POSASR
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 2016

Registration No. 333-202060

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Post-Effective

Amendment No. 1

to

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Groupon, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   27-0903295

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

600 West Chicago Avenue

Suite 400

Chicago, Illinois 60654

312-334-1579

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

 

 

Dane A. Drobny, Esq.

Groupon, Inc.

600 West Chicago Avenue

Suite 400

Chicago, Illinois 60654

312-334-1579

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

 

 

Copies to:

Steven J. Gavin, Esq.

Winston & Strawn LLP

35 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60601

312-558-5600

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  ☒

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act. check the following box.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer

 

  

Accelerated filer

 

Non-accelerated filer

 

☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

  

Smaller reporting company

 

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Amount

to be

Registered

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering Price

Per Share

 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price

 

Amount of

Registration Fee

Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share

  (1)   (1)   (1)   (2)

Total

               

 

 

(1)

An indeterminate number of shares of common stock of the Company may be sold from time to time in unspecified numbers and at indeterminate prices, by selling stockholders to be named in a prospectus supplement, pursuant to this Registration Statement.

(2)

In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act at 1933, as amended, Groupon, Inc. is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.

 

 

 


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EXPLANATORY NOTE

On October 31, 2016, all of the Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), and Class B Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of Groupon, Inc. (“Groupon” or the “Registrant”) automatically converted (the “Conversion”) into a single class of stock designated common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) pursuant to the terms of Groupon’s Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended. Each share of Common Stock issued in connection with such conversion will have the same designations, rights, powers and preference as the Class A Common Stock prior to such conversion. This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-202060) is being filed solely for the purposes of (i) deregistering all of the Class A Common Stock previously registered hereunder and (ii) adding the Common Stock as a new class of securities hereunder. Other than certain updates related to the passage of time and the changes to reflect the Conversion and reference Common Stock rather than Class A Common Stock as the class of securities registered hereunder, no other changes or additions are being made to the prospectus that forms a part of this Registration Statement.


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PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

Common Stock

This prospectus relates solely to sales of Groupon, Inc. Common Stock by selling stockholders, some of whom may be our affiliates, who acquire shares of such Common Stock and related registration rights in connection with transactions covered under Rule 145 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The selling stockholders, who will be named in a prospectus supplement, may offer and sell shares of our Common Stock from time to time in amounts, at prices and on terms that will be determined at the time of any such offering. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock to be offered by the selling stockholders.

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to our Common Stock. Each time any Common Stock is offered pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing more specific information about the offering, including the identities of, and the number of shares of our Common Stock to be sold by, the selling stockholders. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. You should read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, carefully before you make your investment decision.

This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell shares of our Common Stock unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

Our Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and trades under the symbol “GRPN.”

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully read and consider the risk factors included in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in any applicable prospectus supplement relating to a specific offering of securities and in any other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 1 of this prospectus, in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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

 

 

The shares of our Common Stock may be sold 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 a negotiated price. The shares of our Common Stock offered by this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement may be offered by the selling stockholders directly to purchasers or to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers or other agents. The prospectus supplement for each offering will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering and will set forth the names of any underwriters, brokers or dealers or agents involved in the offering and any applicable fees, commissions or discounts. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” on page 4 of this prospectus.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is October 31, 2016.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     ii   

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     iii   

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     iii   

GROUPON, INC

     1   

RISK FACTORS

     1   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     1   

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     1   

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

     4   

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     4   

VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES

     8   

EXPERTS

     8   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     8   

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and in other offering material, including free writing prospectuses, if any, or information contained in documents which you are referred to by this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, or in other offering material, if any. Neither we nor the selling stockholders have authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The selling stockholders are not offering to sell any securities in any jurisdiction where such offer and sale are not permitted. The information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus or other offering material is accurate only as of the date of those documents or information, regardless of the time of delivery of the documents or information or the time of any sale of the securities. Neither the delivery of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement nor any distribution of securities pursuant to such documents shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the information set forth in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or in our affairs since the date of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of an “automatic shelf” registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. By using a shelf registration statement, the selling stockholders may sell at any time, and from time to time, an indeterminate amount of Common Stock in one or more offerings.

This prospectus provides you with only a general description of Common Stock the selling stockholders may offer. It is not meant to be a complete description. Each time the selling stockholders sell Common Stock, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the Common Stock offered. We and any underwriter or agent that the selling stockholders may from time to time retain may also provide other information relating to an offering, which we refer to as “other offering material.” The prospectus supplement as well as the other offering material may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in the documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, and any other offering material (including any free writing prospectus) prepared by or on behalf of us for a specific offering of our Common Stock, together with additional information described in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and any other offering material. Throughout this prospectus, where we indicate that information may be supplemented in an applicable prospectus supplement or supplements, that information may also be supplemented in other offering material. If there is any inconsistency between this prospectus and the information contained in a prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

Unless we state otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references to “Groupon,” the “Company,” “us,” “we” or “our” in this prospectus mean Groupon, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. When we refer to “you” in this section, we mean all purchasers of the Common Stock being offered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, whether they are the holders or only indirect owners of those securities.

 

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to those documents. Any statement contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents:

 

(a)

Annual Report on Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2015;

 

(b)

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2016;

 

(c)

Current Reports on Form 8-K dated April 4, 2016, April 28, 2016 (Item 5.02 only), May 9, 2016, June 14, 2016, July 1, 2016 and October 31, 2016;

 

(d)

the description of our Common Stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed on October 31, 2016, pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); and

 

(e)

all documents filed by us under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act before the termination of the offering of securities under this prospectus.

Nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished but not filed with the SEC pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item  7.01 of Form 8-K.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this prospectus and other documents we file with the SEC that refer to plans and expectations for the next quarter, the full year or the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those discussed. The words “may,” will,” should,” “could,” “expect,” anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” intend,” “continue” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, volatility in our revenue and operating results; risks related to our business strategy, including our strategy to grow our local marketplaces, marketing strategy and spend and the productivity of those marketing investments and the impact of our shift away from lower margin products in our Goods category; effectively dealing with challenges arising from our international operations, including fluctuations in currency exchange rates and any potential adverse impact from the United Kingdom’s likely exit from the European Union; retaining existing customers and adding new customers, including as we increase our marketing spend and shift away from lower margin products in our Goods category; retaining and adding high quality merchants; cyber security breaches; incurring expenses as we expand our business; competing successfully in our industry; maintaining favorable payment terms with our business partners; providing a strong mobile experience for our customers; delivery and routing of our emails; product liability claims; managing inventory and order fulfillment risks; integrating our technology platforms; litigation; managing refund risks; retaining, attracting and integrating members of our executive team; difficulties, delays or our inability to successfully complete all or part of the announced restructuring actions or to realize the operating efficiencies and other benefits of such restructuring actions; higher than anticipated restructuring charges or changes in the timing of such restructuring charges; completing and realizing the anticipated benefits from acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and strategic investments; tax liabilities; tax legislation; compliance with domestic and foreign laws and regulations, including the CARD Act and regulation of the Internet and e-commerce; classification of our independent contractors; maintaining our information technology infrastructure; protecting our intellectual property; maintaining a strong brand; seasonality; customer and merchant fraud; payment-related risks; our ability to raise capital if necessary and our outstanding indebtedness; global economic uncertainty; the impact of our ongoing strategic review and any potential strategic alternatives we may choose to pursue; our senior convertible notes; and our ability to

 

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realize the anticipated benefits from the hedge and warrant transactions. For additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties, we urge you to refer to the factors included under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2016 and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Groupon’s actual results could differ materially from those predicted or implied and reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance.

You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although Groupon believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Moreover, neither the company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements and except as required under the federal securities laws and the regulations of the SEC, the Company does not have any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements after the distribution of this prospectus, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

 

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GROUPON, INC.

Groupon, which commenced operations in October 2008, operates online local commerce marketplaces throughout the world that connect merchants to consumers by offering goods and services, generally at a discount. Customers access those marketplaces through its websites, primarily localized groupon.com sites in many countries, and its mobile applications.

Our principal executive offices are located at 600 West Chicago Avenue, Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60654. Our telephone number is (312) 334-1579. Our website address is www.groupon.com. The information on or accessible through our website is not part of this prospectus and should not be relied upon in connection with making any investment decision with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors described in Part I - Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K and our other reports filed from time to time with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as the same may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by our filings under the Exchange Act, as well as any prospectus supplement relating to a specific offering. Before making any investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement. For more information, see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 8 of this prospectus. These risks could materially affect our business, results of operations or financial condition and affect the value of our Common Stock. You could lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock by the selling stockholders to be named in a prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

On October 31, 2016, each share of our Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), and Class B Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), automatically converted (the “Conversion”) into a single class of Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share pursuant to the terms of our the Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended from time to time, the “certificate of incorporation”). In connection with the Conversion, the Company filed a Certificate of Retirement (the “certificate of retirement”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to provide that upon the Conversion, the reissuance of all Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will be prohibited and such shares will be retired and, upon such retirement, all references to the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock in the certificate of incorporation will be eliminated. The Company then filed a Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which restated and integrated but did not further amend the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, as amended by the certificate of retirement (the “restated certificate”).

The following description of our Common Stock and of certain provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) do not purport to be complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to our restated certificate (as restated to include the terms of the certificate of retirement), our amended and restated by-laws (as amended from time to time, the “amended and restated by-laws”), copies of which have been filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. References in this section to the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Groupon, Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.

As of October 24, we had outstanding 573,562,013 shares of Common Stock held of record by 171 stockholders. As of October 24, 2016, we had outstanding options to acquire 993,572 shares of Common Stock held by employees. In addition, as of October 24, 2016, we had outstanding 29,269,452 unvested restricted stock units held by employees, all of which will vest into an equivalent number of shares of Common Stock upon the applicable settlement date. Finally, as of October 24, 2016, we had outstanding 389,046 performance share units held by certain key employees, the vesting of which is contingent upon our achievement of specified financial and operational targets. The share information set forth above in this paragraph is presented as if the Conversion had occurred on October 24, 2016.

 

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Common Stock

Pursuant to our restated certificate, our board of directors has the authority to issue up to a total of 2,010,000,000 shares of Common Stock. Each holder of Common Stock shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each such share on any matter that is submitted to a vote of stockholders and shall otherwise have the rights conferred by the DGCL in respect of such shares. In addition, holders of the Common Stock will vote as a single class of stock on any matter that is submitted to a vote of stockholders.

Preferred Stock

Pursuant to our restated certificate, our board of directors has the authority, without approval by the stockholders, to issue up to a total of 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series. Our board of directors may establish the number of shares to be included in each such series and may fix the designations, preferences, powers and other rights of the shares of a series of preferred stock. Our board of directors could authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could dilute the voting power or rights of the holders of our Common Stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of Groupon and might harm the market price of our Common Stock.

Elimination of Liability in Certain Circumstances

Our restated certificate eliminates the liability of our directors to us or our stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duties as directors. Directors will remain liable for breaches of their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, as well as for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, and transactions from which a director derives improper personal benefit. Our restated certificate will not absolve directors of liability for payment of dividends or stock purchases or redemptions by us in violation of Section 174 (or any successor provision of the DGCL).

The effect of this provision is to eliminate the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for actions involving a breach of their fiduciary duty of care, including any such actions involving gross negligence. We do not believe that this provision eliminates the liability of our directors to us or our stockholders for monetary damages under the federal securities laws. Our restated certificate and our amended and restated by-laws provide indemnification for the benefit of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it may be amended from time to time, including most circumstances under which indemnification otherwise would be discretionary.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law, Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Our Amended and Restated By-Laws

Number of Directors; Removal; Vacancies. We currently have nine directors and our amended and restated by-laws provide that we shall have such number of directors as is determined by a resolution of the board of directors then in office. Vacancies on the board of directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office. Our restated certificate and our amended and restated by-laws provide that directors may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

Special Meetings of Stockholders; Limitations on Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Our restated certificate and our amended and restated by-laws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by our Chairman of the Board, our Chief Executive Officer, our board of directors or holders of not less than a majority of our issued and outstanding voting stock. Any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by written consent unless the action to be effected and the taking of such action by written consent have been approved in advance by our board of directors.

Amendments; Vote Requirements. Certain provisions of our restated certificate and amended and restated by-laws provide that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required for stockholders to amend our restated certificate or amended and restated by-laws, including those provisions relating to action by written consent and the ability of stockholders to call special meetings.

 

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Authorized but Unissued Shares; Undesignated Preferred Stock. The authorized but unissued shares of our Common Stock will be available for future issuance without stockholder approval. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. In addition, our board of directors may authorize, without stockholder approval, undesignated preferred stock with voting rights or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to acquire us. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or preferred stock could render it more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Nomination of Directors. Our amended and restated by-laws provide that stockholders seeking to bring business before an annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate individuals for election as directors at an annual meeting of stockholders, must provide timely notice in writing. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. However, in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or 60 days after such anniversary date, such notice will be timely only if received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the date on which a public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was made. Our amended and restated by-laws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice.

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, with the following exceptions:

 

 

 

before 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 completion of the transaction that 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 began, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned (i) by persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) 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

 

 

 

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

In general, Section 203 defines a business combination to include the following:

 

 

 

any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

 

 

 

any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder;

 

 

 

subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;

 

 

 

any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock or any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or

 

 

 

the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loss, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits by or through the corporation.

In general, Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” as an entity or person who, together with the person’s affiliates and associates, beneficially owns, or within three years prior to the time of determination of interested stockholder status did own, 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation.

 

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Choice of Forum

Our restated certificate provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; (ii) any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty; (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the DGCL, our restated certificate or our amended and restated by-laws; or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our Common Stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The transfer agent’s address is 250 Royall Street, Canton, MA 02021.

Stock Exchange Listing

Our Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “GRPN.”

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

Information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock by selling stockholders, the numbers of shares being offered by selling stockholders and the number of shares beneficially owned by selling stockholders after the applicable offering, where applicable, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment, or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference. Selling stockholders may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the Common Stock they resell and any profits on the sales may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commission under the Securities Act. The selling stockholders named in any prospectus supplement are stockholders who acquire shares of Common Stock and related registration rights in connection with transactions covered under Rule 145 of the Securities Act, and may include certain of our affiliates.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The selling stockholders may offer and sell the stock covered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions, including without limitation:

 

 

 

directly to one or more purchasers;

 

 

 

through agents;

 

 

 

to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers; or

 

 

 

through a combination of any of these methods.

In addition, the manner in which the selling stockholders may sell some or all of the Common Stock covered by this prospectus includes any method permitted by law, including, without limitation, through:

 

 

 

a block trade in which a broker-dealer will attempt to sell as agent, but may position or resell a portion of the block, as principal, in order to facilitate the transaction;

 

 

 

purchases by a broker-dealer, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

 

 

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers; or

 

 

 

privately negotiated transactions.

The selling stockholders may also enter into hedging transactions. For example, the selling stockholders may:

 

 

 

enter into transactions with a broker-dealer or affiliate thereof in connection with which such broker-dealer or affiliate will engage in short sales of the Common Stock pursuant to this prospectus, in which case such broker-dealer or affiliate may use shares of Common Stock received from the selling stockholders to close out its short positions;

 

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sell securities short and redeliver such shares to close out the short positions;

 

 

 

enter into option or other types of transactions that require the selling stockholders to deliver Common Stock to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who will then resell or transfer the Common Stock under this prospectus; or

 

 

 

loan or pledge the Common Stock to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who may sell the loaned shares or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged shares pursuant to this prospectus.

The securities covered by this prospectus may be sold:

 

 

 

on a national securities exchange;

 

 

 

in the over-the-counter market; or

 

 

 

in transactions otherwise than on an exchange or in the over-the-counter market.

In addition, the selling stockholders may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from the selling stockholders or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from the selling stockholders to close out any related short positions. The selling stockholders may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

A prospectus supplement with respect to each offering of securities will state the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

 

 

 

the name or names of any participating underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents and the amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them, if any;

 

 

 

the public offering price or purchase price of the securities and the net proceeds to be received by the selling stockholders from the sale;

 

 

 

any delayed delivery arrangements;

 

 

 

any underwriting discounts, commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’, brokers’, dealers’ or agents’ compensation;

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

any securities exchange or markets on which the securities may be listed; and

 

 

 

other material terms of the offering.

The offer and sale of the securities described in this prospectus by the selling stockholders, the underwriters or the third parties described above may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including privately negotiated transactions, either:

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

 

 

at prices related to the prevailing market prices; or

 

 

 

at negotiated prices.

 

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In addition to selling its Common Stock under this prospectus, a selling stockholder may:

 

 

 

transfer its Common Stock in other ways not involving a market maker or established trading markets, including directly by gift;

 

 

 

sell its Common Stock under Rule 144 or Rule 145 of the Securities Act rather than under this prospectus, if the transaction meets the requirements of Rule 144 or Rule 145; or

 

 

 

sell its Common Stock by any other legally available means.

General

Any public offering price and any discounts, commissions, concessions or other items constituting compensation allowed or reallowed or paid to underwriters, dealers, agents or remarketing firms may be changed from time to time. Any selling stockholders, underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms that participate in the distribution of the offered securities may be “underwriters” as defined in the Securities Act. Any discounts or commissions they receive from the selling stockholders and any profits they receive on the resale of the offered securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. The selling stockholders will identify any underwriters, agents or dealers and describe their commissions, fees or discounts in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

The selling stockholders and other persons participating in the sale or distribution of the securities will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M. This regulation may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the securities by the selling stockholders or any other person. The anti-manipulation rules under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of securities in the market and to the activities of the selling stockholders and any affiliates of the selling stockholders. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution for a period of up to five business days before the distribution. These restrictions may affect the marketability of the securities and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the securities.

The selling stockholders are not restricted as to the price or prices at which they may sell the securities. Sales of such securities may have an adverse effect on the market price of the securities.

Moreover, it is possible that a significant number of shares of Common Stock could be sold at the same time, which may have an adverse effect on the market price of the securities.

We cannot assure you that the selling stockholders will sell all or any portion of the securities offered hereby.

Underwriters and Agents

If underwriters are used in a sale, they will acquire the offered securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the offered securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. These sales may be made at a fixed public offering price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The selling stockholders may offer the securities to the public through an underwriting syndicate or through a single underwriter. The underwriters in any particular offering will be mentioned in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

Unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to certain conditions contained in an underwriting agreement that we and the applicable selling stockholders will enter into with the underwriters at the time of the sale to them. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are purchased, unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities. Any initial offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed, reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

The selling stockholders may designate agents to sell the offered securities. Unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities, the agents will agree to use their best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their

 

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appointment. The selling stockholders may also sell the offered securities to one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us or any selling stockholders. These firms will remarket the offered securities upon purchasing them in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to the terms of the offered securities. A prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be, will identify any remarketing firm and will describe the terms of its agreement, if any, with the selling stockholders and its compensation.

In connection with offerings made through underwriters or agents, the selling stockholders may enter into agreements with such underwriters or agents pursuant to which the selling stockholders receive outstanding securities in consideration for the securities being offered to the public for cash. In connection with these arrangements, the underwriters or agents may also sell securities covered by this prospectus to hedge their positions in these outstanding securities, including in short sale transactions. If so, the underwriters or agents may use the securities received from the selling stockholders under these arrangements to close out any related open borrowings of securities.

Dealers

The selling stockholders may sell the offered securities to dealers as principals. The selling stockholders may negotiate and pay dealers’ commissions, discounts or concessions for their services. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public either at varying prices to be determined by the dealer or at a fixed offering price agreed to with the selling stockholders at the time of resale. Dealers engaged by the selling stockholders may allow other dealers to participate in resales.

Direct Sales

The selling stockholders may choose to sell the offered securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved.

Institutional Purchasers

The selling stockholders may authorize agents, dealers or underwriters to solicit certain institutional investors to purchase offered securities on a delayed delivery basis pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified future date. The applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be will provide the details of any such arrangement, including the offering price and commissions payable on the solicitations.

The selling stockholders will enter into such delayed contracts only with institutional purchasers that the selling stockholders approve. These institutions may include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions.

Indemnification; Other Relationships

We and the selling stockholders may have agreements with agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, and their affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, the selling stockholders in the ordinary course of business. This includes commercial banking and investment banking transactions.

We may agree to indemnify in certain circumstances the selling stockholders against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The selling stockholders may agree to indemnify us in certain circumstances against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

Market-Making; Stabilization and Other Transactions

In connection with any offering of Common Stock, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares of Common Stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve syndicate sales of Common Stock in excess of the number of shares to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate short position. “Covered” short sales are sales of shares made in an amount up to the number of shares represented by the underwriters’ over-allotment option. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered syndicate short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the over-allotment option. Transactions to close out the covered syndicate short involve either purchases of the Common Stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed or the

 

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exercise of the over-allotment option. The underwriters may also make “naked” short sales of shares in excess of the overallotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares of Common Stock in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of bids for or purchases of shares in the open market while the offering is in progress for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities.

In connection with any offering, the underwriters may also engage in penalty bids. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in the absence of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they commence these transactions, discontinue them at any time.

VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES

The validity of the securities being offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Winston & Strawn LLP, Chicago, Illinois and for any underwriters or agents by counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements and schedule included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as set forth in their report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our consolidated financial statements and schedule are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The audited consolidated financial statements for Monster Holdings LP as of December 31, 2015 and for the period from May 27, 2015 through December 31, 2015 appear in Groupon’s Amendment No. 1 to Groupon’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A. These consolidated financial statements have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon Ernst & Young Han Young, the independent accountants of Monster Holdings LP, given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our filings with the SEC also are available from the SEC’s internet site at http://www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically. Except as expressly set forth below, we are not incorporating by reference the contents of the SEC website or our website into this prospectus.

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information that we incorporate by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus.

Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. This means that you must look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus or in any documents previously incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded. See “Incorporation by Reference.”

Nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished but not filed with the SEC pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K.

You may request a copy of these filings and any exhibit incorporated by reference in these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or number: Groupon, Inc., 600 West Chicago Avenue, Suite 400, Chicago, Illinois 60654, phone number 312-334-1579.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

ITEM 14.

OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

The following is an estimate, subject to future contingencies of the expenses to be incurred by Groupon in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered:

 

     Amount to be paid  

Registration fee*

   $                

Legal fees and expenses**

  

Trustee fees and expenses**

  

Accounting fees and expenses**

  

Printing fees**

  

Rating agency fees**

  

Miscellaneous**

  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $     

 

*

Deferred in accordance with Rule 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act.

**

Estimated expenses are not currently known.

 

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ITEM 15.

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Delaware General Corporation Law

Groupon is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Groupon’s restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws each provide for the indemnification of Groupon’s directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.

As permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, Groupon’s restated certificate of incorporation includes provisions that eliminate the personal liability of its directors and officers for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors and officers, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

In addition, as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, Groupon’s amended and restated by-laws provide that:

 

 

 

Groupon shall indemnify its directors and officers for serving Groupon in those capacities or for serving other business enterprises at Groupon’s request, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that a corporation may indemnify such person if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Groupon and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

 

 

Groupon may, in its discretion, indemnify employees and agents in those circumstances where indemnification is permitted by applicable law.

 

 

 

Groupon is required to advance expenses, as incurred, to its directors and officers in connection with defending a proceeding, except that such director or officer shall undertake to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification.

 

 

 

Groupon will not be obligated pursuant to its amended and restated by-laws to indemnify a person with respect to proceedings initiated by that person, except with respect to proceedings authorized by Groupon’s board of directors or brought to enforce a right to indemnification.

 

 

 

The rights conferred in Groupon’s amended and restated by-laws are not exclusive, and Groupon is authorized to enter into indemnification agreements with its directors, officers, employees and agents and to obtain insurance to indemnify such persons.

 

 

 

Groupon may not retroactively amend the by-law provisions to reduce its indemnification obligations to directors, officers, employees and agents.

 

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Indemnification Agreements

Groupon’s practice is to enter into separate indemnification agreements with its directors that provide the maximum indemnity allowed to directors by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and certain additional procedural protections. Groupon also maintains directors and officers insurance to insure its directors and executive officers against certain liabilities. These indemnification provisions and the indemnification agreements entered into between Groupon and its directors may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of Groupon’s directors and executive officers for liabilities (including reimbursement of expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act.

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS

The following Exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

  1.1*

  

Form of Underwriting Agreement.

  3.1

  

Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A dated October 31, 2016).

  3.2

  

Amended and Restated By-Laws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Commission File No. 333-174661)).

  3.3

  

Amendment to the Amended and Restated By-Laws (incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 8, 2016).

  4.1

  

Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A dated October 31, 2016).

  5.1†

  

Opinion of Winston & Strawn LLP.

23.1†

  

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

23.2†

  

Consent of Ernst & Young Han Young.

23.3†

  

Consent of Winston & Strawn LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1†

  

Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto).

 

*

To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document incorporated by reference into the registration statement.

Filed herewith.

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

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

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

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

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

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

(d) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing this Post-Effective Amendment on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois on this 31st day of October 2016.

 

GROUPON, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Michael Randolfi

 

Michael Randolfi

 

Chief Financial Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of Rich Williams, Michael Randolfi and Dane Drobny his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in the name of the undersigned, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Form S-3, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

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

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/    Rich Williams        

   Chief Executive Officer and   October 31, 2016
Rich Williams    Director (Principal Executive Officer)  

/s/    Michael Randolfi        

   Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial   October 31, 2016
Michael Randolfi    Officer)  

/s/    Brian C. Stevens        

   Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer (Principal   October 31, 2016
Brian C. Stevens    Accounting Officer)  

/s/    Michael Angelakis        

   Director   October 31, 2016
Michael Angelakis     

/s/    Peter J. Barris        

   Director   October 31, 2016
Peter J. Barris     

/s/    Robert J. Bass        

   Director   October 31, 2016
Robert J. Bass     

/s/    Jeffrey T. Housenbold        

   Director   October 31, 2016
Jeffrey T. Housenbold     

 

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/s/    Bradley A. Keywell        

   Director   October 31, 2016
Bradley A. Keywell     

/s/    Theodore J. Leonsis        

   Director   October 31, 2016
Theodore J. Leonsis     

/s/    Eric Lefkofsky        

   Director   October 31, 2016
Eric Lefkofsky     

/s/    Ann E. Ziegler        

   Director   October 31, 2016
Ann E. Ziegler     

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

  1.1*

  

Form of Underwriting Agreement.

  3.1

  

Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Registration Statement on Form 8-A /A dated October 31, 2016).

  3.2

  

Amended and Restated By-Laws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Commission File No. 333-174661).

  3.3

  

Amendment to the Amended and Restated By-Laws (incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 8, 2016)).

  4.1

  

Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A dated October 31, 2016).

  5.1†

  

Opinion of Winston & Strawn LLP.

23.1†

  

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

23.2†

  

Consent of Ernst & Young Han Young.

23.3†

  

Consent of Winston & Strawn LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1†

  

Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto).

 

*

To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document incorporated by reference into the registration statement.

Filed herewith.

 

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