| As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
Registration No. 333- | |||||||||||||||||
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION | |||||||||||||||||
Washington, D.C. 20549 __________________ | |||||||||||||||||
FORM S-3 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 _________ | |||||||||||||||||
i3 Verticals, Inc. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) | |||||||||||||||||
Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | 82-4052852 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||||||
| 40 Burton Hills Blvd., Suite 415 Nashville, TN 37215 (615) 465-4487 | |||||||||||||||||
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices) __________________ Paul Maple General Counsel and Secretary 40 Burton Hills Blvd., Suite 415 Nashville, TN 37215 (615) 465-4487 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) | |||||||||||||||||
__________________ Copies to: Jay H. Knight Timothy J. Van Hal Bass, Berry & Sims PLC 150 3rd Avenue S., Suite 2800 Nashville, TN 37201 (615) 742-6200 __________________ | |||||||||||||||||
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. þ 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. | |||||||||||||||||
| Large accelerated filer | o | Accelerated filer | o | ||||||||||||||
| Non-accelerated filer | x | Smaller reporting company | o | ||||||||||||||
| Emerging growth company | x | ||||||||||||||||
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. ¨ __________________ | |||||||||||||||||
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE | ||||||||||||||
| Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered | Amount to be Registered | Proposed Maximum Offering Price per Share | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price | Amount of Registration Fee | ||||||||||
Primary Offering | — | |||||||||||||
Class A Common Stock | (1) | (2) | ||||||||||||
Preferred Stock | (1) | (2) | — | |||||||||||
Warrants | (1) | (2) | — | |||||||||||
Rights | (1) | (2) | ||||||||||||
Units | (1) | (2) | — | |||||||||||
| Total Primary Offering | (1) | (2) | $250,000,000 | $30,300(3) | ||||||||||
Secondary Offering | ||||||||||||||
Class A Common Stock | 13,145,534(4) | $26.59 | $349,539,749.06(5) | $42,364(5) | ||||||||||
| Total Registration Fee | $72,665 | |||||||||||||
| (1) | With respect to the primary offering, this registration statement registers such indeterminate number of shares of Class A common stock and preferred stock and such indeterminate number of warrants or rights to purchase Class A common stock or preferred stock, and such indeterminate number of units as shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $250,000,000 or the equivalent in foreign currencies. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. The securities registered also include such indeterminate number of shares of Class A common stock and preferred stock as may be issued upon conversion of or exchange for preferred stock that provide for conversion or exchange, upon exercise of warrants or rights or pursuant to the antidilution provisions of any such securities. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the shares being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of Class A common stock and preferred stock as may be issuable with respect to the securities being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. | ||||
| (2) | The proposed maximum aggregate offering price per class of security will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security pursuant to General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. | ||||
| (3) | Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) of the Securities Act, based on the Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price. | ||||
| (4) | Includes shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exchange of an equivalent number of common units (the “Common Units”) of i3 Verticals, LLC (and the cancellation of shares of Class B common stock on a one-for-one basis with the number of Common Units so exchanged). This registration statement also relates to an indeterminate number of additional shares of Class A common stock which may be issued with respect to such shares of common stock by way of stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications. | ||||
| (5) | Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee. The maximum price per security and the maximum aggregate offering price are based on the average of the $27.10 (high) and $26.08 (low) sale price of our Class A common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on August 6, 2019, which date is within five business days prior to filing this Registration Statement. | ||||
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 Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) acting pursuant to said Section 8(a) may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any state or other jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED AUGUST 8, 2019
PROSPECTUS
$250,000,000
Class A Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Rights
Units
13,145,534 Shares
of
Class A Common Stock
Offered by the Selling Securityholders
We may offer and sell up to $250,000,000 in the aggregate of the securities identified above, and the selling securityholders may offer and sell up to 13,145,534 shares in the aggregate of Class A common stock identified above, including the possible resale, from time to time, of shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exchange of an equivalent number of common units (the “Common Units”) of our subsidiary, i3 Verticals, LLC (and the cancellation of such selling securityholder’s shares of our Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class B common stock”), on a one-for-one basis with the number of Common Units so exchanged) in each case from time to time in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of our Class A common stock by the selling securityholders.
Each time we or any of the selling securityholders offer and sell securities, we or such selling securityholders will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and, if applicable, the selling securityholders, as well as the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.
We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods. In addition, the selling securityholders may offer and sell shares of our Class A common stock from time to time, together or separately. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more
information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.
Our Class A common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”), under the symbol “IIIV.” On August 6, 2019 the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $26.95 per share.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and, as such, have elected to comply with certain reduced public disclosure requirements for this prospectus and future filings.
Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 3 of this prospectus, as well as the “Risk Factors” incorporated by reference herein from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports and information that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) from time to time.
Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell securities from time to time and in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $250,000,000 and the selling securityholders to be named in a supplement to this prospectus may, from time to time, sell up to 13,145,534 shares in the aggregate of Class A common stock, including the possible resale, from time to time, of shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exchange of an equivalent number of Common Units (and the cancellation of such selling securityholder’s shares of our Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class B common stock”), on a one-for-one basis with the number of Common Units so exchanged) in each case from time to time in one or more offerings. Each time that we or the selling securityholders offer and sell securities, we or the selling securityholders will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and sold and the specific terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, you should rely on the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as applicable. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement (and any applicable free writing prospectuses), together with the additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference.”
Neither we, nor the selling securityholders, have authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We and the selling securityholders take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We and the selling securityholders will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on its respective cover, that the information appearing in any applicable free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of that free writing prospectus, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. This prospectus incorporates by reference, and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may contain and incorporate by reference, information concerning our industry, competitive position and the markets in which we operate. Unless otherwise indicated, such information is based on information from independent industry and research organizations, other third-party sources and management estimates. Management estimates are derived from publicly available information released by independent industry analysts and other third-party sources, as well as data from our internal research, and are based on assumptions we made upon reviewing such data, and our experience in, and knowledge of, such industry and markets, which we believe to be reasonable. In addition, projections, assumptions and estimates of the future performance of the industry in which we operate and our future performance are necessarily subject to uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by the independent parties and by us. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.
As used in this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” “i3 Verticals” and similar references refer to i3 Verticals, Inc., and, unless otherwise stated, all of its subsidiaries, including i3 Verticals, LLC.
TRADEMARKS
This prospectus includes, or incorporates by reference, our service marks and trade names, including i3 Verticals®, PaySchools® and Axia®, which are protected under applicable intellectual property laws and are our property. This prospectus also contains, or incorporates by reference, trademarks, trade names and service marks of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, trademarks, trade names and service marks referred to, or incorporates by reference, in this prospectus may appear without the ®, ™ or SM symbols, but those references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, our rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks, trade names and service marks. We do not intend our use or display of other parties’ trademarks, trade names or service marks to imply, and such use or display should not be construed to imply, a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other parties.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this prospectus other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our future operating results and financial position, our business strategy and plans, potential acquisitions, market growth and trends, and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “pro forma,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “potentially,” “preliminary,” “likely,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including the important factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K we file after the date of this prospectus, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Any forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date of this prospectus, and you should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, performance, or achievements reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. We undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of prospectus or to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations.
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THE COMPANY
Recognizing the convergence of software and payments, i3 Verticals was founded in 2012 with the purpose of delivering seamless integrated payment and software solutions to small- and medium-sized businesses (“SMBs”) and organizations in strategic vertical markets. Since commencing operations, we have built a broad suite of payment and software solutions that address the specific needs of SMBs and other organizations in our strategic vertical markets, and we believe our suite of solutions differentiates us from our competition. Our primary strategic vertical markets include education, public sector, non-profit, property management and healthcare. In addition to our strategic vertical markets, we also have a growing presence in the business-to-business (“B2B”) payments market. Our executive management team has a proven track record of successfully building publicly-traded payments companies, generating growth both organically and through acquisitions.
We distribute our payment technology and proprietary software solutions to our clients through our direct sales force as well as through a growing network of distribution partners, including independent software vendors (“ISVs”), value-added resellers, independent sales organizations and other referral partners, including financial institutions. Our ISV partners represent an important distribution channel and enable us to accelerate our market penetration through a cost effective one-to-many sales model that tends to result in high retention and faster growth.
Our integrated payment and software solutions feature embedded payment capabilities tailored to the specific needs of our clients in strategic vertical markets. Our configurable payment technology solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly into clients’ third-party business management systems, provide security that complies with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards and include extensive reporting tools. In addition to integrations with third-party software, we deliver our own proprietary software solutions that are intended to increase the productivity of our clients by streamlining their business processes, particularly in the education, public sector and property management markets. Through our proprietary gateway, we offer our clients a single point of access for a broad suite of payment and software solutions, enabling omni-channel point of sale, spanning brick and mortar and electronic and mobile commerce, including app-based payments.
i3 Verticals, Inc. was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on January 17, 2018, for the purpose of completing an initial public offering (“IPO”) of its Class A common stock and other related transactions in order to carry on the business of i3 Verticals, LLC and its subsidiaries. i3 Verticals, LLC (formerly known as Charge Payment, LLC) was organized as a Delaware limited liability company on September 7, 2012. Our corporate headquarters are located at 40 Burton Hills Blvd., Suite 415, Nashville, TN 37215.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement involves substantial risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference herein from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, the section titled “Risk Factors” of our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-231904) and the other information contained in this prospectus, as updated, amended or superseded by our subsequent filings filed with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the risk factors and other information contained in any accompanying prospectus supplement before acquiring any of our securities. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference.” The occurrence of any of these risks could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow and might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities. Much of the business information, as well as the financial and operational data contained in our risk factors, is updated in our periodic reports filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, which are also incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also adversely affect our business. In addition, past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods. Please also refer to the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” above.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless we specify otherwise in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the issuance or sale of our securities to provide additional funds for general corporate purposes, which may include, without limitation, the repayment of outstanding indebtedness, acquisitions, capital expenditures and working capital. Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of such offering and will be described in the accompanying prospectus supplement to this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of Class A common stock being offered by any of the selling securityholders.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following descriptions are summaries of the material terms of (i) our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and (ii) certain applicable provisions of Delaware law. Reference is made to the more detailed provisions of, and the descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to, the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, copies of which are incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
General
Our authorized capital stock consists of 150,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; 40,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
As of August 2, 2019, there were 14,421,910 shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding, 12,921,637 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.
Class A Common Stock
Voting rights. The holders of Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. The holders of our Class A common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Generally, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a majority (or, in the case of election of directors, by a plurality) of the votes entitled to be cast by all stockholders present in person or represented by proxy, voting together as a single class.
Dividend rights. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock, the holders of shares of Class A common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the board of directors (“Board of Directors”) out of funds legally available therefor. However, we do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future. Holders of shares of Class B common stock are not entitled to receive dividends in respect of such shares.
Rights upon liquidation. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, the holders of Class A common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of our debts and other liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of preferred stock, then outstanding, if any.
Other rights. The holders of our Class A common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class A common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our Class A common stock are subject to those of the holders of any shares of our preferred stock we may issue in the future.
Class B Common Stock
Shares of Class B common stock will be issued in the future only to the extent necessary to maintain a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units of i3 Verticals, LLC held by the Existing Owners (as defined in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation) and the number of shares of Class B common stock issued to the Existing Owners. Shares of Class B common stock are transferable only together with an equal number of Common Units of i3 Verticals, LLC. Only permitted transferees of Common Units held by the Existing Owners are permitted transferees of Class B common stock.
Voting rights. The holders of our Class B common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters presented to our stockholders generally. The holders of shares of our Class B common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Holders of shares of our Class B common stock vote together with holders of our Class A common stock as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval, except for certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation described below or as otherwise required by applicable law or the amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Generally, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a majority (or, in the case of election of directors, by a plurality) of the votes entitled to be cast by all stockholders present in person or represented by proxy, voting together as a single class.
Dividend rights. The holders of our Class B common stock will not participate in any dividends declared by our Board of Directors.
Other rights. The holders of shares of our Class B common stock do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class B common stock. Any amendment of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that gives holders of our Class B common stock (1) any rights to receive dividends or any other kind of distribution, (2) any right to convert into or be exchanged for Class A common stock or (3) any other economic rights must be approved by the majority of the voting power of all of our outstanding voting stock.
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Preferred Stock
Our Board of Directors has the authority to direct us to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series without stockholder approval. Our Board of Directors has the discretion to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, of each series of preferred stock.
The issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of i3 Verticals, Inc. without further action by the stockholders. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may adversely affect the holders of our Class A common stock by restricting dividends on the Class A common stock, diluting the voting power of the Class A common stock or subordinating the liquidation rights of the Class A common stock. As a result of these or other factors, the issuance of preferred stock could have an adverse impact on the market price of our Class A common stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Amended and Restated Bylaws and Certain Provisions of Delaware Law
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) contain provisions, which are summarized in the following paragraphs, that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our Board of Directors and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened acquisition of our company. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, reduce our vulnerability to a hostile change of control or other unsolicited acquisition proposal, and enhance the ability of our Board of Directors to maximize stockholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire us. However, these provisions may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a merger or acquisition of our company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or other takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including attempts that might result in a premium over the prevailing market price for the shares of Class A common stock held by stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.
Authorized but Unissued Capital Stock
Delaware law does not require stockholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares. However, the listing requirements of Nasdaq, which would apply if and so long as our Class A common stock remains listed on Nasdaq, 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 used 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 Class A common stock may be to enable our Board of Directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which issuance could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise and thereby protect the continuity of our management and possibly deprive our stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of Class A common stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.
Election of Directors and Vacancies
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our Board of Directors will consist of between three and 15 directors. The exact number of directors is fixed from time to time by our Board of Directors. Each director is elected for a one-year term. There is no limit on the number of terms a director may serve on our Board of Directors.
In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that any vacancy on the Board of Directors, including a vacancy that results from an increase in the number of directors or a vacancy that results from the removal of a director with cause, may be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office.
Business Combinations
We have opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL; however, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains similar provisions providing that we may not engage in certain “business combinations” with any “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
•prior to such time, our Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;
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•upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the votes of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding certain shares; or
•at or subsequent to that time, the business combination is approved by our Board of Directors and by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the votes of our outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.
Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with that person’s affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three years owned, 15% or more of the votes of our outstanding voting stock. For purposes of this provision, “voting stock” means any class or series of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
Under certain circumstances, this provision makes it more difficult for a person who would be an “interested stockholder” to effect various business combinations with our company for a three-year period. This provision may encourage companies interested in acquiring our company to negotiate in advance with our Board of Directors because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if our Board of Directors approves either the business combination or the transaction that results in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our Board of Directors and may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
No Cumulative Voting
Under Delaware law, the right to vote cumulatively does not exist unless the amended and restated certificate of incorporation specifically authorizes cumulative voting. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not authorize cumulative voting.
Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as the case may be, requires a greater percentage. Upon consummation of this offering, our bylaws may be amended or repealed by a majority vote of our board of directors or by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes which all our stockholders would be eligible to cast in an election of directors.
Special Stockholder Meetings
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that special meetings of our stockholders may be called at any time only by or at the direction of the chairman of our Board of Directors, our chief executive officer, or by our Board of Directors, and not by our stockholders. Our amended and restated bylaws prohibit the conduct of any business at a special meeting other than as specified in the notice for such meeting.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Director Nominations and Stockholder Proposals
Our amended and restated bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our Board of Directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting are only able to consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our Board of Directors or by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record who is entitled to vote at the meeting, or who is a stockholder that holds such stock through a nominee or “street name” holder of record and can demonstrate to us that such indirect ownership of such stock and such stockholder’s entitlement to vote such stock on such business, and who has given our secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the stockholder’s intention to bring that business before the meeting. To be timely, such notice must be delivered to our secretary:
•in the case of an annual meeting of stockholders, not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10th day following the day on which we first make a public announcement of the date of such meeting; and
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•in the case of a special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the date on which notice of the date of the special meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the special meeting was made, whichever first occurs.
Conflicts of Interest
Delaware law permits corporations to adopt provisions renouncing any interest or expectancy in certain opportunities that are presented to the corporation or its officers, directors or stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time by Delaware law, renounces any interest, expectancy that we have in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, specified business opportunities that are from time to time presented to certain of our officers, directors or stockholders or their respective affiliates, other than those officers, directors, stockholders or affiliates who are our, or our subsidiaries’, employees. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any director or stockholder who is not employed by us (including any non-employee director who serves as one of our officers in both his director and officer capacities) or his or her affiliates do not have any duty to refrain from (1) engaging in a corporate opportunity in the same or similar lines of business in which we or our affiliates now engage or propose to engage or (2) otherwise competing with us or our affiliates. In addition, to the fullest extent permitted by law, if any director or stockholder, other than a director or stockholder who is not employed by us or our affiliates acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for itself or himself or its or his affiliates or for us or our affiliates, such person has no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or business opportunity to us or any of our affiliates and they may take any such opportunity for themselves or offer it to another person or entity, unless such opportunity was expressly offered to them solely in their capacity as a director, executive officer or employee of us or our affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, no potential transaction or business opportunity may be deemed to be a corporate opportunity of the corporation or its subsidiaries unless (1) we or our subsidiaries would be permitted to undertake such transaction or opportunity in accordance with the amended and restated certificate of incorporation, (2) we or our subsidiaries at such time have sufficient financial resources to undertake such transaction or opportunity, (3) we have an interest or expectancy in such transaction or opportunity and (4) such transaction or opportunity would be in the same or similar line of our or our subsidiaries’ business in which we or our subsidiaries are engaged or a line of business that is reasonably related to, or a reasonable extension of, such line of business. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not renounce our interest in any business opportunity that is expressly offered to an employee director or employee in his or her capacity as a director or employee of i3 Verticals, Inc. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no business opportunity will be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for us unless we would be permitted to undertake the opportunity under our amended and restated certificate, we have sufficient financial resources to undertake the opportunity and the opportunity would be in line with our business.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
The DGCL authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties, subject to certain exceptions. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of these provisions is to eliminate the rights of us and our stockholders, through stockholders’ derivative suits on our behalf, to recover monetary damages from a director for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, including breaches resulting from grossly negligent behavior. However, exculpation does not apply to any director if the director has acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized illegal dividends or redemptions or derived an improper benefit from his or her actions as a director.
Our amended and restated bylaws provide that we must indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. We carry directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing indemnification for our directors, officers and certain employees for some liabilities. We believe that these indemnification and advancement provisions and insurance will be useful to attract and retain qualified directors and officers.
The limitation of liability, indemnification and advancement provisions included in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breaches of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. These agreements require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL against expenses, losses and liabilities that may arise
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in connection with actual or threatened proceedings in which they are involved 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.
There is currently no pending material litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees for which indemnification is sought.
Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal and Payment
Under the DGCL, with certain exceptions, our stockholders have appraisal rights in connection with a merger or consolidation of us. Pursuant to the DGCL, stockholders who properly request and perfect appraisal rights in connection with such merger or consolidation have the right to receive payment of the fair value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Stockholders’ Derivative Actions
Under the DGCL, any of our stockholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the stockholder bringing the action is a holder of our shares at the time of the transaction to which the action relates or such stockholder’s stock thereafter devolved by operation of law.
Trading Symbol and Market
Our Class A common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “IIIV.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for the Class A common stock is ComputerShare Trust Company, N.A. Its address is 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021, and its telephone number is (781) 575-3951.
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
The following is a general description of the terms of the warrants we may issue from time to time. Particular terms of any warrants we offer will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such warrants, as well as any warrant agreement that contains the terms of the warrants. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the warrants that we may sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete warrant agreements that will contain the terms of any warrants.
We may issue warrants to purchase shares of our Class A common stock or preferred stock. Such warrants may be issued in one or more series, independently or together with shares of Class A common stock or preferred stock or other equity or debt securities and may be attached or separate from such securities. The terms of any warrants offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. We may issue warrants directly or under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. We will name any warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of a particular series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants.
The applicable prospectus supplement and the applicable warrant agreement will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants we may issue, including the following:
•the title of such warrants;
•the aggregate number of such warrants;
•the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;
•if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;
•the number of shares of Class A common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;
•the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right will expire;
•whether such warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form;
•if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time;
•if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;
•information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
•the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;
•the anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;
•any redemption or call provisions;
•if applicable, a discussion of certain federal United States income tax considerations; and
•any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants.
We and the warrant agent may amend or supplement the warrant agreement for a series of warrants without the consent of the holders of the warrants issued thereunder to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.
Prior to exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive distributions or dividends, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise any voting rights.
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
The following is a general description of the terms of the units we may offer from time to time. Particular terms of the units will be described in the applicable unit agreements and the applicable prospectus supplement for the units. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the units that we may sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete unit agreements that will contain the terms of any units.
We may issue units comprised of Class A common stock, preferred stock, warrants or any combination thereof. Units may be issued in one or more series, independently or together with Class A common stock, preferred stock or warrants, and the units may be attached to or separate from such securities. We may issue units directly or under a unit agreement to be entered into between us and a unit agent. We will name any unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any unit agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the units of a particular series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of units.
Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time, or at any time before a specified date. We may issue units in such amounts and in such numerous distinct series as we determine.
If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable:
•the title of the series of units;
•identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units;
•the price or prices at which the units will be issued;
•the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable;
•a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and
•any other terms of the units and their constituent securities.
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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS
The following is a general description of the rights we may offer from time to time. We may issue rights to our stockholders to purchase shares of our Class A common stock and/or any of the other securities offered hereby. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent. When we issue rights, we will provide the specific terms of the rights and the applicable rights agreement in a prospectus supplement. Because the terms of any rights we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below, you should rely solely on information in the applicable prospectus supplement if that summary is different from the summary in this prospectus. We will incorporate by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the form of rights agreement that describes the terms of the series of rights we are offering before the issuance of the related series of rights.
The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any rights will describe the terms of the offered rights, including, where applicable, the following:
•the date for determining the persons entitled to participate in the rights distribution;
•the exercise price for the rights;
•the aggregate number or amount of underlying securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights;
•the number of rights issued to each stockholder and the number of rights outstanding, if any;
•the extent to which the rights are transferable;
•the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the right will expire;
•the extent to which the rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities;
•anti-dilution provisions of the rights, if any; and
•any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange and exercise of the rights.
Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We or the selling securityholders may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods or through underwriters or dealers, through agents and/or directly to one or more purchasers. The securities may be distributed from time to time in one or more transactions
•at fixed prices which may be changed;
•at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale;
•at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or
•at negotiated prices.
Each time that we or any of the selling securityholders sell securities covered by this prospectus, we or the selling securityholders will provide a prospectus supplement or supplements that will describe the method of distribution and set forth the terms and conditions of the offering of such securities, including the offering price of the securities and the proceeds to us or the selling securityholders, if applicable. As used in this prospectus, “selling securityholders” includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest selling securities received after the date of this prospectus from a selling securityholder as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other non-sale related transfer.
Offers to purchase the securities being offered by this prospectus may be solicited directly. Agents may also be designated to solicit offers to purchase the securities from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of our securities will be identified in a prospectus supplement.
If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, the securities will be sold to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.
If an underwriter is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter at the time of sale and the name of any underwriter will be provided in the prospectus supplement that the underwriter will use to make resales of the securities to the public. In connection with the sale of the securities, we, or the selling securityholders, or the purchasers of securities for whom the underwriter may act as agent, may compensate the underwriter in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions. The underwriter may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for which they may act as agent. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, an agent will be acting on a best efforts basis and a dealer will purchase securities as a principal, and may then resell the securities at varying prices to be determined by the dealer.
Any compensation paid to underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers will be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. We may enter into agreements to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make in respect thereof and to reimburse those persons for certain expenses.
Any Class A common stock will be listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, but any other securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.
If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, underwriters or other persons acting as agents may be authorized to solicit offers by institutions or other suitable purchasers to purchase the securities at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement, pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in the prospectus supplement. These purchasers may include, among others, commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions. Delayed delivery contracts will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the securities covered by the delayed delivery contracts will not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which the purchaser is subject. The underwriters and agents will not have any responsibility with respect to the validity or performance of these contracts.
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We may engage in at the market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.
The specific terms of any lock-up provisions in respect of any given offering will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business for which they receive compensation.
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
This prospectus relates to the possible resale by certain of our existing securityholders, including certain of our executive officers and directors, of up to 13,145,534 shares of our Class A common stock, subject to adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications, that (i) were issued and outstanding prior to the original date of filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or (ii) are issuable upon exchange of an equivalent number of Common Units of i3 Verticals, LLC (together with an equivalent number of our shares of Class B common stock). In connection with our IPO and certain reorganization transactions, we issued to holders of Common Units one share of our Class B common stock for each Common Unit held. Each holder of Common Units has the right to exchange their Common Units for an equivalent number of shares of our Class A common stock, (and the cancellation of such selling securityholder's shares of our Class B common stock on a one-for-one basis with the number of Common Units so exchanged). In addition, at our election, we may effect a direct exchange of such shares of Class A common stock or cash for such Common Unit.
Information about the selling securityholders, where applicable, including their identities and the number of shares of Class A common stock to be registered on their behalf, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment or in documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus that we file with the SEC. The selling securityholders shall not sell any shares of our Class A common stock pursuant to this prospectus until we have identified such selling securityholders and the shares being offered for resale by such selling securityholders in a subsequent prospectus supplement or in a post-effective amendment. However, the selling securityholders may sell or transfer all or a portion of their shares of our Class A common stock pursuant to any available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
LEGAL MATTERS
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC will pass upon certain legal matters relating to the issuance and sale of the securities offered hereby on behalf of i3 Verticals, Inc. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us, the selling securityholders or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
The (1) financial statements of i3 Verticals, Inc. as of September 30, 2018 and 2017 and for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2018, and (2) financial statements of Fairway Payments, Inc. for the seven months ended July 31, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016, all incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The financial statements of Pace Payment Systems, Inc. as of and for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 incorporated in this prospectus by reference have been so included in reliance on the report of LBMC, PC, independent certified public accounts, which is incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov. Our web site address is www.i3verticals.com. The information on our web site, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. Forms of the documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement or documents incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may access a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website as provided above.
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. The SEC rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to comprise a part of this prospectus from the date we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after this prospectus is filed and before the date that the offering of the securities by means of this prospectus is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below, except for information “furnished” under Items 2.02, 7.01 or 9.01 on Form 8-K or other information “furnished” to the SEC which is not deemed filed and not incorporated in this prospectus, unless expressly stated otherwise as set forth below:
•our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2018 (including information specifically incorporated by reference from i3 Verticals, Inc.’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on January 25, 2019, as supplemented by i3 Verticals, Inc.’s Definitive Additional Materials on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on February 22, 2019) (SEC File No. 001-38532) filed with the SEC on December 7, 2018;
•our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2018 (SEC File No. 001-38532) filed with the SEC on February 14, 2019;
•our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2019 (SEC File No. 001-38532) filed with the SEC on May 14, 2019;
•our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed on March 1, 2019, April 8, 2019 (as amended on May 13, 2019), May 13, 2019 (other than information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02, Item 7.01 or Item 9.01), June 3, 2019 (other than information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01) and June 10, 2019;
•the financial statements of Fairway Payments, Inc. for the seven months ended July 31, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016, filed as part of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333–225214) filed with the SEC on June 14, 2018;
•the information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” on pages 22 to 47 of our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-231904) filed with the SEC on June 3, 2019; and
•the description of our Class A common stock as set forth in our registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-38532), filed with the SEC on June 15, 2018, pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any subsequent amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.
All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) on or after the date of this prospectus, prior to the termination of this offering, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.
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You may request a copy of these filings (other than exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement) at no cost by writing or calling Investor Relations at the following address and telephone number:
i3 Verticals, Inc.
40 Burton Hills Blvd, Ste. 415
Nashville, Tennessee 37215
Attn: General Counsel & Secretary
(615) 465-4487
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following is an estimate of the expenses (all of which are to be paid by the registrant) that we may incur in connection with the securities being registered hereby:
| SEC registration fee | $ | 72,665 | ||||||
| FINRA filing fee | * | |||||||
| Printing and engraving expenses | * | |||||||
| Legal fees and expenses | * | |||||||
| Accounting fees and expenses | * | |||||||
| Blue Sky, qualification fees and expenses | * | |||||||
| Transfer agent and registrar fees and expense | * | |||||||
| Miscellaneous fees and expenses | * | |||||||
| Total | $ | * | ||||||
| * | These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. | ||||
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that none of our directors shall be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability, except to the extent that the DGCL prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty.
Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or a person serving at the request of the corporation for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise in related capacities against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding to which he was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, ending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines 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 the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide indemnification for our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. We indemnify each person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of us) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (all such persons being referred to as an “Indemnitee”), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Our
amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that we will indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to an action or suit by or in the right of us to procure a judgment in our favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therefrom, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to us, unless a court determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he or she is entitled to indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, he or she will be indemnified by us against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our current directors and officers. These agreements require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted by law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws against any and all expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement of any claim. The indemnification agreements provide for the advancement or payment of all expenses to the indemnitee and for the reimbursement to us if it is found that such indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification under applicable law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws.
We believe that the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaw provisions and indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. At present, there is no litigation or proceeding involving one of our directors or officers as to which indemnification is being sought, nor are we aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification by any officer or director.
We expect to maintain standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (i) to our directors and officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (ii) with respect to indemnification payments that we may make to such directors and officers.
In any underwriting agreement we enter into in connection with the sale of Class A common stock being registered hereby, the underwriters will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, us, our directors, our officers and persons who control us within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) against certain liabilities.
Item 16. Exhibits
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| 1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement. | |||||||
| 3.1 | ||||||||
| 3.2 | ||||||||
| 4.1 | ||||||||
| 4.2 | ||||||||
| 4.3* | Form of Specimen Certificate Representing Preferred Stock. | |||||||
| 4.4* | Form of Warrant Agreement. | |||||||
| 4.5* | Form of Warrant Certificate. | |||||||
| 4.6* | Form of Unit Agreement and Unit Certificate. | |||||||
| 4.7* | Form of Rights Agreement. | |||||||
| 5.1 | ||||||||
| 23.1 | ||||||||
| 23.2 | ||||||||
| 23.3 | ||||||||
| 23.4 | ||||||||
| 24.1 | ||||||||
| * | To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of the securities. | ||||
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;
(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 the 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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent 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), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act 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, 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 to any purchaser:
a.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
b.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 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 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)That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.
(d)Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act 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 SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Exchange Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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 Nashville, State of Tennessee, on August 8, 2019.
| i3 VERTICALS, INC. | ||||||||
| By: | /s/ Gregory Daily | |||||||
| Gregory Daily | ||||||||
| Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Gregory Daily and Clay Whitson and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to file and sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file and sign any registration statement for the same offering 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, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, 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 or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, his, hers or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done or by virtue hereof. This power of attorney shall be governed by and construed with the laws of the State of Delaware and applicable federal securities laws.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE | ||||||||||||
| /s/ Gregory Daily | Chief Executive Officer and Director (principal executive officer) | August 8, 2019 | ||||||||||||
| Gregory Daily | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Clay Whitson | Chief Financial Officer and Director (principal financial officer) | August 8, 2019 | ||||||||||||
| Clay Whitson | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Scott Meriwether | Senior Vice President — Finance (principal accounting officer) | August 8, 2019 | ||||||||||||
| Scott Meriwether | ||||||||||||||
/s/ Elizabeth Seigenthaler Courtney | Director | August 8, 2019 | ||||||||||||
| Elizabeth Seigenthaler Courtney | ||||||||||||||
/s/ John Harrison | Director | August 8, 2019 | ||||||||||||
| John Harrison | ||||||||||||||
/s/ Burton Harvey | Director | August 8, 2019 | ||||||||||||
| Burton Harvey | ||||||||||||||
/s/ Timothy McKenna | Director | August 6, 2019 | ||||||||||||
| Timothy McKenna | ||||||||||||||
/s/ David Morgan | Director | August 8, 2019 | ||||||||||||
| David Morgan | ||||||||||||||
/s/ David Wilds | Director | August 8, 2019 | ||||||||||||
| David Wilds | ||||||||||||||
Exhibit 5.1
 | ||
150 Third Avenue South, Suite 2800 Nashville, TN 37201 (615) 742-6200 | ||
August 8, 2019
i3 Verticals, Inc.
40 Burton Hills Blvd, Suite 415
Nashville, Tennessee 37215
Re: Shelf Registration Statement of i3 Verticals, Inc. on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to i3 Verticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), including the prospectus constituting a part thereof (the “Prospectus”), to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on the date hereof pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
The Prospectus provides that it will be supplemented in the future by one or more supplements to the Prospectus (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”). The Prospectus, as supplemented by various Prospectus Supplements, will provide for the registration (a) for issue and sale by the Company of up to $250,000,000 offering price of (i) shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Class A Common Stock”), (ii) shares of one or more series of the Company’s preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”), (iii) warrants to purchase Class A Common Stock or Preferred Stock (the “Warrants”), (v) rights to purchase Class A Common Stock or Preferred Stock (the “Rights”), and (vi) units composed of any of the foregoing (the “Units”), and (b) for resale by certain selling securityholders (the “Selling Securityholders”) of up to 13,145,534 shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Selling Securityholder Shares”), including (i) shares of Class A Common Stock that are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof (the “Selling Securityholder Existing Shares”), and (ii) shares of Class A Common Stock issuable to certain Selling Securityholders upon the exchange by such Selling Securityholders of an equivalent number of common units of i3 Verticals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, together with a corresponding number of shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Selling Securityholder Exchanged Shares”). The shares of Class A Common Stock that are being registered for issue and sale by the Company are referred to herein as the “Company Shares” and, together with the Selling Securityholder Shares, collectively, the “Common Stock.” The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Rights and Units, plus any additional Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Rights and Units that may be registered pursuant to any subsequent registration statement that the Company may hereafter file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act in connection with the offering by the Company contemplated by the Registration Statement, are referred to herein collectively as the “Securities.”
In rendering our opinion, we have reviewed the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto. We have also reviewed such corporate documents and records of the Company, such certificates of public officials and such other matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion. We also have been furnished with, and have relied upon, certificates of officers of the Company with respect to certain factual matters.
i3 Verticals, Inc.
August 8, 2019
Page 2
Except to the extent we opine as to the binding effect and/or enforceability of certain documents as set forth in paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 below, we have assumed that all documents referenced below are the valid and binding obligations of and enforceable against the parties thereto. We have also assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies and the legal capacity of all natural persons.
The opinions expressed below are also based on the assumption that the Registration Statement has been filed by the Company with the Commission and will be effective at the time that any of the Securities are issued, and that persons acquiring the Securities will receive a prospectus containing all of the information required by Part I of the Registration Statement before acquiring such Securities.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. When an issuance of Company Shares has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, upon issuance, delivery and payment therefor in an amount not less than the par value thereof in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s) and by such corporate action, and in total amounts and numbers of shares that do not exceed the respective total amounts and numbers of shares (a) available under the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (“Certificate of Incorporation”), and (b) authorized by the Board of Directors in connection with the offering contemplated by the applicable Prospectus, such Company Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
2. The Selling Securityholder Existing Shares have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
3. When (a) an issuance of Selling Securityholder Exchanged Shares has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, (b) such Selling Securityholder Exchanged Shares have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the applicable Selling Securityholder, and (c) such Exchanged Shares have been issued by the Company against payment therefor in an amount not less than the par value thereof in the manner contemplated by the i3 Verticals, LLC Limited Liability Company Agreement (as the same may be amended from time to time), and by such corporate action, such Selling Securityholder Exchanged Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
4. (a) When a new class or series of Preferred Stock has been duly established in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (“Bylaws”), and applicable law, and duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and (b) assuming that either an appropriate certificate of amendment of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or a certificate of designation, in either case, fixing and determining the terms of such class or series of Preferred Stock has been duly approved by the Company’s Board of Directors and been filed with and accepted for record by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and (c) assuming that upon the issuance of such Preferred Stock, the total number of issued and outstanding shares of the applicable class or series of Preferred Stock will not exceed the total number of shares of Preferred Stock or the number of shares of such class or series of Preferred Stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under its Certificate of Incorporation, then upon issuance and delivery of and payment for such
i3 Verticals, Inc.
August 8, 2019
Page 3
shares in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s) and by such corporate action, such shares of such class or series of Preferred Stock (including any Preferred Stock duly issued upon (i) the exchange or conversion of any shares of Preferred Stock that are exchangeable or convertible into another class or series of Preferred Stock, (ii) the exercise of any duly issued Warrants exercisable for Preferred Stock, (iii) the exercise of any duly issued Rights exercisable for Preferred Stock or (iv) the exchange or settlement of Units that are exchangeable or able to be settled for Preferred Stock), will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
5. (a) When a warrant agreement relating to the Warrants (the “Warrant Agreement”) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered and the Warrants and the other Securities for which the Warrants will be exercisable have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and (b) assuming that the terms of the Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and the Warrant Agreement, and (c) assuming that the terms of the Warrants as executed and delivered are as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s), and (d) assuming that the Warrants, as executed and delivered, do not violate any law applicable to the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and (e) assuming that the Warrants as executed and delivered comply with all requirements and restrictions, if any, applicable to the Company, whether imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company, and (f) assuming that the Warrants are then issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement(s), then upon issuance of and delivery of and payment for such Warrants in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement and the Warrant Agreement and by such corporate action, the Warrants (including any Warrants issued upon the exchange or settlement of Units that are exchangeable or able to be settled for Warrants) will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, and the Warrants will be validly issued.
6. (a) When a rights agreement relating to the Rights (the “Rights Agreement”) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered and the Rights and the other Securities for which the Rights will be exercisable have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and (b) assuming that the terms of the Rights and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and the Rights Agreement, and (c) assuming that the terms of the Rights as executed and delivered are as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s), and (d) assuming that the Rights, as executed and delivered, do not violate any law applicable to the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and (e) assuming that the Rights as executed and delivered comply with all requirements and restrictions, if any, applicable to the Company, whether imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company, and (f) assuming that the Rights are then issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement(s), then upon issuance of and delivery of and payment for such Rights in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement and the Rights Agreement and by such corporate action, the Rights (including any Rights issued upon the exchange or settlement of Units that are exchangeable or able to be settled for Rights) will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, and the Rights will be validly issued.
i3 Verticals, Inc.
August 8, 2019
Page 4
7. (a) When a unit agreement relating to the Units (the “Unit Agreement”) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered and the Units have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and (b) assuming that the terms of the Units and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Unit Agreement, and (c) assuming that the terms of the Units as executed and delivered are as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s), and (d) assuming that the Units, as executed and delivered, do not violate any law applicable to the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and (e) assuming that the Units as executed and delivered comply with all requirements and restrictions, if any, applicable to the Company, whether imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company, and (f) assuming that the Units are then issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement(s), then upon issuance of and delivery of and payment for such Units in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement and the Unit Agreement and by such corporate action, the Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
Our opinions set forth in the paragraphs above are subject to the following exceptions, limitations and qualifications: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer and other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors; (ii) the effect of general principles of equity (including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity, (iii) the effect of public policy considerations that may limit the rights of the parties to obtain further remedies, (iv) we express no opinion with respect to the enforceability of provisions relating to choice of law, choice of venue, jurisdiction or waivers of jury trial, and (v) we express no opinion with respect to the enforceability of any waiver of any usury defense.
To the extent that the obligations of the Company with respect to the Securities may be dependent on such matters, we assume for purposes of this opinion that the other party under the Warrant Agreement for any Warrants, under the Rights Agreement for any Rights and under the Unit Agreement for any Units, namely, the warrant agent, the rights agent or the unit agent, respectively, is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; that such other party is duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated by such Warrant Agreement, Right Agreement or Unit Agreement, as applicable; that such Warrant Agreement, Right Agreement or Unit Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such other party and constitutes the legally valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such other party, enforceable against such other party in accordance with its terms; that such other party is in compliance with respect to performance of its obligations under such Warrant Agreement, Rights Agreement or Unit Agreement, as applicable, with all applicable laws and regulations; and that such other party has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under such Warrant Agreement, Rights Agreement or Unit Agreement, as applicable.
Our opinions expressed herein are limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law. We do not express any opinion with respect to the law of any other jurisdiction or to the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction or to state or federal antitrust laws. The opinions expressed in this opinion letter are strictly limited to the matters stated in this opinion letter and no other opinions are to be implied.
i3 Verticals, Inc.
August 8, 2019
Page 5
Our opinion is rendered as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you of changes in law or fact (or the effect thereof on the opinions expressed herein) that hereafter may come to our attention. This opinion is being rendered for the benefit of the Company in connection with the matters addressed herein.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act and to the use of our name therein and in the related Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Legal Matters.” We further consent to the incorporation by reference of this letter and consent into any registration statement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act with respect to the Securities. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Securities Act.
Very truly yours, | ||
/s/ Bass, Berry & Sims PLC | ||
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
i3 Verticals, Inc.
Nashville, Tennessee
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our report dated December 7, 2018, relating to the consolidated financial statements of i3 Verticals, Inc. appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2018.
We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
Nashville, Tennessee
August 8, 2019
Exhibit 23.2
Consent of Independent Auditor
i3 Verticals, Inc.
Nashville, Tennessee
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our report dated February 6, 2018, relating to the financial statements of Fairway Payments, Inc. which is incorporated by reference in that Prospectus.
We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
McLean, Virginia
August 8, 2019
Exhibit 23.3
Consent of Independent Auditor
i3 Verticals, Inc.
Nashville, Tennessee
We have issued our report dated April 22, 2019 with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Pace Payment Systems, Inc. and Subsidiary as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, included in the Current Report on Form 8-K of i3 Verticals, Inc. filed on June 3, 2019, which is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement. We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement and Prospectus on Form S-3 of i3 Verticals, Inc. of the aforementioned report, and to the use of our name as it appears under the caption “Experts.”
/s/ LBMC, PC
Brentwood, Tennessee
August 8, 2019