SOLIGENIX INC

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Background and Proposed Amendment

As of April 10, 2024, our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”), authorizes us to issue a total of 75,350,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of (a) 75,000,000 shares of Common Stock, (b) 230,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock (none of which are currently outstanding), (c) 10,000 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.05 per share (none of which are currently outstanding), (d) 10,000 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.05 per share (none of which are currently outstanding), and (e) 100,000 shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (none of which are currently outstanding).

On March 28, 2024, subject to stockholder approval, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to our Charter to, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, effect the reverse stock split of our Common Stock at a ratio of 1-for-2 to 1-for-20, with the exact ratio within such range to be determined by the Board of Directors at its discretion (such action, the “Reverse Stock Split”). The primary goal of the Reverse Stock Split is to increase the per share market price of our Common Stock to meet the minimum per share bid price requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq. We believe that a range of Reverse Stock Split ratios provides us with the most flexibility to achieve the desired results of the Reverse Stock Split. The Reverse Stock Split is not intended as, and will not have the effect of, a “going private transaction” covered by Rule 13e-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. The Reverse Stock Split is not intended to modify the rights of existing stockholders in any material respect.

If the Reverse Stock Split Proposal is approved by our stockholders and the Reverse Stock Split is effected, up to every 20 shares of our outstanding Common Stock would be combined and reclassified into one share of Common Stock. The actual timing for implementation of the Reverse Stock Split would be determined by the Board of Directors based upon its evaluation as to when such action would be most advantageous to us and our stockholders. Notwithstanding approval of the Reverse Stock Split Proposal by our stockholders, the Board of Directors will have the sole authority to elect whether or not and when to amend our Charter to effect the Reverse Stock Split. If the Reverse Stock Split Proposal is approved by our stockholders, the Board of Directors will make a determination as to whether effecting the Reverse Stock Split is in the best interests of us and our stockholders in light of, among other things, our ability to increase the trading price of our Common Stock to meet the minimum stock price standards of Nasdaq without effecting the Reverse Stock Split, the per share price of our Common Stock immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split and the expected stability of the per share price of the Common Stock following the Reverse Stock Split. If the Board of Directors determines that it is in the best interests of us and our stockholders to effect the Reverse Stock Split, it will hold a Board of Directors meeting, or act by written consent, to determine the ratio of the Reverse Stock Split. For additional information concerning the factors the Board of Directors will consider in deciding whether to effect the Reverse Stock Split, see below under “Determination of the Reverse Stock Split Ratio” and “Board of Directors Discretion to Effect the Reverse Stock Split.”

The text of the proposed amendment to the Charter to effect the Reverse Stock Split is included as Annex A to this proxy statement (the “Charter Amendment”). If the Reverse Stock Split Proposal is approved by our stockholders, we will have the authority to file the Charter Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which will become effective upon its filing; provided, however, that the Charter Amendment is subject to revision to include such changes as may be required by the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and as the Board of Directors deems

necessary and advisable. The Board of Directors has determined that the amendment is advisable and in the best interests of us and our stockholders and has submitted the amendment for consideration by our stockholders at the Annual Meeting.

Reasons for the Reverse Stock Split

Maintain Nasdaq Listing

We are submitting this proposal to our stockholders for approval in order to increase the trading price of our Common Stock to meet the minimum per share bid price requirement for continued listing on Nasdaq. We believe increase in the trading price of our Common Stock may also assist in our capital-raising efforts by making our Common Stock more attractive to a broader range of investors, including institutional investors. Accordingly, we believe that the Reverse Stock Split is in our stockholders’ best interests.

On June 23, 2023, we received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market (the “Staff”) indicating that, based upon the closing bid price of Common Stock for the 30 consecutive business day period between May 9, 2023 through June 22, 2023, we did not meet the minimum bid price of $1.00 per share required for continued listing on Nasdaq pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). The letter also indicated that we would be provided with a compliance period of 180 calendar days, or until December 20, 2023, in which to regain compliance pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A). We were unable to regain compliance prior to the expiration of the 180-day period.

On December 21, 2023, we received another written notice (the “Notice”) from the Staff stating that we had not complied with the minimum bid price requirement and were not eligible for a second 180-day period because we did not comply with the $5,000,000 minimum stockholders’ equity initial listing requirement for Nasdaq. As a result, the Notice indicated that the Common Stock would be suspended from trading on Nasdaq unless we requested a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel by December 28, 2023. On March 26, 2024, we had an oral hearing with a Nasdaq Hearings Panel to appeal the Staff’s delisting determination, which stayed the trading suspension of the Common Stock pending a final written decision by the Nasdaq Hearings Panel and expiration of any additional extension period granted by the panel following the hearing.

In order to regain compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum bid price requirement, our Common Stock must maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 for at least ten consecutive business days during the compliance period.

We believe that the Reverse Stock Split is our best option to meet the criteria to satisfy the minimum per share bid price requirement for continued listing on Nasdaq. A decrease in the number of outstanding shares of our Common Stock resulting from the Reverse Stock Split should, absent other factors, assist in ensuring that the per share market price of our Common Stock remains above the requisite price for continued listing. However, we cannot provide any assurance that our minimum bid price would remain over the minimum bid price requirement of Nasdaq following the Reverse Stock Split.

In addition, as noted above, we believe that the Reverse Stock Split and the resulting increase in the per share price of our Common Stock could encourage increased investor interest in our Common Stock and promote greater liquidity for our stockholders. A greater price per share of our Common Stock could allow a broader range of institutions to invest in our Common Stock (namely, funds that are prohibited or discouraged from buying stocks with a price below a certain threshold), potentially increasing marketability, trading volume and liquidity of our Common Stock. Many institutional investors view stocks trading at low prices as unduly speculative in nature and, as a result, avoid investing in such stocks. We believe that the Reverse Stock Split will provide the Board of Directors flexibility to make our Common Stock a more attractive investment for these institutional investors, which we believe will enhance the liquidity for the holders of our Common Stock and may facilitate future sales of our Common Stock. The Reverse Stock Split could also increase interest in our Common Stock for analysts and brokers who may otherwise have policies that discourage or prohibit them in following or recommending companies with low stock prices. Additionally, because brokers’ commissions on transactions in low-priced stocks generally represent a higher percentage of the stock price than commissions on higher-priced stocks, the current average price per share of our Common Stock can result in individual stockholders paying transaction costs representing a higher percentage of their total share value than would be the case if the share price were substantially higher.

The Board of Directors intends to effect the Reverse Stock Split only if it believes that a decrease in the number of shares outstanding is in the best interests of us and our stockholders and is likely to improve the trading price of our Common Stock and improve the likelihood that we will be allowed to maintain our listing on Nasdaq. Accordingly, our Board of Directors approved the Reverse Stock Split as being in the best interests of the Company.

Risks Associated with the Reverse Stock Split

The Reverse Stock Split may not increase the price of our Common Stock over the long-term.

As noted above, the principal purpose of the Reverse Stock Split is to increase the trading price of our Common Stock to meet the minimum stock price standards of Nasdaq, so that we can remain a Nasdaq-listed company. However, the effect of the Reverse Stock Split on the market price of our Common Stock cannot be predicted with any certainty, and we cannot assure you that the Reverse Stock Split will accomplish this objective for any meaningful period of time, or at all. While we expect that the reduction in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock will proportionally increase the market price of our Common Stock, we cannot assure you that the Reverse Stock Split will increase the market price of our Common Stock by a multiple of the Reverse Stock Split ratio, or result in any permanent or sustained increase in the market price of our Common Stock. The market price of our Common Stock may be affected by other factors which may be unrelated to the number of shares outstanding, including the Company’s business and financial performance, general market conditions, and prospects for future success.

The Reverse Stock Split may decrease the liquidity of our Common Stock.

The Board of Directors believes that the Reverse Stock Split may result in an increase in the market price of our Common Stock, which could lead to increased interest in our Common Stock and possibly promote greater liquidity for our stockholders. However, the Reverse Stock Split will also reduce the total number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, which may lead to reduced trading and a smaller number of market makers for our Common Stock, particularly if the price per share of our Common Stock does not increase as a result of the Reverse Stock Split.

The Reverse Stock Split may result in some stockholders owning “odd lots” that may be more difficult to sell or require greater transaction costs per share to sell.

If the Reverse Stock Split is implemented, it will increase the number of stockholders who own “odd lots” of less than 100 shares of Common Stock. A purchase or sale of less than 100 shares of Common Stock (an “odd lot” transaction) may result in incrementally higher trading costs through certain brokers, particularly “full service” brokers. Therefore, those stockholders who own fewer than 100 shares of Common Stock following the Reverse Stock Split may be required to pay higher transaction costs if they sell their Common Stock.

The Reverse Stock Split may lead to a decrease in our overall market capitalization.

The Reverse Stock Split may be viewed negatively by the market and, consequently, could lead to a decrease in our overall market capitalization. If the per share market price of our Common Stock does not increase in proportion to the Reverse Stock Split ratio, then the value of our Company, as measured by our market capitalization, will be reduced. Additionally, any reduction in our market capitalization may be magnified as a result of the smaller number of total shares of Common Stock outstanding following the Reverse Stock Split.

Potential Consequences if the Reverse Stock Split Proposal is Not Approved

If the Reverse Stock Split Proposal is not approved by our stockholders, the Board of Directors will not have the authority to effect the Reverse Stock Split Charter Amendment to, among other things, facilitate the continued listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq by increasing the per share trading price of our Common Stock to help ensure a share price high enough to satisfy the $1.00 per share minimum bid price requirement. Any inability of our Board of Directors to effect the Reverse Stock Split would expose us to delisting from Nasdaq. Upon delisting from Nasdaq, our stock would be traded in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market via a broker-dealer network. Investors may be required to take additional

steps and/or pay additional fees when trading OTC securities because trades must be made through market makers who carry an inventory of securities to facilitate trading. Some institutional investors and retail brokers refrain from buying OTC securities, as they are generally considered to be more risky, with less stringent reporting requirements and lower transparency associated with these securities. As a result, OTC securities have less liquidity than securities traded on a national exchange, such as Nasdaq.

Determination of the Reverse Stock Split Ratio

The Board of Directors believes that stockholder approval of a range of potential Reverse Stock Split ratios is in the best interests of us and our stockholders because it is not possible to predict market conditions at the time the Reverse Stock Split would be implemented. We believe that a range of Reverse Stock Split ratios provides us with the most flexibility to achieve the desired results of the Reverse Stock Split. The Reverse Stock Split ratio to be selected by our Board of Directors will not be more than 1-for-20.

The selection of the specific Reverse Stock Split ratio will be based on several factors, including, among other things:

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our ability to maintain the listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq;

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the per share price of our Common Stock immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split;

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the expected stability of the per share price of our Common Stock following the Reverse Stock Split;

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the likelihood that the Reverse Stock Split will result in increased marketability and liquidity of our Common Stock;

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prevailing market conditions;

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general economic conditions in our industry; and

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our market capitalization before and after the Reverse Stock Split.

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We believe that granting our Board of Directors the authority to set the ratio for the Reverse Stock Split is essential because it allows us to take these factors into consideration and to react to changing market conditions. If the Board of Directors chooses to implement the Reverse Stock Split, the Company will make a public announcement regarding the determination of the Reverse Stock Split ratio.

Board of Directors Discretion to Effect the Reverse Stock Split

If the Reverse Stock Split Proposal is approved by our stockholders, the Board of Directors will have the discretion to implement the Reverse Stock Split or to not effect the Reverse Stock Split at all. The Board of Directors currently intends to effect the Reverse Stock Split. If the trading price of our Common Stock increases without effecting the Reverse Stock Split, the Reverse Stock Split may not be necessary. Following the Reverse Stock Split, if implemented, there can be no assurance that the market price of our Common Stock will rise in proportion to the reduction in the number of outstanding shares resulting from the Reverse Stock Split or that the market price of the post-split Common Stock can be maintained above $1.00. There also can be no assurance that our Common Stock will not be delisted from Nasdaq, including for other reasons.

If our stockholders approve the Reverse Stock Split Proposal at the Special Meeting, the Reverse Stock Split will be effected, if at all, only upon a determination by the Board of Directors that the Reverse Stock Split is in the best interests of us and our stockholders at that time. No further action on the part of the stockholders will be required to either effect or abandon the Reverse Stock Split. If our Board of Directors does not implement the Reverse Stock Split prior to the one-year anniversary of the date on which the Reverse Stock Split is approved by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting, the authority granted in this proposal to implement the Reverse Stock Split will terminate and the Charter Amendment will be abandoned.

The market price of our Common Stock is dependent upon our performance and other factors, some of which are unrelated to the number of shares outstanding. If the Reverse Stock Split is effected and the market price of our Common Stock declines, the percentage decline as an absolute number and as a percentage of our overall market capitalization may be greater than would occur in the absence of the Reverse Stock Split.

We have not proposed the Reverse Stock Split in response to any effort of which we are aware to accumulate our shares of Common Stock or obtain control of the Company, nor is it a plan by management to recommend a series of similar

actions to our Board of Directors or our stockholders. Notwithstanding the decrease in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock following the Reverse Stock Split, our Board of Directors does not intend for this transaction to be the first step in a “going private transaction” within the meaning of Rule 13e-3 of the Exchange Act.

Effects of the Reverse Stock Split

Effects of the Reverse Stock Split on Issued and Outstanding Shares

If the Reverse Stock Split is effected, it will reduce the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock by a Reverse Stock Split ratio of 1-for-2 to 1-for-20. Accordingly, each of our stockholders will own fewer shares of Common Stock as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. However, the Reverse Stock Split will affect all stockholders uniformly and will not affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership interest in the Company, except to the extent that the Reverse Stock Split would result in an adjustment to a stockholder’s ownership of Common Stock due to the treatment of fractional shares in the Reverse Stock Split. Therefore, voting rights and other rights and preferences of the holders of Common Stock will not be affected by the Reverse Stock Split (other than as a result of the treatment of fractional shares). Common stock issued pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split will remain fully paid and nonassessable, and the par value per share of Common Stock will remain $0.001.

As of April 10, 2024, we had 10,524,437 shares of Common Stock outstanding. For purposes of illustration, if the Reverse Stock Split is effected at a ratio of 1-for-2 or 1-for-20, the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock after the Reverse Stock Split would be approximately 10,524,437 shares and 10,524,437 shares, respectively.

We are currently authorized to issue a maximum of 75,000,000 shares of our Common Stock. As of April 10, 2024, there were 10,524,437 shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding. The number of authorized shares of our Common Stock will not change as a result of the Reverse Stock Split; however, the number of shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding will be reduced in proportion to the ratio selected by the Board of Directors. Thus, the Reverse Stock Split will effectively increase the number of authorized and unissued shares of our Common Stock available for future issuance by the amount of the reduction effected by the Reverse Stock Split.

Following the Reverse Stock Split, the Board of Directors will have the authority, subject to applicable laws, to issue all authorized and unissued shares without further stockholder approval, upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors deems appropriate. We currently do not have any plans, proposals or understandings to issue the additional shares that would be available if the Reverse Stock Split is approved and effected.

Effects of the Reverse Stock Split on Outstanding Equity Awards and Plans

If the Reverse Stock Split is effected, the terms of outstanding equity awards granted under the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”) and the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”), including (i) the number of shares and type of Common Stock subject to outstanding awards; and (ii) the per share exercise price of each outstanding award, will be proportionally adjusted to the end that the same proportion of our issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock in each instance shall remain subject to exercise at the same aggregate exercise price; subject to adjustments for any fractional shares as described herein and provided, however, that the number of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to any award shall always be a whole number.

The maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the 2015 Plan is 6,000,000 shares. The maximum number of shares of our Common Stock for which stock options may be granted to any person in any calendar year, the maximum benefit that will be paid to any person under performance awards in any calendar year, and the aggregate number of shares of unrestricted stock that may be granted or sold for a purchase price that is less than their fair market value (unless granted in lieu of cash compensation equal to such fair market value), in each case is 200,000. None of these limitations will change as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. Thus, the Reverse Stock Split will effectively increase these limits under the 2015 Plan.

Prior to the Reverse Stock Split, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the 2005 Plan is 300,000 shares. We do not have any shares available for future awards under the 2005 Plan. As such, in addition, the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be the subject of future grants under the 2005 Plan, all plan limits

(e.g., the total number of shares subject to the 2005 Plan and the 2005 Plan’s limit on the number of stock options or stock appreciation rights that may be granted in any calendar year) will be adjusted and proportionately decreased as a result of the Reverse Stock Split.

Effects of the Reverse Stock Split on Voting Rights

Proportionate voting rights and other rights of the holders of Common Stock would not be affected by the Reverse Stock Split (other than as a result of the treatment of fractional shares). For example, a holder of 1% of the voting power of the outstanding Common Stock immediately prior to the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split would continue to hold 1% of the voting power of the outstanding Common Stock after the Reverse Stock Split.

Effects of the Reverse Stock Split on Regulatory Matters

We are subject to the periodic reporting and other requirements of the Exchange Act. The Reverse Stock Split will not affect our obligation to publicly file financial and other information with the SEC.

Effects of the Reverse Stock Split on Authorized Share Capital

The total number of shares of capital stock that we are authorized to issue will not be affected by the Reverse Stock Split.

Treatment of Fractional Shares in the Reverse Stock Split

The Company does not intend to issue fractional shares in the event that a stockholder owns a number of shares of Common Stock that is not evenly divisible by the Reverse Stock Split ratio. If the Reverse Stock Split is effected, each fractional share of Common Stock will be:

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rounded up to the nearest whole share of Common Stock, if such shares of Common Stock are held directly; or

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rounded down to the nearest whole share of Common Stock, if such shares are subject to an award granted under the Incentive Plan, in order to comply with the requirements of Sections 409A and 424 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

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Effective Time of the Reverse Stock Split

If the Reverse Stock Split Proposal is approved by our stockholders, the Reverse Stock Split would become effective, if at all, when the Charter Amendment is accepted and recorded by the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. However, notwithstanding approval of the Reverse Stock Split Proposal by our stockholders, the Board of Directors will have the sole authority to elect whether or not and when to amend our Charter to effect the Reverse Stock Split.

Exchange of Share Certificates

If the Reverse Stock Split is effected, each certificate representing pre-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock will be deemed for all corporate purposes to evidence ownership of post-Reverse Stock Split Common Stock at the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split. As soon as practicable after the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split, our transfer agent will mail a letter of transmittal to the stockholders containing instructions on how a stockholder should surrender its, his or her certificate(s) representing pre-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock to our transfer agent in exchange for certificate(s) representing post-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock. No certificate(s) representing post-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock will be issued to a stockholder until such stockholder has surrendered all certificate(s) representing pre-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock, together with a properly completed and executed letter of transmittal, to our transfer agent. No stockholder will be required to pay a transfer or other fee to exchange its, his or her certificate(s) representing pre-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock for certificate(s) representing post-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock registered in the same name.

Stockholders who hold uncertificated shares of Common Stock electronically in “book-entry” form will have their holdings electronically adjusted by our transfer agent (and, for beneficial owners, by their brokers or banks that hold in “street name” for their benefit, as the case may be) to give effect to the Reverse Stock Split. If any certificate(s) or book-

entry statement(s) representing pre-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock to be exchanged contain a restrictive legend or notation, as applicable, the certificate(s) or book-entry statement(s) representing post-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock will contain the same restrictive legend or notation.

Any stockholder whose share certificate(s) representing pre-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock has been lost, stolen or destroyed will only be issued post-Reverse Stock Split Common Stock after complying with the requirements that we and our transfer agent customarily apply in connection with lost, stolen or destroyed certificates.

STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD NOT DESTROY STOCK CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING PRE-REVERSE STOCK SPLIT SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AND SHOULD NOT SUBMIT ANY STOCK CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING PRE-REVERSE STOCK SPLIT SHARES OF COMMON STOCK UNTIL THEY ARE REQUESTED TO DO SO.

Appraisal Rights

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, our stockholders are not entitled to appraisal or dissenter’s rights with respect to the Reverse Stock Split, and we will not independently provide our stockholders with any such rights.

Regulatory Approvals

The Reverse Stock Split will not be consummated, if at all, until after approval of the stockholders is obtained. We are not obligated to obtain any governmental approvals or comply with any state or federal regulations prior to consummating the Reverse Stock Split other than the filing of the Charter Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

Accounting Treatment of the Reverse Stock Split

If the Reverse Stock Split is effected, the par value per share of our Common Stock will remain unchanged at $0.001. Accordingly, on the effective date of the Reverse Stock Split, the stated capital on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets attributable to our Common Stock will be reduced in proportion to the size of the Reverse Stock Split ratio, and the additional paid-in-capital account will be increased by the amount by which the stated capital is reduced. Our stockholders’ equity, in the aggregate, will remain unchanged. Per share net income or loss will be increased because there will be fewer shares of Common Stock outstanding. The Company does not anticipate that any other accounting consequences, including changes to the amount of stock-based compensation expense to be recognized in any period, will arise as a result of the Reverse Stock Split.

Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reverse Stock Split

The following is a discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split. This discussion is included for general information purposes only and does not purport to address all aspects of U.S. federal income tax law that may be relevant to stockholders in light of their particular circumstances. This discussion is based on the Code and the current treasury regulations, administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis, and any such change could affect the continuing validity of this discussion.

All stockholders are urged to consult with their own tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split. This discussion does not address the tax consequences to stockholders that are subject to special tax rules, such as banks, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, personal holding companies, foreign entities, partnerships, nonresident alien individuals, broker-dealers and tax-exempt entities, persons holding shares as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction or other integrated investment, U.S. holders (as defined below) subject to the alternative minimum tax or the unearned income Medicare tax or U.S. holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. This summary also assumes that the pre-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock were, and the post-Reverse Stock Split shares of Common Stock will be, held as a “capital asset,” as defined in Section 1221 of the Code.

As used herein, the term “U.S. holder” means a holder that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

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a citizen or resident of the U.S.;

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a corporation or other entity taxed as a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the U.S., any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

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an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

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a trust (A) if a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more “U.S. persons” ​(as defined in the Code) have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) that has a valid election in effect to be treated as a U.S. person.

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In general, no gain or loss should be recognized by a stockholder upon the exchange of pre-Reverse Stock Split Common Stock for post-Reverse Stock Split Common Stock. The aggregate tax basis of the post-Reverse Stock Split Common Stock should be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the pre-Reverse Stock Split Common Stock exchanged in the Reverse Stock Split. A stockholder’s holding period in the post-Reverse Stock Split Common Stock should include the period during which the stockholder held the pre-Reverse Stock Split Common Stock exchanged in the Reverse Stock Split.

As noted above, we will not issue fractional shares of Common Stock in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. In certain circumstances, stockholders who would be entitled to receive fractional shares of Common Stock because they hold a number of shares not evenly divisible by the Reverse Stock Split ratio will automatically be entitled to receive an additional fraction of a share of Common Stock to round up to the next whole post-Reverse Stock Split share of Common Stock. The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the receipt of such an additional fraction of a share of Common Stock is not clear.

The tax treatment of a stockholder may vary depending upon the particular facts and circumstances of such stockholder. Each stockholder is urged to consult with such stockholder’s own tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split.

The affirmative “FOR” vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock represented at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the proposal is required to approve the Reverse Stock Split Proposal. Abstentions will have the same practical effect as shares voted against this proposal; whereas, Broker non-votes will not be counted as votes against this proposal. A vote on this proposal will be considered a “routine” matter. Therefore, we do not expect any Broker non-votes on this proposal and a failure to instruct your Broker on how to vote your shares will not necessarily count as a vote against this proposal.

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the approval of the Reverse Stock Split Proposal