Unassociated Document
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 6, 2009 
Registration No. __
 


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM S-3
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

AKEENA SOLAR, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 
Delaware
 
90-0181035
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
16005 Los Gatos Boulevard
Los Gatos, California  95032
(408) 402-9400
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 Barry Cinnamon
Chief Executive Officer
Akeena Solar, Inc.
16005 Los Gatos Boulevard
Los Gatos, California  95032
(408) 402-9400
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 Please send copies of all communications to:
 
Bradley J. Rock, Esq.
Marty B. Lorenzo, Esq.
DLA Piper US LLP
2000 University Avenue
East Palo Alto, CA 94303-2248
(650) 833-2000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
 
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: o
 
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: x
 
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
 
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. o
 
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. o
 
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o
 
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 

Title of Each Class of
Securities To Be Registered(1)
 
Amount to be
Registered
   
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate Price
Per Unit(1) (2)
   
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price (2) (3)
   
Amount of
Registration Fee (6)
 
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
            (1)            
Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share
                         
Debt Securities
                             
Warrants(5)
                               
Units
                               
Total
                  $ 30,000,000     $ 1,179.00  


1.
There are being registered hereunder such indeterminate number of shares of common stock, such indeterminate number of shares of preferred stock, such indeterminate principal amount of debt securities, and such indeterminate number of warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities as will have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $30,000,000.  Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. The securities registered also include such indeterminate amounts and numbers of shares of common stock and preferred stock and such indeterminate principal amounts of debt securities, as may be issued upon exercise of warrants, upon conversion of or exchange for debt securities that provide for conversion or exchange, or pursuant to anti-dilution provisions of any such securities.  No separate consideration will be received for any shares of common stock, preferred stock, or principal amounts of debt securities so issued upon conversion or exchange.
2.
Not applicable pursuant to Form S-3 General Instruction II.D.
3.
The Registrant is hereby registering an indeterminate amount and number of each identified class of the identified securities up to a proposed maximum aggregate offering price of $30,000,000, which may be offered from time to time at indeterminate prices, including securities that may be purchased by underwriters.  The Registrant has estimated the proposed maximum aggregate offering price solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
4.
If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering price of such debt securities shall be in such greater principal amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $30,000,000, less the aggregate dollar amount of all securities previously issued hereunder.
5.
Includes warrants to purchase common stock, warrants to purchase preferred stock and warrants to purchase debt securities.
6.
The registration fee has been calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act.
 
The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.
 


 
 

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with Securities and Exchange Commission. We may not sell any of the securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where offers or sales are not permitted.
 
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 6, 2009
 
PROSPECTUS
$30,000,000
 
 
 
AKEENA SOLAR, INC.
 
COMMON STOCK
PREFERRED STOCK
DEBT SECURITIES
WARRANTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK, PREFERRED STOCK OR DEBT SECURITIES
UNITS
 
We may from time to time in one or more offerings offer and sell up to $30,000,000 aggregate dollar amount of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, or any combination of the foregoing, either individually or as units comprised of one or more of the other securities.  We will provide the specific terms for each of these securities in supplements to this prospectus.  We may sell these securities to or through underwriters or dealers and also to other purchasers or through agents.  We will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents in the accompanying prospectus supplement applicable to the sale of such securities.  You should read carefully this prospectus and any supplement before you invest.
 
Where necessary, the applicable prospectus supplement will contain information about certain United States Federal income tax considerations relating to, and any listing on a securities exchange of, the securities covered by such prospectus supplement.
 
Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “AKNS.”  On January 5, 2009, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market was $2.29.
 
Investing in any of our securities involves risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors beginning on page 3 of this prospectus before you make an investment in the securities.
 
This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless it is accompanied by 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 if truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
The date of this prospectus is January __, 2009.

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
Page
i
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
1
SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
1
RISK FACTORS
3
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
3
USE OF PROCEEDS
3
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
3
SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
4
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK
4
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
8
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
16
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
17
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
18
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
20
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
20
22
LEGAL MATTERS
22

 
 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
 
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “SEC”, using a “shelf” registration process.  Under this shelf registration process, we may from time to time in one or more offerings sell common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, or any combination of the foregoing, either individually or as units comprised of one or more of the other securities, in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $30,000,000.  We have provided to you in this prospectus a general description of the securities we may offer.  Each time we sell securities, we will, to the extent required by law, provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering.  We may also add, update or change in any accompanying prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered to you any of the information contained in this prospectus.  To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement or the related free writing prospectus, 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 or any related free writing prospectus — the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
 
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or any other person to provide you with additional or different information. This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities to which they relate and are not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation in that jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document containing the information. We will disclose any material changes in our affairs in a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, a prospectus supplement, or a future filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
 
The terms “Akeena Solar,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company” refer only to Akeena Solar, Inc.
 

 
As permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, includes additional information not contained in this prospectus.  You may read the registration statement and the other reports we file with the SEC at the SEC’s web site or at the SEC’s offices described below under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

 
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. We urge you to read this entire prospectus carefully and any accompanying documents incorporated by reference before making an investment decision.
 
About Akeena Solar, Inc.
 
Akeena Solar is a leading designer and integrator of solar power systems. We market, sell, design and install systems for residential and commercial customers, sourcing components (such as solar modules and inverters) from manufacturers such as Suntech, Kyocera, SMA and Fronius. We currently service customers in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. According to data compiled by the California Energy Commission and the New Jersey Clean Energy Program, over the past three years Akeena Solar has been one of the largest national integrators of residential and small commercial solar power systems in the United States. To date, we have installed approximately 3,000 solar power systems. Since the commencement of our operations in 2001, our sales have steadily grown, reaching approximately $7.2 million in 2005, $13.4 million in 2006, $32.2 million in 2007 and $29.9 million in the first three quarters of 2008.
 
Akeena Solar was formed on February 23, 2001 as a California corporation under the name “Akeena, Inc.” and reincorporated as a Delaware corporation on June 2, 2006, at which time its name was changed to “Akeena Solar, Inc.” On August 11, 2006, we entered into a reverse merger transaction (the “Merger”) with Fairview Energy Corporation, Inc. (“Fairview”).  Fairview had been in the development stage and had not commenced business operations prior to the Merger. Since the stockholders of Akeena Solar owned a majority of the outstanding shares of Fairview common stock immediately following the Merger, and the management and board of Akeena Solar became the management and board of Fairview immediately following the Merger, the Merger was accounted for as a reverse merger transaction and Akeena Solar was deemed to be the acquirer.
 
Our corporate headquarters are located at 16005 Los Gatos Boulevard, Los Gatos, California 95032. Additional offices are located in Fresno (Clovis), Lake Forest, Palm Springs, San Diego, Santa Rosa and Thousand Oaks, California, Denver, Colorado, and Milford, Connecticut. We maintain installation offices at all of these facilities.  Our telephone number is (408) 402-9400.  Additional information about Akeena Solar is available on our website at http://www.akeena.com. The information on our web site is not incorporated herein by reference.
 
SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
 
With this prospectus, we may offer common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and warrants, or any combination of the foregoing, either individually or as units comprised of one or more of the other securities.  The aggregate initial offering price of all securities we sell in the primary offering under this prospectus will not exceed $30,000,000.  If we issue debt securities at a discount from their original stated principal amount, then, for purposes of calculating the total dollar amount of all securities issued under this prospectus, we will treat the initial offering price of the debt securities as the total original principal amount of the debt securities.  Each time we offer securities with this prospectus, we will provide offerees with a prospectus supplement that will contain the specific terms of the securities being offered.  The following is a summary of the securities we may offer with this prospectus.
 
We may sell the securities to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers.  We, as well as any agents acting on our behalf, reserve the sole right to accept and to reject in whole or in part any proposed purchase of securities.  Each prospectus supplement will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of securities described in that prospectus supplement and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them.
 
Common Stock
 
We may offer shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, either alone or underlying other registered securities convertible into or exercisable for our common stock.  Holders of our common stock are entitled to such dividends as our board of directors may declare from time to time out of legally available funds, subject to the preferential rights of the holders of any shares of our preferred stock that are outstanding or that we may issue in the future.  Currently, we do not pay any dividends.  Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote per share.  Holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights.  In this prospectus, we provide a general description of, among other things, our dividend policy and the rights and restrictions that apply to holders of our common stock.

 
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Preferred Stock
 
We may issue shares of preferred stock in one or more classes or series.  Our board of directors or a committee designated by our board of directors will determine the dividend, voting and conversion rights and other provisions at the time of sale.  The particular terms of each class or series of preferred stock, including redemption privileges, liquidation preferences, voting rights, dividend rights and/or conversion rights, will be more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the preferred stock offered thereby.
 
Debt Securities
 
We may offer general debt obligations, which may be secured or unsecured, senior or subordinated and convertible into shares of our common stock.  In this prospectus, we refer to the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities together as the “debt securities.”  We may issue debt securities under a note purchase agreement or under an indenture to be entered between us and a trustee; a form of the indenture is included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.  The indenture does not limit the amount of securities that may be issued under it and provides that debt securities may be issued in one or more series.  The senior debt securities will have the same rank as all of our other indebtedness that is not subordinated.  The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to our senior debt on terms set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.  In addition, the subordinated debt securities will be effectively subordinated to creditors and preferred stockholders of our subsidiaries.  Our board of directors will determine the terms of each series of debt securities being offered.  This prospectus contains only general terms and provisions of the debt securities.  The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of the debt securities offered thereby.
 
Warrants
 
We may offer warrants for the purchase of debt securities, shares of preferred stock or shares of common stock.  We may issue the warrants by themselves or together with debt securities, preferred stock or common stock and the warrants may be attached to or separate from any offered securities.  Each series of securities warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and the investors or a warrant agent.  Our board of directors will determine the terms of the warrants.  This prospectus contains only general terms and provisions of the warrants.  The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of the warrants being offered thereby.

 
2

 

RISK FACTORS
 
Investment in our securities involves risks.  Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should consider carefully the risk factors, together with all of the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, including any additional specific risks described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in any supplements to this prospectus and in our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2008, June 30, 2008 and September 30, 2008 filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.  Each of these risk factors could have a material adverse affect on our business, results of operations, financial position or cash flows, which may result in the loss of all or part of your investment.
 
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
 
This prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (collectively, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and beliefs, including estimates and projections about our industry. Forward-looking statements may be identified by use of terms such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “believes” and similar expressions, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. Statements concerning our financial position, business strategy and plans or objectives for future operations are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict and may cause actual results to differ materially from management’s current expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include those referenced herein under “Risk Factors.” The forward-looking statements in this prospectus speak only as of the time they are made and do not necessarily reflect our outlook at any other point in time.
 
Except as may be required under the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to read any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission. For any forward-looking statements contained in any document, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
 
USE OF PROCEEDS
 
Except as described in any prospectus supplement, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment or refinancing of indebtedness or the acquisition of complementary products or businesses.  We will have significant discretion in the use of any net proceeds.  Investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of any sale of the securities.  We may invest the net proceeds temporarily until we use them for their stated purpose.
 
When we offer a particular series of securities, we will describe the intended use of the net proceeds from that offering in a prospectus supplement.  The actual amount of net proceeds we spend on a particular use will depend on many factors, including, our future revenue growth, if any, our future capital expenditures and the amount of cash required by our operations.  Many of these factors are beyond our control.  Therefore, we will retain broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds.
 
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
We present below our ratio of earnings to fixed charges.  Earnings available to cover fixed charges consist of income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes plus fixed charges.  Fixed charges consist of interest expense, including amortization of debt issuance costs, and the portion of rental expense we believe to be representative of interest.

 
3

 
 
         
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
Nine months
ended
September
30, 2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
   
2004
   
2003
 
                                                 
Earnings available to cover fixed charges
  $ (14,739,788 )   $ (10,757,960 )   $ (1,712,693 )   $ 42,041     $ 180,047     $ 27,795  
                                                 
Fixed charges(1)
  $ 430,410     $ 288,819     $ 96,548     $ 40,189     $ 24,036     $ 18,021  
                                                 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
      (2)       (2)       (2)     1.0       7.5       1.5  
 
(1)
Consists of interest expense on all indebtedness (including amortization of deferred financing costs) and the portion of operating lease rental expense that is representative of the interest factor.
 
(2)
Not meaningful.
 
SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
 
We may offer shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, debt securities or warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, or any combination of the foregoing, either individually or as units comprised of one or more of the other securities.  We may offer up to $30,000,000 of securities under this prospectus.  If securities are offered as units, we will describe the terms of the units in a prospectus supplement.
 
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK
 
The following description of our common stock and preferred stock, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the common stock and the preferred stock that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus.  While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any future common stock or preferred stock that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any class or series of these securities in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.  For the complete terms of our common stock and preferred stock, please refer to our certificate of incorporation and our By-Laws that are incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.  The terms of these securities may also be affected by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.  The summary below and that contained in any prospectus supplement are qualified in their entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation and our By-Laws.
 
Authorized Capitalization
 
We have 51,000,000 shares of capital stock authorized under our certificate of incorporation, consisting of 50,000,000 shares of common stock and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock.  As of January 5, 2009, we had 29,345,993 shares of common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.  The authorized shares of common stock and preferred stock are available for issuance without further action by our stockholders, unless such action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange on which our securities may be listed or traded. If the approval of our stockholders is not so required, our board of directors may determine not to seek stockholder approval.

 
4

 

Common Stock
 
Holders of our common stock are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for such purpose, subject to any preferential dividend rights of any then outstanding preferred stock.  The shares of common stock are neither redeemable or convertible.  Holders of common stock have no preemptive or subscription rights to purchase any of our securities.
 
Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each such share outstanding in the holder’s name.  No holder of common stock is entitled to cumulate votes in voting for directors.
 
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive pro rata our assets which are legally available for distribution, after payments of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any holders of preferred stock then outstanding.  All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are, and the shares of common stock issued upon the conversion of any securities convertible into our common stock will be, fully paid and non-assessable.  The shares of common stock offered by this prospectus or upon the conversion of any preferred stock or debt securities or exercise of any warrants offered pursuant to this prospectus, when issued and paid for, will also be, fully paid and non-assessable.
 
Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “AKNS.”  Empire Stock Transfer, Inc. is the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.  Empire Stock Transfer, Inc.’s address is 2470 St. Rose Parkway, Suite 304, Henderson, NV 89074, and their telephone number is (702) 818-5898.
 
Preferred Stock
 
Our certificate of incorporation permits us to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and with rights and preferences that may be fixed or designated by our board of directors without any further action by our stockholders.  Although it has no present intention to do so, our board of directors may issue preferred stock with terms that could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock.  If we issue preferred stock, it may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control.
 
Preferred stock could thus be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of our company or to make removal of management more difficult.  Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may decrease the market price of our common stock.  The number of authorized shares of preferred stock may be increased or decreased, but not decreased below the number of shares then outstanding, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the common stock without a vote of the holders of preferred stock, or any series of preferred stock, unless a vote of any such holder is required pursuant to the terms of such series of preferred stock.
 
The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the preferred stock we may issue.  If we offer convertible preferred stock, such stock will be convertible into shares of our common stock.  With respect to any convertible preferred stock or preferred stock (each referred to herein as preferred stock) we may choose to offer, the specific designations and rights will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the preferred stock offered, including the following terms.  Each time that we issue a new series of preferred stock, we will file with the Delaware Secretary of State and with the SEC a definitive certificate of designations which will state the designation, powers, preferences, rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions of that series of preferred stock.  In addition, the prospectus supplement relating to that new series of preferred stock will specify the particular amount, price and other terms of that new series. These terms may include:
 
 
·
the designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;
 
 
·
the number of shares of the series, which number the board of directors may thereafter (except where otherwise provided in the preferred stock designation) increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);

 
5

 

 
·
the price at which the preferred stock will be issued;
 
 
·
the dividend rate, the dates on which the dividends will be payable, if any, whether dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative and other terms relating to the payment of dividends on the preferred stock;
 
 
·
the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;
 
 
·
whether the preferred stock is redeemable or subject to a sinking fund, and the terms and amount of such sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;
 
 
·
the amounts payable on shares of the series, and the special or relative rights of such shares, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of our company;
 
 
·
whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into shares of any other class or series, or any other security, of our company or any other corporation, and, if so, the specification of such other class or series or such other security, the conversion price or prices or rate or rates, any adjustments thereof, the date or dates as of which such shares shall be convertible and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion may be made;
 
 
·
any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange;
 
 
·
the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation and dissolution or winding up;
 
 
·
restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series;
 
 
·
the voting rights, if any, of the holders of shares of the series, provided that no share of preferred stock of any series will be entitled to more than one vote per share of preferred stock; and
 
 
·
any additional rights, preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the preferred stock.
 
Any prospectus supplement that we file in connection with an offering of preferred stock will describe all material terms of such series of preferred stock, including the rights to obtain common stock, if any, issuable upon conversion of such preferred stock.  However, the description of the terms of the preferred stock to be set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement will not be complete and will be subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the certificate of amendment to our certificate of incorporation relating to the applicable series of preferred stock, together with our By-Laws.  The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part currently does or will in the future include the certificate of amendment and our By-Laws as exhibits or incorporate them by reference.
 
The preferred stock will, if and when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable.  The holders of the preferred stock will not have preemptive rights.
 
Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Delaware Law and Our Charter Documents
 
The following is a summary of certain provisions of Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation and our By-Laws.  This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the corporate law of Delaware and our certificate of incorporation and By-Laws.
 
Effect of Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute.  We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, an anti-takeover law.  In general, Section 203 prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
 
 
·
prior to that 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;

 
6

 

 
·
upon consummation 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 commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares of voting stock outstanding (but not the voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by persons who are directors and officers and by excluding employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or
 
 
·
on or subsequent to that date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors of the corporation and authorized at an annual or special meeting of 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.
 
Section 203 defines “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 of 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 loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.
 
In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation, or who beneficially owns 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at anytime within a three year period immediately prior to the date of determining whether such person is an interested stockholder, and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by any of these entities or persons.
 
Our Charter Documents. Our charter documents include provisions that may have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control or an unsolicited acquisition proposal that a stockholder might consider favorable, including a proposal that might result in the payment of a premium over the market price for the shares held by our stockholders.  Certain of these provisions are summarized in the following paragraphs.
 
“Blank check” Preferred Stock.  Our certificate of incorporation permits us to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and with rights and preferences that may be fixed or designated by our board of directors without any further action by our stockholders.  Although it has no present intention to do so, our board of directors may issue preferred stock with special voting rights or terms that could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock.  Preferred stock could thus be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of our company or to make removal of management more difficult.  If we issue preferred stock, it may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control.

Stockholder Action by Written Consent.  Our By-Laws provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the chairman of the board, a majority of the entire board of directors or any officer instructed by the directors to call the meeting.  Stockholders are not permitted to call, or to require that the board of directors call, a special meeting of stockholders.  Moreover, the business permitted to be conducted at any special meeting of stockholders is limited to the business brought before the meeting pursuant to the notice of the meeting given.  Our By-Laws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholders to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring other business before meetings of our stockholders.

 
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
 
General
 
The debt securities that we may issue may constitute debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness of Akeena Solar, to be issued in one or more series, which may include senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities and senior subordinated debt securities.  The particular terms of any series of debt securities we offer, including the extent to which the general terms set forth below may be applicable to a particular series, will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series.
 
Debt securities that we may issue may be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee, or, when permitted, pursuant to a note purchase agreement with one or more investors.  We have filed the form of the indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. If we enter into any revised indenture or indenture supplement, we will file a copy of that supplement with the SEC.
 
THE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION IS A SUMMARY OF THE MATERIAL PROVISIONS OF THE INDENTURE.  IT DOES NOT RESTATE THE INDENTURE IN ITS ENTIRETY.  THE INDENTURE IS GOVERNED BY THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939.  THE TERMS OF THE DEBT SECURITIES INCLUDE THOSE STATED IN THE INDENTURE AND THOSE MADE PART OF THE INDENTURE BY REFERENCE TO THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT. WE URGE YOU TO READ THE INDENTURE BECAUSE IT, AND NOT THIS DESCRIPTION, DEFINES YOUR RIGHTS AS A HOLDER OF THE DEBT SECURITIES.
 
The indenture contains no covenant or provision which affords debt holders protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction.
 
Information You Will Find in the Prospectus Supplement
 
The indenture provides that we may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series by resolution of our board of directors or by means of a supplemental indenture, and that we may denominate the debt securities and make them payable in foreign currencies.  The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that can be issued thereunder.  The prospectus supplement for a series of debt securities will provide information relating to the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, which may include:
 
 
·
the title and denominations of the debt securities of the series;
 
 
·
any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series;
 
 
·
the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, with respect to the debt securities of the series are payable or the method of determination thereof;
 
 
·
the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which the debt securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of calculating and/or resetting such rate or rates of interest;
 
 
·
the dates from which such interest shall accrue or the method by which such dates shall be determined and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated;
 
 
·
the interest payment dates for the series of debt securities or the method by which such dates will be determined, the terms of any deferral of interest and any right of ours to extend the interest payments periods;
 
 
·
the place or places where the principal and interest on the series of debt securities will be payable;
 
 
·
the terms and conditions upon which debt securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option or otherwise;
 
 
·
our obligation, if any, to redeem, purchase, or repay debt securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or other specified event or at the option of the holders and the terms of any such redemption, purchase, or repayment;
 
 
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·
the terms, if any, upon which the debt securities of the series may be convertible into or exchanged for other securities, including, among other things, the initial conversion or exchange price or rate and the conversion or exchange period;
 
 
·
if the amount of principal, premium, if any, or interest with respect to the debt securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;
 
 
·
if any payments on the debt securities of the series are to be made in a currency or currencies (or by reference to an index or formula) other than that in which such securities are denominated or designated to be payable, the currency or currencies (or index or formula) in which such payments are to be made and the terms and conditions of such payments;
 
 
·
any changes or additions to the provisions of the indenture dealing with defeasance, including any additional covenants that may be subject to our covenant defeasance option;
 
 
·
the currency or currencies in which payment of the principal and premium, if any, and interest with respect to debt securities of the series will be payable, or in which the debt securities of the series shall be denominated, and the particular provisions applicable thereto in accordance with the indenture;
 
 
·
the portion of the principal amount of debt securities of the series which will be payable upon declaration of acceleration or provable in bankruptcy or the method by which such portion or amount shall be determined;
 
 
·
whether the debt securities of the series will be secured or guaranteed and, if so, on what terms;
 
 
·
any addition to or change in the events of default with respect to the debt securities of the series;
 
 
·
the identity of any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars;
 
 
·
the applicability of, and any addition to or change in, the covenants currently set forth in the indenture;
 
 
·
the subordination, if any, of the debt securities of the series and terms of the subordination;
 
 
·
any other terms of the debt securities of the series; and
 
 
·
whether securities of the series shall be issuable as registered securities or bearer securities (with or without interest coupons), and any restrictions applicable to the offering, sale or delivery of such bearer securities and the terms upon which such bearer securities of a series may be exchanged for registered securities, and vice versa.
 
Holders of debt securities may present debt securities for exchange in the manner, at the places, and subject to the restrictions set forth in the debt securities, the indenture, and the prospectus supplement. We will provide these services without charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith, but subject to the limitations provided in the indenture, any board resolution establishing such debt securities and any applicable indenture supplement. Debt securities in bearer form and the coupons, if any, appertaining thereto will be transferable by delivery.
 
Senior Debt
 
We may issue senior debt securities under the indenture and any coupons that will constitute part of our senior debt.  Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable indenture supplement or in any board resolution establishing such debt securities and described in a prospectus supplement, the senior debt securities will be senior unsecured obligations, ranking equally with all of our existing and future senior unsecured debt.  The senior debt securities will be senior to all of our subordinated debt and junior to any secured debt we may incur as to the assets securing such debt.
 
Subordinated Debt
 
We may issue subordinated debt securities under the indenture and any coupons that will constitute part of such subordinated debt.  These subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the indenture and any applicable indenture supplement, to all of our senior indebtedness.

 
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If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with a series of subordinated debt securities, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the information incorporated by reference will set forth the approximate amount of senior indebtedness, if any, outstanding as of the end of our most recent fiscal quarter.
 
Senior Subordinated Debt
 
We may issue senior subordinated debt securities under the indenture and any coupons that will constitute part of our senior subordinated debt. These senior subordinated debt securities will be, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of our “senior indebtedness” and senior to our other subordinated debt. See the discussions above under “—Senior Debt” and “—Subordinated Debt” for a more detailed explanation of our senior and subordinated indebtedness.
 
Interest Rate
 
Debt securities that bear interest will do so at a fixed rate or a floating rate.  We may sell, at a discount below the stated principal amount, any debt securities which bear no interest or which bear interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below the prevailing market rate.  The relevant prospectus supplement will describe the special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to:
 
 
·
any discounted debt securities; and
 
 
·
any debt securities issued at par which are treated as having been issued at a discount for United States federal income tax purposes.
 
Registered Global Securities
 
We may issue registered debt securities of a series in the form of one or more fully registered global securities.  We will deposit the registered global security with a depositary or with a nominee for a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement relating to such series.  The global security or global securities will represent and will be in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding registered debt securities of the series to be represented by the registered global security or securities.  Unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred, except as a whole in three cases:
 
 
·
by the depositary for the registered global security to a nominee of the depositary;
 
 
·
by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary; and
 
 
·
by the depositary or any nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of the successor.
 
The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement concerning any portion of that series of debt securities to be represented by a registered global security.  We anticipate that the following provisions will generally apply to all depositary arrangements.
 
Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the registered global security to the accounts of persons that have accounts with the depositary. These persons are referred to as “participants.” Any underwriters, agents or debtors participating in the distribution of debt securities represented by the registered global security will designate the accounts to be credited. Only participants or persons that hold interests through participants will be able to beneficially own interests in a registered global security. The depositary for a global security will maintain records of beneficial ownership interests in a registered global security for participants. Participants or persons that hold through participants will maintain records of beneficial ownership interests in a global security for persons other than participants. These records will be the only means to transfer beneficial ownership in a registered global security.

 
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The laws of some states may require that specified purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may limit the ability of those persons to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in global securities.
 
So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, the depositary or its nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security:
 
 
·
may not have the debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in their names;
 
 
·
will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities represented by a registered global security in definitive form; and
 
 
·
will not be considered the owners or holders of debt securities represented by a registered global security under the indenture.
 
Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the registered global security and, if the person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interests, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture applicable to the registered global security.
 
We understand that, under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders, or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action which a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take the action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through the participants to give or take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.
 
Payment of Interest on and Principal of Registered Global Securities
 
We will make principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner of the registered global security.  None of Akeena Solar, the trustee, or any paying agent for debt securities represented by a registered global security will have any responsibility or liability for:
 
 
·
any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in such registered global security;
 
 
·
maintaining, supervising, or reviewing any records relating to beneficial ownership interests;
 
 
·
the payments to beneficial owners of the global security of amounts paid to the depositary or its nominee; or
 
 
·
any other matter relating to the actions and practices of the depositary, its nominee or any of its participants.
 
We expect that the depositary, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest in respect of the global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their beneficial interests in the principal amount of a registered global security as shown on the depositary’s records.  We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices.  This is currently the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street name.”  Such payments will be the responsibility of participants.

 
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Exchange of Registered Global Securities
 
We may issue debt securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security if both of the following occur:
 
 
·
the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and
 
 
·
we do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days.
 
In addition, we may, at any time, determine not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by one or more registered global securities. In this event, we will issue debt securities of that series in definitive form in exchange for all of the registered global security or securities representing those debt securities.
 
Our Covenants
 
The indenture includes covenants by us, including among other things that we will make all payments of principal and interest at the times and places required.  The board resolution or supplemental indenture establishing each series of debt securities may contain additional covenants, including covenants which could restrict our right to incur additional indebtedness or liens and to take certain actions with respect to our businesses and assets.
 
Events of Default
 
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following will be events of default under the indenture with respect to each series of debt securities issued under the indenture:
 
 
·
failure to pay when due any interest on any debt security of that series that continues for 30 days;
 
 
·
failure to pay when due the principal of, or premium, if any, on, any debt security of that series;
 
 
·
default in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to any debt security of that series when due and payable;
 
 
·
failure to perform any other covenant or agreement of ours under the indenture or the supplemental indenture with respect to that series or the debt securities of that series, continued for 90 days after written notice to us by the trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series to which the covenant or agreement relates;
 
 
·
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings affecting us and our subsidiaries; and
 
 
·
any other event of default specified in any supplemental indenture under which such series of debt securities is issued.
 
Except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings affecting us and except as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, if any event of default shall occur and be continuing with respect to any series of debt securities under the indenture, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of such series may accelerate the maturity of all debt securities of such series.  Upon certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings affecting us, the principal, premium, if any, and interest on all debt securities of each series shall be immediately due and payable.
 
After any such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of each affected series of debt securities may waive all defaults with respect to such series and rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal, have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied.
 
No holder of any debt securities will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the indenture or for any remedy under the indenture, unless such holder shall have previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default and the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the relevant series shall have made written request and offered indemnity satisfactory to the trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee, and the trustee shall not have received from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series a direction inconsistent with such request and shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days. However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of a debt security for enforcement of payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on such debt security on or after the respective due dates expressed in such debt security.

 
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Supplemental Indentures
 
We and the trustee may, at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to or consent of any holders of debt securities after issuance of such debt securities, enter into one or more supplemental indentures to, among other things:
 
 
·
add guarantees to or secure any series of debt securities;
 
 
·
provide for the succession of another person pursuant to the provisions of the indenture relating to consolidations, mergers and sales of assets and the assumption by such successor of our covenants, agreements, and obligations, or to otherwise comply with the provisions of the indenture relating to consolidations, mergers, and sales of assets;
 
 
·
surrender any right or power conferred upon us under the indenture or to add to our covenants further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the holders of all or any series of debt securities;
 
 
·
cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained in the indenture, in any supplemental indenture or in any debt securities that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained therein;
 
 
·
modify or amend the indenture in such a manner as to permit the qualification of the indenture or any supplemental indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
 
 
·
add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture to permit the defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities pursuant to the indenture, so long as any such action does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of any series in any material respect;
 
 
·
add to, change, or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture with respect to one or more series of debt securities, so long as any such addition, change or elimination shall not apply to any debt securities of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision;
 
 
·
evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor or separate trustee; and
 
 
·
establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series and to make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities.
 
With the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of debt securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture (each series voting as one class), we and the trustee may enter into one or more supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of debt securities of each such series.
 
Notwithstanding our rights and the rights of the trustee to enter into one or more supplemental indentures with the consent of the holders of debt securities of the affected series as described above, no such supplemental indenture to be entered into after issuance of the debt securities shall, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the affected series, among other things:
 
 
·
change the final maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any debt securities;
 
 
·
reduce the principal amount of any debt securities or the rate of interest on any debt securities;
 
 
·
change the currency in which any debt securities are payable;
 
 
·
release any security interest that may have been granted with respect to such debt securities;
 
 
·
impair the right of the holders to conduct a proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee;
 
 
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·
reduce the percentage in principal amount of any series of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment or supplemental indenture;
 
 
·
modify the ranking or priority of the securities;
 
 
·
reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of any debt securities or change the time at which any debt security may be redeemed; or
 
 
·
make any change that adversely affects the relative rights of holders of subordinated debt securities with respect to senior debt securities.
 
Satisfaction and Discharge of the Indenture; Defeasance
 
Except to the extent set forth in a supplemental indenture with respect to any series of debt securities, we, at our election, may discharge the indenture and the indenture shall generally cease to be of any further effect with respect to that series of debt securities if (a) we have delivered to the trustee for cancellation all debt securities of that series (with certain limited exceptions) or (b) all debt securities of that series not previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year, and we have deposited with the trustee the entire amount sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all such debt securities.
 
In addition, we have a “legal defeasance option” (pursuant to which we may terminate, with respect to the debt securities of a particular series, all of our obligations under such debt securities and the indenture with respect to such debt securities) and a “covenant defeasance option” (pursuant to which we may terminate, with respect to the debt securities of a particular series, our obligations with respect to such debt securities under certain specified covenants contained in the indenture).  If we exercise our legal defeasance option with respect to a series of debt securities, payment of such debt securities may not be accelerated because of an event of default.  If we exercise our covenant defeasance option with respect to a series of debt securities, payment of such debt securities may not be accelerated because of an event of default related to the specified covenants.
 
We may exercise our legal defeasance option or our covenant defeasance option with respect to the debt securities of a series only if we irrevocably deposit in trust with the trustee cash or U.S. government obligations (as defined in the indenture) for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to such debt securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be.  In addition, to exercise either of our defeasance options, we must comply with certain other conditions, including the delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred (and, in the case of legal defeasance only, such opinion of counsel must be based on a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or other change in applicable Federal income tax law).
 
The trustee will hold in trust the cash or U.S. government obligations deposited with it as described above and will apply the deposited cash and the proceeds from deposited U.S. government obligations to the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to the debt securities of the defeased series.  In the case of subordinated debt securities, the money and U.S. government obligations held in trust will not be subject to the subordination provisions of the indenture.
 
Mergers, Consolidations and Certain Sales of Assets
 
Under the proposed form of indenture, we may not (1) consolidate with or merge into any other person or entity or permit any other person or entity to consolidate with or merge into us in a transaction in which we are not the surviving entity, or (2) transfer, lease or dispose of all or substantially all of our assets to any other person or entity unless:
 
 
·
the resulting, surviving or transferee entity shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof and such resulting, surviving or transferee entity shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, all of our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture;
 
 
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·
immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the resulting, surviving or transferee entity as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by such entity at the time of such transaction), no default or event of default would occur or be continuing; and
 
 
·
we shall have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with the indenture.
 
Governing Law
 
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
 
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders
 
No director, officer, incorporator or stockholder of Akeena Solar, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of Akeena Solar under the debt securities or the indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation, solely by reason of his, her, or its status as director, officer, incorporator or stockholder of Akeena Solar.  By accepting a debt security, each holder waives and releases all such liability, but only such liability.  The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the debt securities. Nevertheless, such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it has been the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.
 
Conversion or Exchange Rights
 
Any debt securities issued under the indenture may be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our equity securities. The terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such terms may include, among others, the following:
 
 
·
the conversion or exchange price;
 
 
·
the conversion or exchange period;
 
 
·
provisions regarding our ability or that of the holder to convert or exchange the debt securities;
 
 
·
events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price; and
 
 
·
provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of our redemption of such debt securities.
 
Concerning the Trustee
 
The indenture provides that there may be more than one trustee with respect to one or more series of debt securities.  If there are different trustees for different series of debt securities, each trustee will be a trustee of a trust under a supplemental indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee under such indenture.  Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, any action permitted to be taken by a trustee may be taken by the trustee only with respect to the one or more series of debt securities for which it is the trustee under an indenture.  Any trustee under the indenture or a supplemental indenture may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities.  All payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery of (including authentication and delivery on original issuance of the debt securities), the debt securities of a series will be effected by the trustee with respect to such series at an office designated by the trustee.
 
The indenture contains limitations on the right of the trustee, should it become a creditor of Akeena Solar, 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.  If the trustee acquires an interest that conflicts with any duties with respect to the debt securities, the trustee is required to either resign or eliminate such conflicting interest to the extent and in the manner provided by the indenture.

 
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Limitations on Issuance of Bearer Debt Securities
 
Debt securities in bearer form are subject to special U.S. tax requirements and may not be offered, sold, or delivered within the United States or its possessions or to a U.S. person, except in certain transactions permitted by U.S. tax regulations.  Investors should consult the relevant prospectus supplement, in the event that bearer debt securities are issued for special procedures and restrictions that will apply to such an offering.
 
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
 
We may issue securities warrants for the purchase of debt securities, preferred stock or common stock.  Securities warrants may be issued independently or together with debt securities, preferred stock or common stock and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities.  Each series of securities warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a securities warrant agent.  The securities warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the securities warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any registered holders of securities warrants or beneficial owners of securities warrants.  This summary of some provisions of the securities warrants is not complete.  You should refer to the securities warrant agreement, including the forms of securities warrant certificate representing the securities warrants, relating to the specific securities warrants being offered for the complete terms of the securities warrant agreement and the securities warrants.  The securities warrant agreement, together with the terms of securities warrant certificate and securities warrants, will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of the specific securities warrants.
 
The particular terms of any issue of securities warrants will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the issue.  Those terms may include:
 
 
·
the title of such warrants;
 
 
·
the aggregate number of such warrants;
 
 
·
the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;
 
 
·
the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which the price of such warrants may be payable;
 
 
·
the terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such warrants;
 
 
·
the price at which the securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased;
 
 
·
the date on which the right to exercise such warrants will commence and the date on which such right shall expire;
 
 
·
any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the warrants or the exercise price of the warrants;
 
 
·
if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
 
 
·
if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such security;
 
 
·
if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;
 
 
·
information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and
 
 
·
any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange or exercise of such warrants.
 
The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants to purchase equity securities may also include, if applicable, a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax and ERISA considerations.

 
16

 

Securities warrants for the purchase of preferred stock and common stock will be offered and exercisable for U.S. dollars only.  Securities warrants will be issued in registered form only.
 
Each securities warrant will entitle its holder to purchase the principal amount of debt securities or the number of shares of preferred stock or common stock at the exercise price set forth in, or calculable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement.
 
After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised securities warrants will become void.  We will specify the place or places where, and the manner in which, securities warrants may be exercised in the applicable prospectus supplement.
 
Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the purchased securities.  If less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants.
 
Prior to the exercise of any securities warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock or common stock, holders of the securities warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities, preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon exercise, including (i) in the case of securities warrants for the purchase of debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, any premium or interest on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture, or (ii) in the case of securities warrants for the purchase of preferred stock or common stock, the right to vote or to receive any payments of dividends on the preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon exercise.
 
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
 
General
 
We may issue units comprised of one or more debt securities, shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock and warrants in any combination.  Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit.  Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security.  The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
 
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of units, including, but not limited to:
 
 
·
the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
 
 
·
any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and
 
 
·
any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units.
 
The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Common Stock and Preferred Stock,” “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of Warrants” will apply to each unit and to any common stock, preferred stock, debt security or warrant included in each unit, respectively.
 
Issuance in Series
 
We may issue units in such amounts and in numerous distinct series as we determine.

 
17

 

Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units
 
Each unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit.  A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more than one series of units.  A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us.  Any holder of a unit may, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.
 
We, the unit agents and any of their agents may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of the units evidenced by that certificate for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested, despite any notice to the contrary.
 
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
We  may sell the securities being offered hereby in one or more of the following ways from time to time:
 
 
·
through agents to the public or to investors;
 
 
·
to underwriters for resale to the public or to investors;
 
 
·
directly to investors; or
 
 
·
through a combination of any of these methods of sale.
 
We will set forth in a prospectus supplement the terms of that particular offering of securities, including:
 
 
·
the name or names of any agents or underwriters;
 
 
·
the purchase price of the securities being offered and the proceeds we will receive from the sale;
 
 
·
any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;
 
 
·
any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation;
 
 
·
any initial public offering price;
 
 
·
any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and
 
 
·
any securities exchanges or markets on which such securities may be listed.
 
Agents
 
We may designate agents who agree to use their reasonable efforts to solicit purchases of our securities for the period of their appointment or to sell our securities on a continuing basis.
 
Underwriters
 
If we use underwriters for a sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account.  The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale.  The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement.  The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities of the series offered if they purchase any of the securities of that series.  We may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions the underwriters allow or reallow or pay to dealers.  We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship.  We will describe the nature of any such relationship in any prospectus supplement naming any such underwriter.  Only underwriters we name in the prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.

 
18

 

Direct Sales
 
We may also sell securities directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters or agents.  Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.  We will identify in the applicable prospectus supplement any underwriters, dealers or agents and will describe their compensation.  We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against specified civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.  Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.
 
Trading Markets and Listing of Securities
 
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each class or series of securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than our common stock, which is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market.  We may elect to list any other class or series of securities on any exchange or market, but we are not obligated to do so.  It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a class or series of securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice.  We cannot give any assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.
 
Stabilization Activities
 
Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.  Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position.  Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.  Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions.  Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions.  Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be.  If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of these activities at any time.
 
Passive Market Marking
 
Any underwriters who are qualified market markers on the NASDAQ Capital Market may engage in passive market making transactions in the securities on the NASDAQ Capital Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of the securities.  Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers.  In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security.  If all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded.

 
19

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register the securities offered by this prospectus.  This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules which are a part of the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and our securities, please refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with it. You may read and copy any document which we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.  You may obtain information on the operation of Public Reference Room by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330.  We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission and these reports, proxy statements, and other information can be inspected on the Internet site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov and at http://akeena.net/cm/Investor%20Relations/Home.html.
 
We are also subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act of 1934. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission to comply with the Exchange Act.
 
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them under certain conditions, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus and any information that we file subsequent to this prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission will automatically update and supersede this information. Our Exchange Act reports are filed under Securities and Exchange Commission file number 0001347452.  The documents we are incorporating by reference are as follows:
 
 
·
Our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2008 and as amended on Form 10-KSB/A filed on September 12, 2008;
 
 
·
Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2008 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on  May 14, 2008;
 
 
·
Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2008 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 12, 2008;
 
 
·
Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2008 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2008;
 
 
·
The description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 21, 2007;
 
 
·
Our definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 11, 2008;
 
 
·
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 16, 2008;
 
 
·
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2008;
 
 
·
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 25, 2008.
 
 
·
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 8, 2008;
 
 
·
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 6, 2008;
 
 
20

 

 
·
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 1, 2008;
 
 
·
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 9, 2008;
 
 
·
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 6, 2008;
 
 
·
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 25, 2008;
 
 
·
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 2008; and
 
 
·
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on December 16, 2008.
 
All documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the initial filing date of this prospectus, through the date declared effective, until the termination of the offering of securities contemplated by this prospectus shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus. These documents that we file later with the Securities and Exchange Commission and that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus will automatically update information contained in this prospectus or that was previously incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You will be deemed to have notice of all information incorporated by reference in this prospectus as if that information was included in this prospectus.
 
We will provide to any person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus, at no cost to the requesting party, upon request to us in writing or by telephone using the following information:
 
Akeena Solar, Inc.
Attention: General Counsel
16005 Los Gatos Boulevard
Los Gatos, California  95032
(408) 402-9400

 
21

 

EXPERTS
 
The consolidated financial statements of Akeena Solar, Inc. as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for the years then ended have been included in this prospectus in reliance upon the report of Burr, Pilger & Mayer LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, included herein, given on the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
LEGAL MATTERS
 
DLA Piper US LLP has passed on the validity of the securities being offered in this prospectus and counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement will pass upon legal matters for any underwriters, dealers or agents.

 
22

 
 

 
Akeena Solar, Inc.
 
COMMON STOCK
PREFERRED STOCK
DEBT SECURITIES
WARRANTS
AND UNITS
 
PROSPECTUS
 
January ____, 2009
 

 
 
 

 

PART II
 
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
Item 14.                 Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
 
The following table itemizes the fees and expenses incurred or expected to be incurred by the Registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commission.  All amounts are estimates except the SEC registration fee.  Estimated expenses only include information that is known at the time of filing this registration statement and are subject to future contingencies, including additional expenses for future offerings.
 
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee
  $ 1,179  
Transfer agent’s and trustee’s fees and expenses
    15,000  
Printing and engraving expenses
    15,000  
Legal fees and expenses
    35,000  
Accounting fees and expenses
    20,000  
Miscellaneous expenses
    13,821  
Total
  $ 100,000  
         

Item 15.                 Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
 
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), provides, in general, that a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, as we are, may 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 (other than a derivative action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. In the case of a derivative action, a Delaware corporation may indemnify any such person against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification will be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person will have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other court in which such action was brought determines such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses.
 
Our Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws provide that we will indemnify our directors, officers, employees and agents to the extent and in the manner permitted by the provisions of the DGCL, as amended from time to time, subject to any permissible expansion or limitation of such indemnification, as may be set forth in any stockholders’ or directors’ resolution or by contract. Any repeal or modification of these provisions approved by our stockholders will be prospective only and will not adversely affect any limitation on the liability of any of our directors or officers existing as of the time of such repeal or modification.
 
We also maintain insurance coverage on behalf of any director, officer, employee or other agent for liability arising out of his actions, whether or not the DGCL would permit indemnification.
 

 
II-1

 
 
Item 16.                 Exhibits.
 
The following documents are filed as exhibits to this registration statement, including those exhibits incorporated herein by reference to a prior filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as indicated in parentheses:
 
Exhibit
No.
 
Description
 
Incorporation by Reference
1.1
 
Form of Underwriting Agreement
 
To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
         
3.1
 
Certificate of Incorporation
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 7, 2006.
         
3.2
 
By-Laws
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 7, 2006.
         
3.3
 
Certificate of Amendment
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 14, 2006.
         
4.2
 
Form of Senior Indenture
   
         
4.3
 
Form of Subordinated Indenture
   
         
4.4
 
Form of Warrant
 
To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
         
4.5
 
Form of Unit Agreement
 
To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
         
4.6
 
Form of Articles Supplementary with respect to Preferred Stock
 
To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
         
5.1
 
Opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US)
   
         
12.1
 
Statement Regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
   
         
23.1
 
Consent of Burr, Pilger & Mayer LLP
   
         
23.2
 
Consent of DLA Piper LLP (US)
 
Included in Exhibit 5.1
         
24.1
 
Powers of Attorney
 
Included on signature page

25.1
 
Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
 
To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 
II-2

 
 
Item 17.                 Undertakings
 
(a)           Rule 415(a) Offerings.  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 Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
 
(iii)           To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
 
Provided, however, that the undertakings in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement;
 
(2)           That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
 
(3)           To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;
 
(4)           That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
 
(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

 
II-3

 

(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 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 the 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; and
 
(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 an undersigned registrant; and
 
(iv)           Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
 
(b)           Filings Incorporating Subsequent Exchange Act Reports by Reference.  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
(c)           Request to Accelerate Effective Date.  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act 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 of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
(d)           Registration Statement permitted by Rule 430A.  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
(1)           For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 
II-4

 
 
(2)           For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
(e)           Qualification of Trustee.  If and when applicable, the undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

 
II-5

 

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Akeena Solar certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Los Gatos and State of California, on the 6th day of January, 2009.
 
AKEENA SOLAR, INC.
   
   
By:
/s/ Barry Cinnamon
 
Barry Cinnamon
 
Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
We the undersigned officers and directors of Akeena Solar, Inc., hereby severally constitute and appoint Barry Cinnamon and Gary Effren, and each of them singly (with full power to each of them to act alone), our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each of them, for each of us and in our name, place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement (or any other Registration Statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933), 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, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as full to all intents and purposes as we might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or either of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on January 6, 2009.
 
Signature
 
Title
     
/s/ Barry Cinnamon
 
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Barry Cinnamon
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/ Gary Effren
 
Chief Financial Officer
Gary Effren
 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
     
/s/ Ed Roffman
 
Director
Ed Roffman
   
     
/s/ Jon Witkin
 
Director
Jon Witkin
   

 
II-6

 

EXHIBIT INDEX
 
The following documents are filed as exhibits to this registration statement, including those exhibits incorporated herein by reference to a prior filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as indicated in parentheses:
 
Exhibit
No.
 
Description
 
Incorporation by Reference
1.1
 
Form of Underwriting Agreement
 
To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
         
3.1
 
Certificate of Incorporation
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 7, 2006.
         
3.2
 
By-Laws
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 7, 2006.
         
3.3
 
Certificate of Amendment
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 14, 2006.
         
4.2
 
Form of Senior Indenture
   
         
4.3
 
Form of Subordinated Indenture
   
         
4.4
 
Form of Warrant
 
To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
         
4.5
 
Form of Unit Agreement
 
To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
         
4.6
 
Form of Articles Supplementary with respect to Preferred Stock
 
To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
         
5.1
 
Opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US)
   
         
12.1
 
Statement Regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
   
         
23.1
 
Consent of Burr, Pilger & Mayer LLP
   
         
23.2
 
Consent of DLA Piper LLP (US)
 
Included in Exhibit 5.1
         
24.1
 
Powers of Attorney
 
Included on signature page
 
25.1
 
Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
 
To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.