brands at wholesale. The Company develops and sells natural products that are free from the harmful chemicals identified in its “anti-ingredient” list and it designs form factors and product packaging that reduces plastic waste and improves the environmental impact of the categories in which it operates. The Company also purchases environmental offsets that have made it the first plastic neutral retailer in the world, and its goal is to be “Beyond Plastic” (its standard which indicates the best-available solutions in either zero plastic, refillable or reusable products containing minimal plastic) across its site by the end of 2025.
Background
The Company was originally known as Virgin Group Acquisition Corp. II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“VGAC II”). VGAC II was a blank check company incorporated on January 13, 2021 as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. On March 25, 2021, VGAC II consummated an initial public offering of 35,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, and a private placement with VG Acquisition Sponsor II LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (“Sponsor”) of 6,000,000 Private Placement Warrants at an offering price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant. Each unit sold in the initial public offering and private placement consisted of one Class A ordinary share and one-fifth of one redeemable warrant. On April 9, 2021, the underwriters of the initial public offering notified VGAC II of their intent to fully exercise their over-allotment option. As such, on April 13, 2021, VGAC II sold an additional 5,250,000 units, at a price of $10.00 per unit, and sold an additional 700,000 Private Placement Warrants to the Sponsor, at $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant. Following the closing of the initial public offering and overallotment sale, an amount equal to $402,500,000 of the net proceeds from the initial public offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants was placed in the trust account. Each such number of units and Private Placement Warrants and prices per unit and per Private Placement Warrant in connection with the initial public offering reflects pre-Reverse Stock Split values.
On June 16, 2022, as contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 7, 2021, as amended and restated on March 31, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among VGAC II, Treehouse Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of VGAC II (“Merger Sub 1”), Treehouse Merger Sub II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned direct subsidiary of VGAC II (“Merger Sub II”) and Grove Collaborative, Inc., a Delaware public benefit corporation (“Legacy Grove”), consummated the merger transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, whereby (i) Merger Sub I merged with and into Legacy Grove, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub I ceased and Legacy Grove became the surviving corporation (the “Initial Surviving Corporation”) and a wholly owned subsidiary of VGAC II (the “Initial Merger”) and (ii) immediately following the Initial Merger, and as part of the same overall transaction as the Initial Merger, the Initial Surviving Corporation merged with and into Merger Sub II, the separate corporate existence of the Initial Surviving Corporation ceased, and Merger Sub II continued as the surviving company and a wholly-
owned subsidiary of VGAC II (such transactions the “Merger” and, together with the Domestication (as defined below), the “Business Combination”). Immediately prior to the closing of the Merger (the “Closing” and such date of the Closing, the “Closing Date”), VGAC II changed its jurisdiction of incorporation from the Cayman Islands to the State of Delaware by deregistering as an exempted company in the Cayman Islands and domesticating and continuing as a public benefit corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Domestication”). In connection with the Business Combination, VGAC II changed its name to Grove Collaborative Holdings, Inc.
The Business Combination was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization with Grove Collaborative, Inc. being the accounting acquirer and VGAC II as the acquired company for accounting purposes. Accordingly, all historical financial information presented in the consolidated financial statements represents the accounts of Grove Collaborative, Inc.
Pursuant to the closing of the Business Combination, VGAC II filed a notice of deregistration with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies, together with the necessary accompanying documents, and filed a Charter and a certificate of corporate domestication with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, under which VGAC II was domesticated and continued as a Delaware corporation, changing its name to “Grove Collaborative Holdings, Inc.”
On June 5, 2023, the Company effected the Reverse Stock Split. Unless otherwise indicated, all share and per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect the Reverse Stock Split. The Class A Common Stock trade on the NYSE under the symbol “GROV” and the Public Warrants (as defined below) may be quoted and traded in the over-the-counter market under the symbol “GROVW,” respectively.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the JOBS Act) was enacted in April 2012 with the intention of encouraging capital formation in the United States and reducing the regulatory burden on newly public companies that qualify as emerging growth companies. We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the JOBS Act. We may take advantage of certain exemptions from various public reporting requirements, including the requirement that we provide more than two years of audited consolidated financial statements and related management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, and that our internal controls over financial reporting be audited by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act). In addition, the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until those standards apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of these exemptions until we are no longer an emerging growth company. We have elected to use the extended transition period to enable us to comply with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date we (1) are no longer an emerging growth company and (2) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
We will cease to be an emerging growth company upon the earliest of (1) December 31, 2026; (2) the last day of the fiscal year during which our annual gross revenues are $1.235 billion or more; (3) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities; and (4) the end of any fiscal year in which the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million as of the end of the second quarter of that fiscal year.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company meaning that the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates plus the proposed aggregate amount of gross proceeds to us as a result of this offering is less than $700 million and our annual revenue was less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, and, similar to emerging growth companies, smaller reporting companies have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (i) the market value of our common stocks held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second
fiscal quarter and our annual revenue exceeds $100 million during such completed fiscal year, or (ii) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million, regardless of our annual revenue, as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our consolidated financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.
Corporate Information
The Company’s principal executive offices are located at 1301 Sansome Street, San Francisco, California 94111, and the Company’s phone number is (800) 231-8527. Our website address is www.grove.co. Information contained on our website or connected thereto does not constitute part of, and is not incorporated by reference into, this prospectus or the registration statement of which it is a part.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves risk. You should carefully consider the specific risks discussed or incorporated by reference into the applicable prospectus supplement, together with all the other information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including those discussed above under the heading “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and in subsequent filings, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. These risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future or by a prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering of our securities. These risks and uncertainties are not the only risks and uncertainties we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently view as immaterial, may also impair our business. If any of the risks or uncertainties described in our SEC filings or any prospectus supplement or any additional risks and uncertainties actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our securities could decline and you might lose all or part of your investment.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby. Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectuses that we may authorize to be provided to you, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby for general corporate purposes, including working capital, operating expenses and capital expenditures. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in businesses and products that are complementary to our own, although we have no current plans, commitments or agreements with respect to any acquisitions as of the date of this prospectus. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities sold pursuant to the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. We intend to invest the net proceeds to us from the sale of securities offered hereby that are not used as described above in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following summary of the material terms of our securities is not intended to be a complete summary of the rights and preferences of such securities, and is qualified by reference to our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), and our Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), which are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We urge to you read each of the Charter, the Bylaws and the warrant-related documents described herein in their entirety for a complete description of the rights and preferences of our securities. For information on how to obtain copies of the Charter, and the Bylaws and the warrant related documents described herein, please refer to the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.
Authorized Capitalization
General
The Charter authorizes the issuance of 900,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 800,000,000 shares of common stock, of which (i) 600,000,000 shares are designated Class A Common Stock and (ii) 200,000,000 shares are designated Class B Common Stock, and (b) 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”).
As of July 13, 2023, there were outstanding 26,456,120 shares of Class A Common Stock, 9,981,796 shares of Class B Common Stock and no shares of Preferred Stock.
Common Stock
Grove Collaborative Holdings, Inc. Class A Common Stock
Voting rights. Each holder of Class A Common Stock is entitled to one (1) vote for each share of Class A Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters voted upon by the Company’s stockholders, provided, however, that, except as otherwise required in the Charter, as provided by law or by the resolution(s) or any certificate of designation providing for the issue of any Preferred Stock, the holders of Class A Common Stock will not be entitled to vote on any amendment to the Charter that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to the Charter (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
Dividend rights. Subject to the DGCL and the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will be entitled to receive ratably, on a per share basis, dividends and other distributions in cash, capital stock, or property of the Company as may be declared and paid from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) out of any of the Company’s assets or funds legally available therefor; provided, that in the event a dividend is paid in the form of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares), then the holders of Class A Common Stock will receive shares of Class A Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares, as the case may be) and the holders of Class B Common Stock will receive shares of Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares, as the case may be), with the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock receiving, on a per share basis, the same number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable.
Rights upon liquidation. Subject to the DGCL and the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Company, are entitled to receive all of the assets and funds of the Company available for distribution in the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of the Class A Common Stock held by them.
Other rights. No holder of shares of Class A Common Stock are entitled to preemptive or subscription rights contained in the Charter or in the Bylaws. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the
Class A Common Stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of the Class A Common Stock are subject to those of the holders of any shares of the Preferred Stock that the Company may issue in the future.
Grove Collaborative Holdings, Inc. Class B Common Stock
Voting rights. Each holder of Class B Common Stock are entitled to ten (10) votes for each share of Class B Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters voted upon by the Company’s stockholders, provided, however, that, except as otherwise required in the Charter, as provided by law or by the resolution(s) or any certificate of designation providing for the issue of any Preferred Stock, the holders of Class B Common Stock are not entitled to vote on any amendment to the Charter that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to the Charter (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL.
Dividend rights. Subject to the DGCL and the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably, on a per share basis, dividends and other distributions in cash, stock, or property of the Company as may be declared and paid from time to time by the Board out of any of the Company’s assets or funds legally available therefor; provided that in the event a dividend is paid in the form of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares), then the holders of Class A Common Stock will receive shares of Class A Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares, as the case may be) and the holders of Class B Common Stock will receive shares of Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares, as the case may be), with the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock receiving, on a per share basis, the same number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable.
Rights upon liquidation. Subject to the DGCL and the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Company, are entitled to receive all of the assets and funds of the Company available for distribution in the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of the Class B Common Stock held by them.
Transfers. Pursuant to the Charter, holders of Class B Common Stock are generally restricted from transferring such shares, other than to another Class B Common Stockholder or a Permitted Entity (as defined in the Charter).
Mandatory Conversion. Each share of Class B Common Stock will be automatically converted into an equal number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Class A Common Stock upon any Transfer (as defined in the Charter) of such shares of Class B Common Stock, except for a Transfer to a Permitted Entity (as defined in the Charter). Holders of Class B Common Stock may also elect to convert into an equal number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Class A Common Stock at their option.
Other rights. No holder of shares of Class B Common Stock is entitled to preemptive or subscription rights contained in the Charter or in the Bylaws. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class B Common Stock. The rights, preferences, and privileges of holders of the Class B Common Stock are subject to those of the holders of any shares of Preferred Stock that the Company may issue in the future.
Preferred Stock
The Board has the authority to issue shares of Preferred Stock from time to time on terms it may determine, to divide shares of Preferred Stock into one or more series, and to fix the designations, preferences, privileges, and restrictions of Preferred Stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preference, sinking fund terms, and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of any series to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. The issuance of Preferred Stock could have the effect of decreasing the trading price of Class A Common Stock, restricting dividends on the capital stock of the Company, diluting the voting power of the Class A Common Stock, impairing the liquidation rights of the capital stock of the Company, or delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company.
Election of Directors and Vacancies
Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors of the Board is fixed solely and exclusively by resolution duly adopted from time to time by the Board. Under the Bylaws, at all meetings of stockholders called for the election of directors, a plurality of the votes properly cast will be sufficient to elect such directors to the Board.
The Board is divided into three classes of directors designated as Class I, Class II, and Class III, respectively. Except as the DGCL may otherwise require and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, in the interim between annual meetings of stockholders or special meetings of stockholders called for the election of directors and/or the removal of one or more directors and the filling of any vacancy in that connection, newly created directorships, and any vacancies on the Board, including unfilled vacancies resulting from the removal of directors, may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director (and not by Company stockholders). All directors hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors will have been elected and qualified. A director elected or appointed to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, or removal of a director or a newly created directorship will serve for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the new directorship was created or the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor will have been elected and qualified.
Subject to the rights, if any, of any series of Preferred Stock, any director may be removed from office only with cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding voting stock of the Company entitled to vote at an election of directors, voting together as a single class.
In addition to the powers and authorities before or by statute expressly conferred upon them, the directors are empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Company, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, the Charter, and to any Bylaws adopted and in effect from time to time; provided, however, that no bylaw so adopted will invalidate any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if such bylaw had not been adopted.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, any director elected pursuant to the right, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances will serve for such term or terms and pursuant to such other provisions as specified in the relevant certificate of designations related to the Preferred Stock.
Quorum
The holders of a majority of the voting power of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise required by law or provided by the Charter or Bylaws; provided, however, that where a separate vote by a class or classes or series of capital stock is required by law or the Charter, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series of the capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on such matter, present in person, present by means of remote communication in a manner, if any, authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on such matter. If, however, such quorum will not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairperson of the meeting will have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum will be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum will be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting will be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.
Registration Rights
In connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, the Company, VG Acquisition Sponsor II LLC and certain other holders of Class A Common Stock (collectively, the “Registration Rights Agreement Parties”) entered into the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). In accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement Parties and their permitted transferees are entitled to, among other things, customary registration rights, including demand, piggy-back and shelf registration rights. The Registration Rights Agreement also provides that the Company will pay certain expenses relating to such registrations and indemnify the registration rights holders against (or make contributions in respect of) certain liabilities which may arise under the Securities Act.
Anti-takeover Effects of the Charter and the Bylaws
The Charter and the Bylaws contain provisions that may delay, defer, or discourage another party from acquiring control of the Company. The Company expects that these provisions, which are summarized below, will discourage coercive takeover practices or inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of the Company to first negotiate with the Board, which the Company believes may result in an improvement of the terms of any such acquisition in favor of the Company’s stockholders. However, they also give the Board the power to discourage acquisitions that some stockholders may favor.
Authorized but Unissued Capital Stock
Delaware law does not require stockholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares. However, the listing requirements of the NYSE, which apply so long as the Class A Common Stock remains listed on the NYSE, require stockholder approval of certain issuances equal to or exceeding 20% of the then-outstanding voting power or then-outstanding number of shares of Class A Common Stock. Additional shares that may be issued in the future may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings, to raise additional capital, or to facilitate acquisitions.
One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved common stock may be to enable the Board to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which issuance could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest, or otherwise and thereby protect the continuity of management and possibly deprive stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of Class A Common Stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.
Dual-Class Stock
As described above in “—Common Stock—Class A Common Stock—Voting Rights” and “—Common Stock—Class B Common Stock—Voting Rights,” the Charter provides for a dual-class common stock structure.
Special Meeting, Action by Written Consent, and Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals
Unless otherwise required by law, and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Company, for any purpose or purposes, may be called only by a majority of the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or when requested in writing by the holders of not less than 20% of all votes entitled to be cast at the meeting, and may not be called by any other person. Unless otherwise required by law, written notice of a special meeting of stockholders, stating the time, place, and purpose or purposes thereof, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, not less than ten or more than sixty (60) days before the date fixed for the meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders will be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.
The Bylaws also provide that unless otherwise restricted by the Charter or the Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.
In addition, the Bylaws require advance notice procedures for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders, including the nomination of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting may only consider the proposals specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board, or by a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has delivered a timely written notice in proper form to the Company’s secretary, of the stockholder’s intention to bring such business before the meeting.
These provisions could have the effect of delaying until the next stockholder meeting any stockholder actions, even if they are favored by the holders of a majority of the Company’s outstanding voting securities.
Amendment to Charter and Bylaws
The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote on amendments to a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws is required to approve such amendment, unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as the case may be, requires a greater percentage.
The Charter provides that certain provisions therein, including those relating to the Board’s powers and the number, election, term and removal of the Company’s directors, may be altered, amended, or repealed only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (66.7%) in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Additionally, the Charter provides that the authorized number of shares of any class of stock may only be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then-outstanding) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the stock entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.
Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute
Section 203 of the DGCL provides that if a person acquires 15% or more of the voting stock of a Delaware corporation, such person becomes an “interested stockholder” and may not engage in certain “business combinations” with the corporation for a period of three years from the time such person acquired 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock, unless:
(1)the board of directors approves the acquisition of stock or the merger transaction before the time that the person becomes an interested stockholder;
(2)the interested stockholder owns at least 85% of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at the time the merger transaction commences (excluding voting stock owned by directors who are also officers and certain employee stock plans); or
(3)the merger transaction is approved by the board of directors and at a meeting of stockholders, not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
A Delaware corporation may elect in its certificate of incorporation or bylaws not to be governed by this particular Delaware law.
Classified Board and Stockholder Action by Written Consent
The Charter provides that the Board is classified into three classes of directors, each of which holds office for a three-year term. A third party may be discouraged from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the Company at a time when there is a classified board as it is more difficult and time consuming for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors on a classified board of directors.
Under the Charter, the Company’s stockholders are required to take action at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders. This provision may have the effect of delaying or preventing hostile stockholder action designed to effect a change in control of the Company.
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
The Charter limits the liability of the directors of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, and the Bylaws provide that the Company will indemnify them to the fullest extent permitted by such law. The Company has entered and expects to continue to enter into agreements to indemnify its directors, executive officers, and other employees as determined by the Board. Each indemnification agreement provides that the Company will indemnify each of its directors, executive officers, and other key employees against any and all expenses incurred by such director, executive officer, or other key employee because of his or her status as one of the Company’s directors, executive officers, or other key employees, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the state of Delaware, the Charter, and the Bylaws. In addition, the indemnification agreements provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the state of Delaware, the Company will advance all expenses incurred by its directors, executive officers, and other key employees in connection with the legal proceeding involving his or her status as a director, executive director, or key employee.
Exclusive Jurisdiction of Certain Actions
The Charter requires, to the fullest extent permitted by law, unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, that derivative actions brought in the name of the Company, actions against current or former directors, officers, employees, and agents for breach of fiduciary duty, actions asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Charter or the Bylaws and actions asserting a claim against the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware and any stockholder will be deemed to have consented to such provision. Although the Company believes this provision benefits the Company by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against the Company’s directors and officers.
The exclusive forum provision in the Charter would not apply to claims brought under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). To the extent the exclusive forum provision restricts the venue in which holders of the Company’s common stock may bring claims arising under the federal securities laws, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provisions. The exclusive forum provision in the Charter does not relieve the Company of its duties to comply with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and the Company’s stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with these laws, rules and regulations.
In addition, the Charter requires that, unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States shall be the sole and exclusive forum for resolving any action asserting a claim arising under the Securities Act.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent for Class A Common Stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Listing of Common Stock
The Class A Common Stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “GROV”.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following is a general description of the terms of debt securities we may issue from time to time unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. Particular terms of any debt securities we offer will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities.
As required by Federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that are publicly offered, any debt securities we issue will be governed by a document called an “indenture.” We have summarized the general features of the debt securities to be governed by the indenture. The summary is not complete. An indenture is a contract between us and a financial institution acting as trustee on behalf of the holders of the debt securities, and is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). The trustee has two main roles. First, the trustee can enforce holders’ rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on holders’ behalf, described in the second paragraph under “Description of Debt Securities — Events of Default.” Second, the trustee performs certain administrative duties, such as sending interest and principal payments to holders.
Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of any debt securities we may issue or the indenture governing any such debt securities. Particular terms of any debt securities we offer will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities, and we urge you to read the applicable executed indenture, which will be filed with the SEC at the time of any offering of debt securities, because it, and not this description, will define the rights of holders of such debt securities.
A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any series of debt securities we may issue, including some or all of the following:
•the designation or title of the series of debt securities;
•the total principal amount of the series of debt securities, the denominations in which the offered debt securities will be issued and whether the offering may be reopened for additional securities of that series and on what terms;
• the percentage of the principal amount at which the series of debt securities will be offered;
•the date or dates on which principal will be payable;
•the rate or rates (which may be either fixed or variable) and/or the method of determining such rate or rates of interest, if any;
•the date or dates from which any interest will accrue, or the method of determining such date or dates, and the date or dates on which any interest will be payable;
•the terms for redemption, extension or early repayment, if any;
•the currencies in which the series of debt securities are issued and payable;
•whether the amount of payments of principal, interest or premium, if any, on a series of debt securities will be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method and how these amounts will be determined;
•the place or places of payment, transfer, conversion and/or exchange of the debt securities;
•the provision for any sinking fund;
•any restrictive covenants;
•events of default;
•whether the series of debt securities are issuable in certificated form;
•any provisions for legal defeasance or covenant defeasance;
•whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather than pay the additional amounts (and the terms of this option);
•any provisions for convertibility or exchangeability of the debt securities into or for any other securities;
•whether the debt securities are subject to subordination and the terms of such subordination;
•any listing of the debt securities on any securities exchange;
•whether the issuance of the debt securities may limit the incurrence of additional debt;
•if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations, including those related to original issue discount, if applicable; and
•any other material terms.
The debt securities may be secured or unsecured obligations. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, principal, interest and premium, if any, will be paid by us in immediately available funds.
General
The indenture may provide that any debt securities proposed to be sold under this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities (“offered debt securities”) and any debt securities issuable upon conversion or exchange of other offered securities (“underlying debt securities”) may be issued under the indenture in one or more series.
For purposes of this prospectus, any reference to the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, debt securities will include additional amounts if required by the terms of the debt securities.
Debt securities issued under an indenture, when a single trustee is acting for all debt securities issued under the indenture, are called the “indenture securities.” The indenture may also provide that there may be more than one trustee thereunder, each with respect to one or more different series of securities issued thereunder. See “Description of Debt Securities — Resignation of Trustee” below. At a time when two or more trustees are acting under an indenture, each with respect to only certain series, the term “indenture securities” means the one or more series of debt securities with respect to which each respective trustee is acting. In the event that there is more than one trustee under an indenture, the powers and trust obligations of each trustee described in this prospectus will extend only to the one or more series of indenture securities for which it is trustee. If two or more trustees are acting under an indenture, then the indenture securities for which each trustee is acting would be treated as if issued under separate indentures.
We refer you to the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any debt securities we may issue from time to time for information with respect to any deletions from, modifications of 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, that will be applicable with respect to such debt securities.
We have the ability to issue indenture securities with terms different from those of indenture securities previously issued and, without the consent of the holders thereof, to reopen a previous issue of a series of indenture securities and issue additional indenture securities of that series unless the reopening was restricted when that series was created.
Conversion and Exchange
If any debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities, the related prospectus supplement will explain the terms and conditions of the conversion or exchange, including the conversion price or exchange ratio (or the calculation method), the conversion or exchange period (or how the period will be determined), if
conversion or exchange will be mandatory or at the option of the holder or us, provisions for adjusting the conversion price or the exchange ratio and provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of the redemption of the underlying debt securities. These terms may also include provisions under which the number or amount of other securities to be received by the holders of the debt securities upon conversion or exchange would be calculated according to the market price of the other securities as of a time stated in the prospectus supplement.
Payment and Paying Agents
We will pay interest to the person listed in the applicable trustee’s records as the owner of the debt security at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest, even if that person no longer owns the debt security on the interest due date. That day, often approximately two weeks in advance of the interest due date, is called the “record date.” Because we will pay all the interest for an interest period to the holders on the record date, holders buying and selling debt securities must work out between themselves the appropriate purchase price. The most common manner is to adjust the sales price of the debt securities to prorate interest fairly between buyer and seller based on their respective ownership periods within the particular interest period. This prorated interest amount is called “accrued interest.”
Events of Default
Holders of debt securities of any series will have rights if an Event of Default occurs in respect of the debt securities of such series and is not cured, as described later in this subsection. The term “Event of Default” in respect of the debt securities of any series means any of the following:
•we do not pay the principal of, or any premium on, a debt security of the series on its due date;
•we do not pay interest on a debt security of the series within 30 days of its due date;
•we do not deposit any sinking fund payment in respect of debt securities of the series on its due date and we do not cure this default within five days;
•we remain in breach of a covenant in respect of debt securities of the series for 90 days after we receive a written notice of default stating we are in breach. The notice must be sent by either the trustee or holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of debt securities of the series;
•we file for bankruptcy or certain other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur; and
•any other Event of Default occurs in respect of debt securities of the series described in the prospectus supplement.
An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the same or any other indenture. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except in the payment of principal, premium or interest, if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders.
Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs
If an Event of Default has occurred and has not been cured or waived, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may declare the entire principal amount of all the debt securities of that series to be due and immediately payable. This is called a declaration of acceleration of maturity. A declaration of acceleration of maturity may be cancelled by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series if the default is cured or waived and certain other conditions are satisfied.
Except in cases of default, where the trustee has some special duties, the trustee typically is not required to take any action under an indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability (called an “indemnity”). If reasonable indemnity is provided, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of
conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. The trustee may refuse to follow those directions in certain circumstances.
Before a holder is allowed to bypass the trustee and bring its own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce its rights or protect its interests relating to any debt securities, the following must occur:
•the holder must give the trustee written notice that an Event of Default has occurred and remains uncured;
•the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of the relevant series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the default and must offer reasonable indemnity to the trustee against the cost and other liabilities of taking that action;
•the trustee must not have taken action for 60 days after receipt of the above notice and offer of indemnity; and
•the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities must not have given the trustee a direction inconsistent with the above notice during that 60-day period.
However, a holder is entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on its debt securities on or after the due date. Each year, we will furnish to each trustee a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the indenture and the debt securities, or else specifying any default.
Waiver of Default
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the relevant series of debt securities may waive a default for all such series of debt securities. If this happens, the default will be treated as if it had not occurred. No one can waive a payment default on a holder’s debt security, however, without the holder’s approval.
Merger or Consolidation
Under the terms of an indenture, we may be permitted to consolidate or merge with another entity. We may also be permitted to sell all or substantially all of our assets to another entity. However, typically we may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions are met:
•if we do not survive such transaction or we convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety, the acquiring company must be a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or trust, or other corporate form, organized under the laws of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia, and such company must agree to be legally responsible for our debt securities, and, if not already subject to the jurisdiction of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia, the new company must submit to such jurisdiction for all purposes with respect to the debt securities and appoint an agent for service of process;
•alternatively, we must be the surviving company;
•immediately after the transaction no Event of Default will exist;
•we must deliver certain certificates and documents to the trustee; and
•we must satisfy any other requirements specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities.
Modification or Waiver
There are three types of changes we may make to an indenture and the debt securities issued thereunder.
Changes Requiring Approval
First, there are changes that we may not be able to make to debt securities without specific approval of all of the holders. The following is a list of the types of changes that may require specific approval:
•change the stated maturity of the principal of or rate of interest on a debt security;
•reduce any amounts due on a debt security;
•reduce the amount of principal payable upon acceleration of the maturity of a security following a default;
•at any time after a change of control has occurred, reduce any premium payable upon a change of control;
•change the place or currency of payment on a debt security (except as otherwise described in the prospectus or prospectus supplement);
•impair the right of holders to sue for payment;
•adversely affect any right to convert or exchange a debt security in accordance with its terms;
•reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities whose consent is needed to modify or amend the indenture;
•reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities whose consent is needed to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or to waive certain defaults;
•modify any other aspect of the provisions of the indenture dealing with supplemental indentures, modification and waiver of past defaults, changes to the quorum or voting requirements or the waiver of certain covenants; and
•change any obligation we have to pay additional amounts.
Changes Not Requiring Approval
The second type of change does not require any vote by the holders of the debt securities. This type is limited to clarifications and certain other changes that would not adversely affect holders of the outstanding debt securities in any material respect, including the addition of covenants and guarantees. We also do not need any approval to make any change that affects only debt securities to be issued under the indenture after the change takes effect.
Changes Requiring Majority Approval
Any other change to the indenture and the debt securities may require the following approval:
•if the change affects only one series of debt securities, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of that series; and
•if the change affects more than one series of debt securities issued under the same indenture, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all of the series affected by the change, with all affected series voting together as one class for this purpose.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of all of the series of debt securities issued under an indenture, voting together as one class for this purpose, may waive our compliance obligations with respect to some of our covenants in that indenture. However, we cannot obtain a waiver of a payment default or of any of the matters covered by the bullet points included above under “Description of Debt Securities — Modification or Waiver — Changes Requiring Approval.”
Further Details Concerning Voting
When taking a vote on proposed changes to the indenture and the debt securities, we expect to use the following rules to decide how much principal to attribute to a debt security:
•for original issue discount securities, we will use the principal amount that would be due and payable on the voting date if the maturity of these debt securities were accelerated to that date because of a default;
•for debt securities whose principal amount is not known (for example, because it is based on an index), we will use a special rule for that debt security described in the related prospectus supplement; and
•for debt securities denominated in one or more foreign currencies, we will use the U.S. dollar equivalent.
Debt securities will not be considered outstanding, and therefore not eligible to vote, if we have deposited or set aside in trust money for their payment or redemption. Debt securities will also not be eligible to vote if they have been fully defeased as described later under “Description of Debt Securities — Defeasance — Legal Defeasance.”
We generally will be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding indenture securities that are entitled to vote or take other action under the indenture. If we set a record date for a vote or other action to be taken by holders of one or more series, that vote or action may be taken only by persons who are holders of outstanding indenture securities of those series on the record date and must be taken within 11 months following the record date.
Book-entry and other indirect holders will need to consult their banks or brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change the indenture or the debt securities or request a waiver.
Defeasance
The following provisions will be applicable to each series of debt securities unless we state in the applicable prospectus supplement that the provisions of covenant defeasance and legal defeasance will not be applicable to that series.
Covenant Defeasance
We can make the deposit described below and be released from some of the restrictive covenants in the indenture under which the particular series was issued. This is called “covenant defeasance.” In that event, the holders would lose the protection of those restrictive covenants but would gain the protection of having money and government securities set aside in trust to repay holders’ debt securities. If applicable, a holder also would be released from the subordination provisions described under “Description of Debt Securities — Indenture Provisions — Subordination” below. In order to achieve covenant defeasance, we must do the following:
•If the debt securities of the particular series are denominated in U.S. dollars, we must deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of such debt securities a combination of money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the debt securities on their various due dates;
•We may be required to deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel confirming that, under current U.S. Federal income tax law, we may make the above deposit without causing the holders to be taxed on the debt securities any differently than if we did not make the deposit and just repaid the debt securities ourselves at maturity; and
•We must deliver to the trustee certain documentation stating that all conditions precedent to covenant defeasance have been complied with.
If we accomplish covenant defeasance, holders can still look to us for repayment of the debt securities if there were a shortfall in the trust deposit or the trustee is prevented from making payment. In fact, if one of the remaining Events of Default occurred (such as our bankruptcy) and the debt securities became immediately due and payable,
there might be a shortfall. Depending on the event causing the default, holders may not be able to obtain payment of the shortfall.
Legal Defeasance
As described below, we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other obligations on the debt securities of a particular series (called “legal defeasance”), (1) if there is a change in U.S. Federal tax law that allows us to effect the release without causing the holders to be taxed any differently than if the release had not occurred, and (2) if we put in place the following other arrangements for holders to be repaid:
•If the debt securities of the particular series are denominated in U.S. dollars, we must deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of such debt securities a combination of money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the debt securities on their various due dates;
•We may be required to deliver to the trustee a legal opinion confirming that there has been a change in current U.S. Federal tax law or an Internal Revenue Service ruling that allows us to make the above deposit without causing the holders to be taxed on the debt securities any differently than if we did not make the deposit and just repaid the debt securities ourselves at maturity;
•Under current U.S. Federal tax law, the deposit and our legal release from the debt securities would be treated as though we paid each holder its share of the cash and notes or bonds at the time the cash and notes or bonds were deposited in trust in exchange for its debt securities and holders would recognize gain or loss on the debt securities at the time of the deposit; and
•We must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion and officers’ certificate stating that all conditions precedent to legal defeasance have been complied with.
If we ever did accomplish legal defeasance, as described above, holders would have to rely solely on the trust deposit for repayment of the debt securities. Holders could not look to us for repayment in the unlikely event of any shortfall. Conversely, the trust deposit would most likely be protected from claims of our lenders and other creditors if we ever became bankrupt or insolvent. If applicable, holders would also be released from the subordination provisions described later under “Description of Debt Securities — Indenture Provisions — Subordination.”
Resignation of Trustee
Each trustee may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of indenture securities provided that a successor trustee is appointed to act with respect to such series. In the event that two or more persons are acting as trustee with respect to different series of indenture securities under the indenture, each of the trustees will be a trustee of a trust separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee.
Indenture Provisions—Subordination
Upon any distribution of our assets upon our dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any indenture securities denominated as subordinated debt securities is to be subordinated to the extent provided in the indenture in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness (defined below), but our obligation to holders to make payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such subordinated debt securities will not otherwise be affected. In addition, no payment on account of principal (or premium, if any), interest or sinking fund, if any, may be made on such subordinated debt securities at any time unless full payment of all amounts due in respect of the principal (and premium, if any), interest and sinking fund, if any, on Senior Indebtedness has been made or duly provided for in money or money’s worth.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment from us is received by the trustee in respect of subordinated debt securities or by the holders of any of such subordinated debt securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, the payment or distribution must be paid over to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness or on their behalf for application to the payment of all the Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all the Senior
Indebtedness has been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness. Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the holders of such subordinated debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness to the extent of payments made to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness out of the distributive share of such subordinated debt securities.
By reason of this subordination, in the event of a distribution of our assets upon our insolvency, certain of our senior creditors may recover more, ratably, than holders of any subordinated debt securities. The related indenture will provide that these subordination provisions will not apply to money and securities held in trust under the defeasance provisions of the indenture.
“Senior Indebtedness” will be defined in an applicable indenture as the principal of (and premium, if any) and unpaid interest on:
•our indebtedness (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by us), whenever created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed (other than indenture securities issued under the indenture and denominated as subordinated debt securities), unless in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or under which the same is outstanding it is provided that this indebtedness is not senior or prior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities; and
•renewals, extensions, modifications and refinancings of any of such indebtedness.
The prospectus supplement accompanying any series of indenture securities denominated as subordinated debt securities will set forth the approximate amount of our Senior Indebtedness outstanding as of a recent date.
Trustee
We intend to name the indenture trustee for each series of indenture securities in the related prospectus supplement.
Certain Considerations Relating to Foreign Currencies
Debt securities denominated or payable in foreign currencies may entail significant risks. These risks include the possibility of significant fluctuations in the foreign currency markets, the imposition or modification of foreign exchange controls and potential illiquidity in the secondary market. These risks will vary depending upon the currency or currencies involved and will be more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We may issue warrants for the purchase of shares of our common stock, shares of our preferred stock or debt securities. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. The particular terms of the warrants and the extent, if any, to which the general terms and provisions may apply to the warrants so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Warrants may be issued independently or together with other securities and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.
A copy of the forms of the warrant agreement and the warrant certificate relating to any particular issue of warrants will be filed with the SEC each time we issue warrants, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the forms of the warrant agreement and the related warrant certificate, see “Where You Can Find More Information.” Stock Warrants
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to issue shares of our common stock or shares of our preferred stock will describe the terms of the common share warrants and preferred share warrants, including the following:
•the title of the warrants;
•the offering price for the warrants, if any;
•the aggregate number of the warrants;
•the designation and terms of the shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;
•the terms for changes or adjustments to the exercise price of the warrants;
•if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities that the warrants are issued with and the number of warrants issued with each security;
•if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable;
•the number of shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which the shares may be purchased upon exercise;
•the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants commence and expire;
•if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
•the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;
•the amount of warrants outstanding at the time of the offering, if any;
•if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. Federal income tax considerations;
•anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;
•redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants;
•any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants; and
•any other information we think is important about the warrants.
•As of July 13, 2023, there were an aggregate of 4,480,152 shares of Class A Common Stock and 113,776 shares of Class B Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants.
Debt Warrants
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to issue debt securities will describe the terms of those warrants, including the following:
•the title of the warrants;
•the offering price for the warrants, if any;
•the aggregate number of the warrants;
•the designation and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;
•the terms for changes or adjustments to the exercise price of the warrants;
•if applicable, the designation and terms of the debt securities that the warrants are issued with and the number of warrants issued with each debt security;
•if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any debt securities issued with them will be separately transferable;
•the principal amount of debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which the debt securities may be purchased upon exercise;
•the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;
•if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
•whether the warrants represented by the warrant certificates or debt securities that may be issued upon exercise of the warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form;
•information relating to book-entry procedures, if any;
•the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;
•the amount of warrants outstanding at the time of the offering, if any;
•if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. Federal income tax considerations;
•anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;
•redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants;
•any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants; and
•any other information we think is important about the warrants.
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder of the warrant to purchase at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the number of shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or the principal amount of
debt securities being offered. Holders may exercise warrants at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants are void. Holders may exercise warrants as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants being offered.
Until a holder exercises the warrants to purchase our shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or debt securities, the holder will not have any rights as a holder of our shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or debt securities, as the case may be, by virtue of ownership of warrants.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent for Public Warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Trading of Public Warrants
The Public Warrants may be quoted and traded in the over-the-counter market under the symbol “GROVW”.
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
We may issue, in one or more series, units consisting of common stock, preferred stock, or warrants for the purchase of common stock or preferred stock in any combination. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of units being offered, as well as the complete unit agreement that contains the terms of the units. We will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement and any supplemental agreements that describe the terms of the series of units we are offering before the issuance of the related series of units.
Units may be issued under a unit agreement that we enter into with a unit agent. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent, if applicable, in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of units being offered.
The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:
•the designation and terms of the units and of the securities composing the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
•any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities composing the units; and
•whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus in any one or more of the following ways from time to time:
•to or through one or more underwriters, brokers or dealers;
•through agents to investors or the public;
•in short or long transactions;
•through put or call option transactions relating to our common stock;
•directly to agents or other 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;
•though a combination of any such methods of sale; or
•through any other method described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
In addition, we may issue the securities as a dividend or distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our existing securityholders. This prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of our securities through any of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may directly solicit offers to purchase securities, or agents may be designated to solicit such offers. We will, in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering, name any agent that could be viewed as an underwriter under the Securities Act, and describe any commissions that we must pay. Any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment or, if indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, on a firm commitment basis.
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 from time to time;
•at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
•at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or
•at negotiated prices.
The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering and the method of distribution and will identify any firms acting as underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering, including:
•the terms of the offering;
•the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;
•the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;
•the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us from the sale;
•any over-allotment options under which the underwriters may purchase additional shares of common stock from us;
•any underwriting discounts, concessions, commissions or agency fees and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers or agents;
•any delayed delivery arrangements;
•any public offering price;
•any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid by underwriters or dealers to other dealers; or
•any securities exchange or market on which the common stock offered in the prospectus supplement may be listed.
If we use underwriters for a sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account for resale to the public, either on a firm commitment basis or a best efforts basis. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer the securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of securities hereunder, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for sale is reached. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions. We may change from time to time any public offering price and any discounts or concessions the underwriters allow or pay to dealers.
During and after an offering through underwriters, the underwriters may purchase and sell the securities in the open market. These transactions may include overallotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, which means that selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the offered securities sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the offered securities are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the offered securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue these activities at any time.
Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise or the securities are sold by us to an underwriter in a firm commitment underwritten offering. The applicable prospectus supplement may provide that the original issue date for your securities may be more than two scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities. Accordingly, in such a case, if you wish to trade securities on any date prior to the second business day before the original issue date for your securities, you will be required, by virtue of the fact that your securities initially are expected to settle in more than two scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities, to make alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
Some or all of the securities that we offer though this prospectus may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom we sell our securities for public offering and sale may make a market in those securities, but they will not be obligated to do so and they may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of the liquidity of, or continued trading markets for, any securities that we offer.
If dealers are used for the sale of securities, we, or an underwriter, will sell the securities to them as principals. The dealers may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. We will include in the applicable prospectus supplement the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.
We may also sell the securities through agents designated from time to time. In the applicable prospectus supplement, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities, and we will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.
We may sell the securities directly in transactions not involving underwriters, dealers or agents.
We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. We will describe the terms of any such sales in the prospectus supplement.
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be underwriters as defined in the applicable securities laws and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the applicable securities laws. We will identify in the applicable prospectus supplement any underwriters, dealers or agents and will describe their compensation. We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against specified civil liabilities, including liabilities under the applicable securities laws.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses for which they may receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses.
We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe the nature of such relationship in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Under the securities laws of some states, the securities offered by this prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.
We may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers and the broker-dealers may engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume with us, including, without limitation, in connection with distributions of the securities by those broker-dealers. We may enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers that involve the delivery of the securities offered hereby to the broker-dealers, who may then resell or otherwise transfer those securities. We may also loan or pledge the securities offered hereby to a broker-dealer and the broker-dealer may sell the securities offered hereby so loaned or upon a default may sell or otherwise transfer the pledged securities offered hereby.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities being offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Sidley Austin LLP.
EXPERTS
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as set forth in their report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act, with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement do not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. For further information with respect to the Company and the securities being offered by this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, you should read the registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules. Statements contained in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, including documents that we have incorporated by reference, as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and, with respect to any contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or any other such document, each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the corresponding exhibit. You should review the complete contract or other document to evaluate these statements. You may obtain copies of the registration statement and its exhibits via the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other documents with the SEC under the Exchange Act. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including the Company, that file electronically with the SEC. You may obtain documents that we file with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. We also make these documents available on our website at investors.grove.co. Our website and the information contained or accessible through our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
SEC rules permit us to incorporate information by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. This 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 considered to be part of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, except for information superseded by information contained in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement itself or in any subsequently filed incorporated document. This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC (Commission File No. 001-40263), other than information in such documents that is deemed to be furnished and not filed. These documents contain important information about us and our business and financial condition.
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:
•our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2023; •our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 11, 2023; •our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2023, April 11, 2023, May 25, 2023, June 5, 2023, and June 9, 2023; •the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 from our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on April 14, 2023; and •The description of the Class A Common Stock contained in Exhibit 4.14 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. All documents that we file (but not those that we furnish) pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of the initial registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus, and any previously filed documents. All documents that we file (but not those that we furnish) pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of any of the securities covered under this prospectus shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any previously filed documents.
Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus and such applicable prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or such applicable prospectus supplement, or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and such applicable prospectus supplement, modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus or such applicable prospectus supplement.
You can obtain any of the filings incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement through us or from the SEC through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Upon request, we will provide, without charge, a copy of any or all of the reports and documents referred to above which have been incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. Prospective investors may
obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement by requesting them in writing or by telephone from us at our executive offices at:
Grove Collaborative Holdings, Inc.
1301 Sansome Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
Our reports and documents incorporated by reference herein may also be found in the “Investors” section of our website at investors.grove.co. The content of our website and any information that is linked to or accessible from our website (other than our filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference, as set forth under “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference”) is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, or the registration statement.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth all expenses to be paid by the registrant, other than estimated underwriting discounts and commissions, in connection with this offering. All amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) filing fee and the exchange listing fee:
| | | | | |
| SEC registration fee | 22,040 | |
| FINRA filing fee | * |
| Legal fees and expenses | * |
| Accounting fees and expenses | * |
| Printing expenses | * |
| Transfer agent and registrar fees | * |
| Trustee fees (including counsel fees) | * |
| Miscellaneous | * |
| Total | $ | 22,040.00 | |
__________________
*These fees and expenses depend on the securities offered and the number of issuances, and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the sale and distribution of securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 145 of the DGCL provides, generally, that a corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. A corporation may similarly indemnify such person for expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of any action or suit by or in the right of the corporation, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in the case of claims, issues and matters as to which such person shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation, provided that a court shall have determined, upon application, that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.
In accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, our Charter provides that a director will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. No such provision shall eliminate or limit the liability of a director for any act or omission occurring prior to the date when such provision became effective. Accordingly, these provisions will have no effect on the availability of equitable remedies such as an injunction or rescission based on a director’s breach of his or her duty of care.
The Charter provides that we will indemnify its present and former directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by the DGCL and that such indemnification will not be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaw provision, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our current directors and executive officers. These agreements require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. We also intend to enter into indemnification agreements with future directors and executive officers.
Item 16. Exhibits.
| | | | | | | | |
Exhibit
No. | | Description |
| | |
| 1.1** | | Form(s) of underwriting agreement(s). |
| | |
| 2.1† | | |
| | |
| 2.2† | | Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 31, 2022, by and among Virgin Group Acquisition Corp. II, Treehouse Merger Sub, Inc., Treehouse Merger Sub II, LLC and Grove Collaborative, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K (File No. 001-40263), filed with the SEC on April 4, 2022). |
| | |
| 3.1 | | |
| | |
| 3.2 | | |
| | |
| 3.3 | | |
| | |
| 4.1** | | Form of Specimen Certificate Representing Preferred Stock. |
| | |
| 4.2** | | Form of Warrant. |
| | |
| 4.3** | | Form of Warrant Agreement. |
| | |
| 4.4* | | |
| | |
| 4.5** | | Form of Unit Agreement. |
| | |
| 5.1* | | |
| | |
| 23.1* | | |
| | |
| 23.2* | | |
| | |
| 24.1* | | |
| | |
| 25.1*** | | Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of Debt Trustee (to be filed prior to any issuance of Debt Securities). |
| | |
| 107* | | |
__________________
†Schedules and exhibits to this agreement have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule and/or exhibit will be furnished to the SEC upon request.
*Filed herewith.
**To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of the securities.
***To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii)To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (ii) and (iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2)That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4)That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i)Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii)Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5)That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i)Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii)Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii)The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv)Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned registrant undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1)For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2)For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post- effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(e) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 305(b)2 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Francisco, State of California, on July 14, 2023.
| | | | | |
| GROVE COLLABORATIVE HOLDINGS, INC. |
| |
| By: | /s/ Stuart Landesberg |
| Name: | Stuart Landesberg |
| Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Stuart Landesberg and Sergio Cervantes his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offerings covered by the registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that all said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Signature | | Title | | Date |
| | | | |
| /s/ Stuart Landesberg | | President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer); Director | | July 14, 2023 |
Stuart Landesberg | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Sergio Cervantes | | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | | July 14, 2023 |
Sergio Cervantes | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Rayhan Arif | | Director | | July 14, 2023 |
Rayhan Arif | | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Christopher Clark | | Director | | July 14, 2023 |
Christopher Clark | | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Kevin Cleary | | Director | | July 14, 2023 |
Kevin Cleary | | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ David Glazer | | Director | | July 14, 2023 |
David Glazer | | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Kristine Miller | | Director | | July 14, 2023 |
Kristine Miller | | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ John Replogle | | Director | | July 14, 2023 |
John Reploge | | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Naytri Shroff Sramek | | Director | | July 14, 2023 |
| Naytri Shroff Sramek | | | |
