the Board of Directors can set in its discretion the classes, series and rights, privileges and preferences as it may determine in the future, in its sole discretion in the exercise of its business judgment.
Reasons for the Preferred Stock Authorization
The Board believes that it is in the Company’s and stockholders’ best interest to authorize shares of Preferred Stock to meet business needs as they arise without the expense or delay of a special meeting of stockholders to approve additional authorized shares at that time. Such business needs may include future offerings of preferred stock, future issuances of preferred stock in connection with the acquisition of other companies or assets, and other proper corporate purposes identified by the Board of Directors in the future. Any future issuance of Preferred Stock of the Company would remain subject to separate stockholder approval if required by applicable law, the Company’s articles of incorporation (as amended), or the rules of any national securities exchange on which shares of Preferred Stock of the Company are then listed.
Anti-Takeover Effects
The authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock could have anti-takeover effects. Under certain circumstances, any or all of the Preferred Stock could be used as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company. For example, the Board of Directors could designate and issue a series of Preferred Stock in an amount that sufficiently increases the number of outstanding shares to overcome a vote by the holders of Common Stock or with rights and preferences that include special voting rights to veto a change in control. The Preferred Stock could also be used in connection with the issuance of a stockholder rights plan, sometimes referred to as a “poison pill.”
Use of the Preferred Stock in the foregoing manner could delay or frustrate a merger, tender offer or proxy contest, the removal of incumbent directors, or the assumption of control by stockholders, even if such proposed actions would be beneficial to the Company’s stockholders. This could include discouraging bids for the Company even if such bid represents a premium over the Company’s then-existing trading price and thereby prevent stockholders from receiving the maximum value for their shares.
Other Potential Effects of the Proposed Amendment
The authorization of Preferred Stock will not, by itself, have any effect on the rights of present stockholders. The shares of Preferred Stock to be authorized will be “blank check” serial preferred stock. This type of preferred stock allows the Board of Directors to issue one or more series of the Preferred Stock, from time to time, with full, limited or no voting powers, and to fix all of the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or special voting rights, and qualifications, limitations or other restrictions upon the Preferred Stock.
Management also will have the discretion, subject to approval of the Board of Directors how, when, and for what consideration the Preferred Stock may be issued. The Board can approve significant liquidation, dividend, voting conversion, and redemption rights that are very superior to those of Common Stock to the serious detriment of common stockholders. If the Preferred Stock authorization is approved, thereafter the common shareholders will have NO other future input or approval over the Preferred Stock issuance, or its rights, privileges, preferences, or its series or classes.
Under the Company’s Articles, the Company’s stockholders do not have preemptive rights to subscribe for additional shares of capital stock which may be issued by the Company, which means that current stockholders do not have a prior right to purchase any new issue of capital stock of the Company in order to maintain their proportionate ownership of such shares. In addition, if the Board of Directors elects to issue additional shares of Preferred Stock, such issuance could have a dilutive effect on the earnings per share, voting power and holdings of current holders of Common Stock or Preferred Stock.
Exchange Act Matters
Our Common Stock is currently registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and we are subject to the periodic reporting and other requirements of the Exchange Act. The Reverse Split, if implemented, will not affect the registration of our Common Stock under the