Arq (ARQ) S-1IPO registration

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 4, 2024

No. 333-

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

(720) 598-3500

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The securities may not be sold 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 the offer or sale is not permitted.

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This prospectus is part of the registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), using a "shelf" registration process. Under this shelf registration process, the selling stockholders may, from time to time, offer and sell certain shares of our common stock in one or more offerings. When a selling stockholder sells shares of common stock under this shelf registration process, we may provide a prospectus supplement that will contain more specific information about the terms of such offering. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectuses we have prepared or authorized as well as the information incorporated in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement by reference. See "Incorporation by Reference." Any information in any accompanying prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus or any subsequent material incorporated herein or therein by reference will supersede the information in this prospectus or any earlier prospectus supplement.

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions in some of the documents described herein, but reference is hereby made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by reference to the complete text of the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed or will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below in the section entitled "Where You Can Find More Information."

Neither we nor any of the selling stockholders have authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus, in any accompanying prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectuses we have prepared or authorized. You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, including information incorporated by reference herein or therein, or any free writing prospectus that we have specifically referred you to. Neither we nor any of the selling stockholders take responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the shares offered hereby and only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any documents we incorporate herein or therein, or in any free writing prospectus, is current only as of the respective dates thereof. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those respective dates.

No action is being taken in any jurisdiction outside the United States to permit a public offering of common stock or possession or distribution of this prospectus in that jurisdiction. Persons who come into possession of this prospectus in jurisdictions outside the United States are required to inform themselves about and to observe any restriction as to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus applicable to those jurisdictions.

Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus to "we," "our," "us," "ADES" and the "Company" refer to Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. together with its consolidated subsidiaries.

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet website at www.sec.gov that contains periodic and current reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding registrants, including us, that file electronically with the SEC.

We also make available, free of charge, on or through our Internet website, www.advancedemissionssolutions.com, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Proxy Statements on Schedule 14A and, if applicable, amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The information on or that can be accessed through our website is not a part of this prospectus and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only. In addition, you may request copies of these filings at no cost at: Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc., 8051 E. Maplewood Ave., Suite 210, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111, telephone: (720) 598-3500.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), including exhibits, of which this prospectus forms a part, with respect to the shares of common stock that may be offered hereunder. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and exhibits thereto. For further information with respect to our company and the shares of common stock offered hereby, reference is made to the registration statement, including the exhibits thereto. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are summaries and are not necessarily complete and you should refer to the exhibits attached to or incorporated by reference into the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreement or other document. Our SEC filings, including the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and the exhibits thereto, are available to you for free on the SEC’s website listed above.

The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement the information we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. Any information referenced in this way is considered part of this prospectus. Any subsequent information filed with the SEC will automatically be deemed to update and supersede the information in this prospectus and in our other filings with the SEC.

We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the documents listed below that have been previously filed with the SEC, as well as any filings made by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part until the termination or completion of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus; provided, however, we are not incorporating by reference any documents or portions of documents deemed to have been furnished rather than filed in accordance with SEC rules:

•    our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the SEC on March 8, 2023;

•    the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K from our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 27, 2023;

•    our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on May 9, 2023; for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, as filed with the SEC on August 9, 2023; and for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, as filed with the SEC on November 8, 2023;

•    our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 1, 2023, March 2, 2023, March 29, 2023 (Item 8.01 only), April 14, 2023, June 6, 2023, June 15, 2023, July 17, 2023, August 3, 2023 and September 18, 2023 and November 8, 2023 (filing containing Item 5.02 only);

•    the description of our common stock contained or incorporated by reference in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on July 6, 2016, as updated by any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

Notwithstanding the foregoing, information furnished under Items 2.02 and 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, including the related exhibits under Item 9.01, is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

ADA-ES, Inc. ("ADA"), a Colorado corporation, was incorporated in 1997. Pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, effective July 1, 2013, Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. ("ADES"), a Delaware company incorporated in 2011, succeeded ADA as the publicly-held corporation and ADA became a wholly-owned subsidiary of ADES. In 2018, we acquired ADA Carbon Solutions, LLC as a means to enter into the broader Activated Carbon ("AC") market and to expand our product offerings in the mercury control industry and other applicable AC markets. In February 2023, we acquired the direct subsidiaries of Arq Ltd (hereafter the Arq Limited subsidiaries referred to as "Arq") to secure access to a unique feedstock, a manufacturing facility and certain patented processes as a means to further expand our product offerings to new markets. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K is referred to as the "Form 10-K" or the "Report." As used in this prospectus, the terms the "Company," "we," "us" and "our" means ADES and its consolidated subsidiaries.

As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we held equity interests of 42.5% and 50.0% in Tinuum Group, LLC ("Tinuum Group") and Tinuum Services, LLC ("Tinuum Services"), respectively, which are both unconsolidated entities, and through December 31, 2021, both contributed significantly to our financial position and results of operations. We account for Tinuum Group and Tinuum Services under the equity method of accounting. As a result of the expiration of Internal Revenue Code ("IRC") Section 45 - Production Tax Credit ("Section 45") refined coal tax credit program effective December 31, 2021, both Tinuum Group and Tinuum Services ceased operations in 2023 and continue to wind down their operations.

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should consider the risks, uncertainties and other factors described in "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented and updated by subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, that we have filed or will file with the SEC, and in other documents which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as well as the risk factors and other information contained in or incorporated by reference in any accompanying prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus. If any of these or any unanticipated risks actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected and the trading price of our common stock could decline, causing you to lose some or all of your investment in our common stock.

This prospectus contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. Words or phrases such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "estimates," "predicts," the negative expressions of such words, or similar expressions are used in this prospectus to identify forward-looking statements, and such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements or expectations regarding:

The forward-looking statements included in this prospectus involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including, but not limited to, timing of new and pending regulations and any legal challenges to or extensions of compliance dates of them; the U.S. government’s failure to promulgate regulations that benefit our business; changes in laws and regulations, accounting rules, prices, economic conditions and market demand; impact of competition; availability, cost of and demand for alternative energy sources and other technologies; technical, start up and operational difficulties; our inability to commercialize our advanced purification technologies ("APT") on favorable terms; our inability to ramp up our operations to effectively address recent and expected growth in our business; loss of key personnel; availability of materials and equipment for our business; intellectual property infringement claims from third parties; pending litigation; as well as other factors relating to our business strategy, goals and expectations concerning the Arq Acquisition (including future operations, future performance or results); our ability to maintain relationships with customers, suppliers and other with whom we do business, or our results of operations and business generally; risks related to diverting management's

All shares of our common stock sold pursuant to this prospectus will be offered and sold by the selling stockholders.The selling stockholders will receive all proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of our common stock by the selling stockholders.

ADVANCED EMISSIONS SOLUTIONS, INC.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022

ADVANCED EMISSIONS SOLUTIONS, INC.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(b) Leases

(d) Impairment

(e) Stock-based compensation

(f) Income taxes

The following table sets forth the name of each selling stockholder, the number of shares of our common stock and the percentage of our common stock beneficially owned by each selling stockholder prior to this offering, the number of shares that may be offered under this prospectus by each selling stockholder, and the number of shares of our common stock and the percentage of our common stock to be beneficially owned by each selling stockholder after completion of this offering, assuming that all shares offered hereunder are sold as contemplated herein. The number of shares in the column "Maximum Number of Shares That May Be Offered" represents all of the shares that the selling stockholder may offer under this prospectus.

There were 33,180,907 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 29, 2023.

Beneficial ownership is determined under the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power over securities. Except in cases where community property laws apply or as indicated in the footnotes to this table, we believe that each stockholder identified in the table possesses sole voting and investment power over all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by the stockholder. Shares of common stock subject to options and warrants that are exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus are considered outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the options for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.

The following descriptions of our capital stock and certain provisions of our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, as amended, and our Tax Asset Protection Plan (as defined below), as amended, are summaries and are qualified by reference to our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws, copies of which have been incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

As of December 29, 2023, there were 33,180,907 shares of our common stock outstanding and no shares of our preferred stock outstanding. Our board of directors is authorized, without stockholder approval except as required by the listing standards of Nasdaq, to issue additional shares of our capital stock. 50,000 shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, are authorized and reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Rights (as defined below) under our Tax Asset Protection Plan, as described below.

As of December 29, 2023, we had 33,180,907 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting rights. Our bylaws provide that the election of any director and proposals designated by the directors will be decided by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of the stockholders by the holders of stock entitled to vote in the election. With respect to matters other than the election of directors and proposals designated by the director as being subject to a plurality vote, such matters shall be approved if the votes cast favoring the matter exceed the votes cast opposing the mater at a meeting of the stockholders by the holders of stock entitled to vote. The holders of one-third of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders.

Our bylaws provide that, subject to applicable law, dividends upon shares of our capital stock may be declared by the board of directors and may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of our capital stock, unless otherwise provided by applicable law.

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment or provision for payment of our debts and other liabilities and the preferential amounts to which the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock are entitled to receive on dissolution, liquidation, or winding up, the holders of the common stock are entitled to share on a pro rata basis in our remaining assets.

Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion, subscription or other rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to and may be adversely affected by the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate in the future.

All of our outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.

As of December 29, 2023, there were no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors has the authority, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences, and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations, or restrictions, in each case without further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors also has the authority to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series of preferred stock, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding, without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors may authorize the

As of December 29, 2023, there was an outstanding warrant to purchase 325,457 shares of our common stock, subject to adjustment as set forth in such warrant. The Warrant has an exercise price of $0.01 per share, subject to adjustment as set forth in the warrant, is exercisable immediately and will expire on February 1, 2030. The terms of the Warrant do not allow for cash exercise, and the Warrant may only be exercised pursuant to the terms thereof.

Certain provisions of Delaware law, and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, which are summarized below, may have the effect of delaying, deferring, or discouraging another person from acquiring control of us. They are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging a proposal to acquire us because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

We have elected not to be governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL. In general, Section 203 prohibits a public Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business combination" with an "interested stockholder" for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, subject to certain exceptions. Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes provisions requiring certain business combinations to be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock, voting together as a single class, including the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock not owned directly or indirectly by any interested stockholder (i.e. a person who owns 10% or more of our outstanding voting stock) or any affiliate of an interested stockholder. Subject to some exceptions set forth in the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, such affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that a lesser percentage may be permitted, by applicable law or in any agreement with any national securities exchange or otherwise.

The DGCL provides that a director may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote at an election of directors. Our bylaws provide that newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors and any vacancies occurring in the board of directors, may be filled by the affirmative votes of a majority of the remaining members of the board of directors, although less than a quorum. A director so elected shall hold office until the earlier of the expiration of the term of office of the director whom he or she has replaced, a successor is duly elected and qualified or the earlier of such director’s death, resignation or removal.

Subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the TAPP, if the Rights become exercisable, each Right would initially represent the right to purchase one ten-thousandth of a shares of our Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, for a purchase price of $50.00, subject to certain adjustments. The description and terms of the Rights were set forth in the Original TAPP, dated as of May 5, 2017, by and between us and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent, as amended.

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Our bylaws provide that the Company is only authorized to provide indemnification to present or former directors or officers after a determination to do so (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iv) by the stockholders.

If a determination to provide indemnification is made, then to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the corporation serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by 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, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws further provide that to the fullest extent permitted by law, a director shall not be personally liable to the Company or to our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director. No amendment to, modification of or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such by a director occurring prior to such amendment.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our organizational documents may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and our stockholders. Moreover, a stockholder’s investment may be harmed to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. There is no pending litigation or proceeding naming any of our directors or officers as to which indemnification is being sought, nor are we aware of any pending or threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification by any director or officer.

Our common stock is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol "ADES."

The selling stockholders may offer and sell, from time to time, some or all of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus. Registration of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus does not mean, however, that those shares necessarily will be offered or sold, or if they are, that they will be sold pursuant to this prospectus. We will not receive any proceeds from any sale by the selling stockholders of their shares of common stock. See "Use of Proceeds." We will pay all costs, expenses and fees incurred by the Company in connection with the registration of the shares of common stock, including fees of our counsel and accountants, and fees payable to the SEC. The selling stockholders will pay all legal fees incurred by the selling stockholders in connection with the registration of the shares of common stock, as well as any underwriting discounts and commissions and similar selling expenses, if any, attributable to the sale of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus.

The selling stockholders may sell the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus from time to time, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to market prices, at a fixed price or prices subject to change or at negotiated prices, in any manner permitted by the Securities Act, including any one or more of the following ways:

In effecting sales, brokers or dealers engaged by a selling stockholder may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate. Broker-dealer transactions may include:

At any time a particular offer of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of shares of common stock covered by this prospectus being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, brokers or agents, any option under which underwriters may purchase additional shares of common stock from the selling stockholder(s), any discounts, commissions, concessions and other items constituting compensation from the selling stockholder(s) and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers. Such prospectus supplement, and, if necessary, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, will be filed with the SEC to reflect the disclosure of additional information with respect to the distribution of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus.

In connection with the sale of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus through underwriters, underwriters may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of shares of common stock for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.

Any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents participating in the distribution of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commissions received by any of those underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be deemed to be underwriting commissions under the Securities Act. The selling stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the securities may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.

Selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions. In connection with such transactions, broker-dealers or other financial institutions may engage in short sales of shares of common stock in the course of hedging transactions, broker-dealers or other financial institutions may engage in short sales of shares of common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume with a selling stockholder. Selling stockholders may also sell shares of common stock short and redeliver the securities to close out such short positions. Selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares of common stock offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus, as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction to the extent required. Selling stockholders may also pledge shares of common stock offered hereby to a broker-dealer or other financial institution, and, upon a default, such broker-dealer or other financial institution, may effect sales of the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus, as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction to the extent required.

The selling stockholders may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell shares of common stock to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell shares of common stock covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use shares of common stock pledged by a selling stockholder or borrowed from a selling stockholder or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use shares of common stock received from such selling stockholder in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment).

The selling stockholders may authorize underwriters, dealers and agents to solicit from third parties offers to purchase shares of common stock under contracts providing for payment and delivery on future dates. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the material terms of these contracts, including any conditions to the purchasers’ obligations, and will include any required information about commissions the selling stockholders may pay for soliciting these contracts.

Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into with us or selling stockholders to indemnification by us or selling stockholders against specified liabilities, including liabilities incurred under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us or selling stockholders to payments it may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. The prospectus supplement will describe the terms and conditions of such indemnification or contribution. Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares of common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering. "Covered" short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares from the selling stockholders in the offering. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the overallotment option. "Naked" short sales are any sales in excess of such option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of common stock made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.

The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased shares sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Purchases to cover a short position and stabilizing transactions may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Company’s stock, and together with the imposition of the penalty bid, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the common stock. As a result, the price of the common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued at any time.

Certain underwriters, agents or dealers or their affiliates may have provided from time to time, and may provide in the future, investment, commercial banking, derivatives and financial advisory services to the Company, the selling stockholders and their respective affiliates in the ordinary course of business, for which they have received or may receive customary fees and commissions.

In addition, a selling stockholder that is an entity may elect to make a pro rata in-kind distribution of securities to its members, partners or stockholders pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part by delivering a prospectus.

Some of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus may be sold in private transactions or under Rule 144 under the Securities Act rather than pursuant to this prospectus.

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

The following table sets forth the fees and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement. All amounts shown are estimates other than the SEC registration fee and the FINRA filing fee.

Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and individuals against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions, suits or proceedings in which such person is made a party by reason of such person being or having been a director, officer, employee or agent to the registrant. The DGCL provides that Section 145 is not exclusive of other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. Our amended and restated bylaws that will be effective upon the closing of this offering provide for indemnification by the registrant of its directors, officers and employees to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that will be effective upon the closing of this offering provides for such limitation of liability.

We maintain standard policies of insurance under which coverage is provided (a) to our directors and officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act, and (b) to us with respect to payments we may make to our officers and directors pursuant to the above indemnification provision or otherwise as a matter of law.

In addition, any Underwriting Agreement to be filed and incorporated by reference as an exhibit to this registration statement may provide for indemnification of our directors and officers by the underwriters against certain liabilities.

Within the past three years, the Registrant has sold the following securities:

On February 1, 2023, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with Arq Limited, pursuant to which the Company acquired all of the direct and indirect equity interests of Arq’s subsidiaries (collectively, the "Purchased Interests") in exchange for consideration consisting of (i) 3,814,864 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of ADES (the "Common Stock"), representing 19.9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock prior to the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, and (ii) 5,294,462 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value

In connection with the Transaction, on February 1, 2023, the Company also issued CF Global Credit LP warrant to purchase 325,457 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share. The warrant has a term of 10 years and contains a cashless exercise provision. The issuance of the warrant was deemed to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance upon Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, and did not involve any underwriters, underwriting discounts or commissions or any public offering.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Greenwood Village, Colorado, on January 4, 2024.

The undersigned directors and officers of Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. hereby constitute and appoint Robert Rasmus and Stacia Hansen, and each of them, any of whom may act without joinder of the other, as the individual’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the person and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement and any or all amendments, including post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, including a prospectus or an amended prospectus therein and any Registration Statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and all other documents in connection therewith to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact as agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the following persons have signed this Registration Statement in the capacities and on the date indicated.