XTI Aerospace Inc
For the period ended Dec 27, 2024. Filed Dec 3, 2024.
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Dec 27, 2024 · Filed Dec 3, 2024
Contents
Proposal Four — The Reverse Split Proposal
PROPOSAL FOUR:
THE REVERSE SPLIT PROPOSAL
Background
Our Board has unanimously adopted resolutions approving a proposal to amend our Articles of Incorporation to effect a reverse split of all our outstanding shares of Common Stock, at a ratio between 1-for-2 and 1-for-250, to be determined at the discretion of the Board (the “Reverse Split”), for the purpose of complying with the Nasdaq Listing Rules, subject to the Board’s discretion to abandon such amendment. If this proposal is approved, the Board may decide not to effect the Reverse Split if it determines that it is not in the best interests of the Company to do so. The Board does not currently intend to seek re-approval of the Reverse Split for any delay in implementing the Reverse Split unless twelve months has passed from the date of the Annual Meeting (the “Authorized Period”). If the Board determines to implement the Reverse Split, it will become effective upon filing a Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada or at such later date specified therein.
The text of the proposed Certificate of Amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to effect the Reverse Split is included as Annex B to this Proxy Statement.
We are seeking stockholder approval of the Reverse Split because we do not intend to correspondingly decrease the number of our authorized shares of Common Stock. However, under Nevada law, the Board would be permitted to effect a reverse stock split without stockholder approval if the number of authorized shares of Common Stock and the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock were correspondingly decreased.
Purpose of the Reverse Split
The primary purpose of the Reverse Split, if implemented, would be to potentially increase the market price of our Common Stock so that we can meet the minimum bid price rule requirements of Nasdaq.
On July 9, 2024, we received a deficiency letter from the Listing Qualifications Staff of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) indicating that, based on our closing bid price for the last 30 consecutive business days, we did not comply with the minimum bid price requirement of $1.00 per share, as set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), we were given a period of 180 calendar days, or until January 6, 2025, to regain compliance with the minimum closing bid price requirement for continued listing. On November 7, 2024, we received another letter (the “Low Price Deficiency Letter”) from Nasdaq indicating that the bid price for our Common Stock had closed below $0.10 per share for the 10-consecutive trading day period ended November 6, 2024 and, accordingly, we are subject to the provisions contemplated under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A)(iii) (the “Low Priced Stock Rule”). As a result, Nasdaq determined to delist our Common Stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Delisting Determination”). In accordance with the Low Price Deficiency Letter, on November 14, 2024, we timely requested a hearing before a Hearings Panel (the “Panel”) to appeal the Delisting Determination, and a hearing has been scheduled for January 9, 2025. We will timely submit a plan to the Panel to regain compliance with the Nasdaq Listing Rules, including our commitment to effect a reverse stock split, if necessary, assuming that our stockholders approve Proposal Four (the Reverse Split Proposal) at the Annual Meeting. While the appeal process is pending, the suspension of trading of our Common Stock would be stayed and our Common Stock would continue to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market until the hearing process concludes and the Panel issues a written decision. There can be no assurance that the Panel will grant us any compliance period or that we will ultimately regain compliance with all applicable requirements for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. While we continue to seek alternative options, the Reverse Split is being proposed in order to possibly increase the market price of our Common Stock to satisfy the $1.00 minimum closing bid price required to try to avoid the delisting of our Common Stock from Nasdaq, if necessary. In addition, a higher stock price, if the price does increase, may, among other things, increase the attractiveness of our Common Stock to the investment community.
As of November 19, 2024, the last reported closing price of our Common Stock was $0.05. A delisting of our Common Stock may materially and adversely affect a holder’s ability to dispose of, or to obtain accurate quotations as to the market value, of, our Common Stock. In addition, any delisting may cause our Common Stock to be subject to “penny stock” regulations promulgated by the SEC. Under such regulations, broker-dealers are required to, among other things, comply with disclosure and special suitability determinations prior to the sale of shares of Common Stock. If our Common Stock becomes subject to these regulations, the market price of our Common Stock and the liquidity thereof could be materially and adversely affected. Reducing the number of outstanding shares of our Common Stock
should, absent other factors, increase the per share market price of our Common Stock, although we cannot provide any assurance that our minimum bid price would remain above the minimum bid price requirement of Nasdaq, or that this theoretical increase would indeed occur. Accordingly, we believe that approval of the amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to effect the Reverse Split in the Board’s discretion is in the Company’s and our stockholders’ best interests.
In addition to increasing the market price of our Common Stock so that we can meet the continued listing minimum bid price rule requirements of Nasdaq, we believe that the Reverse Split could enhance the appeal of our Common Stock to the financial community, including institutional investors, and the general investing public. We believe that a number of institutional investors and investment funds are reluctant to invest in lower-priced securities and that brokerage firms may be reluctant to recommend lower-priced stock to their clients, which may be due in part to a perception that lower-priced securities are less promising as investments, are less liquid in the event that an investor wishes to sell its shares, or are less likely to be followed by institutional securities research firms and therefore to have less third-party analysis of the Company available to investors. In addition, certain institutional investors or investment funds may be prohibited from buying stocks whose price is below a certain threshold. We believe that the reduction in the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock caused by the Reverse Split, together with the anticipated increased stock price immediately following and resulting from the Reverse Split, may encourage interest and trading in our Common Stock and thus possibly promote greater liquidity for our stockholders, thereby resulting in a broader market for the Common Stock than that which currently exists.
Reducing the number of outstanding shares of our Common Stock through the Reverse Split is intended, absent other factors, to theoretically increase the per share market price of our Common Stock. However, other factors, such as our financial results, market conditions and the market perception of our business, may adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock. As a result, there can be no assurance that the Reverse Split, if completed, will result in the intended benefits described above, that the market price of our Common Stock will increase following the Reverse Split or that the market price of our Common Stock will not decrease in the future. Additionally, we cannot assure you that the market price per share of our Common Stock after the Reverse Split will increase in proportion to the reduction in the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding before such Reverse Split. Accordingly, the total market capitalization of our Common Stock after the Reverse Split may be lower than the total market capitalization before the Reverse Split.
We cannot be sure that our share price will comply with the requirements for continued listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq in the future or that we will comply with the other continued listing requirements. If our Common Stock loses its status on Nasdaq, we believe that our Common Stock would likely be eligible to be quoted on an inter-dealer electronic quotation and trading system operated by OTC Markets Group. These markets are generally considered to be less efficient than, and not as broad as, Nasdaq. Selling our Common Stock on these markets could be more difficult because smaller quantities of shares would likely be bought and sold, and transactions could be delayed. In addition, in the event that our Common Stock is delisted, broker-dealers have certain regulatory burdens imposed upon them, which may discourage them from effecting transactions in our Common Stock, further limiting the liquidity of our Common Stock. These factors could result in lower prices and larger spreads in the bid and ask prices for our Common Stock.
A delisting from Nasdaq and continued or further declines in our share price could also greatly impair our ability to raise additional necessary capital through equity or debt financing, and could significantly increase the ownership dilution to stockholders caused by our issuing equity in financing or other transactions. There are risks associated with the Reverse Split, including that the Reverse Split may not result in a sustained increase in the per share price of our Common Stock.
We cannot predict whether the Reverse Split will increase the market price for our Common Stock on a sustained basis, if at all. The history of similar stock split combinations for companies in like circumstances is varied. There is no assurance that:
the market price per share of our Common Stock after the Reverse Split will rise in proportion to the reduction in the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding before the Reverse Split, if it increases at all;
the Reverse Split will result in a per share price that will attract brokers and investors who do not trade in lower priced stocks; and
the market price per share will either exceed or remain in excess of the $1.00 minimum bid price as required by Nasdaq, or that we will otherwise meet the requirements of Nasdaq for continued inclusion for trading on Nasdaq.
The market price of our Common Stock will also be based on our performance and other factors, some of which are unrelated to the number of shares outstanding. If the Reverse 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 Split. Furthermore, the liquidity of our Common Stock could be adversely affected by the reduced number of shares that would be outstanding after the Reverse Split.
Board Discretion to Implement the Reverse Split
If this proposal is approved by the Company’s stockholders, the Board will have the authority, in its sole determination without any further action necessary by the stockholders, to effect the Reverse Split during the Authorized Period at a ratio set forth in the above range, as determined by the Board. The Board may, in its sole determination, choose to not effect the Reverse Split. The Board believes that granting this discretionary authority provides the Board with maximum flexibility to react to prevailing market conditions and future changes to the market price of our Common Stock, and therefore better enables it to act in the best interests of the Company. In addition to the Reverse Split, the Board is also pursuing other alternatives that may enable the Company to meet with the requirements for continued listing of our shares of Common Stock on Nasdaq. In exercising its discretion, the Board may consider the following factors:
the historical trading price and trading volume of our Common Stock;
the then-prevailing trading price and trading volume of our Common Stock and the anticipated impact of the Reverse Split on the trading market for our Common Stock; and
the prevailing general market and economic conditions.
At the close of business on November 19, 2024, the Company had 216,493,235 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. Following the effectiveness of the Reverse Split, if implemented, at a 1-for-2 ratio, the Company would have approximately 108,246,618 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding (without giving effect to the treatment of fractional shares or any issuances of Common Stock after November 19, 2024) following the Reverse Split and at a 1-for-250 ratio, the Company would have approximately 865,973 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding (without giving effect to the treatment of fractional shares or any issuances of Common Stock after November 19, 2024) following the Reverse Split. The actual number of shares of Common Stock outstanding after giving effect to the Reverse Split will depend on the ratio that is ultimately selected by the Board, and the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the time the Reverse Split is effected. The Company does not expect the Reverse Split to have any economic effect on stockholders, warrant holders, debt holders or holders of options, except to the extent the Reverse Split results in fractional shares as discussed below.
Procedure for Effecting the Reverse Split
Subject to the stockholder approval, if the Board decides to implement the Reverse Split, the Board will effect the split at a ratio between 1-for-2 and 1-for-250, to be determined at the discretion of the Board. We will file a Certificate of Amendment to our Articles of Incorporation, substantially in the form attached to this Proxy Statement as Annex B, with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada to effect the Reverse Split. The Reverse Split would become effective at such time as the Certificate of Amendment is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada or at such later time as is specified therein. No further action on the part of the Company’s stockholders would be required and all shares of our Common Stock that were issued and outstanding immediately prior thereto would automatically be converted into new shares of our Common Stock based on the Reverse Split exchange ratio. As soon as practicable after the effective date of the Reverse Split, stockholders of record on the record date for the implemented Reverse Split would receive a letter from our transfer agent asking them to return the outstanding certificates representing our pre-split shares, which would be cancelled upon receipt by our transfer agent, and new certificates representing the post-split shares of our Common Stock would be sent to each of our stockholders. We will bear the costs of the issuance of the new stock certificates.
Effects of the Reverse Split
If the Reverse Split is approved by the stockholders and implemented by the Board, the principal effect will be to proportionately decrease the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock based on the split ratio. Shares of our Common Stock are currently registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and the Company is thus subject to the periodic reporting and other requirements of the Exchange Act. The Reverse Split will not affect the registration of our Common Stock with the SEC or Nasdaq, where the Common Stock is traded. Following the Reverse Split, our Common Stock would continue to be listed on Nasdaq, assuming the Company’s compliance with the other continued listing standards of Nasdaq, although the shares will receive a new CUSIP number.
Proportionate voting rights and other rights of the holders of shares of our Common Stock will not be affected by the Reverse Split, other than as a result of the treatment of fractional shares as described below. For example, a holder of 2% of the voting power of the outstanding shares immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Reverse Split will generally continue to hold 2% of the voting power of the outstanding Common Stock after the Reverse Split. The number of stockholders of record will not be affected by the Reverse Split, other than as a result of the treatment of fractional shares as described below. If approved and implemented, the Reverse Split may result in some stockholders owning “odd lots” of less than 100 shares. Odd lot shares may be more difficult to sell, and brokerage commissions and other costs of transactions in odd lots are generally somewhat higher than the costs of transactions in “round lots” of even multiples of 100 shares. The Board believes, however, that these potential effects are outweighed by the benefits to the Company of the Reverse Split.
The table, which does not take into account an increase in the authorized shares to up to 1,000,000,000 pursuant to Proposal Three or the Board’s authority to effect a reverse stock split without stockholder approval if the reduction in the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock is coupled with a corresponding decrease in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock, below illustrates the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance following the Reverse Split, the approximate number of shares of Common Stock that would remain outstanding following the Reverse Split, and the number of unreserved shares of Common Stock available for future issuance following the Reverse Split. The information in the following table is based on 216,493,235 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of November 19, 2024 and 44,003,457 shares reserved for future issuance as of November 19, 2024.
| Proposed Ratio | Number of Shares of Common Stock Authorized | Approximate Number of Shares of Common Stock Outstanding | Approximate Number of Shares of Common Stock Reserved for Issuance | Approximate Number of Unreserved Shares of Common Stock Available for Future Issuance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-for-2(1) | 500,000,000 | 108,246,618 | 22,001,729 | 369,751,653 |
| 1-for-50(1) | 500,000,000 | 4,329,865 | 880,070 | 494,790,065 |
| 1-for-100(1) | 500,000,000 | 2,164,933 | 440,035 | 497,395,032 |
| 1-for-200(1) | 500,000,000 | 1,082,467 | 220,018 | 498,697,515 |
| 1-for-250(1) | 500,000,000 | 865,973 | 176,014 | 498,958,013 |
(1) All share numbers are rounded up to the nearest whole share but otherwise do not reflect the potential effect of rounding up for fractional shares that may result from the Reverse Split, which is subject to the Board’s discretion to instead pay cash in lieu of any fractional shares.
As reflected in the table above, the number of authorized shares of our Common Stock will not be reduced by the Reverse Split. Accordingly, the Reverse Split will have the effect of creating additional unissued and unreserved shares of our Common Stock. We have no current arrangements or understandings providing for the issuance of any of the additional authorized and unreserved shares of our Common Stock that would be available as a result of the proposed Reverse Split. However, these additional shares may be used by us for various purposes in the future without further stockholder approval (subject to applicable Nasdaq listing rules), including, among other things: (i) raising capital necessary to fund our future operations, (ii) providing equity incentives to our employees, officers, directors and consultants, (iii) entering into collaborations and other strategic relationships and (iv) expanding our business through the acquisition of other businesses or products.
Effect of the Reverse Split on the Company’s Amended and Restated 2011 Employee Stock Incentive Plan, the Company’s 2018 Employee Stock Incentive Plan, Warrants and Convertible or Exchangeable Securities
Based upon the split ratio, proportionate adjustments are generally required to be made to the per share exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon the exercise or conversion of all outstanding options, warrants, convertible or exchangeable securities entitling the holders to purchase, exchange for, or convert into, shares of Common Stock. This would result in approximately the same aggregate price being required to be paid under such options, warrants, convertible or exchangeable securities upon exercise, and approximately the same value of shares of Common Stock being delivered upon such exercise, exchange or conversion, immediately following the Reverse Split as was the case immediately preceding such split. The number of shares deliverable upon settlement or vesting of restricted stock awards will be similarly adjusted, subject to our treatment of fractional shares. The number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to these securities will be proportionately based upon the ratio determined by the Board, subject to our treatment of fractional shares.
The number of shares available under the Company’s 2018 Employee Stock Incentive Plan will not be adjusted in connection with the Reverse Split. Accordingly, following the effective time of the Reverse Split, there will be an increase in the number of available shares of our Common Stock available for future awards.
Additional shares of Common Stock, if issued in connection with an equity award, would have a dilutive effect upon the percentage of equity of the Company owned by our present stockholders.
Accounting Matters
The amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation will not affect the par value of our Common Stock per share, which will remain $0.001 par value per share. As a result, the stated capital attributable to Common Stock and the additional paid-in capital account on our balance sheet will not change due to the Reverse Split. Reported per share net income or loss will be higher because there will be fewer shares of Common Stock outstanding.
Effective Date
The Reverse Split would become effective upon the filing of a Certificate of Amendment to our Articles of Incorporation with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada or at such later date as is specified in such filing. On the effective date, shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, in each case, immediately prior thereto, will be combined and converted, automatically and without any action on the part of the stockholders, into new shares of Common Stock in accordance with the ratio determined by the Board within the limits set forth in this proposal.
No Going Private Transaction
Notwithstanding the decrease in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock following the implementation of the Reverse Split, the Board 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 and the implementation of the proposed Reverse Split will not cause the Company to go private.
Treatment of Fractional Shares
No fractional shares would be issued if, as a result the Reverse Split, a registered stockholder would otherwise become entitled to a fractional share. Rather, either (i) fractional shares that would be created as a result of the Reverse Split will be rounded upward to the nearest whole share, or (ii) stockholders will receive cash equal to the market value of the fractional share, determined by multiplying such fraction by the closing sales price of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq on the last trading day before the effective date of the Reverse Split (as adjusted to give effect to the Reverse Split), with such determination regarding the treatment of fractional shares to be made by the Board in its sole discretion prior to effecting the Reverse Split. The ownership of a fractional share will not give a stockholder any voting, dividend or other right except, to the extent the Board decides to pay cash in lieu of fractional shares, the right to receive the cash payment therefor. If a stockholder is entitled to a cash payment in lieu of any fractional share, a check will be mailed to the stockholder’s registered address as soon as practicable after the effective date of the Reverse Split. By signing and cashing the check, stockholders will warrant that they owned the shares of Common Stock for which they received such cash payment. To the extent the Board decides to round up fractional shares, share interests issued due to rounding will be given solely to save the expense and inconvenience of issuing fractional shares of Common Stock and will not represent separately bargained for consideration.
Book-Entry Shares
If the Reverse Split is effected, stockholders who hold uncertificated shares (i.e., shares held in book-entry form and not represented by a physical share certificate), either as direct or beneficial owners, will have their holdings electronically adjusted by the Company’s 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 Split.
Stockholders who hold uncertificated shares as direct owners will be sent a statement of holding from the Company’s transfer agent that indicates the number of shares owned in book-entry form.
Certificated Shares
If the Reverse Split is effected, stockholders holding certificated shares (i.e., shares represented by one or more physical share certificates) will receive a transmittal letter from the Company’s transfer agent promptly after the effectiveness of the Reverse Split. The transmittal letter will be accompanied by instructions specifying how stockholders holding certificated shares can exchange certificates representing the pre-split shares for a statement of holding.
Beginning after the effectiveness of the Reverse Split, each certificate representing shares of our pre-split Common Stock will be deemed for all corporate purposes to evidence ownership of post-split Common Stock.
STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD NOT DESTROY ANY PRE-SPLIT STOCK CERTIFICATE AND SHOULD NOT SUBMIT ANY CERTIFICATES UNTIL THEY ARE REQUESTED TO DO SO.
Possible Effects of Additional Issuances of Common Stock and History of Prior Reverse Splits
Following the effective time of the Reverse Split, there will be an increase in the number of authorized but unissued shares of our Common Stock. Under the NRS, the Board can issue additional shares of Common Stock without further vote of our stockholders except as may be required in particular cases by our Articles of Incorporation, the NRS or other applicable law, regulatory agencies or Nasdaq Listing Rules. Stockholders do not have preemptive rights to subscribe to additional securities that we may issue, which means that current stockholders do not have a prior right thereunder to purchase any new issue of Common Stock, or securities that are convertible into Common Stock, in order to maintain their proportionate ownership interests in the Company.
Additional shares of Common Stock, if issued, would have a dilutive effect upon the percentage of equity of the Company owned by our present stockholders. The issuance of such additional shares of Common Stock might be disadvantageous to current stockholders in that any additional issuances would potentially reduce per share dividends, if any. Stockholders should consider, however, that the possible impact upon dividends is likely to be minimal in view of the fact that the Company does not intend to pay any cash dividends on its Common Stock in the foreseeable future. In addition, the issuance of such additional shares of Common Stock, by reducing the percentage of equity of the Company owned by present stockholders, would reduce such present stockholders’ ability to influence the election of directors or any other action taken by the holders of Common Stock.
In the future the Board could, subject to its fiduciary duties and applicable law, use the increased number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to frustrate persons seeking to take over or otherwise gain control of our Company by, for example, privately placing shares with purchasers who might side with the Board in opposing a hostile takeover bid. Shares of Common Stock could also be issued to a holder that would thereafter have sufficient voting power to assure that any proposal to amend or repeal the Company’s bylaws or Articles of Incorporation would not receive the requisite vote. Such uses of the Common Stock could render more difficult, or discourage, an attempt to acquire control of the Company if such transactions were opposed by the Board. A result of the anti-takeover effect of the increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock could be that stockholders would be denied the opportunity to obtain any advantages of a hostile takeover, including, but not limited to, receiving a premium to the then current market price of our Common Stock, if the same was so offered by a party attempting a hostile takeover of our Company. The Company is not aware of any party’s interest in or efforts to engage in a hostile takeover attempt as of the date of this Proxy Statement.
The Company effected a 1-for-15 reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock on March 1, 2017, a 1-for-30 reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock on February 6, 2018, a 1-for-40 reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding
shares of Common Stock effected on November 2, 2018, a 1-for-45 reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock on January 7, 2020 and a 1-for-75 reverse stock split of the Company’s authorized and issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock effected on October 7, 2022. The Company effected these reverse stock splits for the purpose of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). The Company effected a 1-for-100 reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock on March 12, 2024, in connection with the closing of the XTI Merger. The Company effected this reverse stock split for the purpose of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) and to satisfy the bid price requirements applicable for initial listing applications in connection with the XTI Merger.
Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of a Reverse Stock Split
The following discussion summarizes certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the participation in a reverse stock split by a U.S. stockholder who holds the shares as a capital asset. This discussion is based on the provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), final, temporary and proposed U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and current administrative rulings and judicial decisions, all as in effect as of the date hereof. All of these authorities may be subject to differing interpretations or repealed, revoked or modified, possibly with retroactive effect, which could materially alter the tax consequences set forth herein.
For purposes of this summary, a “U.S. stockholder” refers to a beneficial owner of Common Stock who is any of the following for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust if (1) its administration is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions, or (2) it has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. A non-U.S. holder of Common Stock is a stockholder who is not a U.S. stockholder.
This summary does not represent a detailed description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a stockholder in light of his, her or its particular circumstances. In addition, it does not purport to be complete and does not address all aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to stockholders in light of their particular circumstances or to any stockholder who may be subject to special tax rules, including, without limitation: (1) stockholders subject to the alternative minimum tax; (2) banks, insurance companies, or other financial institutions; (3) tax-exempt organizations; (4) dealers in securities or commodities; (5) regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts; (6) traders in securities who elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings; (7) U.S. stockholders whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar; (8) persons holding Common Stock as a position in a hedging transaction, “straddle,” “conversion transaction” or other risk reduction transaction; (9) persons who acquire shares of Common Stock in connection with employment or other performance of services; (10) dealers and other stockholders who do not own their shares of Common Stock as capital assets; (11) U.S. expatriates, (12) foreign persons; (13) resident alien individuals; or (14) stockholders who directly or indirectly hold their stock in an entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes. Moreover, this description does not address the U.S. federal estate and gift tax, alternative minimum tax, or other tax consequences of the Reverse Split.
There can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) will not take a contrary position to the tax consequences described herein or that such position will be sustained by a court. In addition, U.S. tax laws are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, which may result in U.S. federal income tax considerations different from those summarized below. No opinion of counsel or ruling from the IRS has been obtained with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Split.
This discussion is for general information only and is not tax advice. All stockholders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of the Reverse Split.
Tax Consequences to the Company — We believe that the Reverse Split will constitute a reorganization under Section 368(a)(1)(E) of the Code. Accordingly, we should not recognize taxable income, gain or loss in connection with the Reverse Split. In addition, we do not expect the Reverse Split to affect our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards.
Tax Consequences to Stockholders — Stockholders should not recognize any gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the Reverse Split, except to the extent of any cash received in lieu of a fractional share of Common Stock (which fractional share will be treated as received and then exchanged for cash), to the extent the Board decides to pay cash in lieu of any fractional shares. Each stockholder’s aggregate tax basis in the Common Stock received in the Reverse Split, including any fractional share treated as received and then exchanged for cash, should equal the stockholder’s aggregate tax basis in the Common Stock exchanged in the Reverse Split. In addition, each stockholder’s holding period for the Common Stock it receives in the Reverse Split should include the stockholder’s holding period for the Common Stock exchanged in the Reverse Split.
In general, a stockholder who receives cash in lieu of a fractional share of Common Stock pursuant to the Reverse Split should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having received a fractional share pursuant to the Reverse Split and then as having received cash in exchange for the fractional share and should generally recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and the stockholder’s tax basis allocable to the fractional share. Any capital gain or loss will generally be long term capital gain or loss if the stockholder’s holding period in the fractional share is greater than one year as of the effective date of the Reverse Split. Special rules may apply to cause all or a portion of the cash received in lieu of a fractional share to be treated as dividend income with respect to certain stockholders who own more than a minimal amount of Common Stock (generally more than 1%) or who exercise some control over the affairs of the Company. Stockholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax effects to them of receiving cash in lieu of fractional shares based on their particular circumstances.
THE PRECEDING DISCUSSION IS INTENDED ONLY AS A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVERSE SPLIT AND DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OR DISCUSSION OF ALL POTENTIAL TAX EFFECTS RELEVANT THERETO. YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE PARTICULAR FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVERSE SPLIT IN LIGHT OF YOUR SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES.
No Right of Dissent or Appraisal
Under NRS 92A.300 to 92A.500, inclusive, under certain circumstances, stockholders of a Nevada corporation may be entitled to dissent and demand payment of the fair value of such stockholder’s shares in the event of certain corporate actions, including reverse stock splits of a class or series held without correspondingly decreasing the number of authorized shares of the same class or series if money will be paid or scrip will be issued to stockholders who in the aggregate hold one percent or more of the outstanding shares of the affected class or series, and would otherwise be entitled to receive a fraction of a share in the exchange of their outstanding shares.
However, there is no such right of dissent for holders of a class or series of stock that is a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1)(A) or (B) of the Securities Act. Our Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, a national securities exchange, making it a “covered security” within the meaning of Section 18(b)(1)(A) of the Securities Act. Therefore, the holders of Common Stock will not have the right under the NRS to dissent from, or demand payment for their shares in connection with, Proposal One, and we will not independently provide our stockholders with such a right..
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of Common Stock present virtually or by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the matter is required for approval of the Reverse Split Proposal. Abstentions will not be treated as votes cast for or against the proposal, and therefore will have no effect on the outcome of the proposal. Brokers generally have discretionary authority to vote on the amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of our outstanding Common Stock, thus, broker non-votes are not expected to result from the vote on this proposal.
THE APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO EFFECT
THE REVERSE SPLIT*
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