S-3
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 16, 2014

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

DIGIMARC CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Oregon   26-2828185

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

Digimarc Corporation

9405 SW Gemini Drive

Beaverton, Oregon 97008

(503) 469-4800

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Charles Beck

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Digimarc Corporation

9405 SW Gemini Drive

Beaverton, Oregon 97008

(503) 469-4800

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

With a copy to:

Roy W. Tucker

John R. Thomas

Perkins Coie LLP

1120 NW Couch Street, Tenth Floor

Portland, Oregon 97209-4128

(503) 727-2000

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

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.  x

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, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large Accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   x
Non-accelerated filer   ¨   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to Be Registered

 

Amount

to be
Registered(1)(2)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering Price

per Share

or Unit(1)(3)

 

Proposed

Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price(1)(3)

  Amount of
Registration Fee(4)

Common Stock (par value $0.001 per share)(5)

               

Preferred Stock (par value $0.001 per share)(5)

               

Warrants

               

Debt Securities

               

Total

  $100,000,000   —     $100,000,000   $12,880.00

 

 

(1) Pursuant to Rule 457(i) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the securities registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock, preferred stock, number of warrants and principal amount of debt securities as may be issued upon conversion or exchange of any preferred stock, warrants or debt securities registered hereunder that provide for conversion or exchange, upon exercise of warrants or pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of any such securities.
(2) If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, such greater principal amount at maturity as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price equal to the amount to be registered or if any securities are issued in an amount denominated in a foreign currency or composite currency, such amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price equivalent thereto in United States dollars at the time of initial offering.
(3) The proposed maximum per unit and aggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered under this registration statement and is not specified as to each class of security pursuant to General Instruction II.D of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.
(4) Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o).
(5) Includes an indeterminate number of shares of common stock or preferred stock as may be sold from time to time at indeterminate prices. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, the shares being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock as may be issuable with respect to the shares being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. Also, associated with the common stock are rights to purchase shares of Series R Preferred Stock pursuant to a rights plan that will not be exercisable or evidenced separately from the common stock prior to the occurrence of certain events. The registrant will not receive separate consideration for the initial issuance of the rights to purchase its preferred stock under the rights plan.

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, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell the securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED May 16, 2014

PROSPECTUS

DIGIMARC CORPORATION

$100,000,000

Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Debt Securities

 

 

This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer from time to time and the general manner in which they may be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and any other information relating to a specific offering including the specific manner in which the securities may be offered, will be set forth in one or more supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our securities. No person may use this prospectus to offer and sell our securities unless a prospectus supplement accompanies this prospectus.

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “DMRC.” The last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on May 15, 2014 was $33.81 per share. We will provide information in any applicable prospectus supplement regarding any listing of securities other than shares of our common stock on any securities exchange.

We may offer and sell securities directly to investors, through agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. If any underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of the underwriters and any applicable commissions or discounts will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of the securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from the sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks.

See “Risk Factors” on page 3.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities, or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is             , 2014.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

  

THE COMPANY

     1   

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     3   

RISK FACTORS

     3   

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     4   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     5   

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     5   

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     7   

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     8   

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     11   

LEGAL MATTERS

     12   

EXPERTS

     12   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     12   

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

     13   

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Using this process, we may from time to time offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we use this prospectus to offer securities, we will file a supplement to this prospectus with the SEC that will describe the specific terms of the offering and the manner in which the securities will be offered, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change the information contained in this prospectus and, accordingly, to the extent inconsistent, information in this prospectus will be superseded by the information in the prospectus supplement. Before you invest, you should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and the information contained in the documents we refer to under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. The prospectus may be used only for the purposes for which it has been published. If you receive any other information, you should not rely on it. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of the applicable document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects may have changed since that date. You should not rely on or assume the accuracy of any representation or warranty in any agreement that we have filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or that we may otherwise publicly file in the future because any such representation or warranty may be subject to exceptions and qualifications contained in separate disclosure schedules, may represent the parties’ risk allocation in the particular transaction, may be qualified by materiality standards that differ from what may be viewed as material for securities law purposes or may no longer continue to be true as of any given date. No offer of these securities is being made in any jurisdiction where such offer or sale is prohibited.


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THE COMPANY

Digimarc Corporation (“Digimarc,” “we”, “our,” and “us”) enables governments and enterprises around the world to give digital identities to media and objects that computers can sense and recognize and to which they can react. Our technology provides the means to infuse persistent digital information, “Digimarc IDs,” perceptible only to computers and digital devices, into all forms of media content. The unique digital identifier placed in media generally persists with it regardless of the distribution path and whether it is copied, manipulated or converted to a different format, and does not affect the quality of the content or the enjoyment or other traditional uses of it. Our technology permits computers and digital devices to quickly identify relevant data from vast amounts of media content.

Our technologies, and those of our licensees, span numerous applications across a wide range of media content, enabling our customers and those of our partners to:

 

    improve the speed of retail checkout;

 

    provide simple and intuitive customer engagement experiences at home, in stores and on-the-go;

 

    apply geo-location technology to push relevant information to customers based on their respective locations;

 

    quickly and reliably identify and effectively manage music, movies, television programming, digital images, e-books, documents and other printed materials, especially in light of non-linear distribution over the internet;

 

    deter counterfeiting of money, media and goods, and piracy of e-books, movies and music;

 

    support new digital media distribution models and methods to monetize media content;

 

    leverage the power of ubiquitous computing to instantly link consumers to a wealth of information and/or interactive experiences related to the media and objects they encounter each day;

 

    provide consumers with more choice and access to media content when, where and how they want it;

 

    enhance imagery and video by associating metadata or authenticating media content for government and commercial uses; and

 

    better secure identity documents to enhance national security and combat identity theft and fraud.

At the core of our intellectual property is a signal processing innovation known as “digital watermarking,” which allows imperceptible digital information to be embedded in all forms of digitally designed, produced or distributed media content and some physical objects, including photographs, movies, music, television, personal identification documents, financial instruments, industrial parts and product packages. The digital information can be detected and read by a wide range of computers, mobile phones and other digital devices.

Our technology allows our customers to provide persistent digital identities for any media content that is digitally processed at some point during its lifecycle. The technology can be applied to printed materials, video, audio and images. The inclusion of these digital signals enables a wide range of improvements in security and media management, and new business models for distribution and consumption of media content. Over the years our technology and intellectual property portfolios have grown to encompass many related technologies.

We provide solutions directly and through our licensees. Our proprietary technology has proven to be a powerful element of document security, giving rise to our long-term relationship with a consortium of central banks, which we refer to as the Central Banks, and many leading companies in the information technology industry. We and our licensees have successfully propagated digital watermarking in music, movies, television broadcasts, images and printed materials. Digimarc IDs have been used in these applications to improve media rights and asset management, reduce piracy and counterfeiting losses, improve marketing programs, permit more efficient and effective distribution of valuable media content and enhance consumer entertainment and commercial experiences.

Digimarc IDs are easily embedded into all forms of media and are imperceptible to human senses, but quickly detected by computers, networks or other digital devices like smartphones. Unlike traditional barcodes and tags, our solution does not require

 

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publishers to give up valuable space in magazines and newspapers; nor does it impact the overall layout or aesthetics of the publication. Our Digimarc Discover™ platform delivers a range of rich media experiences to its readers on their smartphones across multiple media including print, audio, video and packaging. Unique to the Digimarc Discover platform is its ability to use various content identification technologies as needed, including our patented technology.

As part of the Digimarc Discover platform, we recently introduced Digimarc Barcodes, which contain the same type of information found in traditional product UPC codes, but are invisibly repeated multiple times over the entire packaging. We have partnered with Datalogic, a global leader in Automatic Data Capture and Industrial Automation markets and producer of barcode readers, who has enabled its new MagellanTM 9800i multi-plane imaging scanner to detect and process Digimarc Barcodes. Digimarc Barcodes can also connect mobile-enabled consumers directly from packaging to engaging mobile experiences such as additional product information, special offers, recommendations, reviews, social networks and more.

Our patent portfolio contains a number of innovations in digital watermarking, pattern recognition (sometimes referred to as “fingerprinting”), digital rights management and related fields. To protect our significant efforts in creating our technology, we have implemented an extensive intellectual property protection program that relies on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, and nondisclosure agreements and other contracts. As a result, we believe we have one of the world’s most extensive patent portfolios in digital watermarking and related fields, with more than 1,250 U.S. and foreign patents and pending patent applications as of March 31, 2014. We continue to develop and broaden our portfolio of patented technology in the fields of media identification and management technology and related applications and systems. We devote significant resources to developing and protecting our inventions and continuously seek to identify and evaluate potential licensees for our patents. The patents in our portfolio have a life of approximately 20 years from invention date, and up to 17 years after the patent has been granted.

As part of our intellectual property marketing and patent monetization efforts, our key objectives in building relationships with potential customers and partners are to:

 

    make progress toward the realization of our vision to enrich everyday living via pervasive, intuitive computing;

 

    expand the scope of our license program;

 

    more effectively monetize our patent assets;

 

    encourage large scale adoption of our technologies by industry leaders;

 

    improve our financial performance;

 

    increase the scale and rate of growth of our products and services business; and

 

    lay a foundation for continuing innovation.

Digimarc Corporation was incorporated in Delaware in 2008 and became an Oregon corporation in 2010. Our principal offices are located at 9405 SW Gemini Drive, Beaverton, Oregon 97008; our telephone number is (503) 469-4800. Our website address is www.digimarc.com. Information on our website or available by hyperlink from our website does not constitute part of this prospectus.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges on a historical basis for each of the periods indicated. You should read these ratios in connection with our consolidated financial statements, including the notes to those statements, incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges on a historical basis for each of the periods indicated. You should read these ratios in connection with our consolidated financial statements, including the notes to those statements, incorporated by reference in this prospectus (dollars in thousands).

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
     Years Ended
December 31,
 
     2014      2013      2013      2012      2011      2010      2009  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1)

     —           140         —           380         154         153         —     

Deficit in earnings to cover fixed charges (2)

   $ 3,282         —         $ 2,257         —           —           —         $ 2,005   

 

(1) Ratio of earnings to fixed charges is calculated by dividing earnings, as defined, by fixed charges, as defined. For purposes of this calculation, the term “fixed charges” means the sum of the following: (a) interest expense and interest capitalized, (b) amortized premiums, discounts and capitalized expenses related to indebtedness, (c) an estimate of the interest within rental expense, and (d) preference security dividend requirements of consolidated subsidiaries. The term “earnings” is the amount resulting from adding (a) pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations; (b) fixed charges; and (c) amortization of capitalized interest; and then subtracting the following from that total: (x) interest capitalized; (y) preference security dividend requirements of consolidated subsidiaries; and (z) the noncontrolling interest in pre-tax income of subsidiaries that have not incurred fixed charges.
(2) Our earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2009.

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. The prospectus supplement applicable to each offering of our securities will contain a discussion of the risks applicable to an investment in our securities. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the specific factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information contained or incorporated by reference in the prospectus supplement or appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, as updated by our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, all of which are incorporated herein by reference, and may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future and any prospectus supplement related to a particular offering. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and documents incorporated herein by reference include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”). Words such as “may,” “plan,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “continue,” variations of such terms or similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, or other statements made by us, are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting us, and are subject to uncertainties and factors (including those specified below) that are difficult to predict and, in many instances, are beyond our control. As a result, our actual results could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any forward-looking statements, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to:

 

    concentration of revenue with few customers comprising a large majority of the revenue;

 

    revenue trends and expectations;

 

    our future level of investment in our business, including investment in research, development and engineering of products and technology, development of our intellectual property, sales growth initiatives and development of new market opportunities;

 

    our ability to improve margins;

 

    anticipated expenses, costs, margins, provision for income taxes and investment activities in the foreseeable future;

 

    anticipated revenue to be generated from current contracts and as a result of new programs;

 

    variability of contracted arrangements;

 

    our profitability in future periods;

 

    business opportunities that could require that we seek additional financing;

 

    the size and growth of our markets;

 

    the existence of international growth opportunities and our future investment in such opportunities;

 

    the sources of our future revenue;

 

    our expected short-term and long-term liquidity positions;

 

    our capital expenditure and working capital requirements and our ability to fund our capital expenditure and working capital needs through cash flow from operations;

 

    capital market conditions, including the recent economic crisis, interest rate volatility and other limitations on the availability of capital, which could have an impact on our cost of capital and our ability to access the capital markets;

 

    our use of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities in upcoming quarters;

 

    anticipated levels of backlog in future periods;

 

    the success of our arrangements with Intellectual Ventures;

 

    the success of our acquisition of Attributor Corporation;

 

    protection, development and monetization of our intellectual property portfolio; and

 

    other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 (our “2013 Annual Report”).

 

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We believe that the risk factors specified above and the risk factors identified in Part I, Item 1A of our 2013 Annual Report, among others, could affect our future performance and the liquidity and value of our securities and cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. Investors should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all risk factors and that there may be other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made by us or by persons acting on our behalf apply only as of the date of this prospectus. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after the date of the filing of this prospectus.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds of any offering of securities for working capital and other general corporate purposes, which may include the financing of capital expenditures, future acquisitions or share repurchases. We will have significant discretion in the use of any net proceeds. The net proceeds may be invested temporarily in interest-bearing accounts and short-term interest-bearing securities until they are used for their stated purpose. We may provide additional information on the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities in an applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offered securities.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following description of our capital stock is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of our articles of incorporation, bylaws and applicable law. Copies of our articles of incorporation and bylaws have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Our authorized capital stock consists of 50,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share; 10,000 shares of Series A Redeemable Nonvoting Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Series A Preferred Stock”); 500,000 shares of Series R Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Series R Preferred Stock”); and 1,990,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.

Common Stock

As of March 31, 2014, there were 7,522,082 shares of our common stock outstanding. Shares of our common stock are currently registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), and are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “DMRC.”

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders, including the election of directors. Subject to preferences that may be granted to any then outstanding preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably those dividends as may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for such purpose, as well as any distributions to our shareholders. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all of our assets remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preference of any then outstanding preferred stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or other subscription or conversion rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

Preferred Stock

As of March 31, 2014, there were 10,000 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, and no shares of our Series R Preferred Stock issued or outstanding. Our board of directors is authorized, without further action by our shareholders, to designate and issue up to an additional 1,990,000 shares of our preferred stock in one or more series. Our board of directors may determine the designation, relative rights, preferences and limitations of the shares of each series of preferred stock, among other features, and may modify the rights of holders of our Series A Preferred Stock. However, the rights of the holders of our Series R Preferred Stock may only be modified by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of that series, voting as a separate class.

 

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Dividend Rights

Holders of shares of our Series A Preferred Stock are not entitled to the payment of a dividend. Holders of our Series R Preferred Stock are entitled to the payment of a dividend both quarterly and whenever our board of directors declares a dividend or distribution on our common stock (unless the dividend or distribution is solely in shares of our common stock) in an amount equal to the greater of (i) $0.001 and (ii) 100 times the amount of cash divided then paid on each share of common stock (which is subject to adjustment under a formula set forth in our articles of incorporation).

Redemption

We may redeem shares of our Series A Preferred Stock by paying holders of shares of our Series A Preferred Stock an amount equal to $5.00 per share. We may not redeem shares of our Series R Preferred Stock, but we are permitted to acquire shares of our Series R Preferred Stock in the open market. Moreover, if any dividends or distributions payable on our Series R Preferred Stock are in arrears, we may not redeem, purchase or acquire for consideration (i) shares of our capital stock ranking junior to our Series R Preferred Stock, or (ii) shares of our Series R Preferred Stock (or shares of a class ranking on a parity with our Series R Preferred Stock), unless we acquire the shares by a public offer to purchase the shares of Series R Preferred Stock and shares on parity with these shares.

Voting Rights

Holders of our Series A Preferred Stock do not have voting rights. Holders of our Series R Preferred Stock vote together with holders of our common stock, and are entitled to a number of votes per share that is equal to 100 times the maximum number of votes to which any holder of shares of our common stock is entitled.

Liquidation Rights

If we undergo a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or other winding up, holders of our Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to payment of an amount equal to $5.00 per share of Series A Preferred Stock, subject to the rights of holders of series of stock ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock. Under the same circumstances, holders of our Series R Preferred Stock are entitled to payment of an amount equal to the greater of (i) $0.001 per share and (ii) the amount of any accrued but unpaid dividends and distributions plus the amount equal to 100 times the aggregate amount per share to be distributed to holders of our common stock. The rights of holders of our Series R Preferred Stock to receive this payment rank junior to the rights of holders of other shares of our preferred stock.

Oregon Control Share Act and Oregon Business Combination Act

We are subject to provisions of Oregon law that may restrict the ability of our significant shareholders to exercise voting rights. The Oregon Control Share Act generally applies to a person who acquires voting stock of an Oregon corporation in a transaction that results in that person holding more than one-fifth, one-third or one-half of the total voting power of the voting shares of the corporation. If such a transaction occurs, the person cannot vote the shares acquired in the acquisition unless voting rights are restored to those shares by a vote of:

 

    the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of each voting group entitled to vote; and

 

    the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting shares, excluding the acquired shares and shares held by the corporation’s officers and inside directors.

The restricted shareholder may, but is not required to, submit to the corporation a statement setting forth information about itself and its plans with respect to the corporation. The statement may request that the corporation call a special meeting of shareholders to determine whether voting rights will be granted to the shares acquired. If a special meeting of shareholders is not requested, the issue of voting rights of the acquired shares will be considered at the next annual or special meeting of shareholders that is held more than 60 days after the date the shares are acquired.

We are also subject to provisions of Oregon law that govern business combinations between corporations and interested shareholders. The Oregon Business Combination Act generally prohibits a corporation from entering into a business combination transaction with a person, or an affiliate of that person, for a period of three years following the date the person acquires 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation. For the purposes of this law, the prohibition generally applies to the following business combination transactions:

 

    a merger or plan of share exchange,

 

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    any sale, lease, mortgage or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation, and

 

    transactions that result in the issuance or transfer of capital stock of the corporation to the 15% shareholder.

However, the general prohibition does not apply if:

 

    the 15% shareholder, as a result of the transaction in which the person became a 15% shareholder, owns at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced (excluding shares owned by directors who are also officers, and certain employee benefit plans),

 

    the board of directors approves either (i) the business combination or (ii) the transaction that resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder before the transaction by which the shareholder acquires 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock occurs, or

 

    the board of directors and the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation, excluding shares owned by the 15% shareholder, approve the transaction on or after the date the shareholder acquires 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, preferred stock, or common stock. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any registered holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants.

We will distribute a prospectus supplement with regard to each issue of warrants. Each prospectus supplement will describe:

 

    in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the designation, aggregate principal amount, currencies, denominations and terms of the series of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants and the price at which you may purchase the debt securities upon exercise;

 

    in the case of warrants to purchase preferred stock, the designation, number of shares, stated value and terms, such as liquidation, dividend, conversion and voting rights, of the series of preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants and the price at which you may purchase that number of shares of preferred stock of the series upon exercise;

 

    in the case of warrants to purchase common stock, the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants and the price at which you may purchase that number of shares of common stock upon exercise;

 

    the period during which you may exercise the warrants;

 

    any provision adjusting the securities that may be purchased on exercise of the warrants, and the exercise price of the warrants, to prevent dilution or otherwise;

 

    the amount of warrants or rights outstanding;

 

    the place or places where warrants can be presented for exercise or for registration of transfer or exchange; and

 

    any other material terms of the warrants.

Warrants for the purchase of preferred stock and common stock will be offered and exercisable for U.S. dollars only. Warrants will be issued in registered form only. The exercise price for warrants will be subject to adjustment as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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Prior to the exercise of any warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock or common stock, holders of the warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities, preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon exercise, including:

 

    in the case of warrants for the purchase of debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, any premium or interest on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture; or

 

    in the case of warrants for the purchase of preferred stock or common stock, the right to vote or to receive any payments of dividends or preferences on the preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon exercise.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

As used in this prospectus, debt securities means the debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness that we may issue from time to time. The debt securities will either be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. We may also issue convertible debt securities. Senior debt securities will be issued under a “Senior Indenture” and subordinated debt securities will be issued under a “Subordinated Indenture,” each entered into between us and a trustee to be named in the Indenture. This prospectus sometimes refers to the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture collectively as the “Indentures.”

The Indentures or forms of Indentures will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The statements and descriptions in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement regarding provisions of the Indentures and debt securities are summaries thereof, do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the Indentures (and any amendments or supplements we may enter into from time to time that are permitted under each Indenture) and the debt securities, including the definitions in the applicable Indenture of various terms.

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be direct unsecured obligations of Digimarc. The senior debt securities will rank equally with any of our other unsecured senior and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to any senior indebtedness.

The Indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that we may issue and provide that we may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series, in each case with the same or various maturities, at par or at a discount. Unless indicated in a prospectus supplement, we may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of the series outstanding at the time of the issuance. Any of the additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the applicable Indenture and will be equal in ranking.

The senior indebtedness issued pursuant to the Senior Indenture will effectively be subordinate to any of our secured indebtedness. In the event of a bankruptcy or other liquidation event involving a distribution of assets to satisfy our outstanding indebtedness, or an event of default under a loan agreement relating to secured indebtedness, the holders of our secured indebtedness would be entitled to receive payment of principal and interest prior to payments on the senior indebtedness issued under the Senior Indenture.

Additionally, the senior indebtedness issued pursuant to the Senior Indenture will effectively be subordinate to any indebtedness of any subsidiaries. In the event of a bankruptcy, receivership, state-ordered rehabilitation, liquidation or similar event involving a subsidiary, the assets of that subsidiary would be used to satisfy claims of creditors of the subsidiary rather than our creditors. As a result of the application of the subsidiary’s assets to satisfy claims of creditors, the value of the stock of the subsidiary would be diminished and perhaps rendered worthless. Any diminution in the value of the shares of any subsidiaries would adversely affect our financial condition and possibly impair our ability to meet our obligations on the debt securities. In addition, any liquidation of the assets of any subsidiaries to satisfy claims of the subsidiary’s creditors might make it impossible for the subsidiary to pay dividends to us. This inability to pay dividends would further impair our ability to satisfy our obligations under the debt securities.

Prospectus Supplement

Each prospectus supplement will describe the terms relating to the specific series of debt securities being offered. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

    the title of debt securities and whether they are subordinated debt securities or senior debt securities;

 

    any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the series;

 

    the percentage of the principal amount at which the debt securities of any series will be issued;

 

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    the ability to issue additional debt securities of the same series;

 

    the purchase price for the debt securities and the denominations of the debt securities;

 

    the specific designation of the series of debt securities being offered;

 

    the maturity date or dates of the debt securities and the date or dates upon which the debt securities are payable and the rate or rates at which the debt securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, which may be fixed or variable, or the method by which the rate shall be determined;

 

    the basis for calculating interest if other than 360-day years or twelve 30-day months;

 

    the date or dates from which any interest will accrue or the method by which the date or dates will be determined;

 

    the duration of any deferral period, including the maximum consecutive period during which interest payment periods may be extended;

 

    whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the debt securities may be determined with reference to any index, formula or other method, such as one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices, and the manner of determining the amount of the payments;

 

    the dates on which we will pay interest on the debt securities and the regular record date for determining who is entitled to the interest payable on any interest payment date;

 

    the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities will be payable, where any securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion, as applicable, and notices and demands may be delivered to or upon us pursuant to the applicable Indenture;

 

    the rate or rates of amortization of the debt securities;

 

    if we possess the option to do so, the periods within which and the prices at which we may redeem the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to optional redemption provisions, and the other terms and conditions of these provisions;

 

    our obligation or discretion, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase debt securities by making periodic payments to a sinking fund or through an analogous provision or at the option of holders of the debt securities, and the period or periods within which and the price or prices at which we will redeem, repay or purchase the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to the obligation, and the other terms and conditions of the obligation;

 

    the terms and conditions, if any, regarding the mandatory conversion or exchange of debt securities;

 

    the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any debt securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part at our option and, if other than by a board resolution, the manner in which any election by us to redeem the debt securities shall be evidenced;

 

    any restriction or condition on the transferability of the debt securities of a particular series;

 

    the portion, or methods of determining the portion, of the principal amount of the debt securities that we must pay upon the acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities in connection with an Event of Default, if other than the full principal amount;

 

    the currency or currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated and in which principal, any premium and any interest will or may be payable, or a description of any units based on or relating to a currency or currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated;

 

    provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the debt securities upon the occurrence of specified events;

 

    any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or our covenants with respect to the applicable series of debt securities, and whether or not the events of default or covenants are consistent with those contained in the applicable Indenture;

 

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    any limitation on our ability to incur debt, redeem stock, sell our assets, or other restrictions;

 

    the application, if any, of the terms of the applicable Indenture relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance (which terms are described below) to the debt securities;

 

    whether the subordination provisions summarized below or different subordination provisions will apply to the debt securities;

 

    the terms, if any, upon which the holders may convert or exchange the debt securities into or for our common stock, preferred stock or other securities or property;

 

    whether the debt securities will be issued in registered form, in bearer form or in both registered and bearer form. In general, ownership of registered debt securities is evidenced by the records of the issuing entity. Accordingly, a holder of registered debt securities may transfer the debt securities only on the records of the issuer. By contrast, ownership of bearer debt securities generally is evidenced by physical possession of the securities. Accordingly, the holder of a bearer debt security can transfer ownership merely by transferring possession of the security;

 

    any changes necessary to issue the debt securities of any particular series in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons;

 

    any restrictions or special procedures applicable to (i) the place of payment of the principal, any premium and any interest on bearer debt securities, (ii) the exchange of bearer debt securities for registered debt securities or (iii) the sale and delivery of bearer debt securities. A holder of debt securities will not be able to exchange registered debt securities into bearer debt securities except in limited circumstances;

 

    whether we are issuing the debt securities in whole or in part in global form;

 

    any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders of debt securities to declare the principal amount of the debt securities due and payable because of an event of default;

 

    the depositary for global or certificated debt securities;

 

    any federal income tax consequences applicable to the debt securities, including any debt securities denominated and made payable, as described in the prospectus supplements, in foreign currencies, or units based on or related to foreign currencies;

 

    any right we may have to satisfy, discharge and defease our obligations under the debt securities, or terminate or eliminate restrictive covenants or events of default in the Indentures, by depositing money or U.S. government obligations with the trustee of the Indentures;

 

    the names of any trustees, depositaries, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or other agents with respect to the debt securities;

 

    any other specific terms of the debt securities, including any modifications to the events of default under the debt securities and any other terms which may be required by or advisable under applicable laws or regulations;

 

    to whom any interest on any debt security shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name the security is registered, on the record date for the payment of interest, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global debt security will be paid if other than in the manner provided in the applicable Indenture;

 

    if the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities of the series is to be payable in one or more currencies or currency units other than as stated, the currency, currencies or currency units in which it shall be paid and the periods within and terms and conditions upon which an election is to be made and the amounts payable (or the manner in which the amount shall be determined);

 

    the portion of the principal amount of any debt securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities pursuant to the applicable Indenture, if other than the entire principal amount; and

 

    if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of any debt security of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of the debt securities as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount of the debt securities, which shall be due and payable upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or which shall be deemed to be outstanding as of any date prior to the stated maturity (or, in any case, the manner in which the amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined).

 

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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities will be issued in fully-registered form without coupons.

Holders of the debt securities may present their securities for exchange and may present registered debt securities for transfer in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as limited by the applicable Indenture, we will provide these services without charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the exchange or transfer.

Debt securities may bear interest at a fixed rate or a variable rate as specified in the prospectus supplement. In addition, if specified in the prospectus supplement, we may sell debt securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below the prevailing market rate, or at a discount below their stated principal amount. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any special federal income tax considerations applicable to these discounted debt securities.

We may issue debt securities with the principal amount payable on any principal payment date, or the amount of interest payable on any interest payment date, to be determined by referring to one or more currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity indices or other factors. Holders of these debt securities may receive a principal amount on any principal payment date, or interest payments on any interest payment date, that are greater or less than the amount of principal or interest otherwise payable on those dates, depending upon the value on those dates of applicable currency, commodity, equity index or other factors. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information as to how we will determine the amount of principal or interest payable on any date, as well as the currencies, commodities, equity indices or other factors to which the amount payable on that date relates and various additional tax considerations.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at prices determined as the prospectus supplement specifies. We may sell securities to one or more underwriters for public offering and sale by them or may sell securities to investors directly or through agents. We will name any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of securities in the prospectus supplement.

Underwriters may offer and sell the securities at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed. Underwriters may also offer and sell securities at market prices, at prices related to market prices or at negotiated prices. We also may authorize underwriters acting as our agents to offer and sell the securities upon the terms and conditions set forth in any prospectus supplement. In connection with the sale of securities, we may be deemed to have paid compensation to the underwriters in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions. Underwriters may also receive commissions from purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions (which may be changed from time to time) from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.

The accompanying prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering and the method of distribution and will identify any firms acting as underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering, including:

 

    the name or names of any underwriters;

 

    the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us from the sale;

 

    any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriter compensation;

 

    any public offering price;

 

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    any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

    any securities exchange on which the securities offered in the prospectus supplement may be listed.

Under the Securities Act, underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions they receive and any profit they realize on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. We may enter into agreements with underwriters, dealers and agents providing them indemnification against and contribution toward specified civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and reimbursement for various expenses.

We will indicate the extent to which we anticipate that a secondary market for the securities will be available in the prospectus supplement. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market. Except as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, securities other than common stock are not expected to be listed on any securities exchange.

This prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time, if required, to describe a specific plan of distribution.

LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the issuance of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Perkins Coie LLP, Portland, Oregon. Any underwriters will be represented by their own legal counsel, which will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Digimarc Corporation as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2013, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement to register the securities offered by this prospectus under the Securities Act. This prospectus is part of that registration statement, but omits some information contained in the registration statement, as permitted by SEC rules. For further information with respect to Digimarc and this offering, reference is made to the registration statement and the exhibits and any schedules filed with the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any document referred to are not necessarily complete and in each instance, if the document is filed as an exhibit, reference is made to the copy of the document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each statement being qualified in all respects by that reference. You may obtain copies of the registration statement, including exhibits, as noted in the paragraph below or by writing or telephoning us at:

Digimarc Corporation

9405 SW Gemini Drive

Beaverton, Oregon 97008

(503) 469-4800

We file annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including us. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any material we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You may also inspect reports, proxy statements and other information about us at the offices of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Reports Section, 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, including any amendments to those reports, and other information that we file with or furnish to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the

 

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Exchange Act may also be accessed free of charge by linking directly from the “Investors” page of our website at www.digimarc.com/investors. These filings will be available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file this material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Information contained on our website is not part of this prospectus.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

We incorporate information into this prospectus by reference, which means that we disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except for any such information superseded by information contained in later-filed documents or directly in this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC (excluding those portions of any Form 8-K that are not deemed “filed” pursuant to the General Instructions of Form 8-K). These documents contain important information about us and our financial condition.

 

    Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 23, 2014 and May 1, 2014;

 

    Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2014, filed with the SEC on April 25, 2014;

 

    The portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 21, 2014 that are deemed “filed” with the SEC under the Exchange Act;

 

    The Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the SEC on February 21, 2014;

 

    Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on October 16, 2008; and

 

    Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the SEC on June 23, 2008, and Amendment No. 1 thereto, filed with the SEC on July 22, 2008; Amendment No. 2 thereto, filed with the SEC on August 13, 2008; Amendment No. 3 thereto, filed with the SEC on September 9, 2008; Amendment No. 4 thereto, filed with the SEC on October 2, 2008; Amendment No. 5 thereto, filed with the SEC on October 7, 2008; and Amendment No. 6 thereto, filed with the SEC on October 14, 2008.

All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of this offering, including all the 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 the reports and documents.

We will provide at no cost to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, but not delivered with the prospectus, other than exhibits to the documents unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into the documents that this prospectus incorporates. You should direct written requests to: Digimarc Corporation, 9405 SW Gemini Drive, Beaverton, Oregon, 97008; Attention: Charles Beck, Chief Financial Officer, or you may call us at (503) 469-4800.

The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. You should rely only upon the information provided in this prospectus and the information incorporated into this prospectus by reference. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of this prospectus.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth anticipated costs and expenses payable by the Company (other than underwriting discounts, commissions and fees) in connection with the registration of the securities covered by this prospectus.

 

SEC registration fee

   $ 12,880.00   

Trustees’ and transfer agents’ fees

      

Printing and engraving costs

      

Legal fees and expenses

      

Accounting fees and expenses

      

Miscellaneous

      

Total

   $  
  

 

 

 

 

* These fees are calculated based upon the number of issuances and the type of securities offered and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

As an Oregon corporation, Digimarc is subject to the Oregon Business Corporation Act (the “OBCA”) and the exculpation from liability and indemnification provisions contained therein. As authorized by Section 60.047(2) of the OBCA, Article IX of our articles of incorporation eliminates the liability of our directors to us or our shareholders for various acts or omissions. Our articles of incorporation do not eliminate the liability of our directors to the extent that the OBCA does not permit corporations to limit directors’ liability.

Section 60.387 et seq. of the OBCA authorizes corporations to indemnify their directors and officers against liability where the director or officer has acted in good faith and with a reasonable belief that the actions taken were in the best interests of the corporation, or at least not opposed to the corporation’s best interests, and, if in a criminal proceeding, the individual had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct in question was unlawful. Under the OBCA, corporations may not indemnify a director or officer against liability in connection with a claim by or in the right of the corporation. Corporations may indemnify a director or officer against the reasonable expenses associated with these types of claims, unless (i) the director or officer has been adjudged liable to the corporation or (ii) the proceeding charged the director or officer with (and adjudged the director or officer liable for) improperly receiving a personal benefit. Corporations also may not indemnify directors or officers against breaches of the duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, any unlawful distribution under O.R.S. 60.367, or any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit. The OBCA mandates indemnification against all reasonable expenses incurred in the successful defense of any claim made or threatened, whether or not the claim was by or in the right of the corporation. Finally, a court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is entitled to mandatory indemnification, or is otherwise fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, regardless of whether the director or officer met the good faith and reasonable belief standards of conduct set forth in the statute.

The OBCA also provides that the statutory indemnification provisions are not exclusive of any other rights to which directors or officers may be entitled under a corporation’s articles of incorporation or bylaws, any agreement, general or specific action of the board of directors, vote of shareholders or otherwise. Article VIII of our articles of incorporation requires us to indemnify our directors, officers, agents and other representatives from losses suffered while acting on our behalf. Article VIII specifies that these representatives are to be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by law, and that their right to indemnification shall not be affected by subsequent amendments to our articles of incorporation or the end of the representative’s service to Digimarc.

Additionally, we have entered into indemnity agreements with some of our officers and directors. The indemnity agreements require us to, among other things, indemnify the officer or director against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and penalties, among others) incurred by the officer or director as a result of being named or threatened to be named as a party to any proceeding as a result of the officer or director’s service in that capacity. The indemnity agreements also require us to indemnify the officer or director to the fullest extent permitted by law. However, the indemnification agreements prohibit us from indemnifying any director or officer who is determined to be liable under Section 16(b) (or similar provisions) for an accounting of the profits made on the purchase or sale of shares of the corporation.

 

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Item 16. Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

  1.1*   Form of Underwriting Agreement
  4.1   Specimen common stock certificate of Digimarc Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on February 27, 2009 (File No. 001-34108))
  4.2   Rights Agreement, dated July 31, 2008, between Digimarc Corporation and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on February 27, 2009 (File No. 001-34108))
  4.3   Form of Certificate of Designation of Series R Preferred Stock (attached as an exhibit to the Rights Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.2)
  4.4   Form of Rights Certificate (attached as an exhibit to the Rights Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.2)
  4.5**   Form of Indenture
  4.6*   Form of Warrant Agreement (including form of warrant)
  5.1**   Legal Opinion of Perkins Coie LLP
12.1**   Statement of computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges
23.1**   Consent of KPMG LLP
23.2**   Consent of Perkins Coie LLP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement)
24.1   Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page hereto)
25.1***   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Debt Securities Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939

 

* To be filed by amendment hereto or pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be incorporated by reference.
** Filed herewith.
*** To be filed pursuant to Rule 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

Item 17. Undertakings

 

  (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

  (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

  (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

  (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

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  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

  (4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser,

 

  (i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

  (ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

  (5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

  (i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

  (ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

  (iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

  (iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

  (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (c)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the

 

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  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 the registrant is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

  (d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Beaverton, State of Oregon, on this 16th day of May, 2014.

 

DIGIMARC CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Charles Beck

  Charles Beck
  Chief Financial Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

We, the undersigned officers and directors of Digimarc Corporation, hereby severally and individually constitute and appoint Bruce Davis and Charles Beck, and each of them, the true and lawful attorneys and agents of each of us to execute in the name, place and stead of each of us (individually and in any capacity stated below) any and all amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-3, and all instruments necessary or advisable in connection therewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission, each of said attorneys and agents to have power to act with or without the other and to have full power and authority to do and perform in the name and on behalf of each of the undersigned every act whatsoever necessary or advisable to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as any of the undersigned might or could do in person, and we hereby ratify and confirm our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys and agents and each of them to any and all such amendments and other instruments.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

REGISTRANT’S OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/S/    BRUCE DAVIS        

Bruce Davis

  

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors (Principal Executive Officer)

  May 16, 2014

/S/    CHARLES BECK        

Charles Beck

  

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  May 16, 2014

/S/    PETER W. SMITH        

Peter W. Smith

  

Director

  May 16, 2014

/S/    JAMES T. RICHARDSON        

James T. Richardson

  

Director

  May 16, 2014

/S/    WILLIAM J. MILLER        

William J. Miller

  

Director

  May 16, 2014

/S/    BERNARD WHITNEY        

Bernard Whitney

  

Director

  May 16, 2014


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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

  1.1*   Form of Underwriting Agreement
  4.1   Specimen common stock certificate of Digimarc Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on February 27, 2009 (File No. 001-34108))
  4.2   Rights Agreement, dated July 31, 2008, between Digimarc Corporation and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on February 27, 2009 (File No. 001-34108))
  4.3   Form of Certificate of Designation of Series R Preferred Stock (attached as an exhibit to the Rights Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.2)
  4.4   Form of Rights Certificate (attached as an exhibit to the Rights Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.2)
  4.5**   Form of Indenture
  4.6*   Form of Warrant Agreement (including form of warrant)
  5.1**   Legal Opinion of Perkins Coie LLP
12.1**   Statement of computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges
23.1**   Consent of KPMG LLP
23.2**   Consent of Perkins Coie LLP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement)
24.1   Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page hereto)
25.1***   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Debt Securities Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939

 

* To be filed by amendment hereto or pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be incorporated by reference.
** Filed herewith.
*** To be filed pursuant to Rule 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.