Description of Securities

EX-4.18 2 ex4-18.htm

 

Exhibit 4.18

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

 

The following description summarizes the most important terms of our capital stock. It is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our articles of incorporation (“Charter”), Certificate of Designation of Rights and Preferences of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designation”) and bylaws (“Bylaws”), which are included as exhibits to our annual report, of which this exhibit is a part. We encourage you to read our Charter, our Certificate of Designation, our Bylaws and the applicable provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes (the “NRS”), for additional information.

 

Authorized Capitalization

 

We have 255,000,000 shares of capital stock authorized under our Charter, which consists of 250,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock with par value $0.0001 per share.

 

Common Stock

 

Holders of our common stock are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for such purposes. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive proportionately any dividends as may be declared by our board, subject to any preferential dividend rights of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future. The shares of common stock are neither redeemable nor convertible. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or subscription rights to purchase any of our securities. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock are subject to and may be adversely affected by the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future. Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each such share outstanding in the holder’s name. No holder of common stock is entitled to cumulate votes in voting for directors.

 

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive a pro rata share of our assets, which are legally available for distribution, after payments of all debts and other liabilities. All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the designations, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof, without further vote or action by the stockholders. These rights, preferences and privileges could include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting, or the designation of, such series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of common stock. The issuance of our preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock and the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon our liquidation. In addition, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company or other corporate action.

 

Series A Preferred Stock

 

Of the 5,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock under the Charter, our board of directors has designated 5,000 shares as Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the Certificate of Designation. The Certificate of Designation provides the following with respect to the rights, powers, preferences and privileges of our Series A Preferred Stock.

 

General

 

Each share of Series A Preferred Stock has a stated value of $10,000 per share (the “Series A Stated Value”) and, when issued, the Series A Preferred Stock will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

 

 

 

Ranking

 

The Series A Preferred Stock, with respect to the payment of dividends, distributions and payments upon the liquidation, dissolution and winding up of our Company, ranks senior to all of our capital stock, unless the Required Holder (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) consents to our creation of other capital stock that is senior or equal in rank to the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Dividends

 

The holders of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive dividends, commencing from the date of issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock, payable in cash and/or shares of Series A Preferred Stock at our election. Unless we notify the holders otherwise, such dividends will be paid in kind by increasing the amount of the Series A Stated Value for the applicable shares of Series A Preferred Stock on each dividend date by the applicable dividend amount. Such dividends are payable quarterly in arrears on the first trading day of each fiscal quarter commencing on the first trading day of the initial fiscal quarter after the date of issuance, at the dividend rate of 8% per year (the “Dividend Rate”). Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Triggering Event (as defined in the Certificate of Designation), the Dividend Rate will increase to the lesser of 18% per year or the maximum rate permitted under applicable law until such Triggering Event has been cured or has ceased.

 

Conversion at Option of Holder

 

At any time from and after the first date of issuance of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below) and the Issuable Maximum (as defined below), each holder of Series A Preferred Stock may convert all, or any part, of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock, at such holder’s option, into common stock at a conversion rate equal to the quotient of (i) the Conversion Amount (as defined below), divided by (ii) the Conversion Price (as defined below), subject to the Floor Price (as defined below).

 

Voluntary Adjustment Right

 

Subject to the rules and regulations of Nasdaq, we have the right, at any time, with the written consent of the Required Holder, to lower the fixed conversion price to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by our board of directors.

 

Alternate Conversion at the Holder’s Election

 

At the holder’s option, at any time, the holder may convert (an “Alternate Conversion”) some or all of such holder’s Series A Preferred Stock, at a conversion price equal to the lower of (i) the applicable Conversion Price as in effect on the date of such Alternate Conversion, and (ii) the greater of (x) the Floor Price and (y) 90% of the lowest VWAP (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) of the common stock during the ten (10) consecutive trading day period ending and including the trading day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable conversion notice as set forth in the Certificate of Designation (the “Alternate Conversion Price”).

 

With respect to each share of Series A Preferred Stock, as of the applicable date of determination, the “Conversion Amount” is equal to the sum of (1) 120% of (i) the Series A Stated Value plus (ii) all declared and unpaid dividends on such shares as of such date of determination plus (2) any other amounts thereon owed to such holder, pursuant to this Certificate of Designations or any other Transaction Document (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) that have not otherwise been paid or satisfied.

 

 

 

 

The “Conversion Price” is equal to: (i) with respect to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued in the registered director offering (the “Registered Direct Offering”) and at the initial closing of the concurrent private placement (the “Private Placement”) pursuant to the securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) between us and a single institutional investor entered into on February 26, 2025, $2.332 per share (the “Initial Conversion Price”); (ii) with respect to each share of Series A Preferred Stock funded on the second closing of the Private Placement (the “Second Closing”) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement or issued upon exercise of a private placement warrant (“Private Placement Warrant”) issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, other than pursuant to the holders right to exercise when certain equity conditions have been waived which is set forth under clauses (iii) and (iv) below, as of any date of conversion (“Conversion Date”) or other date of determination, the lower of (x) the Initial Conversion Price and (y) 110% of the last closing trade price (the “Closing Sale Price”) on the trading day immediately preceding the Second Closing, any applicable Funding Date (as defined in each Private Placement Warrant) or any applicable Exercise Date (as defined in each Private Placement Warrant), as the case may be; (iii) with respect to each share of Series A Preferred Stock issued upon exercise of a Private Placement Warrant, the lower of (A) $3.50 and (B) 110% of the last closing trade price (“Closing Sale Price”) on the trading day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable Exercise Notice or Call Notice (each as defined in each Private Placement Warrant), as the case may be; and (iv) with respect to each share of Series A Preferred Stock issued upon exercise of a Private Placement Warrant at any time following the date the shares of common stock issued or issuable upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock issued in the Private Placement are registered for resale (the “Registration Effectiveness Date”) when the Closing Sale Price exceeds $10.00 for twenty (20) consecutive trading days, as of any date of conversion or other date of determination, 110% of the Closing Sale Price on the trading day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable Exercise Notice or Call Notice (as the case may be), in each case, subject to adjustment; provided, that subsections (iii) and (iv) shall only apply in the event that certain equity conditions specified in the Private Placement Warrant are not met on the applicable Funding Date. The Conversion Price is subject to proportional adjustment upon the occurrence of any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination and/or similar transactions and as set forth below under “Other Adjustments” below.

 

The “Floor Price” is equal to (i) for any Series A Preferred Stock offered by the Registered Direct Offering $1.00, (ii) for any Series A Preferred Stock sold in the initial closing of the Private Placement $0.424 (20% of the Nasdaq Minimum Price of the Common Stock (as defined by Nasdaq) as of the trading day prior to the execution of the Purchase Agreement), and (iii) for any Series A Preferred Stock issued after the initial closing of the Private Placement, including the Second Closing, 20% of the Nasdaq Minimum Price of the Common Stock as of the trading day ended immediately prior to the date the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are issued; provided, that if the Floor Price then in effect is higher than the Adjusted Floor Price (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) on any date following the six (6) month anniversary of the initial date of issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock, then the Required Holder may elect to reduce the Floor Price to the Adjusted Floor Price, subject to approval of Nasdaq. The Floor Price and the Adjusted Floor Price are each subject to proportional adjustment upon the occurrence of any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination and/or similar transactions.

 

Other Adjustments

 

Until we have obtained approval as may be required from our stockholders (the “Stockholder Approval”), we may not issue, upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock and certain related transactions, a number of shares of common stock which would exceed 1,450,489 shares of common stock in the aggregate, which amount is equal to 19.99% of the shares of common stock issued and outstanding on February 26, 2025, subject to adjustment for forward and reverse stock splits, recapitalizations and the like (the “Issuable Maximum”). The Issuable Maximum shall be applied collectively, when any conversions of Series A Preferred Stock are aggregated together with all shares of common stock issuable upon conversion or exchange of any securities issued in certain related transactions to the Registered Direct Offering and Private Placement. If, at any time on or after the date of the Purchase Agreement, we issue any shares of common stock for a consideration per share (the “New Issuance Price”) less than a price equal to the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such issuance, the Conversion Price shall be reduced to the New Issuance Price.

 

Purchase Rights

 

If at any time we grant, issue or sell any options, convertible securities, or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to all or substantially all of the record holders of any class of common stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then each holder of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which such holder could have acquired if such holder had held the number of shares of common stock acquirable upon complete conversion of all the Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder immediately prior to 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 at the Alternate Conversion Price, subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation.

 

 

 

 

Liquidation Preference

 

Each share of Series A Preferred Stock carries a liquidation preference equal to the greater of (A) the conversion of such Series A Preferred Stock on the date of such payment and (B) the amount per share such holder would receive if such holder converted such Series A Preferred Stock into common stock immediately prior to the date of such payment.

 

Mandatory Redemption Triggering Event.

 

Upon any Mandatory Triggering Event (as defined in the Certificate of Designation), we shall immediately redeem in cash all amounts due under the Series A Preferred Stock at a redemption price equal to the Conversion Amount to be redeemed.

 

Voting Rights

 

The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall have no voting power and no right to vote on any matter at any time, either as a separate series or class or together with any other series or class of shares of capital stock, and shall not be entitled to call a meeting of such holders for any purpose nor shall they be entitled to participate in any meeting of the holders of common stock, except as provided in the Certificate of Designation (or as otherwise required by applicable law). We may not take the following actions without the prior consent of the Required Holder: (a) alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Series A Preferred Stock or alter or amend the Series A Certificate of Designation, (b) authorize or create any class of stock ranking as to dividends, redemption or distribution of assets upon a Liquidation (as defined in the Series A Certificate of Designations) senior to, or otherwise pari passu with, the Series A Preferred Stock, or any junior stock that has a maturity date or other date requiring redemption or repayment of such shares of junior stock that is prior to the 91st calendar day after the date no shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding, (c) amend our articles of incorporation or other charter documents in any manner that adversely affects any rights of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, (d) increase or decrease the number of authorized shares of Series A Preferred Stock, (e) pay dividends or make any other distribution on any shares of common stock, (f) purchase or redeem any capital stock junior to the Series A Preferred Stock, (g) issue any shares of Series A Preferred Stock other than as contemplated by the Certificate of Designation, Purchase Agreement or Private Placement Warrants or (g) otherwise circumvent a right of the Series A Preferred Stock set forth under the Certificate of Designation.

 

Change of Control Exchange

 

Upon a change of control of our Company, each holder may require us to exchange such holder’s shares of Series A Preferred Stock for consideration equal to the Conversion Amount (or (1) the Series A Stated Value thereof plus (2) all declared and unpaid dividends on such shares as of such date of determination plus (3) any other amounts thereon owed to such holder, pursuant to the Certificate of Designation or any other Transaction Document that have not otherwise been paid or satisfied, in the case of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock funded following the Announcement Time (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) but prior to the date of the change of control.

 

Company Optional Redemption

 

Under the Certificate of Designation, we have the right, at any time, to redeem all or part of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock (a “Company Optional Redemption”) by delivering a written notice to each holder of Series A Preferred Stock (such delivery date, the “Company Optional Redemption Notice Date”). The shares of Series A Preferred Stock subject to redemption will be redeemed by us in cash at a price equal to the Conversion Amount, subject in certain instances at a price equal to the Stated Value, being redeemed as of the Company Optional Redemption Notice Date. If a Triggering Event has occurred and is continuing on the date the Company Optional Redemption takes effect, such price will equal the greater of (i) the Conversion Amount being redeemed as of the Company Optional Redemption Notice Date and (ii) the product of (1) the Conversion Rate (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) with respect to the Conversion Amount being redeemed as of such date multiplied by (2) the average of the five (5) highest daily VWAPs of the common stock during the period beginning on the date preceding such Company Optional Redemption Notice Date and ending on the trading day immediately prior to the date we make the entire payment required.

 

 

 

 

Fundamental Transactions

 

The Certificate of Designation prohibits us from entering specified fundamental transactions (including, without limitation, mergers, business combinations and similar transactions) unless we (or our successor) assumes in writing all of our obligations under the Certificate of Designation and the other Transaction Documents or otherwise redeem the then outstanding Series A Preferred Stock in full.

 

Covenants

 

The Certificate of Designation contains a variety of obligations on our part not to engage in specified activities. In particular, we will not, and will cause its subsidiaries to not, redeem, repurchase or declare any dividend or distribution on any of its capital stock (other than as required under the Certificate of Designation) and will not incur any indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness, as defined in the Purchase Agreement), enter into any transactions with affiliates, or incur any liens, in each case without the prior written consent of the Required Holder and subject to certain exceptions, as applicable. In addition, we will not issue any shares of Series A Preferred Stock or issue any other securities that would cause a breach or default under the Certificate of Designation or any securities at a price less than the Floor Price then in effect.

 

Reservation Requirements

 

So long as any Series A Preferred Stock remains outstanding, we have agreed to at all times reserve at least 100% of the number of shares of common stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the conversion of all Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding.

 

Beneficial Ownership Limitation

 

Each holder of Series A Preferred Stock is restricted from acquiring shares of common stock upon conversion thereof that would result in the number of shares beneficially owned by such holder and its affiliates exceeding 4.99% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the conversion (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”).

 

Fractional Shares

 

No fractional shares of common stock will be issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock. Rather, the number of shares of common stock to be issued will be rounded up to the nearest whole number.

 

Public Warrants

 

The following summary of certain terms and provisions of our Public Warrants is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the respective Warrant Agreement and form of Public Warrant which are filed as exhibits to this annual report of which this exhibit is a part. We encourage you to review the terms and provisions set forth in the Warrant Agreement and form of Public Warrant. The Public Warrants are administered by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as the warrant agent.

 

Exercisability

 

The Public Warrants will expire on October 7, 2027 at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. The Public Warrants are exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part by delivering to us and the warrant agent a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full for the number of common stock purchased upon such exercise. If a registration statement registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) the issuance of the shares of common stock underlying the Public Warrants is not effective or available, the holder may, in its sole discretion, elect to exercise the Public Warrants for cash or on a cashless basis, and we will not be obligated to issue any shares to registered holders seeking to exercise their Public Warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising registered holder, or an exemption from registration or qualification is available.

 

 

 

 

A holder of a Public Warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.99% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.

 

Exercise Price

 

Each whole redeemable Public Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment for stock splits or combinations, stock dividends and distributions, reclassifications, subdivisions, and other similar transactions. Pursuant to the Amended And Restated Warrant Agreement, a Public Warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of shares of common stock. No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the exercise of a Public Warrant. In lieu of fractional shares, we will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of common stock to be issued to the Public Warrant holder.

 

Adjustments; Fundamental Transaction

 

The exercise price and the number of shares underlying the Public Warrants are subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock dividends on our common shares, stock combinations or similar events affecting our common shares. If, at any time while the Public Warrants are outstanding, (1) we consolidate or merge with or into another corporation whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation, (2) we sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets, or any of its significant subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) or (3) we effect any reclassification or recapitalization of the ordinary shares or any compulsory exchange pursuant to which the ordinary shares are converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or each, a “Fundamental Transaction,” then upon any subsequent exercise of the Warrants, the holders thereof will have the right to receive the same amount and kind of securities, cash or property as it would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction if it had been, immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction, the holder of the number of ordinary shares then issuable upon exercise of those Warrants, and any additional consideration payable as part of the Fundamental Transaction.

 

Redemption

 

We may call the Public Warrants for redemption in accordance with the terms summarized below:

 

in whole and not in part;
   
at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
   
upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption (the “30-day redemption period”) to each warrant holder;
   
if, and only if, the last sales price of our common stock equals or exceeds $16.00 per share for any ten (10) trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three business days before we send the notice of redemption; and
   
if, and only if, there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the offer and sale of the shares of common stock underlying such warrants at the time of redemption and for the entire 30-trading day period referred to above and continuing each day thereafter until the date of redemption.

 

We may not exercise our redemption right if the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the Public Warrants (i) is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws – we will use our best efforts to register or qualify such shares or (ii) we are unable to effect such registration or qualification. However, there may be instances in which registered holders of our public warrants may be unable to exercise such public warrants but registered holders of our Private Warrants, described below, may be able to exercise such Private Warrants.

 

 

 

 

Transferability

 

Subject to applicable laws and the limitations provided within the Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement, the Public Warrants may be transferred at the option of the holders upon surrender of the to the warrant agent, together with the appropriate instruments of transfer.

 

Rights as a Stockholders

 

Except as otherwise provided in the Warrant Agreement or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of common stock, holders of the Public Warrants do not have rights or privileges of holders of common stock, including any voting rights, until a holder exercises such Public Warrant.

 

Governing Law

 

The Public Warrants and Warrant Agreement are governed by New York law.

 

Anti-Takeover Effects of the Charter, the Bylaws and Nevada Law

 

We are a Nevada corporation and are generally governed by the NRS. The following is a brief description of the provisions in our Charter, Bylaws and the NRS that could have an effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing a change in control of the Company.

 

The provisions of the NRS, our Charter, and Bylaws could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

 

Combinations with Interested Stockholders

 

The “combinations with interested stockholders” provisions of Sections 78.411 to 78.444, inclusive, prohibit a Nevada corporation with at least 200 stockholders of record from engaging in various business “combinations” with any person deemed to be an “interested stockholder” for a period of two years after the date that the person first become an interested stockholder, unless the business combination or the transaction by which the person first became an interested stockholder is approved by the corporation’s board of directors before the person first became an interested stockholder, or the business combination is approved by the board of directors and thereafter is approved at a meeting of the corporation’s stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least 60% of the outstanding voting power of the corporation not beneficially owned by the interested stockholder, its affiliates, and associates.

 

Following the expiration of the two-year period, the corporation is prohibited from engaging in a business “combinations” with the interested stockholder, unless: (i) the business combination or the transaction by which the person first became an interested stockholder is approved by the corporation’s board of directors before the person first became an interested stockholder; (ii) the business combination is approved by a majority of the outstanding voting power of the corporation held by disinterested stockholders; or (iii) the aggregate amount of the consideration to be received in the business combination by all of the holders of outstanding common shares of the corporation not beneficially owned by the interested stockholder is at least equal to the higher of: (a) the highest price per share paid by the interested stockholder, at a time when the interested stockholder was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 5 percent or more of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation, for any common shares of the same class or series acquired by the interested stockholder within two years immediately before the date of announcement with respect to the combination or within two years immediately before, or in, the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, whichever is higher, plus, in either case, interest compounded annually from the earliest date on which the highest price per share was paid through the date of consummation at the rate for one-year obligations of the United States Treasury in effect on that earliest date, less the aggregate amount of any dividends paid in cash and the market value of any dividends paid other than in cash, per common share since that earliest date, and (b) the market value per common share on the date of the announcement of the business combination or on the date that the person first became an interested stockholder, whichever is higher, plus interest compounded annually from that date through the date of consummation at the rate for one-year obligations of the United States Treasury in effect on that date, less the aggregate amount of any dividends paid in cash and the market value of any dividends paid other than in cash, per common share since that date.

 

 

 

 

In general, an “interested stockholder” is any person who is (i) the direct or indirect beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation, or (ii) an affiliate or associate of the corporation and at any time within two years immediately before the date in question was the direct or indirect beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of the corporation.

 

Companies are entitled to opt out of the business combination provisions of the NRS. In our Charter, we have not opted out of the business combination provisions of NRS 78.411 to 78.444, inclusive.

 

Acquisition of Controlling Interests

 

Nevada law also protects the corporation and its stockholders from persons acquiring a “controlling interest” in a corporation. The provisions can be found in NRS 78.378 to 78.3793, inclusive. Delaware law does not have similar provisions.

 

The restriction on acquisition of a controlling interest applies to corporations which have 200 or more stockholders of record (at least 100 of whom have had addresses in Nevada at all times during the 90 days immediately preceding the date of the acquisition) and conducts business in Nevada, unless the Charter or bylaws of the corporation in effect on the tenth day after the acquisition of a controlling interest provide otherwise. NRS 78.3785 provides that a “controlling interest” means the ownership of outstanding voting shares of an issuing corporation sufficient to enable the acquiring person, individually or in association with others, directly or indirectly, to exercise (i) one fifth or more but less than one third, (ii) one third or more but less than a majority, or (iii) a majority or more of the voting power of the issuing corporation in the election of directors. Once an acquirer crosses one of these thresholds by acquiring a controlling interest in the corporation, the shares which the acquirer acquired in the transaction taking it over the threshold and within the 90 days immediately preceding the date when the acquiring person acquired or offered to acquire a controlling interest in the corporation become “control shares.” Pursuant to NRS 78.379, any person who acquires a controlling interest in a corporation may not exercise voting rights on any control shares unless such voting rights are conferred by a majority vote of the disinterested stockholders of the issuing corporation at an annual meeting or a special meeting of such stockholders held upon the request and at the expense of the acquiring person, or, if the acquisition would adversely alter or change any preference or any relative or other right given to any other class or series of outstanding shares, the holders of a majority of each class or series affected. In the event that the control shares are accorded full voting rights and the acquiring person acquires control shares with a majority or more of all the voting power, any stockholder, other than the acquiring person, who does not vote in favor of authorizing voting rights for the control shares is entitled to demand payment for the fair value of such person’s shares, and, provided that the proper procedure is adhered to, the corporation must comply with the demand.

 

NRS 78.378(1) provides that the control share statutes of the NRS do not apply to any acquisition of a controlling interest in an issuing corporation if the Charter or bylaws of the corporation in effect on the 10th day following the acquisition of a controlling interest by the acquiring person provide that the provisions of those sections do not apply to the corporation or to an acquisition of a controlling interest specifically by types of existing or future stockholders, whether or not identified. NRS 78.378(2) provides that the corporation may impose stricter requirements if it so desires. We have not opted out of the control share statutes, and will be subject to these statutes if we are an “issuing corporation” as defined in such statutes.

 

The effect of the Nevada control share statutes is that the acquiring person, and those acting in association with the acquiring person, will obtain only such voting rights in the control shares as are conferred by a resolution of the stockholders at an annual or special meeting. The Nevada control share law, if applicable, could have the effect of discouraging takeovers of our Company.

 

 

 

 

Charter and Bylaws

 

Our Charter and Bylaws provide for:

 

classifying our board of directors into three classes;
   
authorizing the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock, the terms of which may be established and shares of which may be issued without stockholder approval;
   
limiting the removal of directors by the stockholders;
   
requiring the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting as a single class, to adopt, amend alter or repeal our Bylaws and amend certain provisions of our Chart, including provisions relating to the size of the board, removal of directors, special meetings, and actions by written consent;
   
prohibiting stockholder action by written consent, thereby requiring all stockholder actions to be taken at a meeting of our stockholders;
   
eliminating the ability of stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders;
   
establishing advance notice requirements for nominations for election to the board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon at stockholder meetings; and
   
establishing Nevada as the exclusive jurisdiction for certain stockholder litigation against us.

 

Authorized Shares

 

Section 78.207 of the NRS provides that without any action by our shareholders, we may increase or decrease the number of authorized shares in a class or series of our shares and correspondingly effect a forward or reverse split of any class or series of the our shares (and change the par value thereof), so long as the action taken does not adversely change or alter any right or preference of our shareholders and does not include any provision or provisions pursuant to which only money will be paid or scrip issued to stockholders who hold 10% or more of the outstanding shares of the affected class and series, and who would otherwise be entitled to receive fractions of shares in exchange for the cancellation of all of their outstanding shares. Series A common stock and preferred stock have been established, and our board has authority to establish more than one series of preferred stock, and the different series shall have such relative rights and preferences, with such designations, as our board may by resolution provide. Issuance of such a new series could, depending upon the terms of the class or series, delay, defer, or prevent a change of control of our Company.

 

Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

Section 78.138 of the NRS provides that, unless the corporation’s Charter provide otherwise, a director or officer will not be individually liable unless the presumption that it is acting in good faith and on an informed basis with a view to the interests of the corporation has been rebutted, and it is proven that (i) the director’s or officer’s acts or omissions constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties, and (ii) such breach involved intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of the law.

 

Section 78.7502 of the NRS provides that a corporation may 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, except an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was 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 him in connection with the action, suit or proceeding if he:(a) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138; or (b) acted in good faith and in a manner which he 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 his 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, does not, of itself, create a presumption that the person is liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 or did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, or that, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

 

 

 

 

Section 78.7502 of the NRS provides that a corporation may 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 he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was 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 amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit if he: (a) as not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138; or (b) acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. Indemnification may not be made for any claim, issue or matter as to which such a person has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.

 

Section 78.751 of the NRS provides that to the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation shall indemnify him against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense.

 

Unless otherwise restricted by the Charter, bylaws, or other agreement. Section 78.751 of the NRS permits a Nevada company to indemnify its officers and directors against expenses incurred by them in defending a civil or criminal action, suit, or proceeding as they are incurred and in advance of final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation. The Charter, bylaws, or other agreement may require a corporation to advance such expenses upon receipt of such an undertaking. Section 78.751 of the NRS further permits a Nevada company to grant its directors and officers additional rights of indemnification under its articles of incorporation, bylaws, or other agreement; provided, however, that unless advanced or otherwise ordered by a court, indemnification may not be made to or on behalf of any director or officer finally adjudged by a court, after exhaustion of appeals, to be liable for intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of law that was material to the cause of action.

 

Section 78.752 of the NRS provides that a Nevada company may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the company, or is or was serving at the request of the company as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, for any liability asserted against him and liability and expenses incurred by him in his capacity as a director, officer, employee, or agent, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the company has the authority to indemnify him against such liability and expenses.

 

Our Charter provides that the Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced, without interest, if it shall ultimately be determined by final adjudication from which there is no further right to appeal that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified.

 

In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. These agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify our directors and executive officers for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments and fines incurred by a director or executive officer in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as one of our directors or executive officers or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request.

 

 

 

 

We maintain a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy pursuant to which our directors and officers are insured against liability for actions taken in their capacities as directors and officers. We believe these provisions in the Charter and the Bylaws and these indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers, or control persons, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

Choice of Forum Provisions

 

Our Charter, in Article XI, includes a mandatory forum provision that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and unless we consent in writing, the Second Judicial District Court, in and for the State of Nevada, located in Washoe County, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought in the name or right of the Company or on our behalf, (b) any action asserting a claim for breach of any fiduciary duty owed by any of our current or former directors, officers, employees or stockholders to the Company or our stockholders, (c) any action arising or asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of NRS Chapters 78 or 92A or any provision of the Charter or Bylaws, (d) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the Charter or Bylaws or (e) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine.

 

These provisions would not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in our securities shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to these provisions. Our exclusive forum provision will not relieve us of our duties to comply with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and our shareholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with these laws, rules and regulations.

 

Our Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent

 

The transfer agent for our shares of common stock and warrant agent for all of our warrants is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

 

Stock Exchange Listing

 

Our common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “DFLI” and our Public Warrants are currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “DFLIW”.