Netcapital Inc PRE 14A, filed Aug 2, 2024
Netcapital Inc. (NCPL)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant ☒
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
| ☒ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
| ☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
| ☐ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
| ☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
| ☐ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12 |
NETCAPITAL INC.
(Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):
| ☒ | No fee required. |
| ☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
| ☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101) per Item 1 of this Schedule and Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) and 0-11. |
NETCAPITAL INC.
1 Lincoln Street,
Boston, MA 02111
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD SEPTEMBER [ ], 2024
TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Netcapital Inc., a Utah corporation (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company,” “Netcapital,” “we,” “us” or “our”), which will be held on September [ ], 2024, at 10:30 am ET. The Annual Meeting will be a virtual meeting to be held as a listen-only conference call by calling 877-407-3088 (Toll Free). There will not be a physical meeting location. If you encounter any technical difficulties with the virtual meeting platform on the meeting day, please call 877-804-2062 (toll free) or email, proxy@equitystock.com. The meeting will be held for the following purposes:
| 1. | To elect five (5) members of the Company’s board directors (the “Board”) to serve for a one-year term to expire at the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders; | |
| 2. | To ratify the appointment of Fruci & Associates II, PLLC (“Fruci”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2025; | |
| 3. | To approve, by non-binding advisory vote, the resolution approving named executive officer compensation (the “Say on Pay Proposal”); | |
| 4. | To approve, by non-binding advisory vote, the frequency of future non-binding advisory votes on resolutions approving future named executive officer compensation (the “Say When on Pay Proposal”); | |
| 5. | To approve a proposal to amend and restate the Company’s existing bylaws to, among other things, (i) adequately address the needs of the Company; (ii) streamline the process by which the Company holds annual and special meetings of stockholders; and (iii) update the Bylaws so that they are in line with current industry standards for public companies (the “Bylaw Proposal”); | |
| 6. | To approve an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation to authorize 10,000,000 shares of “blank check” Preferred Stock (the “Charter Proposal”); | |
| 7. | To approve the issuance of common stock purchase warrants and placement agent warrants issued in connection with the Company’s May 2024 warrant inducement offering, including shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of such common stock purchase warrants and placement agent warrants, in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) (the “Warrant Shareholder Approval Proposal”); | |
| 8. | To authorize the adjournment of the Annual Meeting if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies in the event that there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Annual Meeting or adjournment or postponement thereof to approve any of the foregoing proposals (the “Adjournment Proposal”); and | |
| 9. | Other Proposals – to consider and transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
A copy of the Annual Report of the Company’s operations during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024 is available on request or at www.sec.gov.
Our Board unanimously recommends that you vote: “FOR” the election of our Board’s director nominees (Proposal 1); “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Fruci as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2025 (Proposal 2); “FOR” the approval of the Say on Pay Proposal (Proposal 3); for “THREE YEARS” on the preferred frequency the approval of the Say When on Pay Proposal (Proposal 4); “FOR” the approval of the Bylaw Proposal (Proposal 5); “FOR” the approval of the Charter Proposal (Proposal 6); “FOR” the approval of the Warrant Shareholder Approval Proposal (Proposal 7); and “FOR” the approval of the Adjournment Proposal (Proposal 8).
The Company’s board of directors has fixed the close of business on August [__], 2024 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders and any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Strategic Shareholder Advisor and Proxy Solicitation Agent
200 Broadacres Drive
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
North American Toll Free Phone:
1-833-795-8488
Email: NCPL@allianceadvisors.com
| By Order of the Board of Directors | ||
| /s/ Martin Kay | ||
| Name: | Martin Kay | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| August __, 2024 | ||
| Boston, Massachusetts | ||
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YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON, TO ASSURE THAT YOUR SHARES WILL BE REPRESENTED, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY WITHOUT DELAY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHICH REQUIRES NO ADDITIONAL POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. IF YOU ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU MAY VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU WISH TO DO SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY SENT IN YOUR PROXY.
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER [ ], 2024
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANNUAL MEETING
General
Netcapital Inc. (the “Company,” “Netcapital,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), a Utah corporation is providing this proxy statement in connection with the solicitation by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) of proxies to be voted at the annual meeting (“Annual Meeting”) of shareholders to be held virtually at 10:30 am ET on September [ ], 2024 as a listen-only conference call by calling 877-407-3088 (Toll Free). There will not be a physical meeting location. If you encounter any technical difficulties with the virtual meeting platform on the meeting day, please call 877-804-2062 (toll free) or email, proxy@equitystock.com.
On or about August [ ], 2024, we will begin mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) to our shareholders of record on August [ ], 2024 (the “Record Date”) (other than those who previously requested electronic or paper delivery of proxy materials), directing shareholders to a website where they can access our proxy materials, including this proxy statement and the 2024 Annual Report, and view instructions on how to vote. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of our proxy materials, please follow the instructions included in the Notice. If you have previously elected to receive our proxy materials electronically, you will continue to receive access to those materials via e-mail unless you elect otherwise.
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The Annual Meeting will be held for the purpose of considering and voting upon the following proposals:
| 1. | To elect five (5) members of the Company’s board directors (the “Board”) to serve for a one-year term to expire at the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders; | |
| 2. | To ratify the appointment of Fruci & Associates II, PLLC (“Fruci”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2025; | |
| 3. | To approve, by non-binding advisory vote, the resolution approving named executive officer compensation (the “Say on Pay Proposal”); | |
| 4. | To approve, by non-binding advisory vote, of the frequency of future non-binding advisory votes on resolutions approving future named executive officer compensation (the “Say When on Pay Proposal”); | |
| 5. | To approve a proposal to amend and restate Company’s bylaws to, among other things, (i) adequately address the needs of the Company; (ii) streamline the process by which the Company holds annual and special meetings of stockholders; and (iii) update the Bylaws so that they are in line with current industry standards for public companies (the “Bylaw Proposal”); | |
| 6. | To approve an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation to authorize 10,000,000 shares of “blank check” Preferred Stock (the “Charter Proposal”); | |
| 7. | To approve the issuance of common stock purchase warrants and placement agent warrants issued in connection with the Company’s May 2024 warrant inducement offering, including shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of such common stock purchase warrants and placement agent warrants, in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) (the “Warrant Shareholder Approval Proposal”); | |
| 8. | To authorize the adjournment of the Annual Meeting if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies in the event that there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Annual Meeting or adjournment or postponement thereof to approve any of the foregoing proposals (the “Adjournment Proposal”); and | |
| 9. | Other Proposals – to consider and transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
These proposals are more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement, which you should read carefully.
If you are a shareholder of record, you may attend the Annual Meeting in the following ways:
| ● | Access an audio-only conference call by calling 877-407-3088 (Toll Free) or +1 877-407-3088 (International); |
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| ● | Instructions on how to attend and participate in the virtual Annual Meeting, including how to demonstrate proof of stock ownership, are also available as follows: |
Shareholders of Record
| ● | Shareholders of record as of the Record Date can attend the Annual Meeting by accessing the live audio conference call at +1-877-407-3088 and presenting the unique 12-digit control number on the proxy card. |
Beneficial Owners
| ● | If you were a beneficial owner of record as of the Record Date (i.e., you held your shares in an account at a brokerage firm, bank or other similar agent), you will need to obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other agent. Once you have received a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other agent, it should be emailed to our transfer agent, Equity Stock Transfer, at proxy@equitystock.com and should be labeled “Legal Proxy” in the subject line. Please include proof from your broker, bank or other agent of your legal proxy (e.g., a forwarded email from your broker, bank or other agent with your legal proxy attached, or an image of your valid proxy attached to your email). Requests for registration must be received by Equity Stock Transfer no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on September [ ], 2024. You will then receive a confirmation of your registration, with a control number, by email from Equity Stock Transfer. At the time of the meeting, access the live audio conference call at +1-877-407-3088 and present your unique 12-digit control number. |
| ● | Shareholders may submit live questions on the conference line while attending the virtual Annual Meeting. |
If you are a shareholder of record, you may vote your shares in the following ways:
Whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting or not, we urge you to vote by proxy. All shares represented by valid proxies that we receive through this solicitation, and that are not revoked, will be voted in accordance with your instructions on the proxy card or as instructed via Internet. You may specify whether your shares should be voted for or “withheld” for each nominee for director, and whether your shares should be voted for, against or abstain with respect to each of the other proposals. Except as set forth below, if you properly submit a proxy without giving specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the Board’s recommendations as noted below. The Board has appointed Martin Kay, to serve as the proxy for the Annual Meeting. Voting by proxy will not affect your right to attend the Annual Meeting. If your shares are registered directly in your name through our stock transfer agent, Equity Stock Transfer, or you have stock certificates, you may vote:
| 1. | By Internet. The website address for Internet voting is www.netcapital.vote. Please click “Vote Your Proxy” and enter your control number. |
| 2. | By Email. Mark, date, sign and email the Proxy Card to proxy@equitystock.com, ATTN: Shareholder Services. |
| 3. | By mail. Mark, date, sign and mail promptly the Proxy Card, to Equity Stock Transfer at 237 W 37th St. Suite 602 New York, NY 10018, ATTN: Shareholder Services. |
| 4. | By Fax. Mark, date, sign and fax the Proxy Card to 646-201-9006, ATTN: Shareholder Services. |
| 5. | At the Annual Meeting. If you are a shareholder of record, you can participate and vote your shares in the Annual Meeting by visiting www.netcapital.vote and then clicking “Vote Your Proxy”. You may then enter the control number included on your Proxy Card and view the proposals and cast your vote. |
If you hold your shares in “street name,” your bank, broker or other nominee should provide to you a request for voting instructions along with the Company’s proxy solicitation materials. By completing the voting instruction card, you may direct your nominee how to vote your shares. Alternatively, if you want to vote your shares during the Annual Meeting, you must contact your nominee directly in order to obtain a proxy issued to you by your nominee holder. Note that a broker letter that identifies you as a shareholder is not the same as a nominee-issued proxy. If you fail to present a nominee-issued proxy to proxy@equitystock.com by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September [ ], 2024, you will not be able to vote your nominee held shares during the Annual Meeting.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
These Questions and Answers are only summaries of the matters they discuss. They do not contain all of the information that may be important to you. You should read carefully the entire document, including any annexes to this proxy statement.
| Q: | Why are we holding the 2024 Annual meeting? |
| A: | As a matter of good corporate practice, and in compliance with applicable corporate law and the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules, we hold a meeting of shareholders annually. This year’s meeting will be held on September [ ], 2024. There will be at least three items of business that must be voted on by our shareholders at the 2024 Annual Meeting, and our Board is seeking your proxy to vote on these items. This proxy statement contains important information about us and the matters that will be voted on at the 2024 Annual Meeting. Please read these materials carefully so that you have the information you need to make informed decisions. |
| Q: | Why did I receive a notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials? |
| A: | In accordance with the rules adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), we may furnish proxy materials, including this proxy statement and our 2024 Annual Report, to our shareholders by providing access to such documents on the Internet instead of mailing printed copies. Most shareholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless they request them. Instead, the Notice, which we will begin mailing to our shareholders on or about August [ ], 2024, will instruct you as to how you may access and review all of the proxy materials over the Internet. The Notice also instructs you as to how you may submit your proxy on the Internet. If you would like to receive a paper or email copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting such materials in the Notice. |
| Q: | Who is entitled to vote? |
| A: | Only shareholders of record as of the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. A list of shareholders eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting is available for inspection at any time up to the Annual Meeting. If you would like to inspect the list, please call our Corporate Secretary at (781) 925-1700 to arrange a visit to our offices. |
| Q: | How many shares of common stock can vote? |
| A: | There were [●] shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the Record Date. Each shareholder entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting may cast one vote for each share of common stock owned by him, her or it which has voting power upon each matter considered at the Annual Meeting. |
| Q: | What may I vote on? |
| A: | You may vote on the following matters: |
| Q: | Will any other business be presented for action by shareholders at the Annual Meeting? |
| A: | The Board knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on those matters in accordance with their best judgment. |
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| 1. | To elect members of the Company’s board directors (the “Board”) to serve for a one-year term to expire at the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders; | |
| 2. | To ratify the appointment of Fruci & Associates II, PLLC (“Fruci”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2025; | |
| 3. | To approve, by non-binding advisory vote, the resolution approving named executive officer compensation (the “Say on Pay Proposal”); | |
| 4. | To approve, by non-binding advisory vote, the frequency of future non-binding advisory votes on resolutions approving future named executive officer compensation (the “Say When on Pay Proposal”); | |
| 5. | To approve a proposal to amend and restate Company’s bylaws to, among other things (i) adequately address the needs of the Company; (ii) streamline the process by which the Company holds annual and special meetings of stockholders; and (iii) update the Bylaws so that they are in line with current industry standards for public companies (the “Bylaw Proposal”); | |
| 6. | To approve an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation to authorize 10,000,000 shares of “blank check” Preferred Stock (the “Charter Proposal”); | |
| 7. | To approve the issuance of common stock purchase warrants and placement agent warrants issued in connection with the Company’s May 2024 warrant inducement offering, including shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of such common stock purchase warrants and placement agent warrants, in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) (the “Warrant Shareholder Approval Proposal”); | |
| 8. | To authorize the adjournment of the Annual Meeting if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies in the event that there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Annual Meeting or adjournment or postponement thereof to approve any of the foregoing proposals (the “Adjournment Proposal”); and | |
| 9. | Other Proposals – to consider and transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
| Q: | How does the Board recommend that I vote on each of the proposals? |
| A: | Our Board unanimously recommends that you vote: “FOR” the election of our Board’s director nominees (Proposal 1); “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Fruci as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2025 (Proposal 2); “FOR” the approval of the Say on Pay Proposal (Proposal 3); for “THREE YEARS” as the preferred frequency of the Say When on Pay Proposal (Proposal 4); “FOR” the Bylaw Proposal (Proposal 5); “FOR” the Charter Proposal (Proposal 6); “FOR” the approval of the Warrant Shareholder Approval Proposal (Proposal 7); and “FOR” the approval of the Adjournment Proposal (Proposal 8). |
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| Q: | How do I vote my shares? |
| A: | Whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting or not, we urge you to vote by proxy. All shares represented by valid proxies that we receive through this solicitation, and that are not revoked, will be voted in accordance with your instructions on the proxy card or as instructed via Internet.
With respect to Proposal 1, you may vote for “FOR” or “WITHHOLD” for any individual nominee.
With respect to Proposal 2, you may vote for “FOR” or “AGAINST” or you may “ABSTAIN” from voting.
With respect to Proposal 3, you may vote for “FOR” or “AGAINST” or you may “ABSTAIN” from voting.
With respect to Proposal 4, you may vote “ONE YEAR,” “TWO YEARS,” “THREE YEARS,” or you may “ABSTAIN” from voting..
With respect to Proposal 5, you may vote for “FOR” or “AGAINST” or you may “ABSTAIN” from voting.
With respect to Proposal 6, you may vote for “FOR” or “AGAINST” or you may “ABSTAIN” from voting.
With respect to Proposal 7, you may vote for “FOR” or “AGAINST” or you may “ABSTAIN” from voting.
With respect to Proposal 8, you may vote for “FOR” or “AGAINST” or you may “ABSTAIN” from voting.
Except as set forth below, if you properly submit a proxy without giving specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the Board’s recommendations as noted below. The Board has appointed Martin Kay, to serve as the proxy for the Annual Meeting. Voting by proxy will not affect your right to attend the Annual Meeting. If your shares are registered directly in your name through our stock transfer agent, Equity Stock Transfer, or you have stock certificates, you may vote: |
| 1. | By Internet. The website address for Internet voting is www.netcapital.vote. Please click “Vote Your Proxy” and enter your control number. | |
| 2. | By Email. Mark, date, sign and email the Proxy Card to proxy@equitystock.com, ATTN: Shareholder Services. | |
| 3. | By mail. Mark, date, sign and mail promptly the Proxy Card, to Equity Stock Transfer at 237 W 37th St. Suite 602 New York, NY 10018 ATTN: Shareholder Services. | |
| 4. | By Fax. Mark, date, sign and fax the Proxy Card to 646-201-9006, ATTN: Shareholder Services. |
| 5. | At the Annual Meeting. If you are a shareholder of record, you can participate and vote your shares in the Annual Meeting by visiting www.netcapital.vote and then clicking “Vote Your Proxy”. You may then enter the control number included on your Proxy Card and view the proposals and cast your vote. |
If you hold your shares in “street name,” your bank, broker or other nominee should provide to you a request for voting instructions along with the Company’s proxy solicitation materials. By completing the voting instruction card, you may direct your nominee how to vote your shares. Alternatively, if you want to vote your shares during the Annual Meeting, you must contact your nominee directly in order to obtain a proxy issued to you by your nominee holder. Note that a broker letter that identifies you as a shareholder is not the same as a nominee-issued proxy. If you fail to present a nominee-issued proxy to proxy@equitystock.com by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September [ ], 2024, you will not be able to vote your nominee held shares during the Annual Meeting.
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| Q: | What is a proxy? |
| A: | A proxy is a person you appoint to vote on your behalf. By using any of the methods discussed above, you will be appointing as your proxy Martin Kay, our Chief Executive Officer. He may act on your behalf, and will have the authority to appoint a substitute to act as proxy. Whether or not you expect to virtually attend the Annual Meeting, we request that you please use the means available to you to vote by proxy so as to ensure that your shares of common stock may be voted. |
| Q: | How Will my Shares be Voted if I Give No Specific Instruction? |
| A: | We must vote your shares as you have instructed. If there is a matter on which a shareholder of record has given no specific instruction but has authorized us generally to vote the shares, they will be voted: Our Board unanimously recommends that you vote: “FOR” the election of our Board’s director nominees (Proposal 1); “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Fruci as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2025 (Proposal 2); “FOR” the approval of the Say on Pay Proposal (Proposal 3); for “THREE YEARS” the approval of the Say When on Pay Proposal (Proposal 4); “FOR” the Bylaw Proposal (Proposal 5); “FOR” the Charter Proposal (Proposal 6); “FOR” the approval of the Warrant Shareholder Approval Proposal (Proposal 7); and “FOR” the approval of the Adjournment Proposal (Proposal 8).
This authorization would exist, for example, if a shareholder of record merely signs, dates and returns the proxy card but does not indicate how its shares are to be voted on one or more proposals. If other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting and you do not provide specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted at the discretion of the proxies. |
| Q: | What if I want to change my vote or revoke my proxy? |
| A: | If your shares are registered directly in your name, you may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before the Annual Meeting. To do so, you must do one of the following: |
| 1. | Vote over the Internet as instructed above. Only your latest Internet vote is counted. You may not revoke or change your vote over the Internet after 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September [ ], 2024. | |
| 2. | Sign a new proxy and submit it by mail to Equity Stock Transfer at 237 W 37th St. Suite 602 New York, NY 10018 ATTN: Shareholder Services, who must receive the proxy card no later than September [ ], 2024. Only your latest dated proxy will be counted. | |
| 3. | Virtually attend the Annual Meeting and vote electronically at the meeting. Virtually attending the Annual Meeting alone will not revoke your Internet vote or proxy submitted by mail, as the case may be. | |
| 4. | Give our Corporate Secretary written notice before or at the Annual Meeting that you want to revoke your proxy. |
If your shares are held in “street name,” you may submit new voting instructions with a later date by contacting your bank, brokerage firm, or other nominee. You may also vote electronically at the Annual Meeting, which will have the effect of revoking any previously submitted voting instructions, if you obtain a broker’s legal proxy as described in the answer to the question “How do I vote my shares?” above.
| Q: | What is a quorum? |
| A: | The holders of more than 50% of the [ ] shares of common stock outstanding as of the Record Date, either present or represented by proxy, constitute a quorum. A quorum is necessary in order to conduct the Annual Meeting. If you choose to have your shares represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting, you will be considered part of the quorum. Broker non-votes and abstentions will be counted as present for the purpose of establishing a quorum. If a quorum is not present by attendance at the Annual Meeting or represented by proxy, the shareholders present by attendance at the meeting or by proxy may adjourn the Annual Meeting until a quorum is present. |
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| Q: | What is a Broker Non-Vote? |
| A: | A “broker non-vote” occurs when shares held by a broker in “street name” for a beneficial owner are not voted with respect to a proposal because (1) the broker has not received voting instructions from the shareholder who beneficially owns the shares and (2) the broker lacks the authority to vote the shares at their discretion. Broker non-votes will not be included in the tabulation of the voting results of any of the “non-discretionary” proposals and, therefore, will have no effect on such proposals.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. However, under current New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) rules and interpretations that govern broker non-votes:
(i) Proposal No. 1 for Election of Directors is considered a non-discretionary matter and a broker will be permitted to exercise its discretion to vote uninstructed shares of the proposal;
(ii) Proposal No. 2 for the Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm is considered a discretionary matter and a broker will be permitted to exercise its discretion to vote uninstructed shares of the proposal;
(iii) Proposal No. 3 for the Say on Pay Proposal is considered is considered a non-discretionary matter and a broker will not be permitted to exercise its discretion to vote uninstructed shares of the proposal; and
(iv) Proposal No.4 for the Say When on Pay Proposal is considered a non-discretionary matter and a broker will not be permitted to exercise its discretion to vote uninstructed shares of the proposal; and
(v) Proposal No. 5 for the Bylaw Proposal is considered a non-discretionary matter and a broker will not be permitted to exercise its discretion to vote uninstructed shares of the proposal; and
(vi) Proposal No. 6 for the Charter Proposal is considered a non-discretionary matter and a broker will not be permitted to exercise its discretion to vote uninstructed shares of the proposal; and
(vii) Proposal No. 7 for the Warrant Shareholder Approval Proposal is considered a non-discretionary matter and a broker will not be permitted to exercise its discretion to vote uninstructed shares of the proposal; and
(viii) Proposal No. 8 for the Adjournment Proposal is considered a discretionary matter, and a broker will be permitted to exercise its discretion to vote uninstructed shares of the proposal. |
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| Q: | What vote is required to approve each matter and how are votes counted? |
| A: | The table below summarizes the proposal that will be voted on, the vote required to approve the proposal and how votes are counted: |
| Proposal | Votes Required | Voting Options |
Impact of “Abstain” Votes |
Broker Discretionary Voting Allowed | ||||
| Proposal
No. 1: Election of Directors |
Plurality of the votes cast (the five directors receiving the most “FOR” votes). | “FOR” “WITHHOLD” |
None (1) | Yes(3) | ||||
| Proposal
No. 2: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively (excluding abstentions) at the 2024 Annual Meeting by the holders entitled to vote thereon. | “FOR”
“AGAINST” “ABSTAIN” |
None (2) | Yes(4) | ||||
| Proposal No. 3: Say on Pay Proposal | The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively (excluding abstentions) at the 2024 Annual Meeting by the holders entitled to vote thereon | “FOR”
“AGAINST” “ABSTAIN” |
None (2) | No(3) | ||||
| Proposal No. 4: Say When on Pay Proposal | The frequency that receives the highest number of votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the 2924 Annual Meeting and entitled to vote thereon shall be approved. | “ONE
YEAR” “TWO YEARS” “ABSTAIN” |
None (2) | No(3) | ||||
| Proposal No. 5: Bylaw Proposal | The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock. | “FOR”
“AGAINST” “ABSTAIN” |
(5) | No(3) | ||||
| Proposal No. 6: Charter Proposal | The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively (excluding abstentions) at the 2024 Annual Meeting by the holders entitled to vote thereon. | “FOR”
“AGAINST” “ABSTAIN” |
None (2) | No(3) | ||||
Proposal No. 7: Warrant Shareholder Approval Proposal |
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively (excluding abstentions) at the 2024 Annual Meeting by the holders entitled to vote thereon. | “FOR”
“AGAINST” “ABSTAIN” |
None (2) | No(3) | ||||
| Proposal No. 8: Adjournment Proposal | The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively (excluding abstentions) at the 2024 Annual Meeting by the holders entitled to vote thereon. | “FOR” “AGAINST” “ABSTAIN” |
None (2) | Yes(4) |
| (1) | Votes that are “withheld” will have the same effect as an abstention and will not count as a vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” a director, because directors are elected by plurality voting. | |
| (2) | A vote marked as an “Abstention” is not considered a vote cast and will, therefore, not affect the outcome of this proposal. | |
| (3) | As this proposal is considered a non-discretionary matter, brokers are not permitted to exercise their discretion to vote uninstructed shares on this proposal. | |
| (4) | As this proposal is considered a discretionary matter, brokers are permitted to exercise their discretion to vote uninstructed shares on this proposal. | |
| (5) | Abstentions will have the effect of a vote against this proposal. |
| Q: | Do the directors and officers of the Company have an interest in the outcome of the matters to be voted on? |
| A: | Directors and executive officers, who, as of the Record Date, had beneficial ownership (or had the right to acquire beneficial ownership within sixty days following the Record Date) of approximately [●]% of our outstanding common stock and are expected to vote in favor of the nominees, the ratification of Fruci, the Say on Pay Proposal, the Say When on Pay Proposal, the Bylaw Proposal, the Charter Proposal, the Warrant Shareholder Approval Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal |
| -11- |
| Q: | Who will count the votes? |
| A: | A representative of Equity Stock Transfer, will serve as our inspector of elections and will count the votes cast by proxy and the votes cast in person at the Annual Meeting. |
| Q: | How do I attend the Annual Meeting? |
| A: | Shareholders of Record: Shareholders of record as of the Record Date can attend the Annual Meeting by accessing the live audio conference call at +1-877-407-3088 and presenting the unique 12-digit control number on the proxy card.
Beneficial Owners: If you were a beneficial owner of record as of the Record Date (i.e., you held your shares in an account at a brokerage firm, bank or other similar agent), you will need to obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other agent. Once you have received a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other agent, it should be emailed to our transfer agent, Equity Stock Transfer, at proxy@equitystock.com and should be labeled “Legal Proxy” in the subject line. Please include proof from your broker, bank or other agent of your legal proxy (e.g., a forwarded email from your broker, bank or other agent with your legal proxy attached, or an image of your valid proxy attached to your email). Requests for registration must be received by Equity Stock Transfer no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on September [ ], 2024. You will then receive a confirmation of your registration, with a control number, by email from Equity Stock Transfer. At the time of the meeting, access the live audio conference call at +1-877-407-3088 and present your unique 12-digit control number. |
| Q: | Why a virtual meeting? |
| A: | We are pleased to offer our shareholders a completely virtual Annual Meeting, which provides worldwide access, improved communication and cost savings for our shareholders and the Company. |
| Q: | What if during the check-in time or during the meeting I have technical difficulties or trouble accessing the virtual audio conference line? |
| A: | We will have technicians ready to assist you with any technical difficulties you may have in accessing the virtual Annual Meeting. If you encounter any difficulties, please call: 877-804-2062 (Toll Free) or email proxy@equitystock.com. |
| Q: | Are there any expenses associated with collecting the shareholder votes? |
| A: | All of the expenses involved in preparing, assembling and mailing these proxy materials and all costs of soliciting proxies will be paid by us. In addition to the solicitation by mail, proxies may be solicited by our officers and other employees by telephone or in person. Such persons will receive no compensation for their services other than their regular salaries. Arrangements will also be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of the shares held of record by such persons, and we may reimburse such persons for reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by them in forwarding solicitation materials. If you have any questions or require any assistance with completing your proxy, please contact Equity Stock Transfer by telephone at 877-804-2062 (Toll Free) or email proxy@equitystock.com. In addition, we have retained Alliance Advisors as our strategic shareholder advisor and proxy solicitation agent in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting at an approximate cost of $15,000, plus reimbursement of expenses. If you have any questions or require any assistance with completing your proxy, please contact Alliance Advisors by telephone (toll-free within North America) at 1-833-795-8488 or by email at NCPL@allianceadvisors.com. |
| Q: | Do I have Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal? |
| A: | Our shareholders do not have appraisal rights under Utah law or under our governing documents with respect to the matters to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting. |
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| Q: | Where can I find the voting results? |
| A: | Voting results will be reported in a Current Report on Form 8-K, which we will file with the SEC within four business days following the Annual Meeting. |
| Q: | How do I obtain an Annual Report on Form 10-K |
| A: | If you would like a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024 that we filed with the SEC, we will send you one without charge. Please write to:
NETCAPITAL INC. 1 Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111 Attn: Corporate Secretary
All of our SEC filings are also available free of charge under the heading “SEC Filings” in the “Investors” section of our website at www.netcapitalinc.com. |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
General
We believe that good corporate governance is important to ensure that our Company is managed for the long-term benefit of our shareholders. This section describes key corporate governance practices that we have adopted. We have adopted a Code of Ethics which applies to all of our officers, directors and employees and charters for our audit committee, our compensation committee and our nominating and corporate governance committee. We have posted copies of our Code of Ethics, as well as each of our committee charters, on the Corporate Governance page of the Investors section of our website, www.netcapitalinc.com, which you can access free of charge. Information contained on the website is not incorporated by reference in, or considered part of, this proxy statement.
We will also provide copies of these documents as well as our other corporate governance documents, free of charge, to any shareholder upon written request to Netcapital Inc., One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, Attn: Corporate Secretary.
Director Independence
Our common stock is currently quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Nasdaq Rule 5065(b) requires that “[a] majority of the board of directors must be comprised of Independent Directors as defined in Rule 5605(a)(2).” Pursuant to these requirements, Avi Liss, Arnold Scott, and Steven Geary are independent members of our Board.
| Board Diversity Matrix (As of August 2, 2024) | ||||
| Total Number of Directors: 5 | ||||
| Part I: Gender Identity | Female | Male | Non-Binary | Did Not Disclose Gender | ||||||||||||
| Directors | 1 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Part II: Demographic Background | ||||||||||||||||
| African American or Black | ||||||||||||||||
| Alaskan Native or Native American | ||||||||||||||||
| Asian | ||||||||||||||||
| Hispanic or Latinx | ||||||||||||||||
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | ||||||||||||||||
| White | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Two or More Races or Ethnicities | ||||||||||||||||
| LGBTQ+ | ||||||||||||||||
| Did Not Disclose Demographic Background | 1 | |||||||||||||||
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Non-Employee Director Compensation
We have not paid any cash compensation to our non-employee directors in their capacity as such.
We did not pay our three independent board members any compensation during the year ended December 31, 2024.
On April 25, 2023, we granted to each of our three current independent board members, options to purchase 286 shares of common stock under the 2023 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan which will be exercisable at a per share exercise price of $98.00, that was out-of-the-money at time of issuance and expires ten years after the date of grant.
Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy
Our current director compensation program went into effect as of February 9, 2022, and is designed to align our director compensation program with the long-term interests of our stockholders by implementing a program comprised of equity compensation. The directors do not receive cash compensation as part of the director compensation program. We previously had no director compensation program.
In setting director compensation, the Company considers the amount of time that directors expend in fulfilling their duties to the Company as well as the skill level and experience required by our board of directors. The Company also considers board compensation practices at similarly situated companies, while keeping in mind the compensation philosophy of the Company and the stockholders’ interests. The directors also receive reimbursement for expenses, including reasonable travel expenses to attend board and committee meetings, reasonable outside seminar expenses, and other special board related expenses.
We did not pay our three independent board members any compensation during the year ended December 31, 2024.
On April 25, 2023, we granted to each of our three current independent board members, options to purchase 286 shares of common stock under the 2023 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan which will be exercisable at a per share exercise price of $98.00, that was out-of-the-money at time of issuance and expires ten years after the date of grant.
Board of Directors and Committees
Our Board has three standing Nasdaq compliance committees: Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance. Each of the committees operates pursuant to its charter, all of which are available on the Corporate Governance section of our website, which is located at www.netcapitalinc.com. The committee charters are reviewed annually by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. If appropriate, and in consultation with the chairs of the other committees, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may propose revisions to the charters. The responsibilities of each committee are described in more detail below.
Our Board held no meetings and took actions by written consent on 19 occasions during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024. No fees are paid to directors for attendance at meetings or for agreeing to a unanimous consent or the Board.
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Audit Committee
Our Audit Committee members consist of Arnold Scott, Avi Liss and Steven Geary with Mr. Geary serving as Chair. Each of the members of our Audit Committee is an independent director under the Nasdaq listing rules, satisfies the additional independence criteria for Audit Committee members and satisfies the requirements for financial literacy under the Nasdaq listing rules and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act, as applicable.
Our board has also determined that Mr. Geary qualifies as an Audit Committee financial expert within the meaning of the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and satisfies the financial sophistication requirements of the Nasdaq listing rules. Our Audit Committee oversees our corporate accounting and financial reporting process and assists our Board in monitoring our financial systems and our legal and regulatory compliance. Our Audit Committee also:
| ● | oversees the work of our independent auditors; |
| ● | approves the hiring, discharging and compensation of our independent auditors; |
| ● | approves engagements of the independent auditors to render any audit or permissible non-audit services; |
| ● | reviews the qualifications, independence and performance of the independent auditors; |
| ● | reviews our financial statements and our critical accounting policies and estimates; |
| ● | reviews the adequacy and effectiveness of our internal controls; |
| ● | reviews our policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management; |
| ● | reviews and monitors our policies and procedures relating to related person transactions; and |
| ● | reviews and discusses with management and the independent auditors the results of our annual audit, our quarterly financial statements and our publicly filed reports. |
Our Audit Committee held one meeting and took actions by written consent on 3 occasions during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024. No fees are paid to directors for attendance at meetings or for agreeing to a unanimous consent.
Compensation Committee
Our Compensation Committee consists of Avi Liss, Arnold Scott, and Steven Geary with Avi Liss serving as Chair. The Compensation Committee oversees our compensation policies, plans and programs, and to review and determine the compensation to be paid to our executive officers and directors. Our Compensation Committee also:
| ● | reviews and recommends the compensation arrangements for management, including the compensation for our president and chief executive officer; |
| ● | establishes and reviews general compensation policies with the objective to attract and retain superior talent, to reward individual performance and to achieve our financial goals; |
| ● | administers our stock incentive plans; and |
| ● | prepares the report of the compensation committee that the rules of the SEC require to be included in our annual meeting proxy statement. |
Our Compensation Committee held no meetings and took actions by written consent on one occasion during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024. No fees are paid to directors for attendance at meetings or for agreeing to a unanimous consent.
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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Avi Liss, Arnold Scott, and Steven Geary, with Arnold Scott serving as the Chair. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible, among other things:
| ● | oversees our corporate governance functions on behalf of the Board; |
| ● | makes recommendations to the Board regarding corporate governance issues; |
| ● | identifies and evaluates candidates to serve as our directors consistent with the criteria approved by the Board and reviews and evaluates the performance of the Board; |
| ● | serves as a focal point for communication between director candidates, non-committee directors and management; |
| ● | selects or recommends to the Board for selection candidates to the Board, or, to the extent required below, to serve as nominees for director for the annual meeting of shareholders; and |
| ● | makes other recommendations to the Board regarding affairs relating to our directors. |
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held no meetings and took actions by written consent on one occasion during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024. No fees are paid to directors for attendance at meetings or for agreeing to a unanimous consent.
Shareholder Communications with our Board
Shareholders and other interested persons seeking to communicate with our Board must submit their written communications to our Corporate Secretary at Netcapital Inc., One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111. Such communications must include the number of Company securities owned, beneficially or otherwise, by the person issuing the communication. Depending on the subject matter of the communication, our Corporate Secretary will do one of the following:
| ● | forward the communication to the Board or any individual member of our Board to whom any communication is specifically addressed; |
| ● | attempt to handle the inquiry directly, for example where it is a request for information about our Company or it is a stock related matter; or |
| ● | not forward the communication if it is primarily commercial in nature, if it relates to an improper or irrelevant topic, or if it is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or otherwise inappropriate. |
Our Board (and any individual director to whom the communication was specifically addressed) will determine what further steps are appropriate depending on the facts and circumstances outlined in the communication.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct applicable to our directors, officers and employees, in accordance with Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the rules of the SEC promulgated thereunder, and the Nasdaq listing rules. You may obtain a copy of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics on our website at www.netcapitalinc.com. In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct will be provided without charge upon request from us. If we make any amendments to our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct other than technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments, or grant any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions requiring disclosure under applicable SEC or Nasdaq rules, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver in a Current Report on Form 8-K. We also intend to post any amendments to our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, or any waivers of its requirements, on our website, www.netcapitalinc.com.
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Limitation of liability and indemnification matters
Our articles of incorporation contain provisions that limit the liability of our directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Utah law. Consequently, our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors, unless the director engaged in gross negligence, willful misconduct or intentional infliction of harm on the corporation or its shareholders, or an intentional violation of criminal law.
We have entered and expect to continue to enter into agreements to indemnify our directors, executive officers and other employees as determined by our Board. With specified exceptions, these agreements provide for indemnification for related expenses including, among other things, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any of these individuals in any action or proceeding. We believe that these provisions in our articles of incorporation and the indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions included in our articles of incorporation may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and officers for breach of their fiduciary duty. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and our stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damage.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act of 1934, requires our directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities (“10% Shareholders”), to file with the Commission initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common stock and other equity securities. Officers, directors and 10% Shareholders are required by Commission regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
To our knowledge, based solely upon a review of Form 3, 4, and 5 filed with the SEC during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024, we believe that, our directors, executive officers, and greater than 10% Shareholders have complied with all applicable filing requirements for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024.
Anti-hedging
We currently have a policy that applies to all employees, officers, directors and consultants, and outlines the measures and policies implemented in order to prevent insider trading. These controls are designed to ensure compliance with insider trading laws and regulations, protect investors, and maintain the integrity of the trading process on our platform. They involve a combination of preventative measures, such as pre-trade clearance and quiet period restrictions, along with detective controls like ongoing surveillance and monitoring of trading activities.
PROPOSAL NO. 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our Board currently consists of five directors, and their terms will expire at the 2024 Annual Meeting. Directors are elected at the annual meeting of shareholders each year and hold office until their resignation or removal or their successors are duly elected and qualified.
Martin Kay, Cecilia Lenk, Steven Geary, Avi Liss and Arnold Scott have each been nominated to serve as directors and have agreed to stand for election. If the nominees are elected at the 2024 Annual Meeting, then each nominee will serve for a one-year term expiring at the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.
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Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors, and which did not abstain. Accordingly, for Proposal No. 1, the nominees receiving the highest number of votes cast for the number of positions to be filled are elected. Shares represented by executed proxies will be voted, if authority to do so is not withheld, for the election of each of the three nominees named below.
Recommendation of our Board
Our Board unanimously recommends that the shareholders vote “FOR” the election of all of our director nominees at the 2024 Annual Meeting.
Nominees for Election to the Board for a Term Expiring at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
| Nominee | Age | Position(s) | ||
| Martin Kay | 60 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
| Cecilia Lenk | 69 | Director, CEO of Netcapital Advisors Inc. | ||
| Avi Liss | 44 | Secretary and Director | ||
| Steven Geary | 57 | Director | ||
| Arnold Scott | 81 | Director |
Martin Kay
Martin Kay has served as a Director of the Company since May 2022 and as our Chief Executive Officer since January 2023. He was formerly a Managing Director at Accenture Strategy, a position he held from October 2015 until December 2022 and holds a BA in physics from Oxford University and an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Mr. Kay is an experienced C-suite advisor and digital media entrepreneur, working at the intersection of business and technology. His experience includes oversight of our funding portal when he served on the board of managers of Netcapital Systems LLC from 2017 – 2021.
Cecilia Lenk
Cecilia Lenk has served as a director since July 2017. She served as our Chief Executive Officer from July 2017 to January 2023 and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of our wholly owned subsidiary, Netcapital Advisors Inc. Prior to that, she worked as a self-employed business consultant and a town councilor in Watertown, MA for five years. Ms. Lenk has specialized in technology and health care. Formerly Vice President of Technology and Digital Design at Decision Resources Inc., a global company serving the biopharmaceutical market, she oversaw the implementation of new technologies, products, and business processes. Prior to joining Decision Resources, Cecilia founded a technology firm that built a patented platform for online research. She has managed large-scale technology projects for leading corporations, universities, government agencies, and major non-profit organizations. Ms. Lenk has a Ph.D. in Biology from Harvard University and a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University in Geography and Environmental Engineering. She has served on a number of non-profit boards, including Chair of the Johns Hopkins Engineering Alumni. She is currently on the Alumni Advisory Board for the Hopkins School of Engineering. Ms. Lenk brings to our Board key leadership experience in high-growth technology companies and possesses a strong mix of strategic, finance, and operating skills.
Avi Liss
Avi Liss has served as a Director and Secretary of the Company since August 2010. From August 2009 to present, he has served as the President of Liss Law, LLC, a law firm specializing in real estate conveyances. Prior to founding Liss Law, he worked as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Stephen S. Mitchell, a bankruptcy court judge for the Eastern District of Virginia. Mr. Liss is well qualified to serve as a director of the company due to his knowledge and working experience with legal governance matters.
| -18- |
Steven Geary
Steven Geary has served as a Director of the Company since June 2006. Since 2009, he has served in several management positions at Statera and is currently the Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. From 2008 to 2009, he was the Chief Executive Officer of ImproveSmart, Inc. From April 2006 to June 2008, he served as our President and Chief Operating Officer, and as our Chief Executive Officer from June 2008 to December 2009. Mr. Geary has significant business development and brand marketing expertise in consumer products and services.
Arnold Scott
Arnold Scott has served as a Director of the Company since December 2022. In addition, Mr. Scott currently serves as a founding member of the Boston Chapter of the Private Directors Association, a position he has held since 2020. Previously, he served as a director of ChipBrain, a position he held from 2021 - 2022, a director and Vice Chairman of First Commons Bank from 2008-2017, as a director of Perillon Software from 2015-2019 and as a manager on the board of managers of Netcapital Systems LLC from 2017 - 2020, an affiliate and shareholder of Netcapital Inc. In addition, he previously has served as a member of the board of trustees of Alderson Broaddus University from 2013 to 2020. He has also served on several advisory boards including Vestmark, Successimo, ai Resources, and The Capital Network.
Material Proceedings
No material proceedings exist in which any of our directors or executive officers is an adverse party to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries as defined in Item 103(c)(2), Regulation S-K.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among our directors or officers.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
We are not aware of any of our directors or officers being involved in any legal proceedings in the past ten years relating to any matters in bankruptcy, insolvency, criminal proceedings (other than traffic and other minor offenses), or being subject to any of the items set forth under Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K.
No Appraisal Rights
No appraisal rights are available under the Utah Revised Business Corporations Act or under our Articles of Incorporation, or our Bylaws, as amended, with respect to the Proposal No. 1.
Interests of Officers and Directors in this Proposal
Our officers and directors have a direct interest in in this proposal.
Required Vote of Shareholders
A plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required to approve Proposal No. 1.
Board Recommendation
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” each director nominee under Proposal No. 1.
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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following are biographical summaries of our executive officers and their ages, except for Mr. Kay, whose biography is included under the heading “Proposal 1: Election of Directors” set forth above:
| Name | Age | Position(s) | ||
| Martin Kay | 60 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
| Coreen Kraysler | 60 | Chief Financial Officer | ||
| Jason Frishman | 31 | Founder |
Coreen Kraysler
Coreen Kraysler has served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company since September 2017. Ms. Kraysler is a CFA Charterholder with over 30 years of investment experience. Formerly a Senior Vice President and Principal at Independence Investments, she managed several 5-star rated mutual funds as well as institutional accounts and served on the Investment Committee. She also worked at Eaton Vance as a Vice President, Equity Analyst on the Large and Midcap Value teams. A specialist in financial services, household and consumer products, she guest lectures at local colleges and universities. She received a B.A. in Economics and French, cum laude, from Wellesley College and a Master of Science in Management from MIT Sloan.
Jason Frishman
Jason Frishman is the Founder and former Chief Executive Officer of our funding portal subsidiary, Netcapital Funding Portal Inc. Mr. Frishman founded Netcapital Funding Portal Inc. to help reduce the systemic inefficiencies early-stage companies face in securing capital. He currently holds advisory positions at leading organizations in the financial technology ecosystem and has spoken as an external expert at Morgan Stanley, University of Michigan, YPO, and others. Mr. Frishman has a background in the life sciences and previously conducted research in medical oncology at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and cognitive neuroscience at the University of Miami, where he graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Neuroscience.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
On August 1, 2024, we effectuated a 1-for-70 reverse split of our outstanding shares of common stock. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split and all such fractional interests were rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares of common stock. The conversion and/or exercise prices of our issued and outstanding convertible securities, including shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants will be adjusted accordingly. All information presented in this section assumes a 1-for-70 reverse split of our outstanding shares of common stock and unless otherwise indicated, all such amounts and corresponding exercise price data set forth in this section have been adjusted to give effect to the reverse stock split.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth, for the fiscal years indicated, all compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to Martin Kay, our CEO, Coreen Kraysler, our CFO and Jason Frishman, Founder and former Chief Executive Officer of our wholly owned subsidiary Netcapital Funding Portal, Inc., or, collectively, the Named Executive Officers, or NEOs. We have no other executive officers.
Summary Executive Compensation Table
| Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus(1) ($) | Option Awards (2) ($) | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Martin Kay, | 2024 | 300,000 | 40,000 | 249,972 | - | 589,972 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Executive Officer | 2023 | 94,615 | - | 81,309 | - | 175,924 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coreen Kraysler, | 2024 | 225,000 | 40,000 | 57,240 | - | 322,240 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | 2023 | 164,135 | 25,000 | 25,927 | - | 215,062 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Jason Frishman, | 2024 | 228,034 | - | 57,240 | - | 285,274 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Founder | 2023 | 166,173 | 25,000 | 25,927 | - | 217,062 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Outstanding Equity Awards At End of 2024
The following table provides information about outstanding stock options issued by the Company held by each of our NEOs as of April 30, 2024. None of our NEOs held any other equity awards from the Company as of April 30, 2024.
| Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares of Stock That Has Not Yet Vested | Market Value of Stock that has not Yet Vested | ||||||||||||||||
| Martin Kay | 4,762 | 9,524 | 100.10 | 1/3/2033 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Coreen Kraysler | 952 | 1,905 | 100.10 | 1/3/2033 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 161 | 125 | 735.00 | 2/9/2032 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Jason Frishman | 952 | 1,905 | 100.10 | 1/3/2033 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 161 | 125 | 735.00 | 2/9/2032 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
Officer Compensation
We pay each of our Named Executives Officers a combination of a cash salary and equity awards for their services.
Employment Agreements
We currently have employment agreements with Martin Kay and Coreen Kraysler. Prior to the resignations of Cecilia Lenk on January 3, 2023 and Jason Frishman on February 9, 2023, we and our Netcapital Funding Portal subsidiary had employment agreements with each of them, respectively. Cecilia Lenk is currently the Chief Executive Officer of our wholly owned subsidiary, Netcapital Advisors Inc. and Jason Frishman holds the position of Founder of Netcapital Inc. The former employment agreements of Cecilia Lenk and Jason Frishman are described below.
Employment Agreement with Martin Kay
We entered into an employment agreement with Martin Kay on January 3, 2023, pursuant to which we employ Mr. Kay as our Chief Executive Officer. Under the Employment Agreement, Mr. Kay is eligible to (a) receive an annual base salary of $300,000; (b) receive an option grant to purchase 1,429 fully vested shares of the Company pursuant to the 2023 Plan and an option grant to purchase 14,286 shares of the Company, which vest monthly over four (4) years pursuant to an option award agreement, described below, and in each case subject to the 2023 Plan; (c) receive periodic bonuses or additional salary in the discretion of the Board or compensation committee; (d) receive .005 times the gross revenue paid in cash annually so long as the Company reports positive earnings after the bonus is paid; (d) participate in the Company’s fringe benefits, health and welfare plans, and pension and/ or profit sharing plans provided to executives; (e) receive reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses; and f) receive sick leave, sick pay, and disability benefits in accordance with Company policy. Mr. Kay’s employment agreement, which has a three-year term, may be terminated upon the occurrence of the death of Mr. Kay, at any time by Mr. Kay, by the Company due to disability, by the Company for “cause”, and by Mr. Kay for “good reason”. Mr. Kay’s employment agreement also contains provisions regarding, among other things, a six (6)-month non-competition provision, confidential information, governing law, and covenants governing Mr. Kay’s conduct.
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Employment Agreement with Coreen Kraysler
We entered into an employment agreement with Coreen Kraysler on June 23, 2022 pursuant to which we employ Ms. Kraysler as our Chief Financial Officer. The term of her agreement ends on June 23, 2025. The agreement provides for an annual base salary during the term of the agreement of $96,000, which was increased to $150,000 upon completion of a public offering in July 2022, and increased to $225,000 in January 2023. Ms. Kraysler is eligible for periodic bonuses or for additional salary in addition to her base salary, as may be determined by our board of directors or the Compensation Committee.
The agreement also contains the following material provisions: eligible to participate in all employee fringe benefits and any pension and/or profit share plans; eligible to participate in any medical and health plans; entitled to sick leave, sick pay and disability benefits; entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable and necessary business expenses. Ms. Kraysler agreed to non-compete and non-solicit terms under her agreement.
Employment Agreement with Cecilia Lenk
We entered into an employment agreement with Cecilia Lenk on June 23, 2022 pursuant to which we employed Ms. Lenk as CEO of our wholly owned subsidiary. The term of her agreement ends on June 23, 2025. The agreement provided for an annual base salary during the term of the agreement of $96,000, which was increased to $150,000 upon completion of a public offering in July 2022. Ms. Lenk was eligible for periodic bonuses or for additional salary in addition to her base salary, as may be determined by our board of directors or the compensation committee.
The agreement also contained the following material provisions: eligible to participate in all employee fringe benefits and any pension and/or profit share plans; eligible to participate in any medical and health plans; entitled to sick leave, sick pay and disability benefits; entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable and necessary business expenses. Ms. Lenk agreed to non-compete and non-solicit terms under her agreement.
Employment Agreement with Jason Frishman
We entered into an employment agreement with Jason Frishman on June 23 2022 pursuant to which we employed Mr. Frishman, our Founder, as Chief Executive Officer of Netcapital Funding Portal, Inc. The term of his agreement ends on June 23, 2025. The Agreement provided for an annual base salary during the term of the agreement of $96,000, which was increased to $150,000 upon completion of a public offering in July 2022, and increased to $225,000 in January 2023. Mr. Frishman is eligible for periodic bonuses or for additional salary in addition to his base salary, as may be determined by our Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee.
The agreement also contained the following material provisions: eligible to participate in all employee fringe benefits and any pension and/or profit share plans; eligible to participate in any medical and health plans; entitled to sick leave, sick pay and disability benefits; entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable and necessary business expenses. Mr. Frishman agreed to non-compete and non-solicit terms under his agreement.
Potential Payments Upon Termination Or Change In Control
In the event that Ms. Kraysler’s employment is terminated by us for any reason other than “cause” or by Ms. Kraysler for “good reason,” then we will have no claims to the 20,000 and 200,000 shares of common stock underlying the stock option grant (and all unvested options under such grant shall immediately and fully vest) issued to Ms. Kraysler in February 2022 and January 2023, respectively.
The following table sets forth quantitative information with respect to potential payments to be made to Ms. Kraysler upon termination in various circumstances. The potential payments are based on the terms of each of the employment agreements discussed above. For a more detailed description of Ms. Kraysler’s employment agreement, see the “Employment Agreements” section above.
| Potential Payment Upon Termination | ||||
| Name | Option Awards (#) | |||
| Coreen Kraysler | $ | 150,224 | (1) | |
| (1) | Represents the number of unvested options at April 30, 2023. Ms. Kraysler’s options vest equally over a 48-month period. At April 30, 2024, there were 21 months remaining in her vesting schedule for the options granted in February 2022 and 32 months remaining in her vesting schedule for the options granted in January 2023. The potential payment of shares subject to Ms. Kraysler’s unvested options will reduce every month as her options vest and the value of her unvested options will be based on our market price at such time. |
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Pay Versus Performance
As required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information about the relationship between executive compensation and certain financial performance metrics. The disclosure included in this section is prescribed by SEC rules and does not necessarily align with how we or the compensation committee view the link between financial performance and the compensation actually received or realized by our named executive officers. All information provided above under the “Pay Versus Performance” heading will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates such information by reference.
The table below presents information on the compensation of CEO and other named executive officers in comparison to certain performance metrics for 2024, 2023 and 2022. Martin Kay has been our CEO since January 3, 2023 and Cecilia Lenk was CEO for all of 2022 and through January 3, 2023. These metrics are not those that the compensation committee uses when setting executive compensation. The use of the term Compensation Actually Paid (CAP) is required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, and under such rules, CAP was calculated by adjusting the Summary Compensation Table, or SCT. Total values for the applicable year as described in the footnotes to the table.
| Year | Summary Compensation Table Total for First PEO (Cecilia Lenk) (1) | Summary Compensation Table Total for Second PEO (Martin Kay) (1) | Compensation Actually Paid to First PEO (1) | Compensation Actually Paid to Second PEO (1) | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO Name Executive Officers (1)(2) | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO Name Executive Officers (3) | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Total Shareholder Return | Net Income | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) | (b) | (a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | $ | - | $ | 589,972 | $ | - | $ | (969,847 | ) | $ | 607,514 | $ | (74,122 | ) | $ | 10 | $ | (4,986,317 | ) | |||||||||||||
| 2023 | $ | 93,461 | 175,924 | $ | 43,059 | $ | 1,045,940 | $ | 193,165 | $ | 256,879 | $ | 10 | $ | 2,954,972 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 142,433 | $ | — | $ | 154,095 | $ | — | $ | 146,380 | $ | 166,022 | $ | 68 | 3,503,530 | |||||||||||||||||
| (1) | The Principal Executive Officer (“PEO”) information reflected in columns (a) and (b) relates to our CEO, Cecilia Lenk (until January 3, 2023), or First PEO, and Martin Kay (from January 3. 2023 until April 30, 2023), or Second PEO. The non-Principal Executive Officer (“non-PEO”) NEOs information reflected in columns (c) and (d) above relates to our CFO Coreen Kraysler and founder of our Netcapital Funding Portal Subsidiary, Jason Frishman. |
| (2) | The amounts shown in this column are the average total compensation reported for the non-PEO NEOs, as applicable, for each corresponding year in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation. Please refer to “Executive Compensation—Compensation Tables—Summary Compensation Table.” |
| (3) | The amounts shown have been calculated in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K and do not reflect compensation actually realized or received by the Company’s PEO and non-PEO NEOs. In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, adjustments were made to Ms. Lenk’s and Mr. Kay’s total compensation, as applicable, or the average total compensation of the non-PEO NEOs, as applicable, as described in the tables below. |
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First PEO (Cecilia Lenk) SCT Total to CAP Reconciliation
| Year | Summary Compensation Total | Less Stock Awards | Less Option Awards | Fair Value Adjustments to SCT Total | CAP | |||||||||||||||
| 2024 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
| 2023 | $ | 93,461 | $ | — | $ | (4,833 | ) | $ | (45,569 | ) | $ | 43,059 | ||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 142,433 | $ | (40,608 | ) | (5,825 | ) | $ | 58,095 | $ | 154,095 | |||||||||
Second PEO (Martin Kay) SCT Total to CAP Reconciliation
| Year | Summary Compensation Total | Less Stock Awards | Less Option Awards | Fair Value Adjustments to SCT Total | CAP | |||||||||||||||
| 2024 | $ | 589,972 | $ | — | $ | (951,325 | ) | $ | (608,494 | ) | $ | (969,847 | ) | |||||||
| 2023 | $ | 175,924 | $ | — | $ | (81,309 | ) | $ | 951,325 | $ | 1,405,940 | |||||||||
| 2022 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Average Non-PEO NEOs SCT Total to CAP Reconciliation
| Year | Summary Compensation Total | Less Stock Awards | Less Option Awards | Fair Value Adjustments to SCT Total | CAP | |||||||||||||||
| 2024 | $ | 607,514 | $ | — | $ | (418,484 | ) | $ | (263,152 | ) | $ | (74,122 | ) | |||||||
| 2023 | $ | 193,165 | $ | — | $ | (17,285 | ) | $ | 80,999 | $ | 256,879 | |||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 146,380 | $ | (50,052 | ) | $ | (7,766 | ) | $ | 77,459 | $ | 166,022 | ||||||||
First PEO (Cecilia Lenk) Equity Component of CAP
| Year | Fair Value of Current Year Equity Awards at December 31, | Change in Fair Value of Prior Years’ Awards Unvested at December 31, | Change in Fair Value of Prior Years’ Awards Vested through the Year Ended December 31, | Change in Fair Value of Prior Years’ Awards Failed to Vest through the Year Ended December 31, | Equity Value Included in CAP | |||||||||||||||
| (a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) = (a)+(b)+(c)+(d) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
| 2023 | $ | — | $ | (33,417 | ) | $ | — | $ | (12,152 | ) | $ | (45,569 | ) | |||||||
| 2022 | $ | 54,464 | $ | — | $ | 3,631 | $ | — | $ | 58,095 | ||||||||||
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Second PEO (Martin Kay) Equity Component of CAP
| Year | Fair Value of Current Year Equity Awards at December 31, | Change in Fair Value of Prior Years’ Awards Unvested at December 31, | Change in Fair Value of Prior Years’ Awards Vested through the Year Ended December 31, | Change in Fair Value of Prior Years’ Awards Failed to Vest through the Year Ended | Equity Value Included in CAP | |||||||||||||||
| (a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) = (a)+(b)+(c)+(d) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | $ | — | $ | (858,466 | ) | $ | 249,972 | $ | — | $ | (608,494 | ) | ||||||||
| 2023 | $ | 872,048 | $ | — | $ | 79,277 | $ | — | $ | 951,325 | ||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Average Non-PEO NEOs Equity Component of CAP
| Year | Fair Value of Current Year Equity Awards at December 31, | Change in Fair Value of Prior Years’ Awards Unvested at December 31, | Change in Fair Value of Prior Years’ Awards Vested through the Year Ended December 31, | Change in Fair Value of Prior Years’ Awards Failed to Vest through the Year Ended December 31, | Equity Value Included in CAP | |||||||||||||||
| (a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) = (a)+(b)+(c)+(d) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | $ | — | $ | (188,816 | ) | $ | 57,240 | $ | — | $ | (131,576 | ) | ||||||||
| 2023 | $ | 130,998 | $ | (44,556 | ) | $ | 10,759 | $ | (16,202 | ) | $ | 80,999 | ||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 72,618 | $ | — | $ | 4,841 | $ | — | $ | 77,459 | ||||||||||
Compensation Plans
2021 Equity Incentive Plan and 2023 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan
The following table shows information regarding our equity compensation plans as of April 30, 2024.
| Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a) | Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (c) | |||||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1) | 27,021 | $ | 99.40 | 1,551 | ||||||||
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (2) | 2,671 | $ | 735.00 | 187 | ||||||||
| Total | 29,693 | $ | 172.20 | 1,738 | ||||||||
(1) 2023 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan. On January 3, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Company approved and adopted the Netcapital Inc., 2023 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2023 Plan”), subject to the approval of the 2023 Plan by the Company’s stockholders. The total number of Shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the 2023 Plan is (i) 28,572 Shares of Common Stock plus (ii) an annual increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning with May 1, 2024 and ending with the last May 1 during the initial ten-year term of the 2023 Plan, equal to the lesser of (A) five percent (5%) of the Shares of Common Stock outstanding (on an as-converted basis, which shall include Shares issuable upon the exercise or conversion of all outstanding securities or rights convertible into or exercisable for Shares of Common Stock, including without limitation, preferred stock, warrants and employee options to purchase any Shares of Common Stock) on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (B) such lesser number of Shares of Common Stock as determined by the Board; provided, that, Shares of Common Stock issued under the 2023 Plan with respect to an Exempt Award shall not count against such share limit. No more than 28,572 Shares, and as increased on an annual basis, on the first day of each calendar year beginning with May 1, 2024 and ending with the last May 1 during the initial ten-year term of the Plan, by the lesser of (A) five percent (5%) of the shares of Common Stock outstanding (on an as-converted basis, which shall include Shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise or conversion of all outstanding securities or rights convertible into or exercisable for shares of Common Stock, including without limitation, preferred stock, warrants and employee options to purchase any shares of Common Stock) on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year; (B) 300,000 shares of Common Stock, and (C) such lesser number of shares of Common Stock as determined by the Board, shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs. As of April 30, 2024, we had awarded an aggregate of 27,857 options to purchase shares of common stock, 836 options have been forfeited and there remain 1,551 shares for grant under the 2023 Plan. On May 1, 2024, pursuant to the annual increase provision described above, the amount reserved for issuance under the Plan increased by 45,058 shares based on the fully diluted shares outstanding as of April 30, 2024, or 46,610 shares in the aggregate
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Administration. The 2023 Plan will be administered by the Board or a committee to which the Board delegates such responsibility (the “Administrator”). The 2023 Plan will be administered by the Administrator in accordance with Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Administrator may interpret the 2023 Plan and may prescribe, amend and rescind rules and make all other determinations necessary or desirable for the administration of the 2023 Plan. The 2023 Plan permits the Administrator to select the eligible recipients who will receive awards (“Awards”), to determine the terms and conditions of those awards, including but not limited to the exercise price or other purchase price of an award, the number of shares of common stock or cash or other property subject to an award, the term of an award and the vesting schedule applicable to an award, to determine the terms and conditions of written instruments evidencing such awards (an “Award Agreement”) and to amend the terms and conditions of outstanding awards.
Eligibility. Employees, directors and independent contractors of the Company or any of its affiliates of the Company will be eligible to receive Awards under the 2023 Plan, subject to certain limitations to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code. The participants in the 2023 Plan shall be selected from time to time by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, from those individuals that qualify as eligible recipients.
Consideration for Awards. The purchase price for any Award granted under the 2023 Plan or the Common Stock to be delivered pursuant to any such Award, as applicable, may be paid by means of any lawful consideration as determined by the Administrator, including, without limitation, one or a combination of the following methods:
| ● | services rendered by the recipient of such Award; | |
| ● | cash, check payable to the order of the Company, or electronic funds transfer; | |
| ● | notice and third party payment in such manner as may be authorized by the Administrator; | |
| ● | the delivery of previously owned and fully vested Shares of Common Stock; | |
| ● | by a reduction in the number of Shares otherwise deliverable pursuant to the Award; or | |
| ● | subject to such procedures as the Administrator may adopt, pursuant to a “cashless exercise” with a third party who provides financing for the purposes of (or who otherwise facilitates) the purchase or exercise of Awards. |
Awards. The 2023 Plan permits the grant of: (a) stock options, which may be intended as incentive stock options (“ISOs”) or as nonqualified stock options (options not meeting the requirements to qualify as ISOs); (b) stock appreciation rights (“SARs”); (c) restricted stock; (d) restricted stock units; (e) cash incentive awards; or (f) other awards, including: (i) stock bonuses, performance stock, performance units, dividend equivalents, or similar rights to purchase or acquire Shares, whether at a fixed or variable price or ratio related to the Common Stock, upon the passage of time, the occurrence of one or more events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other conditions, or any combination thereof; or (ii) any similar securities with a value derived from the value of or related to the Common Stock and/or returns thereon.
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Adjustments. To the extent necessary to preserve the economic intent of an Award or of the 2023 Plan, following a “Change in Capitalization”, such other equitable substitutions or adjustments shall be made as may be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. A “Change in Capitalization” means any of the following: (i) merger, consolidation, reclassification, recapitalization, spin-off, spin-out, repurchase or other reorganization or corporate transaction or event, (ii) special or extraordinary dividend or other extraordinary distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock or other property), stock split, reverse stock split, share subdivision or consolidation, (iii) combination or exchange of shares or (iv) other change in corporate structure, which, in any such case, the Administrator determines, in its sole discretion, affects the Shares such that an adjustment would be appropriate.
Options. Options granted under the 2023 Plan shall be designated as nonqualified stock options or ISOs. Each participant (“Participant”) who is granted an option (“Option”) shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, including, among other things, the Exercise Price (as defined in the 2023 Plan) of the Option, the term of the Option and provisions regarding exercisability of the Option, and whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or a nonqualified stock option (and in the event the Award Agreement has no such designation, the Option shall be a nonqualified stock option). The provisions of each Option need not be the same with respect to each Participant. More than one Option may be granted to the same Participant and be outstanding concurrently hereunder. The Exercise Price of Shares purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion at the time of grant, but in no event shall the exercise price of an Option be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock on the date of grant. The maximum term of each Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Option shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such Option is granted. The Administrator shall have the authority to accelerate the exercisability of any outstanding Option at such time and under such circumstances as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
Each Option shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions, including the attainment of performance goals, as shall be determined by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement.
The Administrator may also provide that any Option shall be exercisable only in installments, and the Administrator may waive such installment exercise provisions at any time, in whole or in part, based on such factors as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion. The Administrator shall have the authority to accelerate the exercisability of any outstanding Option at such time and under such circumstances as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the 2023 Plan, if an ISO is granted to a participant who owns Shares representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of Shares of the Company at the time of grant, its “parent corporation” (as such term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or a subsidiary of the Company, the term of the ISO shall not exceed five (5) years from the time of grant of such ISO and the Exercise Price shall be at least one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant. A Participant shall have no rights to dividends, dividend equivalents or distributions or any other rights of a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to an Option until the Participant has given written notice of the exercise thereof, and has paid in full for such Shares and has satisfied the requirements of the 2023 Plan.
Treatment of an Option upon termination of employment of a Participant shall be provided for by the Administrator in the Award Agreement. An Option shall be affected, both with regard to vesting schedule and termination, by leaves of absence, including unpaid and un-protected leaves of absence, changes from full-time to part-time employment, partial disability or other changes in the employment status or service status of a Participant, in the discretion of the Administrator.
Stock Appreciation Rights. The Administrator will be authorized to award SARs under the 2023 Plan. SARs will be subject to the terms and conditions established by the Administrator and reflected in the Award Agreement. A SAR is a contractual right that allows a participant to receive, in the form of either cash, Shares or any combination of cash and Shares, the appreciation, if any, in the value of a Share over a certain period of time. An option granted under the 2023 Plan may include SARs, and SARs may also be awarded to a participant independent of the grant of an option. SARs granted in connection with an option shall be subject to terms similar to the option corresponding to such SARs.
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Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The Administrator will be authorized to award restricted stock or RSUs under the 2023 Plan. Awards of restricted stock and RSUs will be subject to the terms and conditions established by the Administrator at its sole discretion.
Other Stock-Based Awards. Other Stock-Based Awards may be issued under the 2023 Plan. Subject to the provisions of the 2023 Plan, the Administrator shall have sole and complete authority to determine the individuals to whom and the time or times at which such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be granted. An example of an Other Stock-Based Award is a performance bonus payable as Company Common Stock.
Change in Control. In the event that a change in control occurs, as defined in the 2023 Plan to include, among other things, the acquisition by a person of more than 50% of the voting power of the Company, the Administrator may, at its sole discretion, modify any unvested and un-exercisable portion of any Award to make it fully vested and exercisable.
Amendment and Termination. The Board may amend, alter or terminate the 2023 Plan at any time, but no amendment, alteration or termination shall be made that would impair the rights of a participant under any Award theretofore granted without such participant’s consent. The Board shall obtain approval of the Company’s stockholders for any amendment that would require such approval in order to satisfy the requirements of any rules of the stock exchange on which the Common Stock is traded or other applicable law.
(2) 2021 Equity Incentive Plan. In November 2021, our Board adopted the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2021 Plan. An aggregate of 4,286 shares of our common stock is reserved for issuance and available for awards under the Plan, including incentive stock options granted under the 2021 Plan. The 2021 Plan administrator may grant awards to any employee, director, consultant or other person providing services to us or our affiliates. As of April 30, 2024, we had awarded an aggregate of 2,671 options to purchase shares of common stock to directors and there remain 1,615 shares for grant under the 2021 Plan.
The 2021 Plan is administered by our Board. The 2021 Plan administrator has the authority to determine, within the limits of the express provisions of the 2021 Plan, the individuals to whom awards will be granted, the nature, amount and terms of such awards and the objectives and conditions for earning such awards. Our Board may at any time amend or terminate the 2021 Plan, provided that no such action may be taken that adversely affects any rights or obligations with respect to any awards previously made under the 2021 Plan without the consent of the recipient. No awards may be made under the 2021 Plan after the tenth anniversary of its effective date.
Awards under the 2021 Plan may include incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted shares of common stock, restricted stock units, performance share awards, stock bonuses and other stock-based awards and cash-based incentive awards.
Stock Options. The 2021 Plan administrator may grant to a participant options to purchase our common stock that qualify as incentive stock options for purposes of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code (“incentive stock options”), options that do not qualify as incentive stock options (“non-qualified stock options”) or a combination thereof. The terms and conditions of stock option grants, including the quantity, price, vesting periods, and other conditions on exercise will be determined by the 2021 Plan administrator. The exercise price for stock options will be determined by the 2021 Plan administrator in its discretion, but non-qualified stock options and incentive stock options may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of one share of our company’s common stock on the date when the stock option is granted. Additionally, in the case of incentive stock options granted to a holder of more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock on the date of grant, the exercise price may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of one share of common stock on the date the stock option is granted. Stock options must be exercised within a period fixed by the 2021 Plan administrator that may not exceed ten years from the date of grant, except that in the case of incentive stock options granted to a holder of more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock on the date of grant, the exercise period may not exceed five years. At the 2021 Plan administrator’s discretion, payment for shares of common stock on the exercise of stock options may be made in cash, shares of our common stock held by the participant or in any other form of consideration acceptable to the 2021 Plan administrator (including one or more forms of “cashless” or “net” exercise).
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Stock Appreciation Rights. The 2021 Plan administrator may grant to a participant an award of SARs, which entitles the participant to receive, upon its exercise, a payment equal to (i) the excess of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the exercise date over the SAR exercise price, times (ii) the number of shares of common stock with respect to which the SAR is exercised. The exercise price for a SAR will be determined by the 2021 Plan administrator in its discretion; provided, however, that in no event shall the exercise price be less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant.
Restricted Shares and Restricted Units. The 2021 Plan administrator may award to a participant shares of common stock subject to specified restrictions (“restricted shares”). Restricted shares are subject to forfeiture if the participant does not meet certain conditions such as continued employment over a specified forfeiture period and/or the attainment of specified performance targets over the forfeiture period. The 2021 Plan administrator also may award to a participant units representing the right to receive shares of common stock in the future subject to the achievement of one or more goals relating to the completion of service by the participant and/or the achievement of performance or other objectives (“restricted units”). The terms and conditions of restricted share and restricted unit awards are determined by the 2021 Plan administrator.
Stock Bonuses. Stock bonuses may be granted as additional compensation for service or performance and may be settled in the form of common stock, cash or a combination thereof, and may be subject to restrictions, which may vest subject to continued service and/or the achievement of performance conditions.
Performance Awards. The 2021 Plan administrator may grant performance awards to participants under such terms and conditions as the 2021 Plan administrator deems appropriate. A performance award entitles a participant to receive a payment from us, the amount of which is based upon the attainment of predetermined performance targets over a specified award period. Performance awards may be paid in cash, shares of common stock or a combination thereof, as determined by the 2021 Plan administrator.
Other Stock-Based Awards. The 2021 Plan administrator may grant equity-based or equity-related awards, referred to as “other stock-based awards,” other than options, SARs, restricted shares, restricted units, or performance awards. The terms and conditions of each other stock-based award will be determined by the 2021 Plan administrator. Payment under any other stock-based awards will be made in common stock or cash, as determined by the 2021 Plan administrator.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
On August 1, 2024, we effectuated a 1-for-70 reverse split of our outstanding shares of common stock. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split and all such fractional interests were rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares of common stock. The conversion and/or exercise prices of our issued and outstanding convertible securities, including shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants will be adjusted accordingly. All information presented in this section assumes a 1-for-70 reverse split of our outstanding shares of common stock and unless otherwise indicated, all such amounts and corresponding exercise price data set forth in this section have been adjusted to give effect to the reverse stock split.
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of our Common Stock as of the Record Date by:
| ● | each person whom we know beneficially owns more than 5% of any class of equity security; |
| ● | each of our directors individually; |
| ● | each of our named executive officers individually; and |
| ● | all of our current directors and executive officers as a group. |
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting or investment power with respect to such securities. In addition, pursuant to such rules, we deemed outstanding shares of common stock subject to options or warrants held by that person that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. We did not deem such shares outstanding, however, for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Except as indicated by the footnotes below, we believe, based on the information furnished to us, that the beneficial owners named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our common stock that they beneficially own, subject to applicable community property laws. The inclusion in the table below of any shares deemed beneficially owned does not constitute an admission of beneficial ownership of those shares.
| Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) | Number of Shares | Percent of Common Stock* | ||||||
| 5% or Greater Shareholders: | ||||||||
| Lind Global Fund II LP(2) | 64,278 | (3) | 9.99 | % | ||||
| Officers and Directors: | ||||||||
| Jason Frishman | 25,888 | (4) | 4.46 | % | ||||
| Martin Kay | 6,250 | (5) | 1.07 | % | ||||
| Steven Geary | 3,719 | (6) | * | |||||
| Arnold Scott | 1,338 | (7) | * | |||||
| Coreen Kraysler | 1,762 | (8) | * | |||||
| Cecilia Lenk | 568 | (9) | * | |||||
| Avi Liss | 311 | (10) | * | |||||
| All Named Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (7 persons) | 39,836 | 6.76 | % | |||||
* Based on ____________ shares outstanding as of the Record Date.
** Less than 1%
| (1) | Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each member of our Board is c/o Netcapital Inc. 1 Lincoln Street, Boston Massachusetts 02111. |
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| (2) | Jeff Easton, the managing member of Lind Global Partners II LLC, may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by Lind Global Fund II LP. The address of Lind Global Fund II LP is 444 Madison Ave, Floor 41 New York, NY 10022 |
| (3) | Includes 64,278 shares of common stock underlying the Series A-1 Warrants to purchase 85,715 shares of common stock and excludes 21,440 shares underlying the Series A-1 Warrants under the Series A-1 Warrants to purchase 85,715 shares underlying the Series A-1 Warrants as the exercise of these warrants is subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 9.99% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock. Also excludes (i) Series A-3 Warrants to purchase 85,715 shares of common stock and (ii) Series A-4 Warrants to purchase 85,715 shares of Common Stock, as both the Series A-3 Warrants and Series A-4 Warrants (and the shares of common stock issuable thereunder) are subject to shareholder approval. Such Series A-3 Warrants and Series A-4 Warrants contain beneficial ownership limitations that prohibit the Lind Global Fund II LP from exercising any portion of such warrants if such exercise would result in the Lind Global Fund II LP owning a percentage of our outstanding common stock exceeding 9.99% after giving effect to the issuance of common stock in connection with the Lind Global Fund II LP’s exercise of any portion of such warrants. The final as-adjusted shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants set forth in this footnote will be determined based on the total shares of our common stock outstanding following consummation of the 1-for-70 reverse stock split, including additional shares of our common stock issued upon account of fractional shares resulting from such reverse stock split. |
| (4) | Includes (i) 1,441 shares of common stock subject to stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after the Record Date, and (ii) 24,447 shares of common stock held by Netcapital Systems LLC, an entity that Jason Frishman is the President of and in such capacity has the right to vote and dispose of the securities held by such entity. |
| (5) | Includes (i) 6,250 shares of common stock subject to stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after the Record Date. |
| (6) | Includes (i) 3,565 shares of common stock and (ii) 154 shares of common stock subject to stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after the Record Date. |
| (7) | Includes 107 shares of common stock subject to stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. |
| (8) | Includes 1,441 shares of common stock subject to stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after the Record Date. |
| (9) | Includes 202 shares of common stock subject to stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after the Record Date. |
| (10) | Includes 154 shares of common stock subject to stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. |
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PROPOSAL
NO. 2: RATIFICATION OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Our audit committee has appointed Fruci as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2025 and our Board has directed that management submit the appointment of Fruci as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025 for ratification by the shareholders at the 2024 Annual Meeting. Representatives of Fruci are expected to be virtually present at the 2024 Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and be available to respond to appropriate questions. Fruci was appointed to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm in 2017.
Shareholder ratification of the appointment of Fruci as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is not required law. However, our Board is submitting the audit committee’s appointment of Fruci to the shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the shareholders fail to ratify the appointment, the audit committee will reconsider whether to retain that firm. Even if the appointment is ratified, the audit committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the audit committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
Independent Registered Public Accountant’s Fee
The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm during the past two fiscal years.
| Fiscal 2024 | Fiscal 2023 | |||||||
| Audit fees | $ | 106,161 | $ | 84,113 | ||||
| Audit related fees | ||||||||
| Tax fees | ||||||||
| All other fees | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 106,161 | $ | 84,113 | ||||
Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditors
Consistent with SEC policies regarding auditor independence, our board of directors has responsibility for appointing, setting compensation and overseeing the work of the independent auditor. In recognition of this responsibility, the board of directors has established a policy to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent auditor.
Prior to engagement of the independent auditor for the next year’s audit, management will submit an aggregate of services expected to be rendered during that year for each of four categories of services to the board of directors for approval.
1. Audit services include audit work performed in the preparation of financial statements, as well as work that generally only the independent auditor can reasonably be expected to provide, including comfort letters and reviews of our financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
2. Audit-Related services are for assurance and related services that are traditionally performed by the independent auditor, including due diligence related to mergers and acquisitions, employee benefit plan audits, and special procedures required to meet certain regulatory requirements.
3. Tax services include all services performed by the independent auditor’s tax personnel except those services specifically related to the audit of the financial statements, and includes fees in the areas of tax compliance, tax planning, and tax advice.
4. Other services are those associated with services not captured in the other categories. We generally do not request such services from the independent auditor.
No Appraisal Rights
No appraisal rights are available under the Utah Revised Business Corporations Act or under our Articles of Incorporation, or our Bylaws, as amended, with respect to the Proposal No. 2.
Interests of Officers and Directors in this Proposal
Our officers and directors do not have a substantial interest, direct or indirect, in this proposal.
Required Vote of Shareholders
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required to approve Proposal No. 2.
Board Recommendation
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” Proposal No. 2.
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PROPOSAL NO. 3: SAY ON PAY
In accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act and the related rules of the SEC, the Company is asking its stockholders to vote to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on the compensation of our named executive officers. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the principles, policies and practices described in this proxy statement. Accordingly, the following advisory resolution is submitted for stockholder vote at the annual meeting:
RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Netcapital Inc. (the “Company”) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the compensation tables regarding named executive officer compensation and the narrative disclosures that accompany the compensation tables.
Although the “say-on-pay” vote is non-binding, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee will carefully review and consider the voting results when evaluating our named executive officer compensation program.
No Appraisal Rights
No appraisal rights are available under the Utah Revised Business Corporations Act or under our Articles of Incorporation, or our Bylaws, as amended, with respect to the Proposal No. 3.
Interests of Officers and Directors in this Proposal
Our officers and directors have a direct interest in in this proposal.
Required Vote of Shareholders
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required to approve Proposal No. 3.
Board Recommendation
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” Proposal No. 3.
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PROPOSAL NO. 4: SAY WHEN ON PAY
In Proposal 3 above, the Company is asking its stockholders to vote on a non-binding advisory resolution on named executive officer compensation and the Company will provide this type of advisory vote at least once every three years. Pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act and the related rules of the SEC, in this Proposal 4, the Company is asking its stockholders to vote on the frequency of future non-binding advisory votes on named executive officer compensation.
The Board believes that an advisory vote on executive compensation every three years is the most appropriate policy for the Company at this time, and recommends that stockholders vote for future non-binding advisory votes on named executive officer compensation to occur every three years. While our named executive officer compensation programs are designed to promote a long-term connection between pay and performance, and the Board recognizes that named executive officer compensation disclosures are made annually, the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission permit the Company to solicit this advisory vote only every three years and the Company believes that management time and attention is better served by soliciting this advisory vote only every three years.
Pursuant to this non-binding advisory vote on the frequency of future non-binding advisory votes on named executive officer compensation, stockholders will be able to specify one of four choices for this proposal on the proxy card or voting instruction: one year, two years, three years or abstain. Stockholders are not voting to approve or disapprove the Board’s recommendation. The vote is non-binding on the Board. Nevertheless, the Board and the Compensation Committee will carefully review the voting results. Notwithstanding the Board’s recommendation and the outcome of the stockholder vote, the Board may in the future decide to conduct advisory votes on a more or less frequent basis and may vary its practice based on factors such as discussions with stockholders and the adoption of material changes to compensation programs.
No Appraisal Rights
No appraisal rights are available under the Utah Revised Business Corporations Act or under our Articles of Incorporation, or our Bylaws, as amended, with respect to Proposal No. 4.
Interests of Officers and Directors in this Proposal
Our officers and directors have a direct interest in in this proposal.
Required Vote of Shareholders
The frequency that receives the highest number of votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the 2024 Annual Meeting and entitled to vote thereon shall be approved under this Proposal No. 4
Board Recommendation
The Board unanimously recommends a vote for “THREE YEARS” with respect to Proposal No. 4.
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PROPOSAL NO. 5: THE BYLAW PROPOSAL
General
Our Board has unanimously adopted the form of amended and restated bylaws (the “Proposed Bylaws”) attached hereto as Appendix A, to replace the Company’s current bylaws, which, in the judgment of the Board, is necessary to, among other things (i) adequately address the needs of the Company; (ii) streamline the process by which the Company holds annual and special meetings of stockholders; and (iii) update the Bylaws so that they are in line with current industry standards for public companies.
The following table sets forth a summary of the principal proposed changes between existing bylaws (the “Bylaws”) and the Proposed Bylaws. This summary is qualified by reference to the complete text of the Proposed Bylaws, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Appendix A. All of our stockholders are encouraged to read the Proposed Bylaws in its entirety for a more complete description of its terms. Please also see the below for a summary comparison of the principal differences between the Bylaws and the Proposed Bylaws.
| Existing Bylaws | Proposed Bylaws | |||
| Annual Meetings and Special Meetings of Stockholders | Under the existing Bylaws, (i) annual meetings of stockholders shall be held on the anniversary of the date of incorporation at one o’clock p.m.; (ii) special meetings included a reference to Delaware law; (iii) elected directors by a majority vote except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or the laws of the state (iii) provide that notice of any meeting be given not less than ten nor more than fifty days before the date of the meeting either personally or by mail; and (iv) contain unclear parameters for the conduct, timing and proposals that may be properly considered at a meeting of stockholders. |
Under the Proposed Bylaws, we would enhance the existing procedural mechanics and require additional disclosures in connection with stockholder nominations of directors and submissions of stockholder proposals at stockholder meetings, including, without limitation, as follows:
(i) to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or be mailed and received not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one-hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting of Stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the Annual Meeting is called for a date that is not within twenty-five (25) days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such notice of the date of the Annual Meeting was mailed or such public disclosure of the date of the Annual Meeting was made, whichever first occurs; and (ii) provide that plurality voting will apply to the election of directors; (iii) provide that meetings of stockholders may only be called by the President of the Company, Board of Directors, or a Committee of the Board of Directors and (iv) provide that notice of any meeting be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting either mailed or electronically. | ||
| Record Date of Meetings of Stockholders | Under the existing Bylaws, The directors may close the stock transfer books for a stated period not to exceed fifty (50) days or fix in advance a record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or for any other purpose. If the stock transfer books are closed for determining stockholders entitled to vote at a meeting, they must be closed for at least ten (10) days immediately preceding the meeting. | Under the Proposed Bylaws, The Board may fix, in advance, a record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution, or to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion, or exchange of stock, or for any other lawful action. The record date cannot precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and must not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting or action requiring the determination of stockholders.
Additionally, if the Board does not fix a record date, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. For determining stockholders for any other purpose, the record date is at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating to it. |
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| Existing Bylaws | Proposed Bylaws | |||
| Date of Annual Meeting | Under the existing Bylaws, Annual Meetings are to be held annually one year from the date of incorporation, beginning with 1985, for the purpose of electing directors and other business. | Under the Proposed Bylaws, Annual Meetings will be held on a date and time designated by the Board of Directors, for electing directors and transacting other proper business. | ||
| Indemnification of Directors, Officers, Employees and Agents | The existing Bylaws do not address the indemnification of Directors, Officers, Employees and Agents | Under the Proposed Bylaws, the Company will indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by the URBCA, as well as any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer, or is or was a director or officer serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. | ||
| Nomination of Directors | The existing Bylaws do not address the requirements for nominating directors. | Under the Proposed Bylaws, a stockholder intending to nominate a person for election as a director must give timely notice in proper written form to the Secretary of the Company and meet the following requirements:
For an Annual Meeting, not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one-hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
For a Special Meeting called for the purpose of electing directors, not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice of the date of the Special Meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the Special Meeting was made.
The notice must include detailed information about both the nominee and the stockholder making the nomination, such as: (i) The name, age, business address, and residence address of the nominee, along with the principal occupation or employment of the nominee; (ii) the class or series and number of all shares of the Company which are owned beneficially or of record by the nominee and the stockholder making the nomination; (iii) a description of all agreements, arrangements, or understandings between the nominee and any other persons in connection with the nomination; and (iv) a written consent of each nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected.
Additionally, the stockholder providing the nomination notice is required to update and supplement the notice, if necessary, to ensure that the information provided is true and correct as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the Annual Meeting or Special Meeting. Such updates and supplements must be delivered or mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the meeting.
If the chairman of the meeting determines that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chairman can declare to the meeting that the nomination was defective and disregard such defective nomination. |
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| Existing Bylaws | Proposed Bylaws | |||
| Removal of Directors | Under the existing Bylaws, any or all of the directors may be removed for cause by vote of the stockholders or by action of the board. Directors may be removed without notice only by vote of the stockholders. | Under the Proposed Bylaws, directors may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the combined voting power of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Any director serving on a committee of the Board of Directors may be removed from such committee at any time by the Board of Directors. | ||
| Committees of the Board of Directors | Under the existing Bylaws, the board, by resolution, may designate from among its members an executive committee, each consisting of three or more directors. Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the board. | Under the Proposed Bylaws, the Board of Directors has the ability to designate one or more committees consisting of one or more directors of the Company.
The Board of Directors has the authority to delegate to these committees any of the powers and authority of the board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company, except for those specifically required by law to be exercised by the full board or the shareholders.
The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee. These alternates can replace any absent or disqualified member at any committee meeting.
Committee members must meet any membership requirements set forth by applicable law and the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system where the Corporation’s securities are listed or quoted.
Committees can hold regular and special meetings.
Regular meetings can be held without notice if the time and place are determined by the board or the committee itself. Special meetings can be called by various officials within the Company, and notice must be given at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance for mail notices or twenty-four (24) hours for electronic or telephonic notices. A majority of committee members present constitutes a quorum for conducting business.
Actions taken by a majority of members at a meeting where a quorum is present shall be the acts of the committee.
Any action that could be taken at a committee meeting may also be taken without a meeting if all committee members consent in writing to the action. Committee members not physically present at a meeting may participate and be considered present in person if they join via electronic communication.
The Proposed Bylaws allow for the board to establish additional governance and operational procedures for committees that may differ from those outlined in the bylaws, as long as they comply with applicable law. | ||
| Removal and Resignation of Officers | Under the existing Bylaws, any officer or agent elected or appointed by the directors may be removed by the directors whenever in their judgment the best interest of the Company would be served thereby, without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. | Under the Proposed Bylaws, (i) any officer elected by the Board may be removed, with or without cause, at any regular or special meeting of the Board by the affirmative vote of the majority of the directors in attendance where a quorum is present; and (ii) any officer may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the Company, and such resignation will be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice provides a later effective date. | ||
| Electronic Participation at Meetings of Stockholders. | The existing Bylaws do not address the use of electronic participation at meetings of stockholders. | Under the Proposed Bylaws, stockholders and directors may participate in a meeting of the stockholders by any means of electronic communications, videoconferencing, teleconferencing or other available technology permitted under the URBCA (including, without limitation, a telephone conference or similar method of communication by which all individuals participating in the meeting can hear each other) and utilized by the Company | ||
| Notice by Electronic Transmission | The existing Bylaws do not address notice by electronic transmission. | Under the Proposed Bylaws, any notice to stockholders given by the Company under any provision of the URBCA, or pursuant to the Company’s Charter, will be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. | ||
| Amendments to the Bylaws | Under the existing Bylaws, the Bylaws may only be altered, amended or repealed by a vote of the stockholders representing a majority of all the shares issued and outstanding, at an annual stockholders’ meeting or at any special stockholders’ meeting when the proposed amendment has been set out in the notice of such meeting. | The Proposed Bylaws would clarify Article XII to the extent that the Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed at any meeting of the Board, provided notice of the proposed change was given in the notice of the meeting not less than two (2) days prior to the meeting; as well as, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least fifty (50%) of the outstanding voting power of the Company, voting together as a single class. |
No Appraisal Rights
No appraisal rights are available under the Utah Revised Business Corporations Act or under our Articles of Incorporation, or our Bylaws, as amended, with respect to the Proposal No. 5.
Interests of Officers and Directors in this Proposal
Our officers and directors have a direct interest in in this proposal.
Required Vote of Shareholders
The affirmative vote of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock is required to approve Proposal No. 5.
Board Recommendation
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” Proposal No. 5.
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PROPOSAL NO. 6: THE CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
General
Our Board has unanimously adopted (i) a resolution approving an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to authorize (the “Preferred Stock Authorization”) 10,000,000 shares of “blank check” Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”) and (ii) directing that the Preferred Stock Authorization be submitted to the stockholders for approval at the Annual Meeting.
If this proposal is approved, and the Preferred Stock is authorized, it may be issued, from time to time, as authorized by the Board in one or more series, in such numbers of shares, with such designations, powers, including voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights, qualifications, limitations, and restrictions as the Board determines. The powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and any qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of a series may differ from those of any other series.
Our Board has determined that the Preferred Stock Authorization proposal is in the best interests of the Company and recommends approval by stockholders.
Potential Advantages of the Preferred Stock Authorization
Our Board has adopted the proposed amendment to provide maximum financial and strategic flexibility with respect to future financing transactions. Preferred Stock is commonly authorized by publicly traded companies and can be used as a preferred means of raising capital. In some circumstances, companies, including ours, have been required to issue senior classes of securities to raise capital, with the terms of those securities being negotiated and tailored to meet the needs of both investors and issuing companies. Such senior securities often include liquidation preferences and dividend rights, conversion privileges and other rights not found in Common Stock.
If the proposal is approved, and our Articles of Incorporation are amended, our Board would be able to issue the additional shares of authorized Preferred Stock with such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional, conversion or other special rights (if any) of such series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions (if any) thereof, as the Board may in the future establish by resolution or resolutions and by filing articles of amendment pursuant to the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act (a “Preferred Stock Designation”), from time to time, providing for the issuance of such Preferred Stock. No vote of the holders of our Common Stock or Preferred Stock, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Articles of Incorporation or in a Preferred Stock Designation creating any series of Preferred Stock or, to the extent the Company chooses to comply with any limiting rules of any securities exchange or quotation system on which shares of our common or Preferred Stock are then listed or traded, will be a prerequisite to the issuance of any series of Preferred Stock.
Approval of the proposed amendment will not alter or modify the rights, preferences, privileges or restrictions of outstanding shares of our Common Stock.
Potential Disadvantages of the Preferred Stock Authorization
The authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock may generally be issued from time to time for such proper corporate purposes as may be determined by our Board or, as required by law or the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, with the approval and authorization of our stockholders. Our Board does not intend to solicit further stockholder approval prior to the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock, except as may be required by applicable law or by the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market.
The possible future issuance of shares of our Preferred Stock or securities convertible or exercisable into our Preferred Stock could affect our current stockholders in a number of ways. The issuance of new shares of Preferred Stock could cause immediate dilution of the ownership interests and the voting power of our existing stockholders. New issuances of Preferred Stock may also affect the number of dividends, if any, paid to such stockholders and may reduce the share of the proceeds that they would receive upon the future liquidation, if any, of the company.
| -38- |
In addition, the future issuance of shares of our Preferred Stock or securities convertible or exercisable into shares of our Preferred Stock could:
| ● | dilute the market price of our Common Stock, to the extent that the shares of Common Stock are issued and sold at prices below current trading prices, or, if the issuance consists of securities convertible or exercisable into Common Stock, to the extent that the securities provide for the conversion or exercise into Common Stock at prices that could be below current trading prices of the Common Stock, which dilution, in each case, may increase the volatility and affect the market value of our trading securities; |
| ● | dilute the earnings per share, if any, and book value per share of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock; and |
| ● | make the payment of dividends on Common Stock, if any, potentially more expensive. |
No specific shares of Preferred Stock are being designated at this time, and we do not currently have any plans to issue shares of Preferred Stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects
Although the proposed amendment is not motivated by anti-takeover concerns and is not considered by the Board to be an anti-takeover measure, the availability of authorized shares of Preferred Stock could enable the Board to issue shares defensively in response to a takeover attempt or to make an attempt to gain control of the Company more difficult or time-consuming. For example, Preferred Stock could be issued to purchasers who might side with management in opposing a takeover bid which the Board determines is not in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, thus diluting the ownership and voting rights of the person seeking to obtain control of the Company. In certain circumstances, issuing Preferred Stock without further action by the stockholders may delay or prevent a change of control of the Company, may discourage bids for the Company’s Common Stock or Preferred Stock at a premium over the market price of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock, and may adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock. Thus, increasing the authorized Preferred Stock could render more difficult and less likely a hostile merger, tender offer, or proxy contest, assumption of control by a holder of a large block of the Company’s stock, and the possible removal of the Company’s incumbent management. We are not aware of any proposed attempt to take over the Company or of any attempt to acquire a large block of our stock.
No Appraisal Rights
Under the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act (“URBCA”), the Company’s stockholders are not entitled to appraisal rights with respect to the proposed amendment.
Procedure for Implementing the New Class of Preferred Stock
If this proposal is approved by our stockholders, our Board will cause the “Blank Check” Stock Authorization to be implemented by filing articles of amendment to our Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Utah. The Preferred Stock Authorization will become effective on the date that it is filed.
Discretionary Authority of the Board to Abandon Preferred Stock Authorization
The Board reserves the right to abandon the Preferred Stock Authorization without further action by our stockholders at any time before the effectiveness of the articles of amendment to our Articles of Incorporation, even if the Authorization has been authorized by our stockholders at the Annual Meeting. By voting in favor of the Authorization, you are expressly also authorizing our Board to determine not to proceed with, and abandon, the Preferred Stock Authorization if it should so decide.
Appendix Relating to the Preferred Stock Authorization
The text of the form of the articles of amendment relating to this proposal, which we would file with the Secretary of State of the State of Utah to effect the Preferred Stock Authorization, is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix B.
No Appraisal Rights
No appraisal rights are available under the Utah Revised Business Corporations Act or under our Articles of Incorporation, or our Bylaws, as amended, with respect to the Proposal No. 6.
Interests of Officers and Directors in this Proposal
Our officers and directors do not have any substantial interest, direct or indirect, in in this proposal.
Required Vote of Shareholders
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required to approve Proposal No. 6.
Board Recommendation
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” Proposal No. 6.
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PROPOSAL NO. 7: WARRANT SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL PROPOSAL
On August 1, 2024, we effectuated a 1-for-70 reverse split of our outstanding shares of common stock. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split and all such fractional interests were rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares of common stock. The conversion and/or exercise prices of our issued and outstanding convertible securities, including shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants will be adjusted accordingly. All information presented under this Proposal No. 7 assumes a 1-for-70 reverse split of our outstanding shares of common stock and unless otherwise indicated, all such amounts and corresponding exercise price data set forth under this Proposal have been adjusted to give effect to the reverse stock split.1
Overview
We are asking shareholders to approve the issuance of the Common Warrants (as defined below), the Placement Agent Warrants (as defined below) and the shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Common Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants that were issued in connection with the warrant inducement transaction that closed on May 29, 2024 (the “Offering”) as contemplated by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d).
Background Information
On May 24, 2024, we entered into inducement offer letter agreements (the “Inducement Letters”) with certain investors (the “Participating Holders”) that hold certain outstanding Series A-2 warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 204,572 shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), originally issued to the Participating Holders on December 27, 2023 (the “Existing Warrants”). The Existing Warrants had an exercise price of $17.50 per share.
Pursuant to the Inducement Letters, the Participating Holders agreed to exercise for cash the Existing Warrants at a reduced exercise price of $10.85 per share in partial consideration for our agreement to issue in a private placement (x) new Series A-3 Common Stock purchase warrants (the “New Series A-3 Warrants”) to purchase up to 204,572 shares of Common Stock (the “New Series A-3 Warrant Shares”) and (y) new Series A-4 Common Stock Purchase Warrants (the “New Series A-4 Warrants” and, together with the New Series A-3 Warrants, the “New Warrants”) to purchase up to 204,572 shares of Common Stock (the “New Series A-4 Warrant Shares” and, together with the New Series A-3 Warrant Shares, the “New Warrant Shares”). The New Warrants are exercisable beginning on the effective dates of stockholder approval of the issuance of the New Warrants and the New Warrant Shares (the “Initial Exercise Date”) with such warrants expiring on (i) the five year anniversary of the Initial Exercise Date for the Series A-3 Warrants and (ii) the eighteen month anniversary of the Initial Exercise Date for the Series A-4 Warrants.
H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC acted as placement agent (“Placement Agent”) in connection with the Offering. The Company also issued warrants to designees of the Placement Agent (the “Placement Agent Warrants”) to purchase up to 15,343 shares of Common Stock (the “Placement Agent Warrant Shares”) at an exercise price of $13.566.
The New Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants require that we call and hold a meeting of our shareholders for the purpose of procuring approval for the Warrant Shareholder Approval Proposal pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d).
Our stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “NCPL.” Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) provides that shareholder approval is required prior to the issuance of securities in a transaction, other than a public offering, involving the sale, issuance or potential issuance by the Company of common stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock), which equals 20% or more of the common stock or 20% or more of the voting power outstanding before the issuance, at a price less than the lower of: (i) the closing price immediately preceding the signing of the binding agreement, or (ii) the average closing price of the common stock for the five trading days immediately preceding the signing of the binding agreement for the transaction. In determining whether an offering qualifies as a public offering, Nasdaq considers all relevant factors, including the extent of any discount to market price. In determining discount, Nasdaq generally attributes a value of $0.125 for each warrant offered with a share of common stock, which value is generally deemed to be a discount. In order to ensure that the Offering qualified as a public offering under Rule 5635 due to the value attributable to the Common Warrants, the Common Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants provide that they may not be exercised, and therefore have no value, until shareholder approval of their exercise is obtained. See “— Reasons for Warrant Shareholder Approval Proposal” below.
1 The final as-adjusted exercise prices and shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants subject to approval under this Proposal No. 7 will be determined based on the total shares outstanding following consummation of the 1-for-70 reverse stock split, including additional shares of our common stock issued upon account of fractional shares resulting from such reverse stock split.
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The following is a summary of the material features of the New Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Form of New Series A-3 Warrant; Form of New Series A-4 Warrant and Form of Placement Agent Warrant, copies of which are attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendices C, D, and E.
New Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants
Duration and Exercise Price
Each New Warrant have an exercise price equal to $10.85 per share. The Placement Agent Warrants have an exercise price equal to $13.566 per share. The New Warrants are not exercisable until our shareholders approve the issuance of the New Warrants and the New Warrant Shares (the “Initial Exercise Date), and the New Warrants expire on the (i) 5-year anniversary of the Initial Exercise Date for the Series A-3 Warrants and (ii) the eighteen month anniversary of the Initial Exercise Date for the Series A-4 Warrants. The Placement Agent Warrants are not exercisable until our shareholders approve the issuance of the Placement Agent Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrant Shares and the Placement Agent Warrants expire on the five-year anniversary of the Initial Exercise Date. The exercise price and number of New Warrant Shares and Placement Agent Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the New Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants are subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of stock dividends, stock splits, subsequent rights offerings, pro rata distributions, reorganizations, or similar events affecting the Common Stock and the exercise price.
Exercisability
The New Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants are exercisable (following shareholder approval), at the option of each holder, respectively, in whole or in part, by delivering a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full for the number of shares of Common Stock purchased upon such exercise (except in the case of a cashless exercise discussed below). A holder or Placement Agent Warrant Holder (together with their affiliates) may not exercise any portion of their New Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants to the extent that the holder or Placement Agent Warrant Holder would own more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder, 9.99%) of the outstanding Common Stock immediately after exercise, except that upon prior notice from the holder or Placement Agent (or its to us, the holder may increase or decrease the amount of ownership of outstanding stock after exercising their New Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants, as applicable, up to 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the New Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants, provided that any increase will not be effective until 61 days following notice to the Company.
Cashless Exercise
If, at the time a holder exercises its New Warrants, or a Placement Agent Warrant Holder exercises its Placement Agent Warrants, a registration statement registering the resale of the New Warrant Shares and Placement Agent Warrants Shares by the holder and the Placement Agent Warrant Holder, respectively, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), is not then effective or available, then in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder or the Placement Agent Warrant Holder may elect instead to receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part), the net number of shares of Common Stock determined according to a formula set forth in the New Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants.
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Rights as a Stockholder
Except as otherwise provided in the New Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants, or by virtue of the holder’s or Placement Agent Warrant Holder’s ownership of shares of Common Stock, such holder or Placement Agent Warrant Holder does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of Common Stock, including any voting rights, until such holder exercises such holder’s New Warrants or such Placement Agent Warrant Holder exercises such Placement Agent Warrants. The New Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants provide that the holders of the New Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrant Holder have the right to participate in certain distributions or dividends paid on shares of Common Stock.
Fundamental Transactions
If at any time the New Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants are outstanding, we, either directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, effects a Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the New Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants), a holder of New Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrant Holder is entitled to receive the number of shares of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation, or of the Company if the we are the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration receivable as a result of the Fundamental Transaction by such holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which the New Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants are exercisable immediately prior to the Fundamental Transaction. As an alternative, the holder or H.C. Wainwright may, at their option, in the event of a Fundamental Transaction, exercisable at any time concurrently with, or within 30 days after, the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction (or, if later, the date of the public announcement of the applicable fundamental transaction), cause us to purchase the unexercised portion of the New Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants from the holder or the Placement Agent Warrant Holder, respectively, by paying to the holder or the Placement Agent Warrant Holder, as applicable, an amount of cash equal to the Black Scholes Value (as defined in the New Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants) of the remaining unexercised portion of the New Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants on the date of the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction.
Waivers and Amendments
The New Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants may be modified or amended, or the provisions of the New Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants waived, with the Company’s, the holder’s or the Placement Agent Warrant Holder’s (as applicable) written consent.
Transferability. Subject to applicable laws, a warrant may be transferred at the option of the holder upon surrender of the Common Warrant to us together with the appropriate instruments of transfer.
Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of common stock will be issued upon the exercise of the New Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants. Rather, the number of shares of common stock to be issued will, at our election, either be rounded up to the next whole share or we will pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the exercise price.
Trading Market. There is no established trading market for the New Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants, and we do not expect such a market to develop. We do not intend to apply to list the New Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants on any securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the New Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants will be extremely limited.
No Rights as a Shareholder. Except as otherwise provided in the New Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants or by virtue of the holder’s ownership of shares of our common stock, such holder of New Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our common stock, including any voting rights, until such holder exercises such holder’s New Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants. The warrants will provide that the holders of the warrants have the right to participate in distributions or dividends paid on our shares of common stock.
Amendments. The New Warrants or Placement Agent Warrants may be modified or amended with the written consent of the holder of such New Warrant or Placement Agent Warrants and us.
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Description of Common Stock
The holders of shares of our Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share. In addition, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared by our Board out of legally available funds; however, the current policy of our Board is to retain earnings, if any, for operations and growth. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of our Common Stock will be entitled to share ratably in all assets that are legally available for distribution. The holders of our common stock will have no preemptive rights.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Utah Law and Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
The provisions of Utah law, our articles of incorporation and our bylaws may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another person from acquiring control of our Company. These provisions, which are summarized below, may have the effect of discouraging takeover bids. They are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our Board. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging a proposal to acquire us because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaw Provisions
Our articles of incorporation and our bylaws include several provisions that could deter hostile takeovers or delay or prevent changes in control of our management team, including the following:
| ● | Board of directors’ vacancies. Our articles of incorporation and bylaws provide that newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and vacancies occurring in the board for any reason except the removal of directors without cause may be filled by a vote of the majority of directors then in office, although less than a quorum exists. Vacancies occurring by reason of the removal of directors without cause shall be filled by vote of the shareholders. A director elected to fill a vacancy caused by resignation, death or removal shall be elected to hold office for the unexpired term of his predecessor. In addition, the number of directors constituting our Board is permitted to be set only by a resolution adopted by our Board. These provisions prevent a shareholder from increasing the size of our Board and then gaining control of our Board by filling the resulting vacancies with its own nominees. This makes it more difficult to change the composition of our Board but promotes continuity of management. | |
| ● | Annual meeting of shareholders. Our bylaws provide that annual meetings of our shareholders may be called only by our president or any two directors, thus prohibiting a shareholder from calling a annual meeting. These provisions might delay the ability of our shareholders to force consideration of a proposal or for shareholders controlling a majority of our capital stock to take any action, including the removal of directors. | |
| ● | No cumulative voting. The Utah Business Corporation Act provides that shareholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless a corporation’s articles of incorporation provide otherwise. Our articles of incorporation do not provide for cumulative voting. |
Reasons for Warrant Shareholder Approval Proposal
As stated above, our stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “NCPL.” Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) provides that shareholder approval is required prior to the issuance of securities in a transaction, other than a public offering, involving the sale, issuance or potential issuance by the Company of common stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock), which equals 20% or more of the common stock or 20% or more of the voting power outstanding before the issuance, at a price less than the lower of: (i) the closing price immediately preceding the signing of the binding agreement, or (ii) the average closing price of the common stock for the five trading days immediately preceding the signing of the binding agreement for the transaction (the “Minimum Price”).
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We structured our Offering as a public offering. However, in determining whether an offering qualifies as a public offering, Nasdaq considers all relevant factors, including the extent of any discount to market price. Issuance of deeply discounted securities in a transaction (including a registered underwritten or best-efforts offering with a placement agent) may result in such issuance not qualifying as a public offering for purposes of determining whether shareholder approval is required. Nasdaq guidance dictates that a discount to the Minimum Price in excess of 50% typically precludes a determination that such transaction is a public offering.
In determining discount, Nasdaq generally attributes a value of $0.125 for each warrant offered with a share of common stock, which value is generally deemed to be a discount. Thus, in order to ensure that the Offering qualified as a public offering under Rule 5635 due to the value attributable to the Common Warrants, the Common Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants provide that they may not be exercised, and therefore have no value, until shareholder approval of their exercise is obtained.
As noted above, the issuance of up to 204,572 shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Series A-3 Common Warrants, the issuance of up to 204,572 shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Series A-4 Common Warrants, and the issuance of 15,343 shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Placement Agent Warrants (or the issuance of 424,487 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate upon full exercise of the Series A-3 Common Warrants, the Series A-4 Common Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants) are subject to the Warrant Shareholder Approval Proposal.
Potential Consequences if Proposal No. 7 is Not Approved
The Board is not seeking the approval of our shareholders to authorize our entry into or consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Inducement Letters, as the Offering has already been completed and the New Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants have already been issued.
The failure of our shareholders to approve this Proposal No. 3 will mean that: (i) we cannot permit the exercise of the New Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants and (ii) may incur substantial additional costs and expenses.
Each New Warrant has an initial exercise price of $10.85 per share. Accordingly, we would realize an aggregate of up to approximately $4.44 million in gross proceeds if all the New Warrants were exercised based on such value. In addition, each Placement Agent Warrant has an initial exercise price of $13.566 per share. Accordingly, we would receive an aggregate of up to approximately $208,141 in gross proceeds if all the Placement Agent Warrants were exercised based on such value. If the New Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants cannot be exercised, we will not receive any such proceeds, which could adversely impact our ability to fund our operations.
In addition, in connection with the Offering and the issuance of New Warrants, we agreed to seek shareholder approval every 90 days until our shareholders approve the issuance of the shares underlying the New Warrants. We are required to seek such approval until such time as none of the New Warrants are outstanding which could result in us seeking such approval every 90 days for five years. The costs and expenses associated with seeking such approval could materially adversely impact our ability to execute our current business plan and fund our operations.
Potential Adverse Effects of the Approval of Proposal No. 7
If this Proposal No. 7 is approved, existing shareholders will suffer dilution in their ownership interests in the future upon the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the New Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants. Assuming the full exercise of the New Warrants and the Placement Agent Warrants, an aggregate of 424,486 additional shares of common stock will be outstanding, and the ownership interest of our existing shareholders would be correspondingly reduced. In addition, the sale into the public market of these shares also could materially and adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
No Appraisal Rights
No appraisal rights are available under the Utah Revised Business Corporations Act or under our Articles of Incorporation, or our Bylaws, as amended, with respect to the Proposal No. 7.
Interests of Officers and Directors in this Proposal
Our officers and directors do not have any substantial interest, direct or indirect, in in this proposal.
Required Vote of Shareholders
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required to approve Proposal No. 7.
Board Recommendation
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” Proposal No. 7.
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PROPOSAL NO. 8: ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
At the Annual Meeting, we may ask our shareholders to vote on a proposal to adjourn the Annual Meeting if necessary or appropriate in the sole discretion of our Board, including to solicit additional proxies in the event that there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting to approve any of the other proposals.
If at the Annual Meeting the number of shares authorized to vote present or represented by proxy and voting in favor of a proposal is insufficient to approve such proposal, then our Board may hold a vote on each proposal that has garnered sufficient votes, if any, and then move to adjourn the Annual Meeting as to the remaining proposals in order to solicit additional proxies in favor of those remaining proposals.
Alternatively, even if there are sufficient shares authorized to vote present or represented by proxy voting in favor of all of the proposals, our Board may hold a vote on the adjournment proposal if, in its sole discretion, it determines that it is necessary or appropriate for any reason to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date and time. In that event, the Company will ask its shareholders to vote only upon the adjournment proposal and not any other proposal.
Any adjournment may be made without notice (if the adjournment is not for more than thirty days and a new record date is not fixed for the adjourned meeting), other than by an announcement made at the Annual Meeting of the time, date and place of the adjourned meeting.
Any adjournment of the Annual Meeting will allow our shareholders who have already sent in their proxies to revoke them at any time prior to their use at the Annual Meeting as adjourned.
If we adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date, we will transact the same business and, unless we must fix a new record date, only the shareholders who were eligible to vote at the original meeting will be permitted to vote at the adjourned meeting.
Required Vote of Stockholders
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required to approve Proposal No. 8.
Board Recommendation
The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” Proposal No. 8.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
On August 1, 2024, we effectuated a 1-for-70 reverse split of our outstanding shares of common stock. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split and all such fractional interests were rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares of common stock. The conversion and/or exercise prices of our issued and outstanding convertible securities, including shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants will be adjusted accordingly. All information presented in this section assumes a 1-for-70 reverse split of our outstanding shares of common stock and unless otherwise indicated, all such amounts and corresponding exercise price data set forth in this section have been adjusted to give effect to the reverse stock split.
Policies and Procedures for Transactions with Related Parties
Our Chief Executive Officer or our Chief Financial Officer must review and approve certain transactions between us and Related Parties (as defined below). A “Related-Party Transaction” is defined as a transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which we (including any of our subsidiaries) were, are or will be a participant.
For the purposes of our Related-Party Transactions, a “Related Party” is defined as: any person who is, or at any time since the beginning of our last two fiscal years was, a director or executive officer or a nominee to become a director; any person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than ten percent of our common stock; any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, including any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of any of the foregoing persons; and any firm, corporation or other entity in which any of the foregoing persons is a general partner or, for other ownership interests, a limited partner or other owner in which such person has a beneficial ownership interest of 10% or more.
Transactions with Related Parties
Netcapital Systems LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Systems DE”), of which Jason Frishman, Founder, owns a 29% interest, owns 24,447 shares of common stock, or 7.5% of the Company’s 326,867 outstanding shares as of April 30, 2024. The company paid Systems DE $175,000 and $430,000 in the years ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, for use of the software that runs the website www.netcapital.com. and owes Systems DE $20,000 in unpaid invoices as of April 20, 2024. The Company provided professional services to Systems DE in the year ended April 30, 2023 and recorded revenue of $4,660.
Cecilia Lenk, the Chief Executive Officer of Netcapital Advisors Inc., (“Advisors”), our wholly owned subsidiary, is a member of the board of directors of KingsCrowd Inc. As of April 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company owned 3,209,685 shares of KingsCrowd Inc., valued at $513,550 and $3,209,685, respectively.
Cecilia Lenk, the Chief Executive Officer of Advisors is a member of the board of directors of Deuce Drone LLC. As of April 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company owns 2,350,000 membership interest units of Deuce Drone LLC., valued at $2,350,000. The Company has notes receivable aggregating to $152,000 from Deuce Drone LLC as of April 30, 2024 and 2023.
Compensation to officers in the year ended April 30, 2024 consisted of stock-based compensation valued at $369,545 and cash salary of $936,111. Compensation to officers in the year ended April 30, 2023 consisted of stock-based compensation valued at $137,994 and cash salary of $598,077.
Compensation to a related party consultant, John Fanning Jr., son of our CFO, in the years ended April 30, 2024 and 2023 consisted of cash wages of $54,880 and $60,039, respectively. This consultant is also the controlling shareholder of Zelgor Inc. and $33,000 and $66,000 of the Company’s revenues in the years ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, were from Zelgor Inc. As of April 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company owned 1,400,000 shares which are valued at $1,400,000.
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As of April 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company has invested $240,080 in an affiliate, 6A Aviation Alaska Consortium, Inc., in conjunction with a land lease in an airport in Alaska. Cecilia Lenk, the Chief Executive Officer of Advisors is also the Chief Executive Officer of 6A Aviation Alaska Consortium, Inc.
We owed Steven Geary, a director, $0 and $31,680 as of April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. This obligation was paid in full by the issuance on April 24, 2024 of 3,419 shares of our common stock at a price per share of $9.268 We owed Paul Riss, a director of our Netcapital Funding Portal Inc., $0 and $58,524, as of April 30, 2024 and 2023. This obligation was paid in full by the issuance on April 24, 2024 of 6,315 shares of our common stock at a price per share of $9.268
During the year ended April 30, 2023, we paid $12,019 to Paul Riss to retire a note payable of $3,200 and expenses payable of $8,819.
In January 2023 we granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 22,860 shares of our common stock to four related parties as follows: our Chief Executive Officer, Martin Kay, 14,286 shares; our Chief Financial Officer, Coreen Kraysler 2,858 shares; our Founder, Jason Frishman, 2,858 shares; and a director of Netcapital Funding Portal, Inc., Paul Riss, 2,858 shares. The options have an exercise price of $100.10, vest monthly on a straight-line basis over a 4-year period and expire in 10 years.
On April 25, 2023, the Company also granted an aggregate of 1,144 options, or 286 options each to the following board members: Cecilia Lenk, Avi Liss, Steven Geary and Arnold Scott, to purchase shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $98.00 per share. The options vest monthly on a straight-line basis over a 4-year period and expire in 10 years.
Coreen Kraysler, our Chief Financial Officer, has personally guaranteed a $500,000 promissory note from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The note bears interest at an annual rate of 3.75%, has a 30-year term, and monthly payments of $2,437 began on December 17, 2022.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The primary purpose of the audit committee is to oversee our financial reporting processes on behalf of our Board. The audit committee’s functions are more fully described in its charter, which is available on our website at www.netcapitalinc.com.
In the performance of its oversight function, the audit committee has reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024 with management and with our independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, the audit committee has discussed the matters required to be discussed by the statement on Auditing Standards No. 1301, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1. AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) in Rule 3200T, with Fruci & Associates II, PLLC, our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023. The audit committee has also received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from Fruci required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and has discussed with Fruci & Associates II, PLLC their independence from us.
Based on the review and discussions referenced above, the audit committee recommended to our Board that our audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 20234
Audit Committee:
Steven Geary
Avi Liss
Arnold Scott
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SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS AND DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS FOR 2025 ANNUAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS
Shareholders who intend to have a proposal considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for presentation at our 2025 annual meeting of shareholders (the “2025 Annual Meeting”) must submit the proposal to us at our corporate headquarters no later than November 29, 2024, which proposal must be made in accordance with the provisions of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act. In the event the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the 2024 Annual Meeting, shareholders who intend to have a proposal considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for presentation at our 2025 Annual Meeting must submit the proposal to us at our corporate headquarters no later than a reasonable time before we begin to print and send our proxy materials for our 2025 Annual Meeting.
Shareholders who intend to present a proposal at our 2025 Annual Meeting without inclusion of the proposal in our proxy materials are required to provide notice of such proposal to our Corporate Secretary so that such notice is received by our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices on or after June 29, 2025 but no later than July 29, 2025; provided, however, in the event that the 2025 Annual Meeting occurs on a date that is not within 25 days before or after the anniversary date of the 2024 Annual Meeting, notice of such proposal must be received by our Corporate Secretary no later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such notice of the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting is mailed or public disclosure of the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting is made, whichever first occurs. We reserve the right to reject, rule out of order or take other appropriate action with respect to any proposal that does not comply with these and other applicable requirements.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board knows of no other business, which will be presented to the Annual Meeting. If any other business is properly brought before the Annual Meeting, proxies in the enclosed form will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting the proxies.
If you do not plan to attend the Annual Meeting, in order that your shares may be represented and in order to assure the required quorum, please sign, date and return your proxy promptly. In the event you are able to attend the Annual Meeting virtually, at your request, we will cancel your previously submitted proxy.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
HOUSEHOLDING
The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for proxy statements and other Annual Meeting materials with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a proxy statement or other Annual Meeting materials addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as householding, potentially provides extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies. Stockholders who participate in householding will continue to be able to access and receive separate proxy cards.
If you share an address with another stockholder and have received multiple copies of our proxy materials, you may write or call us at the address or phone number below to request delivery of a single copy of the notice and, if applicable, other proxy materials in the future. We undertake to deliver promptly upon written or oral request a separate copy of the proxy materials, as requested, to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the proxy materials was delivered. If you hold stock as a record stockholder and prefer to receive separate copies of our proxy materials either now or in the future, please contact us at 1 Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, Attn: Secretary, or by phone at (781) 925-1700. If your stock is held through a brokerage firm or bank and you prefer to receive separate copies of our proxy materials either now or in the future, please contact your brokerage firm or bank.
ANNUAL REPORT
Additional copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024 may be obtained without charge by writing to the Company at 1 Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, Attn: Secretary, or by phone at (781) 925-1700.
| By Order of the Board of Directors | ||
| By: | /s/ Martin Kay | |
| Name: | Martin Kay | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| Date: | August__, 2024 | |
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APPENDIX A
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
NETCAPITAL INC.
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
SECTION 1. Registered Office. The registered office of the corporation shall be established and maintained at the office of InCorp Services, Inc., at 107 S. 1470 E, Suite 201, in the City of St. George, County of Washington, in the State of Utah; InCorp Services, Inc. shall be the registered agent of the corporation in charge thereof. The registered office and registered agent may be changed from time to time by action of the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) and the appropriate filing by the corporation in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Utah.
SECTION 1.2. Principal Office. The principal office for the transaction of the business of the Corporation shall be at 1 Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111. The Board of Directors is hereby granted full power and authority to change said principal office from one location to another.
SECTION 1.3 Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Utah, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
ARTICLE II
STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1. Annual Meetings. – The Annual Meeting of stockholders of the Corporation (“Stockholders”) for purposes of the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act (“URBCA”) shall be held on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. The election of directors and any other proper business may be transacted at the Annual Meeting of stockholders.
SECTION 2. Special Meetings. – A Special meeting of the stockholders (a “Special Meeting”) for any purpose or purposes may be called by the president of the Corporation, the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors that has been duly designated by the Board of Directors and whose powers and authority, as provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors or in these amended and restated bylaws (“Bylaws”), include the power to call such meetings. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. Unless otherwise prescribed by law, the articles of incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and restated from time to time (the “Articles of Incorporation”) or these Bylaws, a Special Meeting may not be called by any other person or persons. No business may be transacted at any Special Meeting other than such business as may be designated in the notice (or any supplement thereto) calling such meeting.
SECTION 3. Place Of Meeting. – The President, the Board of Directors, or a committee of the Board of Directors, as the case may be, may designate the time and place, either within or without the State of Utah, for any Annual Meeting or for any Special Meeting of the Stockholders called by the president, the Board of Directors, or a committee of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that any meeting of the stockholders shall be held by means of electronic communications or other available technology in accordance with Section 4 of this ARTICLE II.
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SECTION 4. Meetings Through Electronic Communications. Stockholders may participate in a meeting of the stockholders by any means of electronic communications, videoconferencing, teleconferencing or other available technology permitted under the URBCA (including, without limitation, a telephone conference or similar method of communication by which all individuals participating in the meeting can hear each other) and utilized by the Corporation. If any such means are utilized, the Corporation shall, to the extent required under the URBCA, implement reasonable measures to (a) verify the identity of each person participating through such means as a stockholder and (b) provide the stockholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to communicate, and to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting in a substantially concurrent manner with such proceedings. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 4 constitutes presence in person at the meeting.
SECTION 5. Notice of Meetings. - Unless otherwise provided by law, the articles of incorporation or these bylaws, the notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be sent or otherwise given in accordance with either Article II, Section 6 or Article XIII, Section 1 of these bylaws not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called..
SECTION 6 Manner Of Giving Notice; Affidavit Of Notice.
Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be deemed given:
(i) if mailed, when deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the Corporation’s records; or
(ii) if electronically transmitted as provided in Article XIII, Section 1of these bylaws.
An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or of the transfer agent or any other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by mail or by a form of electronic transmission, as applicable, shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
SECTION 6. Record Date for Stockholder Notice. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other such action.
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If the Board does not so fix a record date, (i) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held and (ii) the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
SECTION 7. Voting Lists. – The officer of agent having charge of the stock transfer books for shares of the corporation shall make, at least ten days before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, or any adjournment thereof, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of and the number of shares held by each, which list, for a period of ten days prior to such meeting, shall be kept on file at the principal office of the corporation and shall be subject to inspection by any stockholder at any time during usual business hours. Such list shall also be produced and kept open at the time and place of the meeting and shall be subject to the inspection of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting. The original stock transfer book shall be prima facie evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine such list of transfer books or to vote at the meeting of stockholders.
SECTION 8. Quorum. - At any meeting of stockholders a majority of the outstanding shares of the corporation entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders. If less than said number of outstanding shares are represented at a meeting, a majority of the shares so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. At such adjourned meeting, at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. The stockholders present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.
SECTION 9. Proxies. - At all meetings of stockholders, a stockholder may vote by proxy executed in writing by the stockholder or by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact. Such proxy shall be filed with the secretary of the corporation before or at the time of the meeting.
SECTION 10. Voting. - Each stockholder entitled to vote in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws shall be entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share of stock entitled to vote held by such stockholders. Upon the demand of any stockholders, the vote for directors and upon any question before the meeting, shall be by ballot. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote in the election, at a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present .
SECTION 11. Conduct of Meetings. - The Board of Directors, as it shall deem appropriate, may adopt by resolution rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings of the stockholders. At every meeting of the stockholders, the President, or in his or her absence or inability to act, a director or officer designated by the Board of Directors, shall serve as chair of the meeting. The Secretary or, in his or her absence or inability to act, the person whom the chair of the meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.
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The chair of the meeting shall determine the order of business and, in the absence of a rule adopted by the Board of Directors, shall establish rules for the conduct of the meeting. The chair of the meeting shall announce the close of the polls for each matter voted upon at the meeting, after which no ballots, proxies, votes, changes, or revocations will be accepted. Polls for all matters before the meeting will be deemed to be closed upon final adjournment of the meeting.
SECTION 12. Informal Action by Stockholders. – Unless otherwise provided by law, any action required to be taken at a meeting of the shareholders, or any other action which may be taken at a meeting of the shareholders, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the shareholders entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.
SECTION 13. Nature of Business at Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business (other than nominations for election to the Board of Directors and the election of directors, which must comply with the provisions of Article II, Section 14) may be transacted at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders as is either (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof), (b) otherwise properly brought before the Annual Meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof), or (c) otherwise properly brought before the Annual Meeting by any stockholder of the Corporation (i) who is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 13 and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such Annual Meeting and (ii) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 13.
In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business to be properly brought before an Annual Meeting by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation.
To be timely, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must be delivered to or be mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one-hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting of Stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the Annual Meeting is called for a date that is not within thirty (30) days before or sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such Annual Meeting, or be so received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such notice of the date of the Annual Meeting was mailed or such public disclosure of the date of the Annual Meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an Annual Meeting, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
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To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth the following information: (a) as to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the Annual Meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the Annual Meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the Annual Meeting, and (b) as to the stockholder giving notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, (i) the name and address of such person, (ii) (A) the class or series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially or of record by such person and any affiliates or associates of such person, (B) the name of each nominee holder of shares of all stock of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such person or any affiliates or associates of such person, and the number of such shares of stock of the Corporation held by each such nominee holder, (C) whether and the extent to which any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit interest or other transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of the Corporation and (D) whether and the extent to which any other transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares of stock of the Corporation) has been made by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, the effect or intent of any of the foregoing being to mitigate loss to, or to manage risk or benefit of stock price changes for, such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of the Corporation; (iii) a description of all agreements, arrangements, or understandings (whether written or oral) between or among such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business and any material interest of such person or any affiliates or associates of such person, in such business, including any anticipated benefit therefrom to such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, (iv) a representation that the stockholder giving notice intends to appear in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting to bring such business before the meeting; and (v) any other information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies by such person with respect to the proposed business to be brought by such person before the Annual Meeting pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
A stockholder providing notice of business proposed to be brought before an Annual Meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 13 shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the Annual Meeting and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or be mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the Annual Meeting.
No business shall be conducted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders except business brought before the Annual Meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 13; provided, however, that, once business has been properly brought before the Annual Meeting in accordance with such procedures, nothing in this Section 13 shall be deemed to preclude discussion by any stockholder of any such business. If the chairman of an Annual Meeting determines that business was not properly brought before the Annual Meeting in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chairman shall declare to the meeting that the business was not properly brought before the meeting and such business shall not be transacted.
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Nothing contained in this Section 13 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act (or any successor provision of law).
SECTION 14. Nomination of Directors. Only natural persons of at least 18 years of age who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as directors of the Corporation, except as may be otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation with respect to the right of holders of preferred stock, if any, of the Corporation to nominate and elect a specified number of directors in certain circumstances. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at any Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or at any Special Meeting of Stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) or (b) by any stockholder of the Corporation (i) who is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 14 and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such Annual Meeting or Special Meeting and (ii) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 14.
In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must be delivered to or be mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (a) in the case of an Annual Meeting, not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one-hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting of Stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the Annual Meeting is called for a date that is not within thirty (30) days before or sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such Annual Meeting, or be so received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such notice of the date of the Annual Meeting was mailed or such public disclosure of the date of the Annual Meeting was made, whichever first occurs; and (b) in the case of a Special Meeting of Stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice of the date of the Special Meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the Special Meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an Annual Meeting or a Special Meeting called for the purpose of electing directors, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
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To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth the following information: (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of such person and that such person is a natural person of at least 18 years of age, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of such person, (iii) (A) the class or series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially or of record by such person and any affiliates or associates of such person, (B) the name of each nominee holder of shares of all stock of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such person or any affiliates or associates of such person, and the number of such shares of stock of the Corporation held by each such nominee holder, (C) whether and the extent to which any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit interest or other transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of the Corporation and (D) whether and the extent to which any other transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares of stock of the Corporation) has been made by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, the effect or intent of any of the foregoing being to mitigate loss to, or to manage risk or benefit of stock price changes for, such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of the Corporation; and (iv) any other information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (b) as to the stockholder giving the notice, and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, (i) the name and record address of the stockholder giving the notice and the name and principal place of business of such beneficial owner; (ii) (A) the class or series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially or of record by such person and any affiliates or associates of such person, (B) the name of each nominee holder of shares of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such person or any affiliates or associates of such person, and the number of shares of stock of the Corporation held by each such nominee holder, (C) whether and the extent to which any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit interest or other transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of the Corporation and (D) whether and the extent to which any other transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares of stock of the Corporation) has been made by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, the effect or intent of any of the foregoing being to mitigate loss to, or to manage risk or benefit of stock price changes for, such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of the Corporation; (iii) a description of all agreements, arrangements, or understandings (whether written or oral) between such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, and any proposed nominee or any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are being made by such person, and any material interest of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, in such nomination, including any anticipated benefit therefrom to such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person; (iv) a representation that the stockholder giving notice intends to appear in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting or Special Meeting to nominate the persons named in its notice; and (v) any other information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Such notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected.
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A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at an Annual Meeting or Special Meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 14 shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the Annual Meeting or Special Meeting, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or be mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of such Annual Meeting or Special Meeting.
No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 14. If the chairman of the meeting determines that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chairman shall declare to the meeting that the nomination was defective and such defective nomination shall be disregarded.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. General Powers. – The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall in all cases act as a board, and they may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of their meetings and the management of the corporation, as they may deem proper, not inconsistent with these Bylaws and the laws of the State.
SECTION 2. Number Tenure and Qualifications. - The number of directors shall not be more than nine (9) or less than three (3). Each director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders and until his successor shall be elected and shall qualified.
SECTION 3. Regular Meetings. – A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than the by-law immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for the holding of additional regular meetings without other notice than such resolution.
SECTION 4. Special Meetings. – Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the President or any two directors. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the directors may fix the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them.
SECTION 5. Participation by Electronic Communication. Directors not physically present at a meeting of the Board of Directors may participate in the meeting by electronic communication, videoconference, teleconference, or other available technology if the Corporation implements reasonable measures to:
(a) Verify the identity of each director participating by electronic communication.
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(b) Provide the Board of Directors a reasonable opportunity to participate and vote, including an opportunity to communicate and read or hear the proceedings in a substantially concurrent manner.
Directors participating by electronic communication shall be considered present in person at the meeting.
SECTION 6. Notice. – The Board of Directors and any committee thereof may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Utah. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be held without notice at such time and at such place as may from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors or such committee, respectively. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the chairman, if any, or the president. Special meetings of any committee of the Board of Directors may be called by the chairman of such committee, if any, the president, or any director serving on such committee. Notice thereof stating the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each director (or, in the case of a committee, to each member of such committee) either by mail not less than seventy-two (72) hours before the date of the meeting, by telephone or electronic mail on twenty-four (24) hours’ notice, or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.
A director entitled to notice of a meeting may sign a written waiver of notice delivered to the Corporation either before or after the time of the meeting. A director’s participation or attendance at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice, except where the director attends for the specific purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
SECTION 7. Quorum. – At any meeting of the Board of Directors a majority of the directors then in office shall constitute quorum for the transaction of business, but if less than said number is present at a meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice.
SECTION 8. Manner of Acting. – The act of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the directors.
SECTION 9. Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. – Newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and vacancies occurring in the board for any reason except the removal of directors without cause may be filled by a vote of the majority of directors then in office, although less than a quorum exists. Vacancies occurring by reason of the removal of directors without cause shall be filled by vote of the stockholders. A director elected to fill a vacancy caused by resignation, death or removal shall be elected to hold office for the unexpired term of his predecessor.
SECTION 10. Removal of Directors. –. Except as otherwise required by applicable law and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of shares of preferred stock then outstanding, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the combined voting power of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Any director serving on a committee of the Board of Directors may be removed from such committee at any time by the Board of Directors.
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SECTION 11. Resignation. – A director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the board, the president or the secretary of the corporations. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the board or such officer, and the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
SECTION 12. Compensation. – No compensation shall be paid to Board of Directors, as such, for their services, but by resolution of the Board of Directors a fixed sum and expenses for actual attendance at each regular meeting of the board may be authorized. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefore.
SECTION 13. Presumption of Assent. – A director of the corporation who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any corporation matter is then taken shall be presumed to have asserted to the action taken unless his dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless they shall file written dissent to such action with the person acting as secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered mail to the secretary of the corporation immediately after the Adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a director who voted in favor of such action.
SECTION 14. Executive and Other Committees. – The board, by resolution, may designate from among its members an executive committee, each consisting of three or more directors. Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 15. Action Without a Meeting. – Any action that may be taken by the Board of Directors or committee at a meeting may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so to be taken, shall be signed before such action by all the directors or committee members.
SECTION 16. Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. Each member of a committee must meet the requirements for membership, if any, imposed by applicable law and the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed or quoted for trading. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of any such committee. Subject to the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed or quoted for trading, in the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, and in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors of an alternate member to replace the absent or disqualified member, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another qualified member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any absent or disqualified member. Any committee, to the extent permitted by law and provided in the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Each committee shall keep regular minutes and report to the Board of Directors when required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article III, the resolution of the Board of Directors establishing any committee of the Board of Directors and/or the charter of any such committee may establish requirements or procedures relating to the governance and/or operation of such committee that are different from, or in addition to, those set forth in these Bylaws and, to the extent that there is any inconsistency between these Bylaws and any such resolution or charter, the terms of such resolution or charter shall be controlling; provided that it complies with the URBCA.
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ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
SECTION 1. Number. - The officers of the corporation shall be a president, two vice-presidents, a secretary and a Treasurer, each of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors. Such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary may be elected or appointed by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2. Election and Term of Office. – The officers of the Corporation to be elected by the directors shall be elected annually at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after each annual meeting of the stockholders. Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified or until their death or until they shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided.
SECTION 3. Removal. – Any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of the majority of the directors in attendance where a quorum is present. Removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the officer so removed.
Any officer may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the Secretary of the Corporation. Resignation is effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice provides a later effective date. Any vacancies may be filled in accordance with Section 1 of this ARTICLE IV.
SECTION 4. Vacancies. – A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the directors for the unexpired portion of the term.
SECTION 5. President. - The President shall be the principal executive officer of the Corporation and, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Corporation. They shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors. They may sign, with the secretary or any other proper officer of the Corporation thereunto authorized by the Board of Directors, certificates for shares of the Corporation, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments which the directors have authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation, or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed or executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.
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SECTION 6. Vice-President. - In the absence of the President, or in the event of their death, inability or refusal to act, the vice-president shall perform the duties of the president, and when so acting, shall have all powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president. The vice-president shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the President or by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 7. Secretary. - The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the stockholders’ and of the directors’ meetings in one or more books provided for that purpose so that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required, be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation and keep a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished to the secretary by such stockholders, have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation and in general perform all duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties from time to time may be assigned to them by the President or by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 8. Treasurer. - If required by the Board of Directors, the treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of their duties in such sum with such surety or sureties as the Board of Directors shall determine. They shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the Corporation; receive and give receipts for monies due and payable to the Corporation from any source whatsoever, and deposit all such monies in the name of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be selected in accordance with these Bylaws and in general perform all of the duties incident to the office of the treasurer and such other duties from time to time may be assigned to him by the President or by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 9. Salaries. - The salaries of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such salary by reason of the fact that they are also a director of the Corporation.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS
SECTION 1. Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings other than those by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to Section 3 of this ARTICLE V and to the fullest extent permitted by the URBCA, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.
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SECTION 2. Power To Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to Section 3 of this ARTICLE V and to the fullest extent permitted by the URBCA, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court in which such action or suit was brought deem proper.
SECTION 3. Authorization of Indemnification. Any indemnification under this Article VIII (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as permitted by the URBCA and authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 of this ARTICLE V or Section 2 of this ARTICLE V, as the case may be. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iv) by the stockholders. Such determination shall be made, with respect to former directors and officers, by any person or persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of the Corporation. To the extent, however, that a present or former director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case.
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SECTION 4. Good Faith Defined. For purposes of any determination under Section 3 of this ARTICLE V, a person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Corporation or another enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the Corporation or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or another enterprise. The provisions of this Section 4 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 of this ARTICLE V or Section 2 of this ARTICLE V, as the case may be.
SECTION 5. Indemnification By a Court. Notwithstanding any contrary determination in the specific case under Section 3 of this ARTICLE V, and notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any director or officer may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Utah for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under Section 1 of this ARTICLE V or Section 2 of this ARTICLE V. The basis of such indemnification by a court shall be a determination by such court that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 of this ARTICLE V or Section 2 of this ARTICLE V, as the case may be. Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 3 of this ARTICLE V nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the director or officer seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct. Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Section 5 shall be given to the Corporation promptly upon the filing of such application. If successful, in whole or in part, the director or officer seeking indemnification shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such application.
SECTION 6. Expenses Payable in Advance. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a director or officer in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article V. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Corporation deems appropriate.
SECTION 7. Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article V shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of the persons specified in Section 1 of this ARTICLE V and Section 2 of this ARTICLE V shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Article VIII shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in Section 1 of this ARTICLE V or Section 2 of this ARTICLE V but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the URBCA, or otherwise.
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SECTION 8. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article V.
SECTION 9. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article V, references to “the Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors or officers, so that any person who is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation, or is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
The term “another enterprise” as used in this Article V shall mean any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent. For purposes of this Article VIII, references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director or officer with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article V.
SECTION 10. Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article V shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
SECTION 11. Limitation on Indemnification. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article V to the contrary, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be governed by Section 5 of this ARTICLE V), the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer (or his or her heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) or advance expenses in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors.
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SECTION 12. Indemnification of Employees and Agents. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation similar to those conferred in this Article V to directors and officers of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VI
CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS
SECTION 1. Contracts. - The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
SECTION 2. Loans. – No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Corporation and no evidence of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
SECTION 3. Checks, Drafts, Etc. - All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the corporation, shall be signed by such officer of officers, agent or agents of the corporation and in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4. Deposits. – All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board of Directors may select.
ARTICLE VII
CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES AND THEIR TRANSFER
SECTION 1. Certificates for Shares. - Certificates representing shares of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Such certificates shall be signed by the president and by the secretary or by such other officers authorized by law and by the Board of Directors. All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified. The name and address of the stockholders, the number of shares and date of issue, shall be entered on the stock transfer books of the Corporation. All certificates surrendered to the Corporation for transfer shall be cancelled and no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a like number of shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled, except that in case of a lost, destroyed or mutilated certificate a new one may be issued therefore upon such terms and indemnity to the Corporation as the Board of Directors may prescribe.
SECTION 2. Transfer of Shares.
| (a) | Upon surrender to the Corporation of the transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, and cancel the old certificate; every such transfer shall be entered on the transfer book of the Corporation which shall be kept at its principal office. |
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| (b) | The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share as the holder in fact thereof, and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize an equitable or other claim to or interest in such share on the part of any other person whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as expressly provided by the laws of this State. |
SECTION 3. Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the owner of the allegedly lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate. When authorizing the issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of Directors, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, may require the owner of the allegedly lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate, or the owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond or other security sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against the Corporation or other obligees with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed or the issuance of such new certificate or certificates.
ARTICLE VIII
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of May in each year.
ARTICLE IX
DIVIDENDS
The Board of Directors may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares in the manner and upon the terms and conditions provided by law.
ARTICLE X
SEAL
The Board of Directors may provide a corporate seal, which shall be circular in form and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the state of incorporation, year of incorporation and the words, “Corporate Seal.”
ARTICLE XI
WAIVER OF NOTICE
Unless otherwise provided by law, whenever any notice is required to be given to any stockholder or director of the Corporation under the provisions of these Bylaws or under the provisions of the Article of Incorporation, a waiver to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
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ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. Amendments. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed at any meeting of the Board of Directors, provided notice of the proposed change was given in the notice of the meeting not less than two days prior to the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, these Bylaws may be amended or repealed in any respect, and new Bylaws may be adopted, in each case by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least fifty (50%) of the outstanding voting power of the Corporation, voting together as a single class.
SECTION 2. Entire Board of Directors. As used in this Article XII and in these Bylaws generally, the term “entire Board of Directors” means the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
ARTICLE xIII
NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION
SECTION 1. - Notice by Electronic Transmission. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders pursuant to the URBCA, the articles of incorporation or these bylaws, any notice to shareholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the URBCA, the articles of incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the shareholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if:
(i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent; and
(ii) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice.
However, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.
Any notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed given:
(i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;
(ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;
(iii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and
(iv) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.
An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
SECTION 2. - Definition of Electronic Transmission. An “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
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APPENDIX B
 |
State of Utah DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Division of Corporations & Commercial Code Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (Profit) |
Entity Number: 866715-0142
Non-Refundable Processing Fee: $37.00
Pursuant to UCA § 16-10a part 10, the individual named below causes this Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to be delivered to the Utah Division of Corporations for filing, and states as follows:
1. The name of the corporation is: Netcapital Inc.
2. The date the following amendment(s) was adopted: _________________________
3. If changing the corporation name, the new name of the corporation is:
4. The text of each amendment adopted (include attachment if additional space needed):
The Articles of Incorporation are hereby amended by revising Article IV to amend and restate the first paragraph under Article IV in its entirety as set forth on Annex A attached hereto
5. If providing for an exchange, reclassification or cancellation of issued shares, provisions for implementing the amendment if not contained in the amendment itself:
6. Indicate the manner in which the amendment(s) was adopted (mark only one):
| Adopted by Incorporators or Board of Directors - Shareholder action not required. | ||
| X | Adopted by Shareholders - Number of votes cast for amendment was sufficient for approval. |
7. Delayed effective date (if not to be effective upon filing) _______ (MM-DD-YYYY not to exceed 90 days)
Under penalties of perjury, I declare that this Amendment of Articles of Incorporation has been examined by me and is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, correct and complete.
| By: | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Date: _________, 2024
Under GRAMA {63G-2-201}, all registration information maintained by the Division is classified as public record. For confidentiality purposes, you may use the business entity physical address rather than the residential or private address of any individual affiliated with the entity.
Mailing/Faxing. Information:www.corporations.utah.gov/contactus.html Division’s website:www.corporations.utah.gov
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NETCAPITAL INC.
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
ANNEX A
The Articles of Incorporation are hereby amended by revising Article IV to amend and restate the first paragraph under Article IV in its entirety as follows:
“Capitalization: The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the corporation shall have authority to issue is 910,000,000 shares of capital stock, such total of shares consisting of: (i) 900,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”). The Preferred Stock may be issued in one or more series, from time to time, with each such series to have such designation, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in an amendment to these Articles of Incorporation providing for the issue of such series. The board of directors of the Corporation is hereby expressly vested with authority to amend the Articles of Incorporation, without shareholder action or approval, to: (a) create one or more series of Preferred Stock, fix the number of shares of each such series (within the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock available for designation as a part of such series), and designate and determine, in whole or part, the preferences, limitations, and relative rights of each series of Preferred Stock; (b) alter or revoke the preferences, limitations and relative rights granted to or imposed upon any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock; or (c) increase or decrease the number of shares constituting any series of Preferred Stock (the number of shares of which was originally fixed by the board of directors) either before or after the issuance of shares of the series, provided that the number may not be decreased below the number of shares of such series then outstanding, or increased above the total number of authorized shares of the Preferred Stock available for designation as a part of such series. Without limiting the foregoing, the authority of the board of directors with respect to each such series shall include, but not be limited to, the determination or fixing of the following:
(i) The distinctive designation and number of shares comprising such series, which number may (except where otherwise provided by the board of directors in creating such series) be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares then outstanding) from time to time by like action of the board of directors;
(ii) The dividend rate of such series, the conditions and times upon which such dividends shall be payable, the relation which such dividends shall bear to the dividends payable on any other class or classes of stock or series thereof, or on the other series of the same class, and whether dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative;
(iii) Whether or not the shares of such series will be redeemable and it so, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including the times, prices and other terms and provisions upon which the shares of the series may be redeemed;
(iv) Whether or not the shares of the series shall be subject to the operation of retirement or sinking fund provisions to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares and, if such retirement or sinking fund be established, the annual amount thereof and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;
(v) Whether or not the shares of the series shall be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of any other class or classes, with or without par value, or of any other series of the same class and, if provision is made for conversion or exchange, the times, prices, rates, adjustments and other terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange;
(vi) Whether or not the shares of the series shall have voting rights, in addition to the voting rights provided by law, and, if so, subject to the limitations hereinafter set forth, the terms of such voting rights;
(vii) The rights of the shares of the series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or upon distribution of assets of the corporation;
(viii) Any other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, as the board of directors may deem advisable.
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APPENDIX C
NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR THE SECURITIES FOR WHICH THIS SECURITY IS EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.
SERIES A-3 COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
NETCAPITAL INC.
| Warrant Shares: __________ | Issue Date: May 29, 2024 |
THIS SERIES A-3 COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (the “Warrant”) certifies that, for value received, ____________, or its assigns (the “Holder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after the Shareholder Approval Date (the “Initial Exercise Date”) and on or prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date that is the five (5) year anniversary of the Initial Exercise Date, provided that, if such date is not a Trading Day, the date that is the immediately following Trading Day (the “Termination Date”) (the “Termination Date”), but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from Netcapital Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company”), up to ___________ shares (as subject to adjustment hereunder, the “Warrant Shares”) of Common Stock. The purchase price of one share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in Section 2(b).
Section 1. Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Warrant, the following terms have the meanings indicated in this Section 1:
“Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
“Bid Price” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the bid price of the Common Stock for the time in question (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on The Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority in interest of the Warrants then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.
“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.
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“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.
“Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Letter Agreement” means that certain letter agreement between the initial Holder hereof and the Company, dated as of May 24, 2024, pursuant to which such initial Holder agreed to exercise one or more warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock and the Company agreed to issue to the initial Holder this Warrant.
“Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Shareholder Approval” means such approval as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market (or any successor entity) from the shareholders of the Company with respect to issuance of all of the Warrants and the Warrant Shares upon the exercise thereof.
“Shareholder Approval Date” means the date on which Shareholder Approval is received and deemed effective under Utah law.
“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof.
“Trading Day” means a day on which the Common Stock is traded on a Trading Market.
“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
“Transfer Agent” means Equity Stock Transfer LLC, the current transfer agent of the Company, with a mailing address of 237 W 37th Street, Suite 602, New York, NY 10018, and any successor transfer agent of the Company.
| C-2 |
“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on The Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the holders of a majority in interest of the Warrants then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
“Warrants” means this Warrant and other Common Stock purchase warrants issued by the Company pursuant to the Letter Agreement.
Section 2. Exercise.
a) Exercise of Warrant. Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Initial Exercise Date and on or before the Termination Date by delivery to the Company of a duly executed PDF copy submitted by e-mail (or e-mail attachment) of the Notice of Exercise in the form annexed hereto (the “Notice of Exercise”). Within the earlier of (i) one (1) Trading Day and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined in Section 2(d)(i) herein) following the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver the aggregate Exercise Price for the Warrant Shares specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank unless the cashless exercise procedure specified in Section 2(c) below is specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise. No ink-original Notice of Exercise shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Exercise be required. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Shares available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation as soon as reasonably practicable following the date on which the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant Shares available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Warrant Shares purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Warrant Shares purchased and the date of such purchases. The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise within one (1) Trading Day of receipt of such notice. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase of a portion of the Warrant Shares hereunder, the number of Warrant Shares available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.
b) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be $10.852, subject to adjustment hereunder (the “Exercise Price”).
2Adjusted to give effect to the 1-for-70 reverse split effectuated on August 1, 2024. The final as-adjusted exercise price will be determined based on the total shares outstanding following consummation of the 1-for-70 reverse stock split, including additional shares of our common stock issued upon account of fractional shares resulting from such reverse stock split.
| C-3 |
c) Cashless Exercise. If at the time of exercise hereof there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for the resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder, then this Warrant may also be exercised, in whole or in part, at such time by means of a “cashless exercise” in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a number of Warrant Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:
| (A) = | as applicable: (i) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is (1) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a day that is not a Trading Day or (2) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a Trading Day prior to the opening of “regular trading hours” (as defined in Rule 600(b) of Regulation NMS promulgated under the federal securities laws) on such Trading Day, (ii) at the option of the Holder, either (y) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise or (z) the Bid Price of the Common Stock on the principal Trading Market as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (“Bloomberg”) as of the time of the Holder’s execution of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is executed during “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day and is delivered within two (2) hours thereafter (including until two (2) hours after the close of “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day) pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or (iii) the VWAP on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if the date of such Notice of Exercise is a Trading Day and such Notice of Exercise is both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof after the close of “regular trading hours” on such Trading Day; |
| (B) = | the Exercise Price of this Warrant, as adjusted hereunder; and |
| (X) = | the number of Warrant Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise. |
If Warrant Shares are issued in such a cashless exercise, the parties acknowledge and agree that in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, the holding period of the Warrant Shares being issued may be tacked on to the holding period of this Warrant. The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this Section 2(c).
d) Mechanics of Exercise.
i. Delivery of Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. The Company shall cause the Warrant Shares purchased hereunder to be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system (“DWAC”) if the Company is then a participant in such system and either (A) there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of the Warrant Shares to or resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder or (B) the Warrant Shares are eligible for resale by the Holder without volume or manner-of-sale limitations pursuant to Rule 144 (assuming cashless exercise of the Warrants), and otherwise by physical delivery of a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise by the date that is the earlier of (i) one (1) Trading Day after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise (such date, the “Warrant Share Delivery Date”). Upon delivery of the Notice of Exercise, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date of delivery of the Warrant Shares, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise) is received by the Warrant Share Delivery Date. If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder the Warrant Shares subject to a Notice of Exercise by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares subject to such exercise (based on the VWAP of the Common Stock on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise), $10 per Trading Day (increasing to $20 per Trading Day on the third (3rd) Trading Day after the Warrant Share Delivery Date) for each Trading Day after such Warrant Share Delivery Date until such Warrant Shares are delivered or Holder rescinds such exercise. The Company agrees to maintain a transfer agent that is a participant in the FAST program so long as this Warrant remains outstanding and exercisable. As used herein, “Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days (including no Trading Days if the settlement date is the trade date), on the Company’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of the Notice of Exercise.
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ii. Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the Warrant Shares, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.
iii. Rescission Rights. If the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise.
iv. Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(d)(i) above pursuant to an exercise on or before the Warrant Share Delivery Date, and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall (A) pay in cash to the Holder the amount, if any, by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Warrant Shares that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (B) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion of the Warrant and equivalent number of Warrant Shares for which such exercise was not honored (in which case such exercise shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted exercise of shares of Common Stock with an aggregate sale price giving rise to such purchase obligation of $10,000, under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
v. No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share.
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vi. Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of Warrant Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such Warrant Shares, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such Warrant Shares shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that in the event that Warrant Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for same-day processing of any Notice of Exercise and all fees to the Depository Trust Company (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for same-day electronic delivery of the Warrant Shares.
vii. Closing of Books. The Company will not close its stockholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.
e) Holder’s Exercise Limitations. The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to Section 2 or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s Affiliates, and any other Persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other Common Stock Equivalents) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 2(e), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, it being acknowledged by the Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 2(e) applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this Section 2(e), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (A) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (C) a more recent written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within one (1) Trading Day confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder or its Affiliates or Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 4.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant. The Holder, upon notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 2(e), provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 2(e) shall continue to apply. Any increase in the Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Company. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 2(e) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant.
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Section 3. Certain Adjustments.
a) Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Exercise Price of this Warrant shall remain unchanged. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.
b) Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 3(a) above, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Common Stock Equivalents or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).
c) Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as this Warrant is outstanding, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).
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d) Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company (or any Subsidiary), directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock or 50% or more of the voting power of the common equity of the Company, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, merger or scheme of arrangement) with another Person or group of Persons whereby such other Person or group acquires 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or 50% or more of the voting power of the common equity of the Company (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event of a Fundamental Transaction, the Company or any Successor Entity (as defined below) shall, at the Holder’s option, exercisable at any time concurrently with, or within 30 days after, the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction (or, if later, the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction), purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder an amount of cash equal to the Black Scholes Value (as defined below) of the remaining unexercised portion of this Warrant on the date of the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction; provided, however, that, if the Fundamental Transaction is not within the Company’s control, including not approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, the Holder shall only be entitled to receive from the Company or any Successor Entity the same type or form of consideration (and in the same proportion), at the Black Scholes Value of the unexercised portion of this Warrant, that is being offered and paid to the holders of Common Stock of the Company in connection with the Fundamental Transaction, whether that consideration be in the form of cash, stock or any combination thereof, or whether the holders of Common Stock are given the choice to receive from among alternative forms of consideration in connection with the Fundamental Transaction; provided, further, that if holders of Common Stock of the Company are not offered or paid any consideration in such Fundamental Transaction, such holders of Common Stock will be deemed to have received common stock of the Successor Entity (which Entity may be the Company following such Fundamental Transaction) in such Fundamental Transaction. “Black Scholes Value” means the value of this Warrant based on the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg determined as of the day of consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction for pricing purposes and reflecting (A) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date, (B) an expected volatility equal to the greater of (1) the 30 day volatility, (2) the 100 day volatility or (3) the 365 day volatility, each of clauses (1)-(3) as obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg (determined utilizing a 365 day annualization factor) as of the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction, (C) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the highest VWAP during the period beginning on the Trading Day immediately preceding the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction (or the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, if earlier) and ending on the Trading Day of the Holder’s request pursuant to this Section 3(d) and (D) a remaining option time equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date and (E) a zero cost of borrow. The payment of the Black Scholes Value will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds (or such other consideration) within the later of (i) five Business Days of the Holder’s election and (ii) the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction. The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3(d) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the Holder, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Holder. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall be added to the term “Company” under this Warrant (so that from and after the occurrence or consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, each and every provision of this Warrant referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to each of the Company and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally), and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally with the Company, may exercise every right and power of the Company prior thereto and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities shall assume all of the obligations of the Company prior thereto under this Warrant with the same effect as if the Company and such Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally, had been named as the Company herein. For the avoidance of doubt, the Holder shall be entitled to the benefits of the provisions of this Section 3(d) regardless of (i) whether the Company has sufficient authorized shares of Common Stock for the issuance of Warrant Shares and/or (ii) whether a Fundamental Transaction occurs prior to the Initial Exercise Date.
| C-8 |
e) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 3 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 3, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.
f) Notice to Holder.
i. Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 3, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holder by email a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and any resulting adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.
ii. Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries) is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property, or (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be delivered by email to the Holder at its last email address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least 20 calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein or in the delivery thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided in this Warrant constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. The Holder shall remain entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.
g) Voluntary Adjustment By Company. Subject to the rules and regulations of the Trading Market, the Company may at any time during the term of this Warrant reduce the then current Exercise Price to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the board of directors of the Company.
Section 4. Transfer of Warrant.
a) Transferability. Subject to compliance with any applicable securities laws and the conditions set forth in Section 4(d) hereof, this Warrant and all rights hereunder (including, without limitation, any registration rights) are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company or its designated agent, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees, as applicable, and in the denomination or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company unless the Holder has assigned this Warrant in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the Holder delivers an assignment form to the Company assigning this Warrant in full. The Warrant, if properly assigned in accordance herewith, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Warrant Shares without having a new Warrant issued.
b) New Warrants. This Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance with Section 4(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the initial issuance date of this Warrant and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Warrant Shares issuable pursuant thereto.
| C-9 |
c) Warrant Register. The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.
d) Transfer Restrictions. If, at the time of the surrender of this Warrant in connection with any transfer of this Warrant, the transfer of this Warrant shall not be either (i) registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and under applicable state securities or blue sky laws or (ii) eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions or current public information requirements pursuant to Rule 144, the Company may require, as a condition of allowing such transfer, that the Holder or transferee of this Warrant, as the case may be, provides to the Company an opinion of counsel, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that the transfer of this Warrant does not require registration under the Securities Act.
e) Representation by the Holder. The Holder, by the acceptance hereof, represents and warrants that it is acquiring this Warrant and, upon any exercise hereof, will acquire the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, for its own account and not with a view to or for distributing or reselling such Warrant Shares or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the Securities Act.
Section 5. Miscellaneous.
a) No Rights as Stockholder Until Exercise; No Settlement in Cash. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof as set forth in Section 2(d)(i), except as expressly set forth in Section 3. Without limiting any rights of a Holder to receive Warrant Shares on a “cashless exercise” pursuant to Section 2(c) or to receive cash payments pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) and Section 2(d)(iv) herein, in no event shall the Company be required to net cash settle an exercise of this Warrant.
b) Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it (which, in the case of the Warrant, shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate.
c) Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Trading Day, then, such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Trading Day.
d) Authorized Shares.
The Company covenants that, during the period the Warrant is exercisable commencing on the Initial Exercise Date, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of issuing the necessary Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Trading Market upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant and payment for such Warrant Shares in accordance herewith, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).
| C-10 |
Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.
Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.
e) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Warrant (whether brought against a party hereto or their respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Warrant and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. If either party shall commence an action, suit or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Warrant, the prevailing party in such action, suit or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for their reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.
| C-11 |
f) Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, and the Holder does not utilize cashless exercise, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.
g) Nonwaiver and Expenses. No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice the Holder’s rights, powers or remedies. Without limiting any other provision of this Warrant or the Letter Agreement, if the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.
h) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holders hereunder including, without limitation, any Notice of Exercise, shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Company, at 1 Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, Attention: Martin Kay, Chief Executive Officer, email address: martin@netcapital.com, or such other email address or address as the Company may specify for such purposes by notice to the Holders. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Company hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service addressed to each Holder at the e-mail address or address of such Holder appearing on the books of the Company. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail at the e-mail address set forth in this Section prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date, (ii) the next Trading Day after the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail at the e-mail address set forth in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (iii) the second Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K.
i) Limitation of Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.
j) Remedies. The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
k) Successors and Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.
l) Amendment. This Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the Holder.
m) Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.
n) Headings. The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.
********************
(Signature Page Follows)
| C-12 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above indicated.
| NETCAPITAL INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| C-13 |
NOTICE OF EXERCISE
To: NETCAPITAL INC.
(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ Warrant Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant (only if exercised in full), and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.
(2) Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):
☐ in lawful money of the United States; or
☐ if permitted, the cancellation of such number of Warrant Shares as is necessary, in accordance with the formula set forth in subsection 2(c), to exercise this Warrant with respect to the maximum number of Warrant Shares purchasable pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in subsection 2(c).
(3) Please issue said Warrant Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:
_______________________________
The Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number:
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
(4) Accredited Investor. The undersigned is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]
Name of Investing Entity: ________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity: _________________________________________________
Name of Authorized Signatory: ___________________________________________________________________
Title of Authorized Signatory: ____________________________________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________________________________________________________
| C-14 |
EXHIBIT B
ASSIGNMENT FORM
(To assign the foregoing Warrant, execute this form and supply required information. Do not use this form to exercise the Warrant to purchase shares.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to
| Name: | |||
| (Please Print) | |||
| Address: | |||
| (Please Print) | |||
| Phone Number: | |||
| Email Address: | |||
| Dated: | _______________ __, ______ | ||
| Holder’s Signature: | |||
| Holder’s Address: |
| C-15 |
APPENDIX D
NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR THE SECURITIES FOR WHICH THIS SECURITY IS EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.
SERIES A-4 COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
NETCAPITAL INC.
| Warrant Shares: _________ | Issue Date: May 29, 2024 |
THIS SERIES A-4 COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (the “Warrant”) certifies that, for value received, ____________. or its assigns (the “Holder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after the Shareholder Approval Date (the “Initial Exercise Date”) and on or prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date that is the eighteen (18) month anniversary of the Initial Exercise Date, provided that, if such date is not a Trading Day, the date that is the immediately following Trading Day (the “Termination Date”) (the “Termination Date”), but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from Netcapital Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company”), up to _________ shares (as subject to adjustment hereunder, the “Warrant Shares”) of Common Stock. The purchase price of one share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in Section 2(b).
Section 1. Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Warrant, the following terms have the meanings indicated in this Section 1:
“Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
“Bid Price” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the bid price of the Common Stock for the time in question (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on The Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority in interest of the Warrants then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.
“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.
| D-1 |
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.
“Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Letter Agreement” means that certain letter agreement between the initial Holder hereof and the Company, dated as of May 24, 2024, pursuant to which such initial Holder agreed to exercise one or more warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock and the Company agreed to issue to the initial Holder this Warrant.
“Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Shareholder Approval” means such approval as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market (or any successor entity) from the shareholders of the Company with respect to issuance of all of the Warrants and the Warrant Shares upon the exercise thereof.
“Shareholder Approval Date” means the date on which Shareholder Approval is received and deemed effective under Utah law.
“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof.
“Trading Day” means a day on which the Common Stock is traded on a Trading Market.
“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
“Transfer Agent” means Equity Stock Transfer LLC, the current transfer agent of the Company, with a mailing address of 237 W 37th Street, Suite 602, New York, NY 10018, and any successor transfer agent of the Company.
| D-2 |
“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on The Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the holders of a majority in interest of the Warrants then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
“Warrants” means this Warrant and other Common Stock purchase warrants issued by the Company pursuant to the Letter Agreement.
Section 2. Exercise.
a) Exercise of Warrant. Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Initial Exercise Date and on or before the Termination Date by delivery to the Company of a duly executed PDF copy submitted by e-mail (or e-mail attachment) of the Notice of Exercise in the form annexed hereto (the “Notice of Exercise”). Within the earlier of (i) one (1) Trading Day and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined in Section 2(d)(i) herein) following the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver the aggregate Exercise Price for the Warrant Shares specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank unless the cashless exercise procedure specified in Section 2(c) below is specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise. No ink-original Notice of Exercise shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Exercise be required. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Shares available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation as soon as reasonably practicable following the date on which the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant Shares available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Warrant Shares purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Warrant Shares purchased and the date of such purchases. The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise within one (1) Trading Day of receipt of such notice. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase of a portion of the Warrant Shares hereunder, the number of Warrant Shares available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.
b) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be $10.853, subject to adjustment hereunder (the “Exercise Price”).
3Adjusted to give effect to the 1-for-70 reverse split effectuated on August 1, 2024. The final as-adjusted exercise price will be determined based on the total shares outstanding following consummation of the 1-for-70 reverse stock split, including additional shares of our common stock issued upon account of fractional shares resulting from such reverse stock split.
| D-3 |
c) Cashless Exercise. If at the time of exercise hereof there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for the resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder, then this Warrant may also be exercised, in whole or in part, at such time by means of a “cashless exercise” in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a number of Warrant Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:
| (A) | = | as applicable: (i) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is (1) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a day that is not a Trading Day or (2) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a Trading Day prior to the opening of “regular trading hours” (as defined in Rule 600(b) of Regulation NMS promulgated under the federal securities laws) on such Trading Day, (ii) at the option of the Holder, either (y) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise or (z) the Bid Price of the Common Stock on the principal Trading Market as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (“Bloomberg”) as of the time of the Holder’s execution of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is executed during “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day and is delivered within two (2) hours thereafter (including until two (2) hours after the close of “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day) pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or (iii) the VWAP on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if the date of such Notice of Exercise is a Trading Day and such Notice of Exercise is both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof after the close of “regular trading hours” on such Trading Day; |
| (B) | = | the Exercise Price of this Warrant, as adjusted hereunder; and |
| (X) | = | the number of Warrant Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise. |
If Warrant Shares are issued in such a cashless exercise, the parties acknowledge and agree that in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, the holding period of the Warrant Shares being issued may be tacked on to the holding period of this Warrant. The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this Section 2(c).
d) Mechanics of Exercise.
i. Delivery of Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. The Company shall cause the Warrant Shares purchased hereunder to be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system (“DWAC”) if the Company is then a participant in such system and either (A) there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of the Warrant Shares to or resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder or (B) the Warrant Shares are eligible for resale by the Holder without volume or manner-of-sale limitations pursuant to Rule 144 (assuming cashless exercise of the Warrants), and otherwise by physical delivery of a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise by the date that is the earlier of (i) one (1) Trading Day after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise (such date, the “Warrant Share Delivery Date”). Upon delivery of the Notice of Exercise, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date of delivery of the Warrant Shares, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise) is received by the Warrant Share Delivery Date. If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder the Warrant Shares subject to a Notice of Exercise by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares subject to such exercise (based on the VWAP of the Common Stock on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise), $10 per Trading Day (increasing to $20 per Trading Day on the third (3rd) Trading Day after the Warrant Share Delivery Date) for each Trading Day after such Warrant Share Delivery Date until such Warrant Shares are delivered or Holder rescinds such exercise. The Company agrees to maintain a transfer agent that is a participant in the FAST program so long as this Warrant remains outstanding and exercisable. As used herein, “Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days (including no Trading Days if the settlement date is the trade date), on the Company’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of the Notice of Exercise.
| D-4 |
ii. Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the Warrant Shares, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.
iii. Rescission Rights. If the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise.
iv. Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(d)(i) above pursuant to an exercise on or before the Warrant Share Delivery Date, and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall (A) pay in cash to the Holder the amount, if any, by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Warrant Shares that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (B) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion of the Warrant and equivalent number of Warrant Shares for which such exercise was not honored (in which case such exercise shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted exercise of shares of Common Stock with an aggregate sale price giving rise to such purchase obligation of $10,000, under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
v. No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share.
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vi. Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of Warrant Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such Warrant Shares, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such Warrant Shares shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that in the event that Warrant Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for same-day processing of any Notice of Exercise and all fees to the Depository Trust Company (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for same-day electronic delivery of the Warrant Shares.
vii. Closing of Books. The Company will not close its stockholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.
e) Holder’s Exercise Limitations. The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to Section 2 or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s Affiliates, and any other Persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other Common Stock Equivalents) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 2(e), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, it being acknowledged by the Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 2(e) applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this Section 2(e), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (A) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (C) a more recent written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within one (1) Trading Day confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder or its Affiliates or Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 4.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant. The Holder, upon notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 2(e), provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 2(e) shall continue to apply. Any increase in the Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Company. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 2(e) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant.
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Section 3. Certain Adjustments.
a) Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Exercise Price of this Warrant shall remain unchanged. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.
b) Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 3(a) above, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Common Stock Equivalents or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).
c) Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as this Warrant is outstanding, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).
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d) Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company (or any Subsidiary), directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock or 50% or more of the voting power of the common equity of the Company, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, merger or scheme of arrangement) with another Person or group of Persons whereby such other Person or group acquires 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or 50% or more of the voting power of the common equity of the Company (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event of a Fundamental Transaction, the Company or any Successor Entity (as defined below) shall, at the Holder’s option, exercisable at any time concurrently with, or within 30 days after, the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction (or, if later, the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction), purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder an amount of cash equal to the Black Scholes Value (as defined below) of the remaining unexercised portion of this Warrant on the date of the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction; provided, however, that, if the Fundamental Transaction is not within the Company’s control, including not approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, the Holder shall only be entitled to receive from the Company or any Successor Entity the same type or form of consideration (and in the same proportion), at the Black Scholes Value of the unexercised portion of this Warrant, that is being offered and paid to the holders of Common Stock of the Company in connection with the Fundamental Transaction, whether that consideration be in the form of cash, stock or any combination thereof, or whether the holders of Common Stock are given the choice to receive from among alternative forms of consideration in connection with the Fundamental Transaction; provided, further, that if holders of Common Stock of the Company are not offered or paid any consideration in such Fundamental Transaction, such holders of Common Stock will be deemed to have received common stock of the Successor Entity (which Entity may be the Company following such Fundamental Transaction) in such Fundamental Transaction. “Black Scholes Value” means the value of this Warrant based on the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg determined as of the day of consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction for pricing purposes and reflecting (A) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date, (B) an expected volatility equal to the greater of (1) the 30 day volatility, (2) the 100 day volatility or (3) the 365 day volatility, each of clauses (1)-(3) as obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg (determined utilizing a 365 day annualization factor) as of the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction, (C) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the highest VWAP during the period beginning on the Trading Day immediately preceding the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction (or the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, if earlier) and ending on the Trading Day of the Holder’s request pursuant to this Section 3(d) and (D) a remaining option time equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date and (E) a zero cost of borrow. The payment of the Black Scholes Value will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds (or such other consideration) within the later of (i) five Business Days of the Holder’s election and (ii) the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction. The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3(d) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the Holder, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Holder. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall be added to the term “Company” under this Warrant (so that from and after the occurrence or consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, each and every provision of this Warrant referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to each of the Company and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally), and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally with the Company, may exercise every right and power of the Company prior thereto and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities shall assume all of the obligations of the Company prior thereto under this Warrant with the same effect as if the Company and such Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally, had been named as the Company herein. For the avoidance of doubt, the Holder shall be entitled to the benefits of the provisions of this Section 3(d) regardless of (i) whether the Company has sufficient authorized shares of Common Stock for the issuance of Warrant Shares and/or (ii) whether a Fundamental Transaction occurs prior to the Initial Exercise Date.
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e) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 3 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 3, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.
f) Notice to Holder.
i. Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 3, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holder by email a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and any resulting adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.
ii. Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries) is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property, or (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be delivered by email to the Holder at its last email address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least 20 calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein or in the delivery thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided in this Warrant constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. The Holder shall remain entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.
g) Voluntary Adjustment By Company. Subject to the rules and regulations of the Trading Market, the Company may at any time during the term of this Warrant reduce the then current Exercise Price to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the board of directors of the Company.
Section 4. Transfer of Warrant.
a) Transferability. Subject to compliance with any applicable securities laws and the conditions set forth in Section 4(d) hereof, this Warrant and all rights hereunder (including, without limitation, any registration rights) are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company or its designated agent, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees, as applicable, and in the denomination or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company unless the Holder has assigned this Warrant in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the Holder delivers an assignment form to the Company assigning this Warrant in full. The Warrant, if properly assigned in accordance herewith, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Warrant Shares without having a new Warrant issued.
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b) New Warrants. This Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance with Section 4(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the initial issuance date of this Warrant and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Warrant Shares issuable pursuant thereto.
c) Warrant Register. The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.
d) Transfer Restrictions. If, at the time of the surrender of this Warrant in connection with any transfer of this Warrant, the transfer of this Warrant shall not be either (i) registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and under applicable state securities or blue sky laws or (ii) eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions or current public information requirements pursuant to Rule 144, the Company may require, as a condition of allowing such transfer, that the Holder or transferee of this Warrant, as the case may be, provides to the Company an opinion of counsel, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that the transfer of this Warrant does not require registration under the Securities Act.
e) Representation by the Holder. The Holder, by the acceptance hereof, represents and warrants that it is acquiring this Warrant and, upon any exercise hereof, will acquire the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, for its own account and not with a view to or for distributing or reselling such Warrant Shares or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the Securities Act.
Section 5. Miscellaneous.
a) No Rights as Stockholder Until Exercise; No Settlement in Cash. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof as set forth in Section 2(d)(i), except as expressly set forth in Section 3. Without limiting any rights of a Holder to receive Warrant Shares on a “cashless exercise” pursuant to Section 2(c) or to receive cash payments pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) and Section 2(d)(iv) herein, in no event shall the Company be required to net cash settle an exercise of this Warrant.
b) Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it (which, in the case of the Warrant, shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate.
c) Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Trading Day, then, such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Trading Day.
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d) Authorized Shares.
The Company covenants that, during the period the Warrant is exercisable commencing on the Initial Exercise Date, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of issuing the necessary Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Trading Market upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant and payment for such Warrant Shares in accordance herewith, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).
Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.
Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.
e) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Warrant (whether brought against a party hereto or their respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Warrant and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. If either party shall commence an action, suit or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Warrant, the prevailing party in such action, suit or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for their reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.
f) Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, and the Holder does not utilize cashless exercise, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.
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g) Nonwaiver and Expenses. No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice the Holder’s rights, powers or remedies. Without limiting any other provision of this Warrant or the Letter Agreement, if the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.
h) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holders hereunder including, without limitation, any Notice of Exercise, shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Company, at 1 Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, Attention: Martin Kay, Chief Executive Officer, email address: martin@netcapital.com, or such other email address or address as the Company may specify for such purposes by notice to the Holders. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Company hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service addressed to each Holder at the e-mail address or address of such Holder appearing on the books of the Company. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail at the e-mail address set forth in this Section prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date, (ii) the next Trading Day after the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail at the e-mail address set forth in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (iii) the second Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K.
i) Limitation of Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.
j) Remedies. The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
k) Successors and Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.
l) Amendment. This Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the Holder.
m) Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.
n) Headings. The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.
********************
(Signature Page Follows)
| D-12 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above indicated.
| NETCAPITAL INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| D-13 |
NOTICE OF EXERCISE
To: NETCAPITAL INC.
(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ Warrant Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant (only if exercised in full), and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.
(2) Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):
☐ in lawful money of the United States; or
☐ if permitted, the cancellation of such number of Warrant Shares as is necessary, in accordance with the formula set forth in subsection 2(c), to exercise this Warrant with respect to the maximum number of Warrant Shares purchasable pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in subsection 2(c).
(3) Please issue said Warrant Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:
_______________________________
The Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number:
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
(4) Accredited Investor. The undersigned is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]
Name of Investing Entity: ________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity: _________________________________________________
Name of Authorized Signatory: ___________________________________________________________________
Title of Authorized Signatory: ____________________________________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________________________________________________________
| D-14 |
EXHIBIT B
ASSIGNMENT FORM
(To assign the foregoing Warrant, execute this form and supply required information. Do not use this form to exercise the Warrant to purchase shares.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to
| Name: | ||
| (Please Print) | ||
| Address: | ||
| (Please Print) | ||
| Phone Number: | ||
| Email Address: | ||
| Dated: _______________ __, ______ | ||
| Holder’s Signature: ___________________ | ||
| Holder’s Address: ____________________ |
| D-15 |
APPENDIX E
NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR THE SECURITIES FOR WHICH THIS SECURITY IS EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.
PLACEMENT AGENT COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
NETCAPITAL INC.
| Warrant Shares: __________ | Issue Date: May 29, 2024 |
THIS PLACEMENT AGENT COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (the “Warrant”) certifies that, for value received, _________ or its assigns (the “Holder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after the Shareholder Approval Date (the “Initial Exercise Date”) and on or prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date that is the five (5) year anniversary of the Initial Exercise Date, provided that, if such date is not a Trading Day, the date that is the immediately following Trading Day (the “Termination Date”) (the “Termination Date”), but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from Netcapital Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company”), up to ________ shares (as subject to adjustment hereunder, the “Warrant Shares”) of Common Stock. The purchase price of one share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in Section 2(b). This Warrant is issued pursuant to that certain Engagement Agreement, by and between the Company and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, dated as of May 22, 2024.
Section 1. Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Warrant, the following terms have the meanings indicated in this Section 1:
“Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
“Bid Price” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the bid price of the Common Stock for the time in question (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on The Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority in interest of the Warrants then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.
“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.
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“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.
“Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Letter Agreement” means that certain letter agreement between the initial Holder hereof and the Company, dated as of May 24, 2024, pursuant to which such initial Holder agreed to exercise one or more warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock and the Company agreed to issue to the initial Holder this Warrant.
“Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Shareholder Approval” means such approval as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market (or any successor entity) from the shareholders of the Company with respect to issuance of all of the Warrants and the Warrant Shares upon the exercise thereof.
“Shareholder Approval Date” means the date on which Shareholder Approval is received and deemed effective under Utah law.
“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof.
“Trading Day” means a day on which the Common Stock is traded on a Trading Market.
“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
“Transfer Agent” means Equity Stock Transfer LLC, the current transfer agent of the Company, with a mailing address of 237 W 37th Street, Suite 602, New York, NY 10018, and any successor transfer agent of the Company.
| E-2 |
“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on The Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the holders of a majority in interest of the Warrants then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
“Warrants” means this Warrant and other Common Stock purchase warrants issued by the Company pursuant to the Letter Agreement.
Section 2. Exercise.
a) Exercise of Warrant. Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Initial Exercise Date and on or before the Termination Date by delivery to the Company of a duly executed PDF copy submitted by e-mail (or e-mail attachment) of the Notice of Exercise in the form annexed hereto (the “Notice of Exercise”). Within the earlier of (i) one (1) Trading Day and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined in Section 2(d)(i) herein) following the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver the aggregate Exercise Price for the Warrant Shares specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank unless the cashless exercise procedure specified in Section 2(c) below is specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise. No ink-original Notice of Exercise shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Exercise be required. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Shares available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation as soon as reasonably practicable following the date on which the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant Shares available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Warrant Shares purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Warrant Shares purchased and the date of such purchases. The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise within one (1) Trading Day of receipt of such notice. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase of a portion of the Warrant Shares hereunder, the number of Warrant Shares available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.
b) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be $13.5664, subject to adjustment hereunder (the “Exercise Price”).
4Adjusted to give effect to the 1-for-70 reverse split effectuated on August 1, 2024. The final as-adjusted exercise price will be determined based on the total shares outstanding following consummation of the 1-for-70 reverse stock split, including additional shares of our common stock issued upon account of fractional shares resulting from such reverse stock split.
| E-3 |
c) Cashless Exercise. If at the time of exercise hereof there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for the resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder, then this Warrant may also be exercised, in whole or in part, at such time by means of a “cashless exercise” in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a number of Warrant Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:
| (A) | = | as applicable: (i) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is (1) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a day that is not a Trading Day or (2) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a Trading Day prior to the opening of “regular trading hours” (as defined in Rule 600(b) of Regulation NMS promulgated under the federal securities laws) on such Trading Day, (ii) at the option of the Holder, either (y) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise or (z) the Bid Price of the Common Stock on the principal Trading Market as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (“Bloomberg”) as of the time of the Holder’s execution of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is executed during “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day and is delivered within two (2) hours thereafter (including until two (2) hours after the close of “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day) pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or (iii) the VWAP on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if the date of such Notice of Exercise is a Trading Day and such Notice of Exercise is both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof after the close of “regular trading hours” on such Trading Day; |
| (B) | = | the Exercise Price of this Warrant, as adjusted hereunder; and |
| (X) | = | the number of Warrant Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise. |
If Warrant Shares are issued in such a cashless exercise, the parties acknowledge and agree that in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, the holding period of the Warrant Shares being issued may be tacked on to the holding period of this Warrant. The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this Section 2(c).
d) Mechanics of Exercise.
i. Delivery of Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. The Company shall cause the Warrant Shares purchased hereunder to be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system (“DWAC”) if the Company is then a participant in such system and either (A) there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of the Warrant Shares to or resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder or (B) the Warrant Shares are eligible for resale by the Holder without volume or manner-of-sale limitations pursuant to Rule 144 (assuming cashless exercise of the Warrants), and otherwise by physical delivery of a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise by the date that is the earlier of (i) one (1) Trading Day after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise (such date, the “Warrant Share Delivery Date”). Upon delivery of the Notice of Exercise, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date of delivery of the Warrant Shares, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise) is received by the Warrant Share Delivery Date. If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder the Warrant Shares subject to a Notice of Exercise by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares subject to such exercise (based on the VWAP of the Common Stock on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise), $10 per Trading Day (increasing to $20 per Trading Day on the third (3rd) Trading Day after the Warrant Share Delivery Date) for each Trading Day after such Warrant Share Delivery Date until such Warrant Shares are delivered or Holder rescinds such exercise. The Company agrees to maintain a transfer agent that is a participant in the FAST program so long as this Warrant remains outstanding and exercisable. As used herein, “Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days (including no Trading Days if the settlement date is the trade date), on the Company’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of the Notice of Exercise.
| E-4 |
ii. Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the Warrant Shares, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.
iii. Rescission Rights. If the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise.
iv. Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(d)(i) above pursuant to an exercise on or before the Warrant Share Delivery Date, and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall (A) pay in cash to the Holder the amount, if any, by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Warrant Shares that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (B) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion of the Warrant and equivalent number of Warrant Shares for which such exercise was not honored (in which case such exercise shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted exercise of shares of Common Stock with an aggregate sale price giving rise to such purchase obligation of $10,000, under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
v. No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share.
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vi. Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of Warrant Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such Warrant Shares, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such Warrant Shares shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that in the event that Warrant Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for same-day processing of any Notice of Exercise and all fees to the Depository Trust Company (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for same-day electronic delivery of the Warrant Shares.
vii. Closing of Books. The Company will not close its stockholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.
e) Holder’s Exercise Limitations. The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to Section 2 or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s Affiliates, and any other Persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other Common Stock Equivalents) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 2(e), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, it being acknowledged by the Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 2(e) applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this Section 2(e), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (A) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (C) a more recent written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within one (1) Trading Day confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder or its Affiliates or Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 4.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant. The Holder, upon notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 2(e), provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 2(e) shall continue to apply. Any increase in the Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Company. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 2(e) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant.
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Section 3. Certain Adjustments.
a) Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Exercise Price of this Warrant shall remain unchanged. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.
b) Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 3(a) above, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Common Stock Equivalents or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).
c) Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as this Warrant is outstanding, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise , other than cash (including, without limitation, any distribution of stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).
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d) Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company (or any Subsidiary), directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock or 50% or more of the voting power of the common equity of the Company, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, merger or scheme of arrangement) with another Person or group of Persons whereby such other Person or group acquires 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or 50% or more of the voting power of the common equity of the Company (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event of a Fundamental Transaction, the Company or any Successor Entity (as defined below) shall, at the Holder’s option, exercisable at any time concurrently with, or within 30 days after, the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction (or, if later, the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction), purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder an amount of cash equal to the Black Scholes Value (as defined below) of the remaining unexercised portion of this Warrant on the date of the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction; provided, however, that, if the Fundamental Transaction is not within the Company’s control, including not approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, the Holder shall only be entitled to receive from the Company or any Successor Entity the same type or form of consideration (and in the same proportion), at the Black Scholes Value of the unexercised portion of this Warrant, that is being offered and paid to the holders of Common Stock of the Company in connection with the Fundamental Transaction, whether that consideration be in the form of cash, stock or any combination thereof, or whether the holders of Common Stock are given the choice to receive from among alternative forms of consideration in connection with the Fundamental Transaction; provided, further, that if holders of Common Stock of the Company are not offered or paid any consideration in such Fundamental Transaction, such holders of Common Stock will be deemed to have received common stock of the Successor Entity (which Entity may be the Company following such Fundamental Transaction) in such Fundamental Transaction. “Black Scholes Value” means the value of this Warrant based on the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg determined as of the day of consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction for pricing purposes and reflecting (A) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date, (B) an expected volatility equal to the greater of (1) the 30 day volatility, (2) the 100 day volatility or (3) the 365 day volatility, each of clauses (1)-(3) as obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg (determined utilizing a 365 day annualization factor) as of the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction, (C) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the highest VWAP during the period beginning on the Trading Day immediately preceding the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction (or the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, if earlier) and ending on the Trading Day of the Holder’s request pursuant to this Section 3(d) and (D) a remaining option time equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date and (E) a zero cost of borrow. The payment of the Black Scholes Value will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds (or such other consideration) within the later of (i) five Business Days of the Holder’s election and (ii) the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction. The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3(d) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the Holder, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Holder. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall be added to the term “Company” under this Warrant (so that from and after the occurrence or consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, each and every provision of this Warrant referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to each of the Company and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally), and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally with the Company, may exercise every right and power of the Company prior thereto and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities shall assume all of the obligations of the Company prior thereto under this Warrant with the same effect as if the Company and such Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally, had been named as the Company herein. For the avoidance of doubt, the Holder shall be entitled to the benefits of the provisions of this Section 3(d) regardless of (i) whether the Company has sufficient authorized shares of Common Stock for the issuance of Warrant Shares and/or (ii) whether a Fundamental Transaction occurs prior to the Initial Exercise Date.
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e) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 3 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 3, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.
f) Notice to Holder.
i. Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 3, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holder by email a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and any resulting adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.
ii. Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries) is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property, or (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be delivered by email to the Holder at its last email address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least 20 calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein or in the delivery thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided in this Warrant constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. The Holder shall remain entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.
g) Voluntary Adjustment By Company. Subject to the rules and regulations of the Trading Market, the Company may at any time during the term of this Warrant reduce the then current Exercise Price to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the board of directors of the Company.
Section 4. Transfer of Warrant.
a) Transferability. Subject to compliance with any applicable securities laws and the conditions set forth in Section 4(d) hereof, this Warrant and all rights hereunder (including, without limitation, any registration rights) are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company or its designated agent, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees, as applicable, and in the denomination or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company unless the Holder has assigned this Warrant in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the Holder delivers an assignment form to the Company assigning this Warrant in full. The Warrant, if properly assigned in accordance herewith, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Warrant Shares without having a new Warrant issued.
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b) New Warrants. This Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance with Section 4(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the initial issuance date of this Warrant and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Warrant Shares issuable pursuant thereto.
c) Warrant Register. The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.
d) Transfer Restrictions. If, at the time of the surrender of this Warrant in connection with any transfer of this Warrant, the transfer of this Warrant shall not be either (i) registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and under applicable state securities or blue sky laws or (ii) eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions or current public information requirements pursuant to Rule 144, the Company may require, as a condition of allowing such transfer, that the Holder or transferee of this Warrant, as the case may be, provides to the Company an opinion of counsel, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that the transfer of this Warrant does not require registration under the Securities Act.
e) Representation by the Holder. The Holder, by the acceptance hereof, represents and warrants that it is acquiring this Warrant and, upon any exercise hereof, will acquire the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, for its own account and not with a view to or for distributing or reselling such Warrant Shares or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the Securities Act.
Section 5. Miscellaneous.
a) No Rights as Stockholder Until Exercise; No Settlement in Cash. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof as set forth in Section 2(d)(i), except as expressly set forth in Section 3. Without limiting any rights of a Holder to receive Warrant Shares on a “cashless exercise” pursuant to Section 2(c) or to receive cash payments pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) and Section 2(d)(iv) herein, in no event shall the Company be required to net cash settle an exercise of this Warrant.
b) Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it (which, in the case of the Warrant, shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate.
c) Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Trading Day, then, such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Trading Day.
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d) Authorized Shares.
The Company covenants that, during the period the Warrant is exercisable commencing on the Initial Exercise Date, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of issuing the necessary Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Trading Market upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant and payment for such Warrant Shares in accordance herewith, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).
Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.
Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.
e) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Warrant (whether brought against a party hereto or their respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Warrant and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. If either party shall commence an action, suit or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Warrant, the prevailing party in such action, suit or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for their reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.
f) Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, and the Holder does not utilize cashless exercise, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.
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g) Nonwaiver and Expenses. No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice the Holder’s rights, powers or remedies. Without limiting any other provision of this Warrant or the Letter Agreement, if the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.
h) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holders hereunder including, without limitation, any Notice of Exercise, shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Company, at 1 Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, Attention: Martin Kay, Chief Executive Officer, email address: martin@netcapital.com, or such other email address or address as the Company may specify for such purposes by notice to the Holders. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Company hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service addressed to each Holder at the e-mail address or address of such Holder appearing on the books of the Company. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail at the e-mail address set forth in this Section prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date, (ii) the next Trading Day after the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail at the e-mail address set forth in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (iii) the second Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K.
i) Limitation of Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.
j) Remedies. The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
k) Successors and Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.
l) Amendment. This Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the Holder.
m) Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.
n) Headings. The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.
********************
(Signature Page Follows)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above indicated.
| NETCAPITAL INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
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NOTICE OF EXERCISE
To: NETCAPITAL INC.
(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ Warrant Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant (only if exercised in full), and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.
(2) Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):
☐ in lawful money of the United States; or
☐ if permitted, the cancellation of such number of Warrant Shares as is necessary, in accordance with the formula set forth in subsection 2(c), to exercise this Warrant with respect to the maximum number of Warrant Shares purchasable pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in subsection 2(c).
(3) Please issue said Warrant Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:
_______________________________
The Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number:
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
(4) Accredited Investor. The undersigned is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]
Name of Investing Entity: ________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity: _________________________________________________
Name of Authorized Signatory: ___________________________________________________________________
Title of Authorized Signatory: ____________________________________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________________________________________________________
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EXHIBIT B
ASSIGNMENT FORM
(To assign the foregoing Warrant, execute this form and supply required information. Do not use this form to exercise the Warrant to purchase shares.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to
| Name: | ||
| (Please Print) | ||
| Address: | ||
| (Please Print) | ||
| Phone Number: | ||
| Email Address: | ||
| Dated: _______________ __, ______ | ||
| Holder’s Signature: ___________________ | ||
| Holder’s Address: ____________________ |
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