As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 7, 2021

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

AKERNA CORP.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

1550 Larimer Street #246

Denver, Colorado 80202

1-888-932-6537

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of principal executive offices)

Corporation Service Company

251 Little Falls Drive

Wilmington, Delaware 19807

(302) 636-5400

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Jason K Brenkert, Esq.

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

1400 Wewatta Street, Suite 400

Denver, Colorado 80202

Telephone: (303) 352-1133

Fax Number: (303) 629-3450

From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement

(Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act.    ☐

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

We hereby amend this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay our effective date until we will 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 will become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, in accordance with Section 8(a) may determine.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. Akerna Corp. may not sell the securities until the Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, of which this prospectus is a part, is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion: Dated June 7, 2021

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

AKERNA CORP.

Akerna Corp. (the “Company”) may offer and sell, from time to time, up to $100,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of shares of common stock, par value $0.0001, in the capital of the Company, (which we refer to herein as “Common Stock”), shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001, in the capital of the Company (which we refer to herein as “Preferred Stock”), warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (which we refer to herein as “Warrants”) or any combination thereof (which we refer to herein as “Units”) in one or more transactions under this base prospectus (which we refer to herein as the “prospectus”). This prospectus also covers (i) Common Stock that may be issued upon the conversion of Preferred Stock and Common Stock and Preferred Stock that may be issued upon exercise of Warrants and (ii) such indeterminate amount of securities as may be issued in exchange for, or upon conversion of, as the case may be, the securities registered hereunder, including, in each case, an indeterminate number of Common Stock and Preferred Stock that may be issued pursuant to anti-dilution or adjustment provisions in Preferred Stock or Warrants issuable hereunder.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement (which we refer to herein as the “prospectus supplement”) that describes specific information about the particular securities being offered and may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and the prospectus supplement, together with any additional information which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities without the prospectus supplement which includes a description of the method and terms of that offering.

We may sell the securities on a continuous or delayed basis to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers. The prospectus supplement, which we will provide to you each time we offer securities, will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of the securities, and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.

Our Common Stock trades on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “KERN”. On June 7, 2021, the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $4.27 per share. There is currently no market through which the securities, other than the Common Stock, may be sold and purchasers may not be able to resell the securities purchased under this prospectus. This may affect the pricing of the securities, other than the Common Stock, in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of these Securities and the extent of issuer regulation. See “Risk Factors”.

Investing in the securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 4.

These Securities have not been approved or disapproved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or any state securities commission nor has the SEC or any state securities commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

PROSPECTUS DATED       , 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of initial aggregate offering price of $100,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. The specific terms of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered will be set forth in a prospectus supplement and may include, where applicable: (i) in the case of Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock offered, the offering price and any other specific terms of the offering; (ii) in the case of Preferred Stock, the number of shares of Preferred Stock offered, the designation and class of the Preferred Stock, the offering price, any dividend terms and rates, conversion terms and conversion price and any other specific terms of the Preferred Stock and offering (iii) in the case of Warrants, the designation, number and terms of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Warrants, any procedures that will result in the adjustment of those numbers, the exercise price, dates and periods of exercise, and the currency or the currency unit in which the exercise price must be paid and any other specific terms; and (iv) in the case of Units, the designation, number and terms of the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, or Warrants comprising the Units. A prospectus supplement may include specific variable terms pertaining to the securities that are not within the alternatives and parameters set forth in this prospectus.

In connection with any offering of the securities (unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement), the underwriters or agents may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities offered at a higher level than that which might exist in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be interrupted or discontinued at any time. See “Plan of Distribution”.

Please carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the documents incorporated herein by reference under “Documents Incorporated by Reference” and the additional information described below under “Where You Can Find More Information”.

Owning securities may subject you to tax consequences in the United States. This prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement may not describe these tax consequences fully. You should read the tax discussion in any prospectus supplement with respect to a particular offering and consult your own tax advisor with respect to your own particular circumstances.

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus. The distribution or possession of this prospectus in or from certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or where the person making the offer or sale is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is not permitted to make such offer or sale. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of the securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

References in this prospectus to “$” are to United States dollars.

Unless otherwise indicated, any reference to Akerna, or as “we”, “us”, or “our” refers to Akerna Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries (“Akerna” or the “Company”).   

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk.  You should carefully consider the risks described below and discussed under the section captioned “Risk Factors” contained in our transition report on Form 10-KT for the six-month transition period ended December 31, 2020, and in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2021, which reports are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus or incorporated by reference herein, including any documents subsequently filed and incorporated by reference, before making an investment decision with regard to our securities. See “Documents Incorporated by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information” below.

The statements contained in this prospectus that are not historic facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could suffer.    

Summary of Risk Factors

The following is a short description of the risks and uncertainties you should carefully consider in evaluating our business and us which are more fully described in our transition report on Form 10-KT for the six-month transition period ended December 31, 2020 and in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2021, which reports are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The factors listed below and in the transition report and quarterly report, represent certain important factors that we believe could cause our business results to differ. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the general or specific risks that may affect us. It should be recognized that other risks may be significant, presently or in the future, and the risks set forth below may affect us to a greater extent than indicated. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Risks Relating to Our Financial Condition and Operating History

Risks Related to the Cannabis Industry

Risks related to Our Business

Risks related to Intellectual Property

Risks related to Our Charter Documents

Risks Relating to our Convertible Debt

Risks Relating to our Accounting for Certain Warrants

Risks Relating to Our Common Stock

General Risks

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and the exhibits attached hereto contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding future events or our future results of operations, financial condition, business, strategies, financial needs, and the plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “likely,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Forward-looking statements are based on information available to our management as of the date of this prospectus and our management’s good faith belief as of such date with respect to future events and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements, in particular the substantial risks and uncertainties related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to:

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. We disclaim any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

We qualify all the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus by the foregoing cautionary statements.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Equity Financing

On October 28, 2020, we entered into subscription agreements with certain investors (the “Investors”) relating to the sale and issuance by the Company of 5,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001, at a price of $2.40 per share (the “Equity Offering”). The Offering closed on October 30, 2020.

In addition, on October 28, 2020,we entered into a placement agency agreement with A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners (the “Placement Agent”), pursuant to which the Placement Agent agreed to act as the Company’s agent for the sale of the shares to the public in the Equity Offering on a best efforts basis. The Company agreed to pay the Placement Agent a cash fee equal to 7% of the gross proceeds from the Equity Offering and to reimburse the Placement Agent for up to $60,000 of its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

Debt Modification

On December 23, 2020, we entered into waivers with all the holders (the “Holders”) of our outstanding senior secured convertible notes issued on June 9, 2020 (the “Notes”), pursuant to which the Company and the Holders, separately and not jointly, agreed to waive certain terms and conditions of the Notes as follows: (i) The Holders irrevocably waived the last sentence of Section 8(a) of the Notes requiring that all installment amounts payable under the Notes prior to April 1, 2021 be paid in cash pursuant to installment redemptions. The Company may now elect, in its sole discretion, to pay installment amounts under the Notes prior to April 1, 2021, by issuing shares of common stock pursuant to installment conversions or by paying cash pursuant to installment redemptions, in each case in accordance with the existing terms of the Notes, (ii) The Company irrevocably waived the prohibition on acceleration of installment amounts in Section 8(e) of the Notes solely in relation to the Installment Amount for January 4, 2020, to permit the Holders to accelerate the January 4, 2021 installment amount, in whole or in part, to one or more acceleration dates from December 24, 2020 through to and including January 4, 2021, as elected by each Holder pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Notes, (iii) The Company and the Holders agreed that the Company may irrevocably waive the installment scheduled principal amount for any installment date by setting forth in the installment notice for that installment date an installment amount greater than the installment scheduled principal amount due and payable on the next installment date. Each Holder may then consent to all or a portion of such increased installment amount for such installment date by written confirmation no later than 4:00 p.m. New York time on the trading day immediately prior to such installment date. Any increased amount for an installment amount above the installment scheduled principal amount for such installment date will reduce the principal amount under the Notes, and (iv) In relation to the January 4, 2021 installment amount, the Company delivered installment notices to the Holders increasing the installment amount for January 4, 2021, in the aggregate, by $2,062,500.

Acquisition of Veridian

On March 10, 2021, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Viridian Agreement”) with Navigator Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Seller”), and Viridian Sciences, Inc., a Delaware company (“Viridian”), whereby we acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Viridian from Seller for 1,000,000 shares of Akerna common stock valued at $6.00 per share (the “Transaction”).

The Agreement provides for a contingent payment of shares of Akerna’s common stock equal to up to $1,000,000 payable after the one-year period following the closing of the Transaction based upon certain revenue achievements set forth in the Agreement. A portion of the Share Consideration (as defined in the Agreement) in an amount equal to 100,000 shares of Akerna common stock valued at $6.00 per share in cash was deposited into an escrow account to satisfy certain net working capital adjustments and indemnification obligations of Seller.

We closed the acquisition of Veridian on April 1, 2021.

Transition Period

On September 25, 2020, our Board of Directors adopted resolutions pursuant to Article XII of our Bylaws to change the Company’s fiscal year end from June 30 to December 31, effective for the year ending December 31, 2020.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we specify another use in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, working capital, capital expenditures, and to the extent we have any debt, debt repayment.

We may also use such proceeds to fund acquisitions of businesses, product candidates or technologies that complement our current business. We may set forth additional information on the use of net proceeds from the sale of the securities we offer under this prospectus in a prospectus supplement related to a specific offering.

Investors are cautioned, however, that expenditures may vary substantially from these uses. Investors will be relying on the judgment of our management, who will have broad discretion regarding the application of the proceeds of this offering. The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures will depend upon numerous factors, including the amount of cash generated by our operations, the amount of competition and other operational factors. We may find it necessary or advisable to use portions of the proceeds from this offering for other purposes.

From time to time, we evaluate these and other factors and we anticipate continuing to make such evaluations to determine if the existing allocation of resources, including the proceeds of this offering, is being optimized. Circumstances that may give rise to a change in the use of proceeds include:

Pending other uses, we intend to invest the proceeds to us in investment-grade, interest-bearing securities such as money market funds, certificates of deposit, or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government, or hold as cash. We cannot predict whether the proceeds invested will yield a favorable, or any, return.

MARKET FOR COMMON SHARES

Our shares of Common Stock trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “KERN”. On June 7, 2021, the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $4.27 per share, there were 25,212,342 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, and we had approximately 220 registered shareholders of record.

DIVIDEND POLICY

We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future. In addition, our ability to pay dividends is restricted by agreements governing Akerna’s and its subsidiaries’ debt, including the Company’s senior secured convertible notes. See “Risk Factors” above.

CERTAIN INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The applicable prospectus supplement will also describe certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Securities by an initial investor who is a U.S. person (within the meaning of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code), if applicable, including, to the extent applicable, any such consequences relating to Securities payable in a currency other than the U.S. dollar, issued at an original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes or containing early redemption provisions or other special terms.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

As of June 7, 2021, our authorized Common Stock capital consists of 75,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of which 25,212,342 shares of common stock are issued and outstanding. We also had one share of special voting stock, of which one share is outstanding. We are a Delaware corporation and our affairs are governed by our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws. The following are summaries of material provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws insofar as they relate to the material terms of our Common Stock. Complete copies of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws are filed as exhibits to our public filings.

Common Stock

All outstanding shares of Common Stock are of the same class and have equal rights and attributes. The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders. Subject to the prior rights of all classes or series of stock at the time outstanding having prior rights as to dividends or other distributions, all stockholders are entitled to share equally in dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available. Subject to the prior rights of creditors of Akerna and the holders of all classes or series of stock at the time outstanding having prior rights as to distributions upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Akerna, in the event of liquidation, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of all liabilities. The stockholders do not have cumulative, preemptive rights, or subscription rights.

Preferred Stock

The board of directors is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, without further vote or action by the stockholders, to issue from time to time shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series. Each such series of Preferred Stock shall have such number of shares, designations, preferences, voting powers, qualifications, and special or relative rights or privileges as shall be determined by the board of directors, which may include, among others, dividend rights, voting rights, liquidation preferences, conversion rights and preemptive rights. Issuance of Preferred Stock by our board of directors may result in such shares having dividend and/or liquidation preferences senior to the rights of the holders of our Common Stock and could dilute the voting rights of the holders of our Common Stock.

Prior to the issuance of shares of each series of Preferred Stock, the board of directors is required by the Delaware General Corporation Law and our certificate of incorporation to adopt resolutions and file a certificate of designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The certificate of designation fixes for each class or series the designations, powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions, including, but not limited to, some or all of the following:

Once designated by our board of directors, each series of Preferred Stock may have specific financial and other terms that will be described in a prospectus supplement. The description of the Preferred Stock that is set forth in any prospectus supplement is not complete without reference to the documents that govern the Preferred Stock. These include our certificate of incorporation and any certificates of designation that our board of directors may adopt.

All shares of Preferred Stock offered hereby will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable, including shares of Preferred Stock issued upon the exercise of Preferred Stock Warrants or subscription rights, if any.

Although our board of directors has no intention at the present time of doing so, it could authorize the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock that could, depending on the terms of such series, impede the completion of a merger, tender offer or other takeover attempt.

Special Voting Share

The special voting share has a par value of $0.0001 per share. The special voting share entitles the holder thereof to an aggregate number of votes equal to the number of the Exchangeable Shares issued and outstanding from time to time and that are not owned by us or our subsidiaries. Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holder of the special voting share and the holders of our common stock will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of Akerna’s shareholders. With respect to all meetings of shareholders of Akerna at which holders of Akerna shares are entitled to vote, each registered holder of Exchangeable Shares shall be entitled to instruct the trustee holding the special voting share to cast and exercise, in the manner instructed, that number of votes equal to the “Equivalent Vote Amount” for each Exchangeable Share owned of record by such holder of Exchangeable Shares at the close of business on the record date established by Akerna or by applicable law for such meeting, in respect of each matter, question, proposal or proposition to be voted on at such meeting. At such time as the special voting share has no votes attached to it, the special voting share shall be automatically cancelled.

Exchangeable Shares

The Exchangeable Shares of Exchangeco are intended to be substantially economically equivalent to shares of our common stock. The rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the Exchangeable Shares of Exchangeco include the following:

Of the 3,294,574 Exchangeable Shares that were issued to former Ample shareholders in connection with the consummation of the Arrangement, an aggregate of 658,915 Exchangeable Shares were issued as “Closing Consideration” and an aggregate of 2,635,659 Exchangeable Shares, constituting part of the “Escrowed Consideration” were issued into escrow pursuant to an escrow agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”), entered into on July 7, 2020 by and among the Company, ExchangeCo, John Prentice, as Shareholder Representative, and Odyssey Trust Company. Under the Escrow Agreement, subject to unresolved claims by the Company under the Arrangement Agreement in respect of fraud, the Escrowed Consideration shall be released to former Ample shareholders upon the six-, nine-, and twelve-month anniversaries of the Closing Date in accordance with the following schedule -- 988,372 shares on the six-month anniversary, 823,643 shares on the nine-month anniversary, and 823,644 shares on the twelve-month anniversary. As of the date hereof, 2,255,201 shares of common stock of Akerna have been issued on conversion of Exchangeable Shares.

CVRs

In addition to the Exchangeable Shares, each Ample shareholder, immediately prior to the time at which the Arrangement became effective received one CVR. Each CVR entitles the holder to receive a portion of Deferred Consideration (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) that the initial holder of such CVR is entitled to receive in its capacity as an Ample shareholder, with an aggregate of up to CAD$10,000,000 additional Exchangeable Shares issuable to the holders of the CVRs subject to downward adjustment pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement. Pursuant to the Rights Indenture entered into on July 7, 2020 by and among Akerna, Exchangeco, John Prentice as Shareholder Representative and Odyssey Trust Company, holders of CVRs shall be entitled to additional Exchangeable Shares if certain revenue targets are achieved by Ample during the twelve month period following effectiveness of the Arrangement.

 Registration Rights

We have granted registration rights under the Securities Act to certain holders of our common stock in relation to our acquisitions of Solo, Trellis and Ample. In relation to Ample, we agreed to file and maintain, until no Exchangeable Shares remain outstanding, a registration statement regarding the exchange of the Exchangeable Shares into shares of our common stock pursuant to their terms. In relation thereto, we filed a registration statement on Form S-1 on July 9, 2020 (333-239783) which was brought effective on August 14, 2020. In relation to Trellis, we agreed to file a registration statement registering the resale of shares of certain of the shares of common stock held by the former shareholders of Trellis, totaling 314,684 shares. In relation thereto, we filed a registration statement on Form S-1 on August 7, 2020 (333-242474) registering the resale of 314,684 shares of our common stock, which was brought effective on August 14, 2020. In relation to Solo, we have agreed to use of commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement to register the resale of 2,000,000 shares of common stock held by the former shareholders of Solo. In relation thereto, we filed a registration statement on Form S-1 on January 15, 2021 (333-252178) registering the resale of 2,717,245 shares of our common stock related to the Solo transaction (such registration statement also acted as a post-effective amendment to the Trellis registration statement and a prior registration statement on S-3 for the resale of shares), which was brought effective on January 25, 2021. We may also be required in the future to file amendments to these registration statements to maintain effectiveness.

Election of Directors

Our Class I Directors held office until the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders and were reelected at such meeting. Our Class II Directors held office until the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders and were reelected at such meeting. Our Class III Directors hold office until the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders and are eligible for reelection at such meeting. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the annual meeting by the holders of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at such meeting. There is no cumulative voting for directors.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation contains provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. We are also subject to anti-takeover provisions under Delaware law, which could delay or prevent a change of control. Together these provisions may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.

These provisions:

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue Warrants for the purchase of Common Stock or Preferred Stock in one or more series. We may issue Warrants independently or together with Common Stock or Preferred Stock, and the Warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities.

We will evidence each series of Warrants by warrant certificates that we may issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into a warrant agreement with a warrant agent. Each warrant agent may be a bank that we select which has its principal office in the United States. We may also choose to act as our own warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of any such warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of Warrants.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of Warrants, including:

Before exercising their Warrants, holders of Warrants may not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including, in the case of Warrants to purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any.

Exercise of Warrants

Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the Warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to 5:00 P.M. mountain time, the close of business, on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised Warrants will become void.

Holders of the Warrants may exercise the Warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the Warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required exercise price by the methods provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate, and in the applicable prospectus supplement, the information that the holder of the Warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent.

Upon receipt of the required 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 issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the Warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, then we will, if required by the terms of the warrant, issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of Warrants.

Enforceability of Rights By Holders of Warrants

Any warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any Warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of Warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or Warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a Warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other Warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action the holder’s right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its Warrants in accordance with their terms.

Warrant Agreement Will Not Be Qualified Under Trust Indenture Act

No warrant agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no warrant agent will be required to qualify as a trustee, under the Trust Indenture Act. Therefore, holders of Warrants issued under a warrant agreement will not have the protection of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to their Warrants.

Governing Law

Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, each warrant agreement and any Warrants issued under the warrant agreements will be governed by Delaware law.

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue Units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement in any combination. Each Unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder, with the rights and obligations of a holder, of each security included in the Unit. 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 times before a specified date or upon the occurrence of a specified event or occurrence.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

General

We may offer and sell the securities on a continuous or delayed basis, separately or together: (a) to one or more underwriters or dealers; (b) through one or more agents; or (c) directly to one or more other purchasers. The securities offered pursuant to any prospectus supplement may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions at: (i) a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time; (ii) market prices prevailing at the time of sale; (iii) prices related to such prevailing market prices; or (iv) other negotiated prices.

The distribution of securities may be effected, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including:

We may only offer and sell the securities pursuant to a prospectus supplement during the 36-month period that this prospectus, including any amendments hereto, remains effective. The prospectus supplement for any of the securities being offered thereby will set forth the terms of the offering of such securities, including the type of security being offered, the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, the purchase price of such securities, the proceeds to us from such sale, any underwriting commissions or discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers. Only underwriters so named in the prospectus supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities offered thereby.

By Underwriters

If underwriters are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto, the obligations of underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, but the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement if any of such securities are purchased. We may agree to pay the underwriters a fee or commission for various services relating to the offering of any securities. Any such fee or commission will be paid out of the proceeds of the offering or our general corporate funds.

By Dealers

If dealers are used, and if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will sell such securities to the dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealers at the time of resale. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

By Agents

The securities may also be sold through agents designated by us. Any agent involved will be named, and any fees or commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any such fees or commissions will be paid out of the proceeds of the offering or our general corporate funds. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

Direct Sales

Securities may also be sold directly by us at such prices and upon such terms as agreed to by us and the purchaser. In this case, no underwriters, dealers or agents would be involved in the offering.

General Information

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities offered by this prospectus may be deemed underwriters under the U.S. 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 U.S. Securities Act.

With respect to the sale of securities under this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, No Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) member firm may receive compensation in excess of that allowable under FINRA rules, including Rule 5110, in connection with the offering of the securities.

Underwriters, dealers or agents who participate in the distribution of securities may be entitled under agreements to be entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under United States securities legislation, or to contribution with respect to payments which such underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make in respect thereof. Such underwriters, dealers or agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third parties may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third parties in such sale transactions will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

One or more firms, referred to as “remarketing firms,” may also offer or sell the securities, if the prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with a remarketing arrangement upon their purchase. Remarketing firms will act as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. These remarketing firms will offer or sell the Securities in accordance with the terms of the securities. The prospectus supplement will identify any remarketing firm and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and will describe the remarketing firm’s compensation. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities they remarket.

To facilitate the public offering of a series of securities, persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involves the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than have been sold to them by us. In addition, those persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to underwriters or dealers participating in any such offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. We make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above, if implemented, may have on the price of our securities.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be eligible for trading as listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market. Any underwriters who are qualified market makers to whom securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. 

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Akerna as of December 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and 2019, for the six months ended December 31, 2020 and for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2020 included in our transition report on Form 10-KT which is incorporated herein by reference, have been audited by Marcum LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, which is incorporated herein by reference, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The financial statements of Solo as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for years then ended included in our current report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on May 29, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference, have been audited by Marcum LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon, which is incorporated herein by reference, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements of Ample as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for years then ended included in our current report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on July 8, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon, which is incorporated herein by reference, which report includes an explanatory paragraph as to the ability of Ample to continue as a going concern as described in Note 1 to the financial statements, and are included in reliance on such report given upon such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered hereby have been passed upon for Akerna by Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information we file with the SEC.  This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. Any information we reference in this manner is considered part of this prospectus.  Information we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus will automatically update and, to the extent inconsistent, supersede the information contained in this prospectus.

The following documents have been filed by us with the SEC, are specifically incorporated by reference into, and form an integral part of, this prospectus.

We also hereby specifically incorporate by reference all filings by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the filing of the initial registration statement on Form S-3 to which this prospectus relates and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement.

You may obtain copies of any of these documents by contacting us at the address and telephone number indicated below or by contacting the SEC as described below. You may request a copy of these documents, and any exhibits that have specifically been incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this prospectus, at no cost, by writing or telephoning to:

AKERNA CORP.
1550 Larimer Street #246

Denver, Colorado 80202

Attention: John Fowle, Secretary

Telephone: 1-888-932-6537

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act relating to the offering of these securities. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits and schedules, contains additional relevant information about us and the securities. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information respecting our company and the shares offered by this prospectus, you should refer to the registration statement, including the exhibits and schedules thereto.

We file annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, including any amendments to those reports, and other information that we file with or furnish to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act can be accessed free of charge through the Internet. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. You may access the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, and the documents incorporated by reference herein, at the SEC’s Internet site. You may also access these documents at the Company’s website at www.akerna.com.

PROSPECTUS

AKERNA CORP.

June    , 2021 

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14- OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

ITEM 15- INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Under Section 145 of the DGCL, a corporation may indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents and its former directors, officers, employees and agents and those who serve, at the corporation’s request, in such capacities with another enterprise, against expenses (including attorney’s fees), as well as judgments, fines and settlements, actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) in which they or any of them were or are made parties or are threatened to be made parties by reason of their serving or having served in such capacity. The DGCL provides, however, that such person must have acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in (or not opposed to) the best interests of the corporation and, in the case of a criminal action, such person must have had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In addition, the DGCL does not permit indemnification in an action or suit by or in the right of the corporation, where such person has been adjudged liable to the corporation for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his/her duty to the corporation, unless, and only to the extent that, a court determines that such person fairly and reasonably is entitled to indemnity for costs the court deems proper in light of liability adjudication. Indemnity is mandatory to the extent a claim, issue or matter has been successfully defended.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (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) under Section 174 of the DGCL (relating to unlawful payment of dividends and unlawful stock purchase or redemption) or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Article VI of the Amended and Restated By-Laws of Akerna contains provisions which are designed to provide mandatory indemnification of directors and officers of Akerna to the full extent permitted by law, as now in effect or later amended. The Amended and Restated By-Laws further provide for reimbursement and advances of payment of expenses actually and reasonably incurred by a current or former director or officer of Akerna under the circumstances contained therein.

ITEM 16- EXHIBITS

(a) Exhibits.

See the Exhibit Index.

(b) Financial Statement Schedules.

None.

(c) Reports, Opinions and Appraisals.

None.

ITEM 17- UNDERTAKINGS

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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

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

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

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

provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) above do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statements 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:

(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:

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

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

(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

SIGNATURES

In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements of filing on Form S-3 and has authorized this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, in the city of Denver, Colorado on June 7, 2021.

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jessica Billingsley his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments including post-effective amendments to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact or his or her substitute, each acting alone, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

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

EXHIBIT INDEX

II-6