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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-181074

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To prospectus dated May 1, 2012)

 

5,700,000 Shares

Solta Medical, Inc.

Common Stock

 

 

We are offering 5,700,000 shares of our common stock.

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Market under the trading symbol “SLTM.” On August 1, 2012 the last reported sale price of our common stock on The NASDAQ Global Market was $3.19 per share.

 

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus supplement for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock.

 

 

 

		Per Share				Total
Public offering price		$	2.650			$	15,105,000
Underwriting discounts and commissions (1)		$	0.159			$	906,300
Proceeds, before expenses, to us		$	2.491			$	14,198,700

 

(1)	In addition to the underwriting discount paid by us, we have also agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain expenses. See “Underwriting.”

 

 

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

 

 

We have granted the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days after the date of this prospectus supplement to purchase up to an additional 855,000 shares of our common stock on the same terms and conditions set forth above solely to cover over-allotments, if any.

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares of our common stock on or about August 7, 2012.

Sole Book-Running Manager

Canaccord Genuity

Co-Manager

Roth Capital Partners

The date of this prospectus supplement is August 2, 2012

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
Prospectus Supplement
About this Prospectus Supplement			S-1
Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements			S-1
Prospectus Supplement Summary			S-2
About Solta Medical			S-2
The Offering			S-3
Summary Consolidated Financial Data			S-4
Risk Factors			S-5
Price Range of Common Stock			S-22
Dividend Policy			S-22
Use of Proceeds			S-23
Capitalization			S-24
Dilution			S-25
Underwriting			S-26
Legal Matters			S-29
Experts			S-29
Where You Can Find More Information			S-29
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference			S-29
Prospectus
		Page
Prospectus Summary			4
Risk Factors			6
Where You Can Find More Information			6
Incorporation of Information by Reference			7
Forward-Looking Statements			8
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges			9
Use of Proceeds			9
Plan of Distribution			9
Description of Capital Stock			12
Description of Debt Securities			14
Description of Warrants			21
Description of Units			23
Certain Provisions of Delaware Law and the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws			24
Legal Matters			24
Experts			25

 

 

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

We are providing information to you about this offering in two parts. The first part consists of this prospectus supplement, which provides the specific details regarding this offering of shares of our common stock. The second part consists of the base prospectus dated May 1, 2012, included in our shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-181074), which we are supplementing with the information contained in this prospectus supplement. Generally, when we refer to this “prospectus,” we are referring to both parts combined. Some of the information in the base prospectus may not necessarily apply to this offering.

This prospectus supplement describes the specific details regarding this offering, including the price, the number of shares of our common stock being offered, certain risks of investing in our common stock and other items. You should read this entire prospectus, together with the additional information described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information,” carefully before making an investment decision.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. For further information, see the section of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.” We and the underwriters are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

You should not assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus supplement, or that the information contained in any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or any sale of a security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since such dates.

All references to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “company” and “Solta Medical” mean Solta Medical, Inc., including subsidiaries, except where it is clear that the term refers only to Solta Medical, Inc.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus includes and incorporates forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We intend for such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained or incorporated in this prospectus regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements. These important factors include the factors that we identify in this prospectus, as well as the other information we include in the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus. See “Risk Factors.” You should read these factors and other cautionary statements made in this prospectus, and in the documents we incorporate by reference, as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this prospectus, and in the documents incorporated by reference. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements made by us, except to the extent required by U.S. federal securities laws.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in shares of our common stock involves a high degree of risk. In addition to the following risk factors, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under “Risk Factors” in the accompanying prospectus, as well as those described in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, and in other documents that we subsequently file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that update, supplement or supersede such information, which documents are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information.” Additional risks not currently known to us or which we consider immaterial based on information currently available to us may also materially adversely affect us. If any of the events anticipated by the risks described occur, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected, which could result in a decline in the market price of our common stock, causing you to lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to Our Business

Economic uncertainty has reduced and may continue to reduce patient demand for our products; if there is not sufficient patient demand for the procedures for which our products are used, practitioner demand for these systems could drop, resulting in unfavorable operating results.

The aesthetic industry in which we operate is particularly vulnerable to economic trends. The decision to undergo a procedure from one our systems is driven by consumer demand. Most procedures performed using our systems are elective procedures, the cost of which must be borne by the patient, and are not reimbursable through government or private health insurance. In times of economic uncertainty or recession, individuals often reduce the amount of money that they spend on discretionary items, including aesthetic procedures. The general economic difficulties being experienced by our customers and the lack of availability of consumer credit for some of our customers are adversely affecting the market in which we operate.

If the economic hardships our customers face continue or worsen, our business would be negatively impacted and our financial performance would be materially harmed in the event that any of the above factors discourage patients from seeking the procedures for which our products are used.

We are totally dependent upon the success of our systems, which have a limited commercial history. If our products fail to achieve sufficient market acceptance, our business will suffer.

We expect that sales of our systems, including our treatment tips, will account for substantially all of our revenue for the foreseeable future. We expect to continue to expand our line of systems and treatment tips. This may not occur when expected, or at all, which would negatively affect our anticipated revenue. Our systems may not significantly penetrate current or new markets. If demand for our systems does not increase as we anticipate, or declines, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be harmed.

Our financial results may fluctuate unpredictably, making it difficult to forecast future performance.

Our limited operating history makes it difficult for us to predict future performance. Historically, the demand for our systems has varied from quarter to quarter. A number of factors, over which we have limited or no control, may contribute to fluctuations in our financial results, such as:

 

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delays in receipt of anticipated purchase orders;

 

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seasonal variations in patient demand for aesthetic procedures;

 

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the impact of general economic conditions on the demand for aesthetic procedures;

 

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performance of our independent distributors;

 

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the lack of credit available to physicians to finance capital equipment purchases;

 

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positive or negative media coverage of our products or products of our competitors or our industry;

 

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our ability to obtain further regulatory clearances or approvals;

 

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delays in, or failure of, product and component deliveries by our subcontractors and suppliers;

 

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changes in the length of the sales process;

 

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the costs of litigation claims or adverse outcomes from legal proceedings;

 

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customer response to the introduction of new product offerings;

 

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fluctuations in foreign currency; and

 

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excess or obsolete inventory charges.

Our success depends on growing physician adoption of our systems and continued use of our treatment tips.

Our target physician customers typically already own one or more aesthetic device products. Our ability to grow our business and convince physicians to purchase our systems and products depends on the success of our clinical and sales and marketing efforts. Our business model involves both a capital equipment purchase of our systems and continued purchases by our customers of our treatment tips. This may be a novel business model for many potential customers who may be used to competing products that are either exclusively capital equipment, such as many laser-based systems, or that are exclusively single-use products, such as Botox or dermal fillers. In addition, the lack of credit available to physicians to finance the purchase of systems may also impact the adoption of these systems. We must be able to demonstrate that the cost of our systems and the revenue that the physician can derive from performing procedures using our products are compelling when compared to the cost and revenue associated with alternative products. When marketing to plastic surgeons, we must also, in some cases, overcome a bias against non-invasive or minimally invasive aesthetic procedures. If we are unable to increase physician adoption of our systems and use of our treatment tips, our financial performance will be adversely affected.

We may not be able to achieve or sustain profitability even if we are able to generate significant revenue.

We incurred a loss of $1.3 million and $35.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012. In the past, we have expanded our business and increased our expenses in order to grow revenue. We will have to increase our revenue while effectively managing our expenses in order to achieve sustained profitability. Our failure to achieve or sustain profitability could negatively impact the market price of our common stock.

We are subject to fluctuations in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies.

As a result of recent fluctuations in currency markets, our products priced in U.S. dollars may be more expensive relative to products of our foreign competitors, which could result in lower revenue and profit margins. We do not actively hedge our exposure to currency rate fluctuations. While we transact business primarily in U.S. dollars, and a significant proportion of our revenue is denominated in U.S. dollars, a growing proportion of our revenue and costs is denominated in other currencies, such as the Australian Dollar, Euro, Japanese Yen, and British Pound Sterling. In addition, the functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. As a result, our financial performance could be adversely affected by changes in the exchange rates of these currencies to the U.S. Dollar.

We may not be successful in selling and marketing our new products.

The commercial success of the products and technologies we develop will depend upon the acceptance of these products by physicians and their patients. It is difficult for us to predict how successful recently introduced products and procedures or products we are currently developing, will be over the long term. If the products we develop do not gain market acceptance, our revenues and operating results will suffer. In addition, we expect to face significant competition, in some cases from companies that are more established, market more widely known products and have greater resources than we do. We may not be able to differentiate our new products sufficiently from our competitors’ products to achieve significant market penetration. As a result of these factors, we may incur significant sales and marketing expenses for our new products without achieving commercial success, which could harm our business and our competitive position.

In addition, as new or enhanced products are introduced, we must successfully manage the transition from older products in order to minimize disruption in customers’ ordering patterns, avoid excessive levels of older product inventories, and ensure that enough supplies of new products can be delivered to meet customer demand.

 

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The failure of our systems to meet patient expectations or the occurrence of unpleasant side effects from the procedures for which our products are used could impair our financial performance.

Our future success depends upon patients having a positive experience with the procedures for which our products are used in order to increase physician demand for our products, as a result of both individual patients’ repeat business and as a result of word-of-mouth referrals. We believe that patients may be dissatisfied with these procedures if they find them to be too painful. Furthermore, patients may experience temporary swelling or reddening of the skin as a procedural side effect. In rare instances, patients may receive burns, blisters, skin discoloration or skin depressions. Experiencing excessive pain or any of these side effects or adverse events could discourage a patient from having one of the procedures for which our products are used or discourage a patient from having additional procedures or referring these procedures to others. In order to generate repeat and referral business, we also believe that patients must be satisfied with the effectiveness of the procedures. Results obtained from the procedures for which our products are used are subjective and may be subtle. A product treatment may produce results that may not meet patients’ expectations. If patients are not satisfied with the procedure or feel that it is too expensive for the results obtained, our reputation and future sales will suffer.

The conditions of our secured term loan contain certain financial covenants with respect to our performance and other covenants that restrict our activities. If we are unable to comply with these covenants, we would have to negotiate an amendment to the loan agreement or the lender could accelerate the repayment of our indebtedness.

Our secured term loan contains certain financial covenants which require us to maintain a certain liquidity ratios and specified levels of EBITDA (as defined in the loan agreement) each fiscal quarter. We are also subject to restrictive covenants, including among others covenants that restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness, to dispose of assets, to effect certain corporate transactions, including specified mergers or acquisitions, and to pay dividends. The loan agreement generally provides for customary events of default, including among others non-payment defaults, covenant defaults, and a default in the event a material adverse change occurs. There is no assurance that we will be able to comply with our financial covenants. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the term loan, the lender will be entitled to acceleration of all obligations under the loan agreement and an obligation to repay all obligations in full and such event of default could result in an increase to the applicable interest rate of 5.00%. Any acceleration in the repayment of our indebtedness could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

We may face problems with our acquisition of Liposonix.

On November 1, 2011, we completed our acquisition of Liposonix, a developer, manufacturer and marketer of an ultrasound-based fat removal system, from Medicis.

We cannot be certain that this acquisition will be successful or that we will realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition. In particular, we may not be able to realize the strategic and operational benefits and objectives we had anticipated, including greater revenue and market opportunities, maintaining industry leadership and consistent profitability. In addition, the demand for our combined product offerings may fluctuate and we may face increased competition in the markets for our products. Our agreement with Medicis requires us to make potentially significant future cash payments to Medicis over the next seven years, based on certain operating results of Liposonix. During the three months ended June 30, 2012, we substantially increased our estimate of the future cash payments due to Medicis. Any of the following factors, as well as the inability to realize the long-term anticipated efficiencies and synergies of the acquisition of Liposonix, may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. These factors may include:

 

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the potential disruption of the combined company’s ongoing business and diversion of management resources;

 

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the difficulty of incorporating acquired products, technology and rights into the combined company’s products and services;

 

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the inability to scale up the manufacturing of recently introduced products rapidly enough to satisfy initial demand;

 

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unanticipated expenses related to integration of operations;

 

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the possibility that we are unsuccessful in marketing directly to consumers, which is the market targeted by Liposonix;

 

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the impairment of relationships with customers as a result of any integration of new personnel;

 

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potential unknown liabilities associated with the acquired business and technology;

 

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potential periodic impairment of goodwill and intangible assets acquired;

 

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potential inability to retain, integrate and motivate key personnel; and

 

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delays in cash collections associated with the Liposonix business that impact our ability to pay Medicis the contingent payments that are based on the results of the Liposonix business in the future.

We have grown, and may continue to grow, through acquisitions, which gives rise to risks and challenges that could adversely affect our future financial results.

We have in the past acquired, and we expect to acquire in the future, other businesses, business units, and technologies. Acquisitions can involve a number of special risks and challenges, including:

 

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complexity, time, and costs associated with the integration of acquired business operations, workforce, products, and technologies;

 

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diversion of management time and attention;

 

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loss or termination of employees, including costs associated with the termination or replacement of those employees;

 

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assumption of liabilities of the acquired business, including litigation related to the acquired business;

 

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addition of acquisition-related debt as well as increased expenses and working capital requirements;

 

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dilution of stock ownership of existing stockholders; and

 

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substantial accounting charges for restructuring and related expenses, write-off of in-process research and development, amortization of intangible assets, and stock-based compensation expense.

If integration of our acquired businesses is not successful, we may not realize the potential benefits of an acquisition or may suffer other adverse effects. To integrate acquired businesses, we must implement our technology systems in the acquired operations and integrate and manage the personnel of the acquired operations. We also must effectively integrate the different cultures of acquired business organizations into our own in a way that aligns various interests, and may need to enter new markets in which we have no or limited experience and where competitors in such markets have stronger market positions.

We have substantial amounts of goodwill and purchased intangible assets from prior acquisitions. We test goodwill for impairment at least annually and more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that this asset may be impaired and we review purchased intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. We may be required to record impairment charges in the future with respect to these assets recorded from past or future acquisitions.

Any of the foregoing, and other factors, could harm our ability to achieve anticipated levels of profitability from acquired businesses or to realize other anticipated benefits of acquisitions.

We may incur goodwill impairment charges that would adversely affect our operating results.

We review goodwill for impairment annually and more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that impairment possibly exists. Factors we would consider important that could trigger an impairment review include, but are not limited to, a significant decline in our stock price for a sustained period and decreases in our market capitalization below the recorded amount of our net assets for a sustained period. Our stock price is highly volatile and has experienced significant declines in the past. We performed our annual review of goodwill as of December 31, 2011 and we determined that an impairment charge was not required. If we have

 

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indicators of impairment and assess that the fair value of the company is below the carrying value, an impairment of goodwill may result. The balance of goodwill was $96.6 million as of June 30, 2012, and there can be no assurance that future goodwill impairments will not occur.

We may fail to effectively build and manage our sales force or to market and distribute our products.

We rely on a direct sales force to sell our products in the United States and in certain international regions. As the Company grows, we expect to grow or realign our sales organization to meet our anticipated sales objectives. There are significant risks involved in building and managing our sales organization, including risks related to our ability to:

 

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hire qualified individuals as needed;

 

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provide adequate training for the effective sale of our products; and

 

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retain and motivate our sales employees.

In addition, sales to non-traditional practitioners of aesthetic procedures are a key element of our growth strategy. However, our sales force historically has sold primarily to dermatologists and plastic surgeons. Also, our systems compete with products that are well-established in the market. Accordingly, it is difficult for us to predict how well our sales force will perform. Our failure to adequately address these risks could have a material adverse effect on our ability to sell our products, causing our revenue to be lower than expected and harming our results of operations.

We may be required to raise additional capital and/or debt financing on unfavorable terms.

We substantially increased our outstanding indebtedness, and reduced our available cash balances, with our acquisition of Liposonix, and we expect to make substantial future cash payments in respect of that transaction. During the three months ended June 30, 2012, we substantially increased our estimate of the future cash payments due to Medicis. Further, if we fail to achieve sustained profitability and positive cash flow or if unanticipated expenses or other uses of cash arise, our liquidity needs may exceed our cash and cash equivalents and available credit facilities. In order to meet our liquidity needs, we may be required to seek additional equity and/or debt financing. Additional financing may not be available on a timely basis on terms acceptable to us, or at all, particularly in the short-term due to the current credit and equity market funding environments. The availability of financing will depend, in part, on market conditions, and the outlook for our company. Any future equity financing would result in substantial dilution to our stockholders. If we raise additional funds by issuing debt, we may not be able to obtain such debt with favorable terms, and we may be subject to limitations on our operations, through debt covenants or other restrictions. If adequate funds are not available with favorable terms, we may have to delay development of new products or reduce marketing, customer support or other resources devoted to our products. In addition, if we are unable to obtain financing as needed, we may come into breach of our outstanding loan covenants. Any of these factors could harm our business and financial condition.

We may be involved in intellectual property litigation, which could be costly and time consuming, and may impact our future business and financial performance.

Litigation related to infringement and other intellectual property claims, with or without merit, is unpredictable, can be expensive and time-consuming and could divert management’s attention from our core business. If we lose this kind of litigation, a court could require us to pay substantial damages, and prohibit us from using technologies essential to our products, any of which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. We do not know whether necessary licenses would be available to us on satisfactory terms, or whether we could redesign our products or processes to avoid infringement.

Our industry has been characterized by frequent intellectual property litigation. Our competitors or other patent holders may assert that our products and the methods we employ are covered by their patents, and we have, from time to time, received notices of potential infringement by us of other parties’ patents. If our products or methods are found to infringe, we could be prevented from marketing them. In addition, we do not

 

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know whether our competitors or potential competitors have applied for, or will apply for or obtain, patents that will prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to make, use, sell, import or export our products. Competing products may also appear in other countries in which our patent coverage might not exist or be as strong. If we lose a foreign patent lawsuit, we could be prevented from marketing our products in one or more countries.

In addition, we may hereafter become involved in litigation to protect our trademark rights associated with our company name or the names used with our products. Names used with our products and procedures may be claimed to infringe names held by others or to be ineligible for proprietary protection. If we have to change the name of our company or products, we may experience a loss in goodwill associated with our brand name, customer confusion and a loss of sales.

We are involved in litigation relating to our acquisition of Reliant Technologies, Inc., which could be costly and time consuming.

On December 21, 2009, a complaint was filed in the Santa Clara County Superior Court by three former stockholders of Reliant Technologies, Inc. against Reliant and certain former officers and directors of Reliant in connection with our acquisition of Reliant, which closed on December 23, 2008. The complaint purports to be brought on behalf of the former common stockholders of Reliant. As a result of the acquisition, a successor entity to Reliant, Reliant Technologies, LLC, became our wholly-owned subsidiary. One member of the Company’s Board of Directors and the Company’s former Chief Technology Officer and former member of the Company’s Board of Directors are among the defendants named in the complaint. The principal claim, among others, is that Reliant violated the California Corporations Code by failing to obtain the vote from a majority of holders of Reliant’s common stock prior to the consummation of the acquisition. The complaint also purports to challenge disclosures made by Reliant in connection with its entry into the acquisition and that the defendants failed to maximize the value of Reliant for the benefits of Reliant’s common stockholders. On August 2, 2010, defendants filed a motion to dismiss or stay the entire action based on a mandatory forum selection clause in the merger agreement which requires that claims related to the merger be litigated in Delaware. On September 28, 2010, the Court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss or stay, and stayed the action indefinitely. On January 20, 2012, the Court dismissed plaintiffs’ case without prejudice. Plaintiffs have appealed. To date, the plaintiffs have not filed a complaint against the defendants in Delaware. To date, the plaintiffs have not filed a complaint against the defendants in Delaware. We believe that this suit is without merit, and we intend to vigorously defend it. Although we do not expect that the final disposition of this litigation will have a material adverse effect on our financial results, we may have to devote certain personnel and resources to resolve this litigation.

Intellectual property rights may not provide adequate protection for our products, which may permit third parties to compete against us more effectively.

We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws and confidentiality and invention assignment agreements to protect our intellectual property rights. As of June 30, 2012, we had 121 issued U.S. patents, 83 pending U.S. patent applications, 83 issued foreign patents and 154 pending foreign patent applications, some of which foreign applications preserve an opportunity to pursue patent rights in multiple countries. Some of our system components are not, and in the future may not be, protected by patents. Additionally, our patent applications may not issue as patents or, if issued, may not issue in a form that will be advantageous to us. Any patents we obtain may be challenged, invalidated or legally circumvented by third parties. Consequently, competitors could market products and use manufacturing processes that are substantially similar to, or superior to, ours. We may not be able to prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of our technical knowledge or other trade secrets by consultants, vendors, former employees or current employees, despite the existence generally of confidentiality agreements and other contractual restrictions. Monitoring unauthorized uses and disclosures of our intellectual property is difficult, and we do not know whether the steps we have taken to protect our intellectual property will be effective. Moreover, we do not have patent rights in all foreign countries in which a market may exist, and where we have applied for foreign patent rights, the laws of many foreign countries will not protect our intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States.

 

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In addition, competitors could purchase our systems and attempt to replicate some or all of the competitive advantages we derive from our development efforts, willfully infringe our intellectual property rights, design around our protected technology or develop their own competitive technologies that fall outside of our intellectual property rights. If our intellectual property is not adequately protected so as to protect our market against competitors’ products and methods, our competitive position could be adversely affected, as could our business.

Performing clinical studies on, and collecting data from the procedures for which our products are used is inherently subjective, and we have limited data regarding the efficacy of our systems. If future data is not positive or consistent with our prior experience, rates of physician adoption will likely be harmed.

We believe that in order to significantly grow our business, we will need to conduct future clinical studies of the effectiveness of our systems. Clinical studies of aesthetic treatments are subject to a number of limitations. First, these studies do not involve well-established objective standards for measuring the effectiveness of treatment. Subjective, before and after, evaluation of the extent of change in the patient’s appearance, performed by a medical professional or by the patient, is the most common method of evaluating effectiveness. A clinical study may conclude that a treatment is effective even if the change in appearance is subtle and not long-lasting. Second, as with other non-invasive or minimally invasive energy-based devices, the effects of the procedures for which our products are used vary from patient to patient and can be influenced by a number of factors, including the area of the body being treated, the age and skin laxity of the patient and operator technique.

We have not conducted any head-to-head clinical studies that compare results from treatment with our systems to surgery or treatment with other aesthetic devices. Without head-to-head studies against competing alternative treatments, potential customers may not find clinical studies of our technology sufficiently compelling to purchase our systems. If we decide to pursue additional studies in the future, they could be expensive and time consuming, and the data collected may not produce favorable or compelling results. If the results of such studies do not meet physicians’ expectations, our systems may not become widely adopted, physicians may recommend alternative treatments for their patients, and our business may be harmed.

To successfully market and sell our systems internationally, we must address many issues with which we have limited experience.

Sales outside of North America accounted for 55%, 55% and 53% of our revenue for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. We believe that a significant portion of our business will continue to come from international sales through increased penetration in countries where we currently sell our products, combined with expansion into new international markets. However, international sales are subject to a number of risks, including:

 

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difficulties in staffing and managing our international operations;

 

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difficulties in penetrating markets in which our competitors’ products are more established;

 

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reduced or no protection for intellectual property rights in some countries;

 

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export restrictions, trade regulations and foreign tax laws;

 

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regulation of the sale of the hydroflurocarbon used with our Thermage and Isolaz systems;

 

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fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates;

 

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foreign certification and regulatory clearance or approval requirements;

 

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difficulties in developing effective marketing campaigns for unfamiliar, foreign countries;

 

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dependence on third-party distributors in some territories;

 

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customs clearance and shipping delays;

 

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political and economic instability;

 

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natural disasters (such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods or storms);

 

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preference for locally produced products;

 

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business interruption resulting from transitioning to direct sales from international distributors in certain international regions; and

 

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difficulties in getting distributors to relinquish regulatory documentation.

If one or more of these risks were realized, it could require us to dedicate significant resources to remedy the situation, and if we are unable to find a solution, our revenue may decline.

The earthquake, tsunami and subsequent problems affecting nuclear power plants in Japan could have a negative impact on our international sales, our supply chain, our ability to deliver products, the cost of our products, and the demand for our products. As a result of these events, we may, in the future, encounter reduced demand from our Japanese customers and distributors. In addition, even if supply is not interrupted or delayed, or demand from Japanese customers and distributors is not reduced, shortages of key items in Japan may result in price increases, which our suppliers in Japan may seek to pass on to us. In addition, our suppliers outside of Japan may be unable to produce finished components as a result of Japanese related supply chain disruptions. Any such occurrences could have a material adverse effect on our business, our results of operations and our financial condition.

To market and sell our products internationally, we depend on distributors, and they may not be successful.

We currently depend primarily on third-party distributors to sell and service our products internationally and to train our international customers, and if these distributors terminate their relationships with us or under-perform we may be unable to maintain or increase our level of international revenue. We will also need to engage additional international distributors to grow our business and expand the territories in which we sell our systems. Distributors may not commit the necessary resources to market, sell and service our products to the level of our expectations. If current or future distributors do not perform adequately, or if we are unable to engage distributors in particular geographic areas, our revenue from international operations will be adversely affected. In addition, from time to time, legal disputes arise when we wish to discontinue a distributor relationship in a given territory or otherwise feel a distributor is not performing adequately. Such disputes have led to legal proceedings that are costly to litigate and that could result in outcomes that are not favorable to us.

We face significant uncertainty in the industry due to government healthcare reform.

Political, economic and regulatory influences are subjecting the healthcare industry to fundamental changes. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the “Healthcare Act”) signed into law in March 2010 enacted sweeping reforms to the U.S. healthcare industry, including mandatory health insurance, reforms to Medicare and Medicaid, the creation of large insurance purchasing groups, new taxes on medical equipment manufacturers and other significant modifications to the healthcare delivery system. Due to uncertainties regarding the ultimate features of the new federal legislation and its implementation, we cannot predict what impact the Healthcare Act may have on us, our customers or our industry. A material amount of our sales could be subject to the medical device excise tax included in the Healthcare Act, which is a 2.3% tax to be levied on the total domestic sales of medical devices, irrespective of a company’s profitability. The excise tax provisions are scheduled to go into effect January 1, 2013.

We compete against companies that have more established products, longer operating histories and greater resources, which may prevent us from achieving significant market penetration or increased operating results.

The aesthetics market is highly competitive and dynamic, and is marked by rapid and substantial technological development and product innovations. Demand for our products could be diminished by equivalent or superior products and technologies offered by competitors. Specifically, our products compete against a variety of offerings in the aesthetics market, including laser and other light-based medical devices, pharmaceutical products such as Botox, filler injections, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, liposuction, cosmetic surgical procedures and less invasive surgical solutions such as implanted sutures. We compete against products and procedures using laser, light-based, RF, ultrasound, and other aesthetic energy modalities

 

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for skin resurfacing and rejuvenation, skin tightening, body contouring, and acne treatment from companies such as Alma Laser, Cutera, Cynosure, Erchonia, Lumenis, Lutronic, Palomar, MedixSysteme, Real Aesthetics, Sciton, Sybaritic, Syneron, Ulthera, Ultrashape, and Zeltiq. Our consumer device competes against companies that offer laser, LED and other aesthetic energy devices for skin rejuvenation and acne treatment such as Clarisonic, Palomar, PhotoMedex, Syneron, Tria Beauty and Zeno.

Competition in the aesthetics market could result in price-cutting, reduced profit margins and loss of market share, any of which would harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our ability to compete effectively depends upon our ability to distinguish our company and our products from our competitors and their products, and on such factors as:

 

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safety and effectiveness;

 

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product pricing;

 

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success of our marketing initiatives;

 

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compelling clinical data;

 

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intellectual property protection;

 

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quality of customer support; and

 

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development of successful distribution channels, both domestically and internationally.

Some of our competitors have more established products and customer relationships than we do, which could inhibit our market penetration efforts. For example, we have encountered, and expect to continue to encounter, situations where, due to pre-existing relationships, potential customers decided to purchase additional products from our competitors. Potential customers also may need to recoup the cost of expensive products that they have already purchased from our competitors and thus may decide not to purchase our products, or to delay such purchase. If we are unable to achieve continued market penetration, we will be unable to compete effectively and our business will be harmed.

In addition, some of our current and potential competitors have significantly greater financial, research and development, manufacturing, and sales and marketing resources than we have. Our competitors could utilize their greater financial resources to acquire other companies to gain enhanced name recognition and market share, as well as new technologies or products that could effectively compete with our existing product lines. Given the relatively few competitors currently in the market, any business combination could exacerbate any existing competitive pressures, which could harm our business.

Competition among providers of devices for the aesthetics market is characterized by rapid innovation, and we must continuously develop new products or our revenue may decline.

While we attempt to protect our products through patents and other intellectual property rights, there are few barriers to entry that would prevent new entrants or existing competitors from developing products that compete directly with ours. If we continue to create market demand for non-surgical, non-invasive or minimally invasive treatments, competitors will enter the market with other products making similar or superior claims. We expect that any competitive advantage we may enjoy from our current and future innovations may diminish over time, as companies successfully respond to our, or create their own, innovations. Consequently, we believe that we will have to continuously innovate and improve our products and technology to compete successfully. If we are unable to innovate successfully, our systems could become obsolete and our revenue will decline as our customers purchase competing products.

Our products may have undetected and unforeseen design flaws, and may experience failures particularly when first introduced, or at any time during their lifecycle. Any product recall as a result of flaws or failures could result in the loss of or delays in market acceptance of our products and adversely affect our business and reputation. Correcting defects can be time consuming. Any significant returns or warranty claims could result in significant additional costs to us and could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

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Negative publicity regarding our current or future products and procedures could harm demand, which would adversely affect sales and our financial performance.

We have in the past experienced, and expect that in the future we will experience, negative media exposure. Such publicity may present negative individual physician or patient experience regarding the safety or effectiveness of our procedures. Competitors could attempt to use such publicity to harm our reputation and disrupt current or potential future customer relationships. While, to date, we have not observed a material impact on our quarterly financial results of operations from negative publicity, future results could be negatively impacted. Additionally, while we believe that obtaining positive publicity is important to our success, and it is an important component of our marketing efforts, we have also not observed a material impact on our quarterly financial results of operations from positive publicity.

Our reputation and competitive position may be harmed not only by negative media exposure, but also by other publicly-available information suggesting that our procedures are not safe. For example, we file reports with the FDA that are publicly available on the FDA’s website if our products may have caused or contributed to a serious injury or malfunctioned in a way that would likely cause or contribute to a serious injury if it were to recur. Competitors may attempt to harm our reputation by pointing to isolated injuries that have been reported or publicized, or by claiming that their product is superior because they have not filed as many reports with the FDA. Such negative publicity and competitor behavior could harm our reputation and our future sales.

Our manufacturing operations and those of our key manufacturing subcontractors are dependent upon third-party suppliers, making us vulnerable to supply shortages and price fluctuations, which could harm our business.

Several components and materials that comprise our products are currently manufactured by a single supplier or a limited number of suppliers. In many of these cases, we have not yet qualified alternate suppliers and rely upon purchase orders, rather than long-term supply agreements. A supply interruption or an increase in demand beyond our current suppliers’ capabilities could harm our ability to manufacture our products until new sources of supply are identified and qualified. Our reliance on these suppliers subjects us to a number of risks that could harm our business, including:

 

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interruption of supply resulting from modifications to or discontinuation of a supplier’s operations;

 

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delays in product shipments resulting from uncorrected defects, reliability issues or a supplier’s variation in a component;

 

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a lack of long-term supply arrangements for key components with our suppliers;

 

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inability to obtain adequate supply in a timely manner, or to obtain adequate supply on commercially reasonable terms;

 

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difficulty locating and qualifying alternative suppliers for our components in a timely manner;

 

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production delays related to the evaluation and testing of products from alternative suppliers, and corresponding regulatory qualifications;

 

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delay in delivery due to our suppliers prioritizing other customer orders over ours;

 

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damage to our brand reputation caused by defective components produced by our suppliers;

 

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interruption or delay of supply due to a natural disaster affecting supplier’s operations;

 

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increased cost of our warranty program due to product repair or replacement based upon defects in components produced by our suppliers; and

 

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fluctuation in delivery by our suppliers due to changes in demand from us or their other customers.

Any interruption in the supply of components or materials, or our inability to obtain substitute components or materials from alternate sources at acceptable prices in a timely manner, could impair our ability to meet the demand of our customers, which would have an adverse effect on our business.

 

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If, in the future, we decide to perform additional manufacturing functions internally that we currently outsource, our business could be harmed by our limited manufacturing experience and related capabilities.

We currently perform certain value-added and proprietary manufacturing processes internally at our principal facility, and we outsource the manufacture of components, subassemblies and certain finished products to a limited number of third parties. For financial or operational purposes, we may elect to perform additional component or system manufacturing functions internally. In that event, we may face a number of challenges beyond those that we currently address in our internal assembly, inspection, testing and certification activities. Implementing complex or specialized manufacturing processes could lead to difficulties in producing sufficient quantities of manufactured items that meet our quality standards and that comply with applicable regulatory requirements in a timely and cost-effective manner. In addition, if we experience these types of internal manufacturing difficulties, it may be expensive and time consuming to engage a new or previous subcontractor or supplier to fulfill our replacement manufacturing needs. The occurrence of any of these events could harm our business.

Problems in our manufacturing processes, or those of our manufacturing subcontractors, that lead to an actual or possible malfunction in our products, may require us to recall products from customers and could disrupt our operations. Our results of operations, our reputation and market acceptance of our products could be harmed if we encounter difficulties in manufacturing that result in a recall or patient injury, and delays in our ability to fill customer orders.

We outsource the repair of key elements of some products to sole-source service subcontractors.

We outsource the repair of certain key elements of our systems to sole source contract service providers. If the operations of those service subcontractors are interrupted, we may be limited in our ability to repair equipment. Our service subcontractors are dependent on trained technical labor to effectively repair our products. In addition, our service subcontractors may be operating as medical device manufacturers and as such are required to demonstrate and maintain compliance with the Quality System Review (“QSR”). If our service subcontractors fail to comply with the QSR, repair operations could be affected and our ability to repair certain systems may be impaired.

We may not be able to develop an alternative cooling system that will be in compliance with changing environmental regulations in a timely or cost-effective manner.

The cooling capability of our Thermage and Isolaz systems relies upon a hydroflurocarbon, or HFC, called R134a, to protect the outer layer of the skin from over-heating while our device delivers RF energy to the subcutaneous tissue. New environmental regulations phasing out certain HFCs over the next decade have been adopted or are under consideration in a number of countries, and recent European Union directives require the phase-out of certain HFCs. We have also put in place a solution for the European Union import restrictions. If we are unable to develop an alternative cooling system for our device which is not dependent on R134a in a timely or cost-effective manner, our Thermage and Isolaz systems may not be in compliance with environmental regulations, which could result in fines, civil penalties and the inability to sell our products in certain major international markets.

We forecast sales to determine requirements for components and materials used in our systems, and if our forecasts are incorrect, we may experience delays in shipments or increased inventory costs.

We keep limited materials, components and finished product on hand. To manage our manufacturing operations with our suppliers, we forecast anticipated product orders and material requirements to predict our inventory needs up to six months in advance and enter into purchase orders on the basis of these requirements. Our limited historical experience may not provide us with enough data to accurately predict future demand. If our business expands, our demand for components and materials would increase and our suppliers may be unable to meet our demand. If we overestimate our component and material requirements, we will have excess inventory, which would increase our expenses. If we underestimate our component and material requirements, we may have inadequate inventory, which could interrupt, delay or prevent delivery of systems to our customers. Any of these occurrences would negatively affect our financial performance and the level of satisfaction our customers have with our business.

 

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Even though we require training for users of our professional systems, there exists a potential for misuse, which could harm our reputation and our business.

U.S. federal regulations allow us to sell our professional systems to “licensed practitioners.” The definition of “licensed practitioners” varies from state to state. As a result, our professional systems may be operated by licensed practitioners with varying levels of training, and in many states by non-physicians, including physician assistants, registered nurses and nurse practitioners. Thus, in some states, the definition of “licensed practitioner” may result in the legal use of our professional products by non-physicians. Outside the United States, our independent distributors sell in many jurisdictions that do not require specific qualifications or training for purchasers or operators of products. We do not supervise the procedures performed with our professional systems, nor can we be assured that direct physician supervision of our equipment occurs according to our recommendations. We, and our distributors, require purchasers of our professional products to undergo an initial training session as a condition of purchase, but do not require ongoing training. In addition, we prohibit the sale of our professional systems to companies that rent our systems to third parties without our approval, but cannot prevent an otherwise qualified physician from contracting with a rental company in violation of their purchase agreement with us. The use of our professional systems by non-physicians, as well as noncompliance with the operating guidelines set forth in our training programs, may result in product misuse and adverse treatment outcomes, which could harm our reputation and expose us to costly product liability litigation.

Product liability suits could be brought against us due to defective design, labeling, material or workmanship, or misuse of our products, and could result in expensive and time-consuming litigation, payment of substantial damages and an increase in our insurance rates.

If our products are defectively designed, manufactured or labeled, contain defective components or are misused, we may become subject to substantial and costly litigation by our customers or their patients. For example, as described under “Legal Proceedings,” one such litigation matter is currently pending. Misusing our products or failing to adhere to operating guidelines could cause significant skin damage and underlying tissue damage. In addition, if our operating guidelines or product design are found to be inadequate, we may be subject to liability. We have been, continue to be and may, in the future, be involved in litigation related to the use of our products. Product liability claims could divert management’s attention from our core business, be expensive to defend and result in sizable damage awards against us. We may not have sufficient insurance coverage for all future claims. We may not be able to obtain insurance in amounts or scope sufficient to provide us with adequate coverage against all potential liabilities. Any product liability claim brought against us, with or without merit, could increase our product liability insurance rates or prevent us from securing continuing coverage, could harm our reputation in the industry and reduce product sales. Product liability claims in excess of our insurance coverage would be paid out of cash reserves, harming our financial condition and reducing our operating results.

After-market modifications to our treatment tips by third parties and the development of counterfeit treatment tips could reduce our sales, expose us to product liability litigation and dilute our brand quality.

Third parties have introduced adulterated after-market modifications to our treatment tips which have enabled re-use of our treatment tips in multiple procedures. Because our treatment tips are designed to withstand a finite number of firings, modifications intended to increase the number of firings could result in patient injuries caused by the use of worn-out or damaged treatment tips. In addition, third parties may seek to develop counterfeit treatment tips that are compatible with our systems and available to practitioners at lower prices than our own. If security features incorporated into the design of our systems are unable to prevent after-market modifications to our treatment tips or the introduction of counterfeit treatment tips, we could be subject to reduced treatment tip sales, product liability lawsuits resulting from the use of damaged or defective goods and damage to our reputation for providing a quality product.

We depend on skilled and experienced personnel to operate our business effectively. If we are unable to recruit, hire and retain these employees, our ability to manage and expand our business will be harmed, which would impair our future revenue and profitability.

Our success largely depends on the skills, experience and efforts of our officers and other key employees. Many of our officers and key employees do not have employment contracts with us and can terminate their

 

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employment at any time. The loss of any of our senior management team members could weaken our management expertise and harm our business.

Our ability to retain our skilled labor force and our success in attracting and hiring new skilled employees will be a critical factor in determining whether we will be successful in the future. We may not be able to meet our future hiring needs or retain existing personnel. We will face particularly significant challenges and risks in hiring, training, managing and retaining engineering and sales and marketing employees, as well as independent distributors, most of whom are geographically dispersed and must be trained in the use and benefits of our products. Failure to attract and retain personnel, particularly technical and sales and marketing personnel, would materially harm our ability to compete effectively and grow our business.

Risks Related to Regulatory Matters

If we fail to obtain and maintain necessary FDA clearances for our systems and indications, if clearances for future products and indications are delayed, not issued or rescinded or if there are federal or state level regulatory changes, our commercial operations would be harmed.

Our systems are medical devices that are subject to extensive regulation in the United States by the FDA for manufacturing, labeling, sale, promotion, distribution and shipping. Before a new medical device, or a new use of or claim for an existing product, can be marketed in the United States, it must first receive either 510(k) clearance or premarket approval from the FDA, unless an exemption applies. Either process can be expensive and lengthy. The FDA’s 510(k) clearance process usually takes from three to six months from the time the application is filed with the FDA, but it can take significantly longer. The process of obtaining premarket approval is much more costly and uncertain than the 510(k) clearance process, and it generally takes from one to three years, or even longer, from the time the application is filed with the FDA.

Medical devices may be marketed only for the indications for which they are approved or cleared. We have obtained 510(k) clearance for various indications for our Thermage and Fraxel systems. In addition, 510(k) clearance has been obtained for various indications of our recently acquired Isolaz systems, CLARO products and Liposonix systems. However, our clearances can be revoked if safety or effectiveness problems develop. We are also subject to Medical Device Reporting regulations, which require us to report to the FDA if our product causes or contributes to a death or serious injury, or malfunctions in a way that would likely cause or contribute to a death or serious injury if the malfunction were to recur. Our products are also subject to state regulations which are, in many instances, in flux. Changes in state regulations may impede sales. For example, federal regulations allow our systems to be sold to, or on the order of, “licensed practitioners,” as determined on a state-by-state basis. As a result, in some states, non-physicians may legally purchase and operate our systems. However, a state could change its regulations at any time, disallowing sales to particular types of end users. We cannot predict the impact or effect of future legislation or regulations at the federal or state levels.

The FDA and state authorities have broad enforcement powers. Our failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements could result in enforcement action by the FDA or state agencies, which may include any of the following sanctions:

 

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warning letters, fines, injunctions, consent decrees and civil penalties;

 

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repair, replacement, refunds, recall or seizure of our products;

 

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operating restrictions or partial suspension or total shutdown of production;

 

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refusing our requests for 510(k) clearance or premarket approval of new products, new intended uses or modifications to our existing products;

 

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withdrawing 510(k) clearance or premarket approvals that have already been granted; and

 

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criminal prosecution.

If any of these events were to occur, our business could be harmed.

 

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If we modify our FDA-cleared devices, we may need to seek and obtain new clearances, which, if not granted, would prevent us from selling our modified product or require us to redesign our product.

Any modification to an FDA-cleared device that would significantly affect its safety or effectiveness or that would constitute a change in its intended use would require a new 510(k) clearance or possibly a premarket approval. We may not be able to obtain additional 510(k) clearances or premarket approvals for new products or for modifications to, or additional indications for, our existing products in a timely fashion, or at all. Delays in obtaining future clearances would adversely affect our ability to introduce new or enhanced products in a timely manner, which in turn would harm our revenue and potential future profitability. We have made modifications to our devices in the past and may make additional modifications in the future that we believe do not or will not require additional clearances or approvals. If the FDA disagrees, and requires new clearances or approvals for the modifications, we may be required to recall and to stop marketing the modified devices, which could harm our operating results and require us to redesign our products.

If we or our suppliers and subcontractors fail to comply with the QSR, our business would suffer.

We and our suppliers and subcontractors are required to demonstrate and maintain compliance with the QSR. The QSR is a complex regulatory scheme that covers the methods and documentation of the design, testing, control, manufacturing, labeling, quality assurance, packaging, storage and shipping of our products. The FDA enforces the QSR through periodic inspections. We and our suppliers have been, and we anticipate that we and our suppliers will in the future be, subject to such inspections. In addition, certain of our suppliers have, from time to time, received warning letters from the FDA regarding potential non-compliance. Our failure, or the failure of our suppliers and subcontractors, to take satisfactory corrective action in response to an adverse QSR inspection could result in enforcement actions, including a public warning letter, a shutdown of our manufacturing operations, a recall of our products, civil or criminal penalties or other sanctions, which would cause our sales and business to suffer.

We may be unable to obtain or maintain international regulatory certifications or approvals for our current or future products and indications, which could harm our business.

To support the marketing of our products outside the United States, we must comply with and be certified to the ISO 13485: 2003 Quality Management System Standard. Failure to adequately maintain our ISO 13485: 2003 certifications may adversely impact or prevent the marketing of our products internationally. In markets where we sell through distributors, we primarily rely upon distributors to obtain all regulatory licenses, registrations and approvals required in countries outside of the United States, and these distributors may be unable to obtain or maintain such licenses, registrations and approvals. Our distributors may also incur significant costs in attempting to obtain and in maintaining regulatory licenses, registrations and approvals, which could increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining qualified distributors. If our distributors experience delays in receiving necessary licenses, registrations or approvals to market our products outside the United States, or if they fail to receive those licenses, registrations or approvals, we may be unable to market our products or product enhancements in international markets effectively, or at all.

Risks Related to Our Internal Control over Financial Reporting

While we believe we currently have adequate internal control over financial reporting, we are required to assess our internal control over financial reporting on an annual basis and any future adverse results from such assessment could result in a loss of investor confidence in our financial reports and have an adverse effect on our stock.

Pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, we are required to maintain disclosure controls and procedures and adequate internal control over financial reporting. Under such requirements we must furnish in our Form 10-K a report by our management regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. The report includes, among other things, an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of our fiscal year, including a statement as to whether or not our internal control over financial reporting is effective. This assessment must include disclosure of any material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting

 

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identified by management. While we currently believe our internal control over financial reporting is effective, the effectiveness of our internal controls in future periods is subject to the risk that our controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions. The effectiveness of our controls and procedures may in the future be limited by a variety of factors, including:

 

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faulty human judgment and simple errors, omissions or mistakes;

 

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fraudulent action of an individual or collusion of two or more people;

 

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inappropriate management override of procedures; and

 

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the possibility that any enhancements to controls and procedures may still not be adequate to assure timely and accurate financial information.

If we are unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective in any future period, or if and when applicable, our auditors are unable to express an opinion on the effectiveness of our internal controls, or conclude that our internal controls are ineffective, or if we fail to maintain adequate and effective internal control over financial reporting, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, which could have an adverse effect on our stock price.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock and this Offering

We expect that the price of our common stock will fluctuate substantially.

The market price of our common stock has historically been, and is likely to continue to be, highly volatile and may fluctuate substantially due to many factors, including:

 

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fluctuations in our operating results and the operating results of our competitors;

 

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changes in earnings estimates or recommendations regarding us or our competitors by securities analysts;

 

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volume and timing of sales of our products;

 

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conditions and trends in our industry and the markets we serve;

 

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the introduction and market acceptance of new products or product enhancements by us or our competitors;

 

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our ability to develop, obtain regulatory clearance or approval for and market new and enhanced products on a timely basis;

 

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changes in our pricing policies or the pricing policies of our competitors;

 

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announcements of significant new contracts, acquisitions or strategic alliances by us or our competitors;

 

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our ability to successfully integrate acquired companies or technologies;

 

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disputes or other developments with respect to our intellectual property rights or the intellectual property rights of others;

 

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product liability claims or other litigation;

 

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changes in accounting principles or changes in interpretations of existing principles, which could affect our financial results;

 

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sales of large blocks of our common stock, including sales by our executive officers and directors;

 

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media exposure of our products or products of our competitors;

 

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changes in legislation and governmental regulations or in the status of our regulatory approvals or applications; and

 

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general market conditions and other factors, including factors unrelated to our operating performance or the operating performance of our competitors.

These and other factors may make the price of our stock volatile and subject to unexpected fluctuation.

 

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Investors in this offering will pay a much higher price than the book value of our stock.

If you purchase shares of our common stock in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution of $3.17 per share, representing the difference between the amount per share paid by you in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock after giving effect to this offering at a public offering price of $2.65 per share and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. In the past, we issued certain stock options and warrants to purchase common stock at prices below the offering price. To the extent these outstanding stock options and warrants are ultimately exercised, you will incur further dilution. See the section entitled “Dilution” in this prospectus for a discussion of the dilution you will incur if you purchase shares of our common stock in this offering.

A sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock may cause the price of our common stock to decline.

As of June 30, 2012, we had 61,921,292 shares of our common stock outstanding. If our stockholders sell substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, for example, liquidation of shares held by our principal stockholders, including shares issued upon the exercise of outstanding options, the market price of our common stock could decline. These sales also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem reasonable or appropriate.

Our directors, officers and principal stockholders have significant voting power and may take actions that may not be in the best interests of our other stockholders.

Our officers, directors and principal stockholders, some holding more than 5% of our common stock, collectively control approximately 45% of our outstanding common stock. As a result, these stockholders, if they act together, will be able to significantly influence the management and affairs of our company and most matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock. This concentration of ownership may not be in the best interests of our other stockholders.

Anti-takeover provisions in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, and Delaware law, contain provisions that could discourage a takeover.

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and Delaware law, contain provisions that might enable our management to resist a takeover, and might make it more difficult for an investor to acquire a substantial block of our common stock. These provisions include:

 

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a classified board of directors;

 

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advance notice requirements to stockholders for matters to be brought at stockholder meetings;

 

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a supermajority stockholder vote requirement for amending certain provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws;

 

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limitations on stockholder actions by written consent; and

 

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the right to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval, which could be used to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer.

These provisions might discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company or a change in our management. The existence of these provisions could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock and limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock.

We have a large number of authorized but unissued shares of stock, which could negatively impact a potential investor if they purchased our common stock.

Our certificate of incorporation provides for 100,000,000 shares of authorized common stock, of which more than one-third of the shares are available for future issuance, and 10,000,000 shares of authorized preferred stock, all of which are available for future issuance. The issuance of additional shares of common

 

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stock may have a dilutive effect on earnings per share and relative voting power. We could use the shares of common stock that are available for future issuance in dilutive equity financing transactions, or to oppose a hostile takeover attempt or delay or prevent changes in control or changes in or removal of management, including transactions that are favored by a majority of the stockholders or in which the stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over then-current market prices or benefit in some other manner.

Our board of directors will be authorized, without further stockholder approval, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock with such rights, preferences and privileges as our board may determine. These rights, preferences and privileges may include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights and liquidation rights that may be greater than the rights of our common stock. As a result, the rights of holders of our common stock will be subject to, and could be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of any preferred stock that may be issued in the future.

We have not paid dividends in the past and do not expect to pay dividends in the future, and any return on investment may be limited to the value of our stock.

We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. The payment of dividends on our common stock will depend on our earnings, financial condition and other business and economic factors affecting us at such time as our board of directors may consider relevant. If we do not pay dividends, our stock may be less valuable because a return on your investment will only occur if our stock price appreciates.

If our public guidance or our future operating performance does not meet investor expectations, our stock price could decline.

We provide guidance to the investing community regarding our anticipated future operating performance. Our business typically has a short sales cycle, so that we do not have significant backlog of orders at the start of a quarter, and our ability to sell our products successfully is subject to many uncertainties, including those discussed in the risk factors contained in and incorporated by reference into this prospectus. In light of these factors, and the uncertainty as a result of the general economic situation, it is difficult for us to estimate with accuracy our future results. Our expectations regarding these results will be subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could make actual results differ materially from those anticipated. If our actual results do not meet our public guidance or our guidance or actual results do not meet the expectations of third-party financial analysts, our stock price could decline significantly.

If equity research analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or if they issue unfavorable commentary or downgrade our common stock, the price of our common stock could decline.

The trading market for our common stock relies in part on the research and reports that equity research analysts publish about us and our business. We do not control these analysts. The price of our common stock could decline if one or more equity analysts downgrade our common stock or if analysts issue other unfavorable commentary or cease publishing reports about us or our business.

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

We cannot specify with certainty the particular uses of the net proceeds we will receive from this offering, and these uses may vary substantially from our current plans. Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds, including for any of the purposes described in “Use of Proceeds.” Accordingly, you will have to rely upon the judgment of our management with respect to the use of the proceeds. Our stockholders may not agree with the manner in which our management chooses to allocate and spend the net proceeds. Moreover, our management could use the net proceeds for corporate purposes that may not necessarily increase our market value or improve our results of operations. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could harm our business. Pending their use, we may also invest the net proceeds from this offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.

 

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PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

Our common stock has been listed on The NASDAQ Global Market since November 2006 under the trading symbol “SLTM.”

The following table sets forth the range of high and low closing prices as reported by The NASDAQ Global Market for the periods indicated.

 

		Year Ended December 31,
Quarter		2010								2011								2012
		High				Low				High				Low				High				Low
First		$	2.25			$	1.75			$	3.68			$	2.60			$	3.25			$	2.34
Second			2.69				1.91				3.63				2.45				3.25				2.50
Third (thru August 1, 2012).			2.00				1.52				2.80				1.23				3.48				2.90
Fourth			3.05				1.97				3.25				1.23				N/A				N/A

These quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commissions, and may not represent actual transactions.

On August 1, 2012, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The NASDAQ Global Market was $3.19 per share.

As of June 30, 2012, we had approximately 141 stockholders of record and a greater number of beneficial holders for whom shares are held in “nominee” or “street” name.

DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never paid dividends to holders of our common stock and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future as we intend to retain any earnings for use in our business. Any future determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon our results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors our board of directors deems relevant.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate the net proceeds to us from the sale of our common stock in this offering will be approximately $13.9 million, or $16.1 million if the underwriters fully exercise their over-allotment option, based on the public offering price of $2.65 per share, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions (as described in “Underwriting”) and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

We currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include the contingent payment obligations due in connection with our acquisition of Liposonix as well as funding research and development, increasing our working capital, reducing indebtedness, acquisitions or investments in businesses, products, or technologies that are complementary to our own, and capital expenditures. We have no current commitments with respect to any future acquisitions or investments in other businesses, products or technologies. We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from this offering. Pending the application of the net proceeds, we intend to invest the net proceeds in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table summarizes our capitalization as of June 30, 2012, (1) on an actual basis, and (2) on an as-adjusted basis to give effect to the sale by us of 5,700,000 shares of our common stock in this offering at a public offering price of $2.65 per share, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions (as described in “Underwriting”) and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The information presented below is based on our unaudited financial statements as of June 30, 2012.

This table should be read with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

		As of June 30, 2012
		Actual				As Adjusted
		(unaudited)				(unaudited)
		(in thousands except share data)
Total liabilities		$	110,984			$	110,984
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock. $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding			—				—
Common Stock, $0.001 par value: authorized 100,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 61,921,292 shares, actual; issued and outstanding, as adjusted for this offering, 67,621,292 shares (1)			62				68
Additional paid-in capital			200,964				214,896
Accumulated deficit			(107,528	)			(107,528	)
Total stockholders’ equity			93,498				107,436
Total capitalization		$	204,482			$	218,420

 

(1)

The number of shares issued and outstanding and the additional paid-in capital exclude (a) 5,609,670 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of June 30, 2012, with a weighted-average exercise price of $2.69 per share; (b) 2,738,871 shares of our common stock issuable upon the settlement of outstanding restricted stock units and management stock units as of June 30, 2012; (c) 155,695 shares of our common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan; and (d) 4,279,952 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding as of June 30, 2012 with a weighted-average exercise price of $2.27 per share.

 

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DILUTION

As of June 30, 2012, our unaudited net tangible book value was approximately $(49.0 million), or $(0.79) per share based on 61,921,292 shares outstanding as of June 30, 2012. Our historical net tangible book value per share is calculated by subtracting our total liabilities, goodwill and intangible assets from our total assets and dividing this amount by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding on June 30, 2012.

Dilution per share to new investors in this offering represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers of shares of common stock in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock after giving effect to this offering. After giving effect to the sale of 5,700,000 shares of our common stock in this offering at a public offering price of $2.65 per share and deducting underwriting discounts and commissions (as described in “Underwriting”) and our estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma net tangible book value as of June 30, 2012 would have been approximately $(35.1 million) or $(0.52) per share of our common stock. This amount represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $0.27 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $3.17 per share to purchasers of common stock in this offering without giving effect to the over-allotment option granted to the underwriters. Dilution per share to new investors is determined by subtracting pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering from the public offering price per share paid by a new investor. The following table illustrates this per share dilution:

 

Public offering price per share of common stock						$	2.65
Historical net tangible book value per share as of June 30, 2012		$	(0.79	)
Increase per share attributable to new investors in this offering			0.27
Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of June 30, 2012, after giving effect to this offering (1)							(0.52	)
Dilution per share to new investors in this offering						$	3.17

 

(1)	Based on net proceeds of $13.9 million.

The above number of shares of our common stock outstanding excludes, as of June 30, 2012:

 

•

5,609,670 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of June 30, 2012, with a weighted-average exercise price of $2.69 per share;

 

•

2,738,871 shares of our common stock issuable upon the settlement of outstanding restricted stock units and management stock units as of June 30, 2012;

 

•

155,695 shares of our common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan; and

 

•

4,279,952 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding as of June 30, 2012, with a weighted-average exercise price of $2.27 per share.

To the extent that shares represented by the stock options, restricted stock units and warrants excluded from the table above are issued, there will be further dilution to new investors.

 

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UNDERWRITING

We are offering the shares of common stock described in this prospectus through a number of underwriters. Canaccord Genuity Inc. is acting as sole book-running manager of the offering and as representative of the underwriters. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each underwriter has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase, the number of shares indicated next to its name in the following table:

 

Underwriters		Number of Shares
Canaccord Genuity Inc.			4,845,000
Roth Capital Partners, LLC			855,000
Total			5,700,000

The underwriters are offering the common stock subject to their acceptance of the shares from us and subject to prior sale. The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the common stock offered by this prospectus are subject to the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and to certain other conditions. The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters are obligated to take and pay for all of the common stock if any such shares are purchased, other than those shares covered by the over-allotment option described below.

The underwriters have advised us that they propose to offer the shares of common stock directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and to selected dealers at the public offering price less a selling concession not in excess of $0.0954 per share. After the public offering of the shares, the underwriters may change the offering price and other selling terms.

Over-allotment Option

We have granted to the underwriters an option to purchase up to an aggregate of 855,000 additional shares of common stock from us at the public offering price less the underwriting discount. The underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, made in connection with the offering of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus. The underwriters have up to 30 days from the date of this prospectus to exercise this over-allotment option. If any shares are purchased with this over-allotment option, the underwriters will purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as shown in the table above. If any additional shares of common stock are purchased, the underwriters will offer the additional shares on the same terms as those on which the shares are being offered.

Discounts and Expenses

The following table shows the public offering price, the total underwriting discounts to be paid to the underwriters by us and the proceeds, before expenses, to us, both on a per share basis and in total. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the over-allotment option.

 

		Per Share				Total
						Without Over-allotment Exercise				With Over-allotment Exercise
Public offering price		$	2.650			$	15,105,000			$	17,370,750
Underwriting discounts paid by us			0.159				906,300				1,042,245
Proceeds, before expenses, to us			2.491				14,198,700				16,328,505

We estimate expenses payable by us in connection with the offering of common stock, other than the underwriting discounts referred to above, will be approximately $262,000, which amount includes our agreement to reimburse the underwriters for certain expenses up to an aggregate amount of $50,000.

 

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Indemnification

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

Lock-up Agreements

We and our executive officers and directors have entered into lock-up agreements with the underwriters. Under these agreements, we and each of these persons may not, without the prior written approval of Canaccord Genuity Inc., subject to limited exceptions, offer, sell, assign, transfer, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of, or announce the intention to otherwise dispose of, or enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers any economic consequences of ownership of our common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock. These restrictions will be in effect for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus. Notwithstanding the termination of the lock-up period outlined above, and subject to certain exceptions, in the event that either (1) during the last 17 days of the lock-up period, we issue an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to us occurs, or (2) prior to the expiration of the lock-up period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the lock-up period, then the expiration of the lock-up period will be extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of the issuance of an earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable, unless the underwriter waives, in writing, such extension. At any time and without public notice, the underwriter may in its sole discretion release all or some of the securities from these lock-up agreements.

Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids

Until distribution of the shares of our common stock is completed, SEC rules may limit the underwriters from bidding for and purchasing shares of our common stock. However, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of the shares of our common stock, such as bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain that price.

If the underwriters create a short position in our common stock in connection with this offering (i.e., if they sell more shares of our common stock than are listed on the cover page of this prospectus), the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing shares of our common stock in the open market. The underwriters may also elect to reduce any short position by exercising all or part of the over-allotment option described above. Purchases of shares of our common stock to stabilize its price or to reduce a short position may cause the price of shares of our common stock to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases.

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid, whereby the underwriters may reclaim selling concessions allowed to other broker-dealers in respect of the common stock sold in the offering for their account if the underwriters repurchase the shares in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the common stock, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market. The imposition of a penalty bid may also affect the price of the shares of our common stock in that it discourages resales of those shares of our common stock. The underwriters have advised us that these transactions may be effected on The NASDAQ Global Market or otherwise. Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of shares of our common stock. In addition, neither we nor the underwriters make any representation that the underwriters will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

Electronic Distribution

This prospectus may be made available in electronic format on websites or through other online services maintained by the underwriters of the offering, or by their affiliates. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on such websites and any information contained in any other website maintained by the underwriters or any of their affiliates is not part of the prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved or endorsed by us or the underwriters in their capacity as underwriters and should not be relied upon by investors.

 

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Other Relationships

Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have provided in the past to us and may provide from time to time in the future certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for us in the ordinary course of their business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. In addition, from time to time, certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may effect transactions for their own account or the account of customers, and hold on behalf of themselves or their customers, long or short positions in our debt or equity securities or loans, and may do so in the future.

European Economic Area

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive, or each Relevant Member State, with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State, or the Relevant Implementation Date, no offer of any securities that are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus has been or will be made to the public in that Relevant Member State other than any offer where a prospectus has been or will be published in relation to such securities that has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the relevant competent authority in that Relevant Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, an offer of such securities may be made to the public in that Relevant Member State:

 

(1)

to any legal entity which is a “qualified investor” as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

 

(2)

to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives of the underwriters for any such offer; or

 

(3)

in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

provided that no such offer of securities shall require us or any of the underwriters to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any securities in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the securities, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State and the expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

United Kingdom

This prospectus is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive that are also (1) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended, or the Order, and/or (2) high net worth entities falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated (each such person being referred to as a relevant person).

This prospectus and its contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by recipients to any other persons in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Fenwick & West LLP, Mountain View, California, will issue an opinion about certain legal matters with respect to the securities. Jones Day will pass upon certain matters for the underwriters.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements, and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and the effectiveness of Solta Medical, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2011 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements of Medicis Technologies Corporation at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2010, included in the amendment to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Solta Medical, Inc. filed on January 11, 2012, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-181074) under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to the shares of our common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt securities, and units offered by us in this offering. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits to the registration statement. For further information regarding our company and the common stock offered by this prospectus, please refer to the registration statement and the exhibits filed as part of the registration statement.

In addition, we file periodic reports with the SEC, including quarterly reports and annual reports, which include our audited financial statements. The registration statement, including exhibits thereto, and all of our periodic reports may be inspected without charge at the Public Reference Room maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain copies of the registration statement, including the exhibits thereto, and all of our periodic reports after payment of the fees prescribed by the SEC. For additional information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room, you may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a website which provides on-line access to reports and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC at the address: http://www.sec.gov.

Our Internet address is www.solta.com. The information on our Internet website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate” into this prospectus information that we file with the SEC in other documents. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to other documents that contain that information. Any information that we incorporate by reference is considered part of this prospectus. The documents and reports that we list below are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. In addition, all documents and reports which we file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus are incorporated by reference in this prospectus as of the respective filing dates of these

 

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documents and reports. Statements contained in documents that we file with the SEC and that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus, including information in previously filed documents or reports that have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus, to the extent the new information differs from or is inconsistent with the old information.

We have filed the following documents with the SEC. These documents are incorporated herein by reference as of their respective dates of filing:

 

•

Our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, including certain information incorporated by reference therein from our Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2012 annual meeting of stockholders;

 

•

Our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012;

 

•

Our current reports on Form 8-K filed on November 2, 2011 (as amended on January 11, 2012), March 28, 2012, April 12, 2012, and June 8, 2012 (excluding any information furnished in such reports under Items 2.02 and 7.01);

 

•

The description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on November 1, 2006 under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

 

•

Filings we make with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15 of the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement.

You may request a copy of these documents, which will be provided to you at no cost, by contacting:

Solta Medical, Inc.

25881 Industrial Boulevard

Hayward, CA 94545

Attention: Investor Relations

Tel: +1 (510) 782-2286

 

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PROSPECTUS

 

$75,000,000

Solta Medical, Inc.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Debt Securities

Units

 

 

The securities covered by this prospectus may include shares of our common stock; shares of preferred stock; warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities; debt securities consisting of debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness; or units consisting of any combination of such securities. We may offer the securities from time to time in one or more series or issuances directly to our stockholders or purchasers, or through agents, underwriters or dealers as designated from time to time.

This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide specific terms of the securities offered in a supplement to this prospectus. Such a prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement. We will sell these securities directly to our stockholders or to purchasers or through agents on our behalf or through underwriters or dealers as designated from time to time. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any of these securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will provide the names of the agents or underwriters and any applicable fees, commissions or discounts.

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “SLTM.” On April 30, 2012, the closing price of our common stock was $3.25.

 

 

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the information under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6 of this prospectus before investing in our securities.

 

 

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

 

 

The date of this prospectus is May 1, 2012

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		PAGE
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY			4
RISK FACTORS			6
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			6
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE			7
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			8
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES			9
USE OF PROCEEDS			9
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			9
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK			12
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES			14
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS			21
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS			23
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW AND THE COMPANY’S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS			24
LEGAL MATTERS			24
EXPERTS			25

 

 

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, from time to time, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings, up to a total dollar amount of $75,000,000. We have provided to you in this prospectus a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities under this shelf registration process, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering. We may also add, update or change in the prospectus supplement any of the information contained in this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus and the prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement; provided that, if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date — for example, a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement — the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the next heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. No dealer, salesperson or any other person is authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than the information and representations contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. If different information is given or different representations are made, you may not rely on that information or those representations as having been authorized by us. You may not imply from the delivery of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, nor from a sale made under this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, that our affairs are unchanged since the date of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or that the information contained in any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or any sale of a security. This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement may only be used where it is legal to sell the securities.

THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO OFFER AND SELL SECURITIES UNLESS IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms the “Company,” “Solta,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Solta Medical, Inc.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. The prospectus supplement applicable to each offering of 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 Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, which is 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. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties beyond those set forth in our reports and not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations. Any of these risks and uncertainties, whether set forth in our reports or otherwise, could cause our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects to be materially and adversely harmed. The trading price of our common stock could decline due to any of these risks and uncertainties, and, as a result, you may lose all or part of your investment.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the filing requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Therefore, we file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such reports, proxy statements and other information may be obtained by visiting the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains a website (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically.

We make our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to such reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 available free of charge through a link on our website located at www.solta.com (under “SEC”) as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with or furnished to the SEC.

 

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INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those other documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supercede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of any offering of securities made by this prospectus:

 

•

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, including certain information incorporated by reference therein from our Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2012 annual meeting of stockholders;

 

•

Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

 

•

Our current reports on Form 8-K filed on November 2, 2011 (as amended on January 11, 2012), March 28, 2012, April 12, 2012 (excluding any information furnished in such reports under Item 2.02 and 7.01);

 

•

The description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on November 1, 2006 under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

 

•

Filings we make with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement.

Upon written or oral request, we will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of such documents that are incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into the documents that this prospectus incorporates). Written or oral requests for copies should be directed to Solta Medical, Inc., 25881 Industrial Boulevard, Hayward, CA 94545, telephone number (510) 782-2286. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” for information concerning how to read and obtain copies of materials that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public offices.

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

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and documents incorporated herein by reference contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. We caution readers that any forward-looking statement is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statement. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, costs and expenses, interest rates, outcome of contingencies, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, business strategies, cost savings, objectives of management and other statements that are not historical facts. You can find many of these statements by looking for words like “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “could,” “plan,” “intend,” or similar expressions in this document or in documents incorporated by reference into this document . We intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby.

These forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from current expectations and projections. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus or, in the case of documents referred to or incorporated by reference, the date of those documents.

All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable U.S. securities law. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table shows our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated.

 

		Year Ended December 31,																		Quarter Ended
		2007		2008				2009				2010				2011				March 31, 2012
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1)		N/A			—				—				—				—				—
Deficiency of earnings to fixed charges (2)		N/A			16,379				11,291				1,798				7,489				8,742

 

(1)	In the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, and in the quarter ended March 31, 2012 no earnings were sufficient to cover fixed charges. In the year ended December 31, 2007 there were no fixed charges.

(2)	The deficiency of earnings is equivalent to net income (loss) before tax benefit (provision) and extraordinary gain, reported in thousands of dollars.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds to us from the sale of our securities under this prospectus. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include funding research and development, increasing our working capital, reducing indebtedness, acquisitions or investments in businesses, products, or technologies that are complementary to our own, and capital expenditures. We will set forth in the prospectus supplement our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities. Pending the application of the net proceeds, we intend to invest the net proceeds in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities covered by this prospectus to one or more underwriters for public offering and sale by them, and may also sell the securities to investors directly or through agents. We will name any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. We have reserved the right to sell or exchange securities directly to investors on our own behalf in jurisdictions where we are authorized to do so. We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions:

 

•

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

 

•

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

•

at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

 

•

at negotiated prices.

We may solicit directly offers to purchase the securities being offered by this prospectus. We may also designate agents to solicit offers to purchase the securities from time to time. We will name in a prospectus supplement any agent involved in the offer or sale of our securities. 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 for resale at varying prices to be determined by the dealer.

If we utilize an underwriter in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, we will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriter at the time of sale and we will provide the name of any underwriter 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 purchasers of securities for whom the underwriter may act as agent, may compensate the underwriter in the form of underwriting discounts or

 

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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 or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.

We will provide in the applicable prospectus supplement any compensation we pay 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. Underwriters, dealers, and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, 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, and to reimburse them for certain expenses. We may grant underwriters who participate in the distribution of our securities under this prospectus an option to purchase additional securities to cover any over-allotments in connection with the distribution.

The securities we offer under this prospectus 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 involves the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than we 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. 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.

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 indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including 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 they may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in these sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or in a post-effective amendment to the registration statement relating to this prospectus. 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. The 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.

To the extent required pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act, or other applicable rule, we will file a prospectus supplement to describe the terms of any offering of our securities covered by this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will disclose:

 

•

the terms of the offer;

 

•

the names of any underwriters, including any managing underwriters, as well as any dealers or agents;

 

•

the purchase price of the securities from us;

 

•

the net proceeds to us from the sale of the securities;

 

•

any delayed delivery arrangements;

 

•

any underwriting discounts, commissions or other items constituting underwriters’ compensation, and any commissions paid to agents;

 

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•

any initial public offering price; and

 

•

other facts material to the transaction.

We will bear substantially all of the costs, expenses, and fees in connection with the registration of our securities under this prospectus. The underwriters, dealers, and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business.

In compliance with guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the maximum consideration or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized capital stock consists of 110,000,000 shares. Those shares consist of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value of $0.001 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value of $0.001 per share. As of March 31, 2012, there were approximately 61,541,881 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. In addition, as of March 31, 2012, we have reserved, pursuant to various plans, 11,756,400 shares of our common stock for issuance upon exercise of stock options by our employees, directors, officers and consultants, of which 2,633,793 are reserved for stock awards currently outstanding, 5,712,183 are reserved for options currently outstanding and 3,410,424 are available for future option grants, and, as of March 31, 2012, there were outstanding warrants to purchase 4,264,852 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $2.121 per share which became exercisable on July 8, 2010 and will remain exercisable for five years thereafter. As of March 31, 2012, there also were outstanding warrants to purchase 149,339 shares of our common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $6.52 per share which will expire at various dates between August 2012 and November 2021. Our common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “SLTM”.

The following description summarizes the material terms of our capital stock. This summary is, however, subject to the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. For greater detail about our capital stock, please refer to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws.

Common Stock

Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders, except that all holders are entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. Every stockholder voting in the election of directors may cumulate his or her votes and may cast all such votes for a single director or may distribute them among the number to be voted for, or for any two or more of them as the stockholder may see fit. At any meeting of the stockholders, a quorum as to any matter shall consist of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, except where a larger quorum is required by law, by our certificate of incorporation, or by our bylaws.

Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, subject to the rights, if any, of preferred stockholders. 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 we pay our liabilities and distribute the liquidation preference of any then outstanding preferred stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future. 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 our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable, and any shares of our common stock to be issued upon an offering pursuant to this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement will be fully paid and nonassessable upon issuance.

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company. Its address is 59 Maiden Lane, New York, New York 10038, and its telephone number is (718) 921-8200.

See “Certain Provisions of Delaware Law, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws” for a description of provisions of the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws which may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing changes in the Company’s control.

Preferred Stock

The following description of preferred stock and the description of the terms of any particular series of preferred stock that we choose to issue hereunder and that will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement are not complete. These descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to the certificate of designation relating to that series. The rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series will be fixed by the certificate of designation relating to that series.

 

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The board of directors has the authority, without stockholder approval, subject to limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of the shares of preferred stock in one or more series, and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences, and rights of the shares of each series and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

•

the number of shares constituting that series;

 

•

dividend rights and rates;

 

•

voting rights;

 

•

conversion terms;

 

•

rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions); and

 

•

rights of the series in the event of liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

All shares of preferred stock offered hereby will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable and will not have any preemptive or similar rights. Our board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction that might involve a premium price for holders of the shares or which holders might believe to be in their best interests.

We will set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to the series of preferred stock being offered the following items:

 

•

the title and stated value of the preferred stock;

 

•

the number of shares of the preferred stock offered, the liquidation preference per share, and the offering price of the preferred stock;

 

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the dividend rate(s), period(s), and/or payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation applicable to the preferred stock;

 

•

whether dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends on the preferred stock will accumulate;

 

•

the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any, for the preferred stock;

 

•

the provisions for a sinking fund, if any, for the preferred stock;

 

•

the provision for redemption, if applicable, of the preferred stock;

 

•

any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange;

 

•

the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred stock will be convertible into common stock, including the conversion price (or manner of calculation) and conversion period;

 

•

voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock;

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

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

 

•

any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations, or restrictions of the preferred stock.

The transfer agent and registrar for any series of preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We will issue the debt securities offered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement under an indenture to be entered into between us and the trustee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of the debt securities will include those stated in the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in effect on the date of the indenture. We have filed a copy of the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement in which this prospectus is included. The indenture will be subject to and governed by the terms of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

We may offer under this prospectus up to an aggregate principal amount of $75,000,000 in debt securities, or if debt securities are issued at a discount, or in a foreign currency, foreign currency units or composite currency, the principal amount as may be sold for an initial public offering price of up to $75,000,000. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will represent our direct, unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured indebtedness.

The following statements relating to the debt securities and the indenture are summaries, qualified in their entirety by reference to the detailed provisions of the debt securities we issue and the indenture we enter into with the trustee.

General

We may issue the debt securities in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. We will describe the particular terms of each series of debt securities in a prospectus supplement relating to that series, which we will file with the SEC.

The prospectus supplement will set forth, to the extent required and applicable, the following terms of the debt securities in respect of which the prospectus supplement is delivered:

 

•

the title of the series;

 

•

the aggregate principal amount, and, if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding;

 

•

the issue price or prices, expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

 

•

any limit on the aggregate principal amount;

 

•

the date or dates on which principal is payable;

 

•

the interest rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates;

 

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the date or dates from which interest, if any, will be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable;

 

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the place or places where principal and, if applicable, premium and interest, is payable;

 

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the terms and conditions upon which we may, or the holders may require us to, redeem or repurchase the debt securities;

 

•

the denominations in which such debt securities may be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple of that number;

 

•

whether the debt securities are to be issuable in the form of certificated securities (as described below) or global securities (as described below);

 

•

the portion of principal amount that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date if other than the principal amount of the debt securities;

 

•

the currency of denomination;

 

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•

the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal and, if applicable, premium and interest, will be made;

 

•

if payments of principal and, if applicable, premium or interest, on the debt securities are to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than the currency of denomination, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;

 

•

if amounts of principal and, if applicable, premium and interest may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index, then the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

 

•

the provisions, if any, relating to any collateral provided for such debt securities;

 

•

any addition to or change in the covenants and/or the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture;

 

•

any events of default, if not otherwise described below under “Events of Default”;

 

•

the terms and conditions, if any, for conversion into or exchange for shares of our common stock or preferred stock;

 

•

any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents; and

 

•

the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to our other indebtedness.

We may issue discount debt securities that provide for an amount less than the stated principal amount to be due and payable upon acceleration of the maturity of such debt securities in accordance with the terms of the indenture. We may also issue debt securities in bearer form, with or without coupons. If we issue discount debt securities or debt securities in bearer form, we will describe material U.S. federal income tax considerations and other material special considerations which apply to these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may issue debt securities denominated in or payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units. If we do, we will describe the restrictions, elections, and general tax considerations relating to the debt securities and the foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Debt securities offered under this prospectus and any prospectus supplement will be subordinated in right of payment to certain of our outstanding senior indebtedness, including our credit facilities. In addition, we will seek the consent of the holders of any such senior indebtedness prior to issuing any debt securities under this prospectus to the extent required by the agreements evidencing such senior indebtedness.

Exchange and/or Conversion Rights

We may issue debt securities that can be exchanged for or converted into shares of our common stock or preferred stock. If we do, we will describe the terms of exchange or conversion in the prospectus supplement relating to these debt securities.

Transfer and Exchange

We may issue debt securities that will be represented by either:

 

•

“book-entry securities,” which means that there will be one or more global securities registered in the name of a depositary or a nominee of a depositary; or

 

•

“certificated securities,” which means that they will be represented by a certificate issued in definitive registered form.

We will specify in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular offering whether the debt securities offered will be book-entry or certificated securities.

 

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Certificated Debt Securities

If you hold certificated debt securities, you may transfer or exchange such debt securities at the trustee’s office or at the paying agent’s office or agency in accordance with the terms of the indenture. You will not be charged a service charge for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities but may be required to pay an amount sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with such transfer or exchange.

You may effect the transfer of certificated debt securities and of the right to receive the principal of, premium, and/or interest, if any, on the certificated debt securities only by surrendering the certificate representing the certificated debt securities and having us or the trustee issue a new certificate to the new holder.

Global Securities

If we decide to issue debt securities in the form of one or more global securities, then we will register the global securities in the name of the depositary for the global securities or the nominee of the depositary, and the global securities will be delivered by the trustee to the depositary for credit to the accounts of the holders of beneficial interests in the debt securities.

The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement for debt securities of a series that are issued in global form. None of us, the trustee, any payment agent or the security registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global debt security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to these beneficial ownership interests.

No Protection in the Event of Change of Control

The indenture does not have any covenants or other provisions providing for a put or increased interest or otherwise that would afford holders of our debt securities additional protection in the event of a recapitalization transaction, a change of control, or a highly leveraged transaction. If we offer any covenants or provisions of this type with respect to any debt securities covered by this prospectus, we will describe them in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Covenants

Unless otherwise indicated in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement, our debt securities will not have the benefit of any covenants that limit or restrict our business or operations, the pledging of our assets or the incurrence by us of indebtedness. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any material covenants in respect of a series of debt securities.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

The form of indenture provides that we will not consolidate with or merge into any other person or convey, transfer, sell or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless:

 

•

the person formed by the consolidation or into or with which we are merged or the person to which our properties and assets are conveyed, transferred, sold or leased, is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the U.S., any state or the District of Columbia or a corporation or comparable legal entity organized under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction and, if we are not the surviving person, the surviving person has expressly assumed all of our obligations, including the payment of the principal of and, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities and the performance of the other covenants under the indenture; and

 

•

immediately before and immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default, has occurred and is continuing under the indenture.

 

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Events of Default

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following events will be events of default under the indenture with respect to debt securities of any series:

 

•

we fail to pay any principal or premium, if any, when it becomes due;

 

•

we fail to pay any interest within 30 days after it becomes due;

 

•

we fail to observe or perform any other covenant in the debt securities or the indenture for 60 days after written notice specifying the failure from the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series; and

 

•

certain events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us or any of our significant subsidiaries.

The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the debt securities of any series of any default, except in payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities of a series, if the trustee considers it to be in the best interest of the holders of the debt securities of that series to do so.

If an event of default (other than an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) occurs, and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may accelerate the maturity of the debt securities. If this happens, the entire principal amount, plus the premium, if any, of all the outstanding debt securities of the affected series plus accrued interest to the date of acceleration will be immediately due and payable. At any time after the acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on such acceleration is obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of such series may rescind and annul such acceleration if:

 

•

all events of default (other than nonpayment of accelerated principal, premium or interest) have been cured or waived;

 

•

all lawful interest on overdue interest and overdue principal has been paid; and

 

•

the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree.

In addition, if the acceleration occurs at any time when we have outstanding indebtedness that is senior to the debt securities, the payment of the principal amount of outstanding debt securities may be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment of any amounts due under the senior indebtedness, in which case the holders of debt securities will be entitled to payment under the terms prescribed in the instruments evidencing the senior indebtedness and the indenture.

If an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occurs, the principal, premium and interest amount with respect to all of the debt securities of any series will be due and payable immediately without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or the holders of the debt securities of that series.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series will have the right to waive any existing default or compliance with any provision of the indenture or the debt securities of that series and to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, subject to certain limitations specified in the indenture.

No holder of any debt security of a series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the indenture or for any remedy under the indenture, unless:

 

•

the holder gives to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default;

 

•

the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series make a written request and offer reasonable indemnity to the trustee to institute a proceeding as trustee;

 

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•

the trustee fails to institute a proceeding within 60 days after such request; and

 

•

the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series do not give the trustee a direction inconsistent with such request during such 60-day period.

These limitations do not, however, apply to a suit instituted for payment on debt securities of any series on or after the due dates expressed in the debt securities.

We will periodically deliver certificates to the trustee regarding our compliance with our obligations under the indenture.

Modification and Waiver

From time to time, we and the trustee may, without the consent of holders of the debt securities of one or more series, amend the indenture or the debt securities of one or more series, or supplement the indenture, for certain specified purposes, including:

 

•

to provide that the surviving entity following a change of control permitted under the indenture will assume all of our obligations under the indenture and debt securities;

 

•

to provide for certificated debt securities in addition to uncertificated debt securities;

 

•

to comply with any requirements of the SEC under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939;

 

•

to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of debt securities of any series as permitted by the indenture;

 

•

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or make any other change that does not materially and adversely affect the rights of any holder; and

 

•

to appoint a successor trustee under the indenture with respect to one or more series.

From time to time we and the trustee may, with the consent of holders of at least a majority in principal amount of an outstanding series of debt securities, amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities series, or waive compliance in a particular instance by us with any provision of the indenture or the debt securities. We may not, however, without the consent of each holder affected by such action, modify or supplement the indenture or the debt securities or waive compliance with any provision of the indenture or the debt securities in order to:

 

•

reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement, or waiver to the indenture or such debt security;

 

•

reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest or reduce the amount of or postpone the date for payment of sinking fund or analogous obligations;

 

•

reduce the principal of or change the stated maturity of the debt securities;

 

•

make any debt security payable in money other than that stated in the debt security;

 

•

change the amount or time of any payment required or reduce the premium payable upon any redemption, or change the time before which no such redemption may be made;

 

•

waive a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities or a redemption payment;

 

•

waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt securities or change any provision with respect to redemption of debt securities; or

 

•

take any other action otherwise prohibited by the indenture to be taken without the consent of each holder affected by the action.

 

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Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances

The indenture permits us, at any time, to elect to discharge our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities by following certain procedures described in the indenture. These procedures will allow us either:

 

•

to defease and be discharged from any and all of our obligations with respect to any debt securities except for the following obligations (which discharge is referred to as “legal defeasance”):

 

1.

to register the transfer or exchange of such debt securities;

 

2.

to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities;

 

3.

to compensate and indemnify the trustee; or

 

4.

to maintain an office or agency in respect of the debt securities and to hold monies for payment in trust; or

 

•

to be released from our obligations with respect to the debt securities under certain covenants contained in the indenture, as well as any additional covenants which may be contained in the applicable supplemental indenture (which release is referred to as “covenant defeasance”).

In order to exercise either defeasance option, we must deposit with the trustee or other qualifying trustee, in trust for that purpose:

 

•

money;

 

•

U.S. Government Obligations (as described below) or Foreign Government Obligations (as described below) that through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money; or

 

•

a combination of money and/or U.S. Government Obligations and/or Foreign Government Obligations sufficient in the written opinion of a nationally-recognized firm of independent accountants to provide money;

that, in each case specified above, provides a sufficient amount to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities of the series, on the scheduled due dates or on a selected date of redemption in accordance with the terms of the indenture.

In addition, defeasance may be effected only if, among other things:

 

•

in the case of either legal or covenant defeasance, we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel, as specified in the indenture, stating that as a result of the defeasance neither the trust nor the trustee will be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

 

•

in the case of legal defeasance, we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling to the effect that, or there has been a change in any applicable federal income tax law with the effect that (and the opinion shall confirm that), the holders of outstanding debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes solely as a result of such legal defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner, including as a result of prepayment, and at the same times as would have been the case if legal defeasance had not occurred;

 

•

in the case of covenant defeasance, we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the outstanding debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if covenant defeasance had not occurred; and

 

•

certain other conditions described in the indenture are satisfied.

 

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If we fail to comply with our remaining obligations under the indenture and applicable supplemental indenture after a covenant defeasance of the indenture and applicable supplemental indenture, and the debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any undefeased event of default, the amount of money and/or U.S. Government Obligations and/or Foreign Government Obligations on deposit with the trustee could be insufficient to pay amounts due under the debt securities of the affected series at the time of acceleration. We will, however, remain liable in respect of these payments.

The term “U.S. Government Obligations” as used in the above discussion means securities that are direct obligations of or non-callable obligations guaranteed by the United States of America for the payment of which obligation or guarantee the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged.

The term “Foreign Government Obligations” as used in the above discussion means, with respect to debt securities of any series that are denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, (1) direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged or (2) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agent or instrumentality of such government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by that government, which in either case under clauses (1) or (2), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer.

Regarding the Trustee

We will identify the trustee with respect to any series of debt securities in the prospectus supplement relating to the applicable debt securities. You should note that if the trustee becomes a creditor of ours, the indenture and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 limit the rights of the trustee to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim, as security or otherwise. The trustee and its affiliates may engage in, and will be permitted to continue to engage in, other transactions with us and our affiliates. If, however, the trustee acquires any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, it must eliminate such conflict or resign.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the trustee. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee, in the exercise of its rights and powers, must use the degree of care and skill of a prudent person in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to that provision, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any of the holders of the debt securities, unless they have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity or security.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

General

We may issue warrants for the purchase of our debt securities, preferred stock, or common stock, or any combination thereof. Warrants may be issued independently or together with our debt securities, preferred stock, or common stock and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants. The warrant agent will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. This summary of certain provisions of the warrants is not complete. For the terms of a particular series of warrants, you should refer to the prospectus supplement for that series of warrants and the warrant agreement for that particular series.

Debt warrants

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to purchase debt securities will describe the terms of the debt warrants, including the following:

 

•

the title of the debt warrants;

 

•

the offering price for the debt warrants, if any;

 

•

the aggregate number of the debt warrants;

 

•

the designation and terms of the debt securities, including any conversion rights, purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants;

 

•

if applicable, the date from and after which the debt warrants and any debt securities issued with them will be separately transferable;

 

•

the principal amount of debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a debt warrant and the exercise price for the warrants, which may be payable in cash, securities, or other property;

 

•

the dates on which the right to exercise the debt warrants will commence and expire;

 

•

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

 

•

whether the debt warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates or debt securities that may be issued upon exercise of the debt warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form;

 

•

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

 

•

if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations;

 

•

the antidilution provisions of the debt warrants, if any;

 

•

the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the debt warrants;

 

•

any provisions with respect to the holder’s right to require us to repurchase the warrants upon a change in control or similar event; and

 

•

any additional terms of the debt warrants, including procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange, exercise, and settlement of the debt warrants.

Debt warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations. Debt warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their debt warrants, holders of debt warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise and will not be entitled to payment of principal or any premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise.

 

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Equity warrants

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants to purchase our common stock or preferred stock will describe the terms of the warrants, including the following:

 

•

the title of the warrants;

 

•

the offering price for the warrants, if any;

 

•

the aggregate number of warrants;

 

•

the designation and terms of the common stock or preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;

 

•

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

 

•

if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable;

 

•

the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the exercise price for the warrants;

 

•

the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and expire;

 

•

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

 

•

the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

 

•

if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations;

 

•

the antidilution provisions of the warrants, if any;

 

•

the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants;

 

•

any provisions with respect to holder’s right to require us to repurchase the warrants upon a change in control or similar event; and

 

•

any additional terms of the warrants, including procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange, exercise, and settlement of the warrants.

Holders of equity warrants will not be entitled:

 

•

to vote, consent, or receive dividends;

 

•

receive notice as stockholders with respect to any meeting of stockholders for the election of our directors or any other matter; or

 

•

exercise any rights as stockholders of Solta.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue units consisting of some or all of the securities described above, in any combination, including common stock, preferred stock, warrants and/or debt securities. The terms of these units will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The description of the terms of these units in the related prospectus supplement will not be complete. You should refer to the applicable form of unit and unit agreement for complete information with respect to these units.

 

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CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW AND THE COMPANY’S CERTIFICATE

OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS

The following paragraphs summarize certain provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, and the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws. The summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the DGCL and to the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, copies of which are on file with the SEC as exhibits to documents previously filed by the Company. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Our certificate of incorporation limits the personal liability of our directors to Solta and our stockholders to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. The inclusion of this provision in our certificate of incorporation may reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and may discourage or deter stockholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their duty of care.

Our bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders can be called only by the board of directors, the Chairman of the board of directors, or the President. Stockholders are not permitted to call a special meeting and cannot require the board of directors to call a special meeting.

Our organizational documents contain provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include the ability of our board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred stock and the ability of our board of directors to amend the bylaws without stockholder approval.

We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any “business combination” with an “interested stockholder,” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which a person became an “interested stockholder,” unless:

 

•

prior to such date the board of directors of the corporation approved either the “business combination” or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an “interested stockholder;”

 

•

upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an “interested stockholder,” the “interested stockholder” owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of voting shares outstanding (but not the voting shares owned by the “interested stockholder”) those shares owned (1) by persons who are directors and also officers and (2) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

•

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

A “business combination” includes mergers, stock or asset sales and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the “interested stockholders.” An “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years, did own) 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock. Although Section 203 permits us to elect not to be governed by its provisions, we have not made this election. As a result of the application of Section 203, potential acquirers of Solta may be discouraged from attempting to effect an acquisition transaction with us, thereby possibly depriving holders of our securities of certain opportunities to sell or otherwise dispose of such securities at above-market prices pursuant to such transactions.

LEGAL MATTERS

Fenwick & West LLP, Mountain View, California, will issue an opinion about certain legal matters with respect to the securities. Any underwriters or agents will be advised about legal matters relating to any offering by their own counsel.

 

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EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements, and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and the effectiveness of Solta Medical, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2011 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements of Medicis Technologies Corporation at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2010, included in the amendment to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Solta Medical, Inc. filed on January 11, 2012, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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5,700,000 Shares

Solta Medical, Inc.

Common Stock

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

Canaccord Genuity

Roth Capital Partners

August 2, 2012