Document:

EX-10.3

  October 6, 2022 

  Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc. 

  545 Promenade du Centropolis 

  Suite 100 

  Laval, Québec, 

  Canada H7T 0A3 

  Dear Michael Cammarata:

  This letter (the “Agreement”) constitutes the agreement between A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners (the “Placement Agent”) and Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc., a corporation incorporated under the Business Corporations Act  (Québec) (the “Company”), that the Placement Agent shall serve as the exclusive equity placement agent for the Company, on a “reasonable best efforts” basis, in connection with the proposed placement (the “Placement”) of the common shares of the Company, no par value (the “Common Shares”), warrants to purchase Common Shares (the “Warrants”) and pre-funded warrants to purchase Common Shares (the “Pre-Funded Warrants” and together with the Common Shares and the Warrants, the “Securities”). The Securities actually placed by the Placement Agent are referred to herein as the “Placement Agent Securities.” The terms of the Placement shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the purchasers of the Securities (each, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”), and nothing herein constitutes the Placement Agent as having the power or authority to bind the Company or any Purchaser, or an obligation for the Company to issue any Securities or complete the Placement. The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that the Placement Agent’s obligations hereunder are on a reasonable best efforts basis only and that the execution of this Agreement does not constitute a commitment by the Placement Agent to purchase the Securities and does not ensure the successful placement of the Securities or any portion thereof or the success of the Placement Agent with respect to securing any other financing on behalf of the Company. The Placement Agent may retain other brokers or dealers to act as sub-agents or selected-dealers on its behalf in connection with the Placement. Certain affiliates of the Placement Agent may participate in the Placement by purchasing some of the Placement Agent Securities. The sale of Placement Agent Securities to any Purchaser will be evidenced by a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) between the Company and the Purchasers, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Purchasers. Capitalized terms that are not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to such terms in the Purchase Agreement. Prior to the signing of the Purchase Agreement, officers of the Company will be available to answer inquiries from prospective Purchasers.  

  SECTION 1.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY; COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. 

  A.    Representations of the Company. With respect to the Placement Agent Securities, each of the representations and warranties (together with any related disclosure schedules thereto) and covenants made by the Company to the Purchasers in the Purchase Agreement in connection with the Placement, is hereby incorporated herein by reference into this Agreement (as though fully restated herein) and is, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, hereby made to, and in favor of, the Placement Agent. In addition to the foregoing, the Company represents and warrants that there are no affiliations with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) member firm among the Company’s officers, directors or, to the knowledge of the Company, any five percent (5.0%) or greater securityholder of the Company. 

   

  B.    Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees to continue to retain (i) a firm of independent PCAOB registered public accountants for a period of at least five (5) years after the Closing Date and (ii) a competent transfer agent with respect to the Common Shares for a period of five (5) years after the Closing Date. In addition, from the date hereof until 90 days after the Closing Date, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall issue, enter into any agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of any Common Shares or Common Share Equivalents, except that such restriction shall not apply with respect to an Exempt Issuance. 

  SECTION 2.    REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PLACEMENT AGENT. The Placement Agent represents and warrants that it (i) is a member in good standing of FINRA, (ii) is registered as a broker/dealer under the Exchange 

  131061653v2 

  

  Act and the securities laws of each state in which an offer or sale of Placement Agent Securities is made (unless exempted from the respective state’s broker-dealer registration requirements), (iii) is licensed as a broker/dealer under the laws of the United States of America, applicable to the offers and sales of the Placement Agent Securities by the Placement Agent, (iv) is and will be a corporate body validly existing under the laws of its place of incorporation, (v) has full power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, and (vi) is not subject to any of the “bad actor” disqualifications set forth in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Placement Agent will immediately notify the Company in writing of any change in its status with respect to subsections (i) through (vi) above. The Placement Agent covenants that it will use its reasonable best efforts to conduct the Placement hereunder in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement and the requirements of applicable law. The Placement Agent will not solicit or sell any of the Placement Agent Securities to persons resident or domiciled in Canada.  The Placement Agent has not and will not solicit purchasers of the Warrants by any form of “general solicitation” or “general advertising” as such terms are described in Rule 502(c) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Placement Agent shall provide an “all-sold” certificate at the closing of the sale of the Placement Agent Securities to the effect that it did not, to its knowledge sell such securities to residents in the province of Quebec.

  SECTION 3.    COMPENSATION. In consideration of the services to be provided for hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Placement Agent and/or its respective designees a cash fee of 4.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds raised from the sale of the Placement Agent Securities (the “Cash Fee”). The Cash Fee shall be paid on the Closing Date. The Company shall not be required to pay the Placement Agent any fees or expenses except for the Cash Fee, the reimbursement of up to $60,000 in legal expenses and clearing agent fees and expenses and the reimbursement of up to $15,000 for non-accountable expenses including, but not limited to, IPREO software related expenses, background check expenses, tombstones and marketing related expenses, including road show expenses if they are incurred; provided, that this sentence in no way limits or impairs the indemnification or contribution provisions contained herein. The Placement Agent reserves the right to reduce any item of compensation or adjust the terms thereof as specified herein in the event that a determination shall be made by FINRA to the effect that the Placement Agent’s aggregate compensation is in excess of FINRA Rules or that the terms thereof require adjustment. 

  SECTION 4.    INDEMNIFICATION. 

  A.    To the extent permitted by law, with respect to the Placement Agent Securities, the Company will indemnify the Placement Agent and its affiliates, stockholders, directors, officers, employees, members and controlling persons (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) against all losses, claims, damages, expenses and liabilities, as the same are incurred (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel), relating to or arising out of its activities hereunder or pursuant to this Agreement, except to the extent that any losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) are found in a final judgment (not subject to appeal) by a court of law to have resulted primarily and directly from the Placement Agent’s willful misconduct or gross negligence in performing the services described herein. 

  B.    Promptly after receipt by the Placement Agent of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action or proceeding with respect to which the Placement Agent is entitled to indemnity hereunder, the Placement Agent will notify the Company in writing of such claim or of the commencement of such action or proceeding, but failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from any obligation it may have hereunder, except and only to the extent such failure results in the forfeiture by the Company of substantial rights and defenses. If the Company so elects or is requested by the Placement Agent, the Company will assume the defense of such action or proceeding and will employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent and will pay the fees and expenses of such counsel. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Placement Agent will be entitled to employ counsel separate from counsel for the Company and from any other party in such action if counsel for the Placement Agent reasonably determines that it would be inappropriate under the applicable rules of professional responsibility for the same counsel to represent both the Company and the Placement Agent. In such event, the reasonable fees and disbursements of no more than one such separate counsel will be paid by the Company, in addition to fees of local counsel. The Company will have the right to settle the claim or proceeding provided that the Company will not settle any such claim, action or proceeding without the prior written consent of the Placement Agent, which will not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any action effected without its written consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld. 

  131061653v2 

  

  C.    The Company agrees to notify the Placement Agent promptly of the assertion against it or any other person of any claim or the commencement of any action or proceeding relating to a transaction contemplated by this Agreement. 

  D.    If for any reason the foregoing indemnity is unavailable to the Placement Agent or insufficient to hold the Placement Agent harmless, then the Company shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Placement Agent as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Placement Agent on the other, but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Placement Agent on the other that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any relevant equitable considerations. The amounts paid or payable by a party in respect of losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees and expenses incurred in defending any litigation, proceeding or other action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions hereof, the Placement Agent’s share of the liability hereunder shall not be in excess of the amount of fees actually received, or to be received, by the Placement Agent under this Agreement (excluding any amounts received as reimbursement of expenses incurred by the Placement Agent). 

  E.    These indemnification provisions shall remain in full force and effect whether or not the transaction contemplated by this Agreement is completed and shall survive the termination of this Agreement and shall be in addition to any liability that the Company might otherwise have to any indemnified party under this Agreement or otherwise. 

  SECTION 5.    ENGAGEMENT TERM. The Placement Agent’s engagement hereunder will be until the earlier of (i) October 30, 2022 and (ii) the Closing Date. The date of termination of this Agreement is referred to herein as the “Termination Date.” In the event, however, in the course of the Placement Agent’s performance of due diligence it deems it necessary to terminate the engagement, the Placement Agent may do so prior to the Termination Date. The Company may elect to terminate the engagement hereunder for any reason prior to the Termination Date but will remain responsible for fees and expenses pursuant to Section 3 hereof and fees with respect to the Placement Agent Securities if sold in the Placement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the provisions concerning the Company’s obligation to pay any fees actually earned pursuant to Section 3 hereof, to pay expenses pursuant to Section 3 hereof, and the provisions concerning confidentiality, indemnification and contribution contained herein will survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated prior to the completion of the Placement, all fees and expenses due to the Placement Agent shall be paid by the Company to the Placement Agent on or before the Termination Date (in the event such fees are earned or owed as of the Termination Date). The Placement Agent agrees not to use any confidential information concerning the Company provided to the Placement Agent by the Company for any purposes other than those contemplated under this Agreement. 

  SECTION 6.    PLACEMENT AGENT INFORMATION. The Company agrees that any information or advice rendered by the Placement Agent in connection with this engagement is for the confidential use of the Company only in their evaluation of the Placement and, except as otherwise required by law, the Company will not disclose or otherwise refer to the advice or information in any manner without the Placement Agent’s prior written consent. 

  SECTION 7.    NO FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP. This Agreement does not create, and shall not be construed as creating rights enforceable by any person or entity not a party hereto, except those entitled hereto by virtue of the indemnification provisions hereof. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Placement Agent is not and shall not be construed as a fiduciary of the Company and shall have no duties or liabilities to the equity holders or the creditors of the Company or any other person by virtue of this Agreement or the retention of the Placement Agent hereunder, all of which are hereby expressly waived. 

  SECTION 8.    CLOSING. The obligations of the Placement Agent, and the closing of the sale of the Placement Agent Securities hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and on the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein and in the Purchase Agreement, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and in the Purchase Agreement, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions, except as otherwise disclosed to and acknowledged and waived by the Placement Agent: 

  131061653v2 

  

  A.    All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form, execution, delivery and validity of each of this Agreement, the Placement Agent Securities, and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby with respect to the Placement Agent Securities shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to the Placement Agent. 

  B.    The Placement Agent shall have received from outside US counsel to the Company such counsel’s written opinion with respect to the Placement Agent Securities, addressed to the Placement Agent and dated as of the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent. 

  C.    The Placement Agent shall have received from the Company a certificate executed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent. 

  D.    The Placement Agent shall have received customary certificates of the Company’s executive officers, as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties contained in the Purchase Agreement, and a certificate of the Company’s secretary certifying that the Company’s charter documents are true and complete, have not been modified and are in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the Placement are in full force and effect and have not been modified; and (iii) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. 

  E.    [Reserved].

   

  F.    The Common Shares shall be registered under the Exchange Act and, as of the Closing Date, the Company shall have applied to list or quote the Common Shares (including the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants and the Pre-Funded Warrants) sold in the Placement on the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) and satisfactory evidence of such filing shall have been provided to the Placement Agent. The Company shall have taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Shares under the Exchange Act or delisting or suspending from trading the Common Shares from Nasdaq, nor will the Company have received any information suggesting that the Commission or Nasdaq is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. 

   

  G.    No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency or body which would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Placement Agent Securities or have a Material Adverse Effect; and no injunction, restraining order or order of any other nature by any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing Date which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Placement Agent Securities or have a Material Adverse Effect. 

   

  H.    The Company shall have entered into a Purchase Agreement with each of the Purchasers of the Placement Agent Securities and such agreements shall be in full force and effect and shall contain representations, warranties and covenants of the Company as agreed upon between the Company and the Purchasers. 

   

  I.    FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms and arrangements of this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall, if requested by the Placement Agent, make or authorize Placement Agent’s counsel to make on the Company’s behalf, any filing with the FINRA Corporate Financing Department pursuant to FINRA Rule 2710 with respect to the Placement and pay all filing fees required in connection therewith. 

  If any of the conditions specified in this Section 8 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement, all obligations of the Placement Agent hereunder may be cancelled by the Placement Agent at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or orally. Any such oral notice shall be confirmed promptly thereafter in writing. 

  SECTION 9.    GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely in such State. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other party. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any right to trial by jury with respect to any dispute arising under this Agreement or any transaction or conduct in connection herewith is waived. Any dispute arising under this Agreement may be brought into the courts 

  131061653v2 

  

  of the State of New York or into the Federal Court located in New York, New York and, by execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company hereby accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of aforesaid courts. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by delivering a copy thereof via overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement 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 manner permitted by law. If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorney’s fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding. 

    

  SECTION 10.    ENTIRE AGREEMENT/MISCELLANEOUS. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, relating to the subject matter hereof. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such determination will not affect such provision in any other respect or any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect. This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by both the Placement Agent and the Company. The representations, warranties, agreements and covenants contained herein shall survive the Closing Date of the Placement and delivery of the Placement Agent Securities. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or a .pdf format file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or .pdf signature page were an original thereof. 

  SECTION 11.    NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is sent to the email address specified on the signature pages attached hereto prior to 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a business day, (b) the next business day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is sent to the email address on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is not a business day or later than 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any business day, (c) the third business day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. internationally recognized air courier service, or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages hereto. 

  SECTION 12.    PRESS ANNOUNCEMENTS. The Company agrees that the Placement Agent shall, on and after the Closing Date, have the right to reference the Placement and the Placement Agent’s role in connection therewith in the Placement Agent’s marketing materials and on its website and to place advertisements in financial and other newspapers and journals, in each case at its own expense and in compliance with applicable securities laws. 

  [The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank.]

    

   

  131061653v2 

  

  Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth our agreement by signing and returning to the Placement Agent the enclosed copy of this Agreement. 

    

  			
	 
	 
	 

	Very truly yours,
  
             A.G.P./ALLIANCE GLOBAL PARTNERS

	 
	 

	By:
	  /s/ Thomas T. Higgins
	 

	 
	Name: Thomas T. Higgins

	 
	Title: Managing Director

	 
	 

	 
	Address for notice:

	 
	590 Madison Avenue 36th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Attn: Thomas Higgins
Email: thiggins@allianceg.com

    

  			
	 
	 
	 

	Accepted and Agreed to as of
the date first written above:

	 

	NEPTUNE WELLNESS SOLUTIONS INC.

	 
	 

	By:
	  
	 /s/ Ray Silcock

	 
	  
	Name: Ray Silcock

	 
	 
	Title: Chief Financial Officer

	 
	  
	 

	 
	  
	Address for notice:

	 
	  
	545 Promenade du Centropolis, Suite 100
Laval, Quebec H7T 0A3
Canada

   

   

  [Signature Page to Placement Agent Agreement.]

  131061653v2vrdr_ex41.htm

EXHIBIT 4.1  
    
 VERDE RESOURCES, INC.
 Description of Company’s Securities
  
 Our authorized capital stock consists of 10,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001.
  
 Common Stock
 The holders of our common stock (i) have equal rateable rights to dividends from funds legally available, therefore, when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors; (ii) are entitled to share in all of our assets available for distribution to holders of common stock upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs; (iii) do not have pre-emptive, subscription or conversion rights and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions or rights; and (iv) are entitled to one non-cumulative vote per share on all matters on which stockholders may vote. Reference is made to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, By-laws, and the applicable statutes of the State of Nevada for a more complete description of the rights and liabilities of holders of the Company’s securities.
   
 Preferred Stock
 While our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, no preferred shares have been issued nor are contemplated to be issued in the near future.
  
 Non-cumulative Voting
 Holders of shares of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights, which means that the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares, voting for the election of directors, can elect all of the directors to be elected, if they so choose, and, in such event, the holders of the remaining shares will not be able to elect any of our directors.
  
 Dividend Policy
 The Company does not anticipate paying dividends on the Common Stock at any time in the foreseeable future. The Company’s Board of Directors currently plans to retain earnings for the development and expansion of the Company’s business. Any future determination as to the payment of dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company and will depend on a number of factors including future earnings, capital requirements, financial conditions, and such other factors as the Board of Directors may deem relevant.
  
 Anti-takeover Effects of Our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws
  
 Our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws contain certain provisions that may have anti-takeover effects, making it more difficult for or preventing a third party from acquiring control of the Company or changing our board of directors and management. According to our bylaws and articles of incorporation, neither the holders of our common stock nor the holders of our preferred stock have cumulative voting rights in the election of our directors.
  
 	  
	 ·
	 No Cumulative Voting. The Nevada Revised Statutes provide that stockholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws do not provide for cumulative voting. The combination of the present ownership by a few stockholders of a significant portion of our issued and outstanding common stock and lack of cumulative voting makes it more difficult for other stockholders to replace our board of directors or for a third party to obtain control of the Company by replacing its board of directors.

	  
	  
	  

	  
	 ·
	 Issuance of “Blank Check” Preferred Stock. Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock with rights and preferences, including voting rights, designated from time to time by our board of directors. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock enables our board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest, or otherwise;

	  
	  
	  

	  
	 ·
	 Bylaws Amendments Without Stockholder Approval. Our Bylaws provide our directors with the power to adopt, amend or repeal our bylaws without stockholder approval;

	  
	  
	  

	  
	 ·
	 Broad Indemnity. We are permitted to indemnify directors and officers against losses that they may incur in investigations and legal proceedings resulting from their services to us, which may include services in connection with takeover defence measures. This provision may make it more difficult to remove directors and officers and delay a change in control of our management.

   
 	 
	1
	

	 

  
 Anti-takeover Effects of Nevada Law
  
 Business Combinations
  
 The “business combination” provisions of Sections 78.411 to 78.444, inclusive, of the Nevada Revised Statutes, or NRS, generally prohibit a Nevada corporation with at least 200 stockholders from engaging in various “combination” transactions with any interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the transaction is approved by the board of directors prior to the date the interested stockholder obtained such status; and extends beyond the expiration of the three-year period, unless:
  
 	  
	 ·
	 the transaction was approved by the board of directors prior to the person becoming an interested stockholder or is later approved by a majority of the voting power held by disinterested stockholders, or

	  
	  
	  

	  
	 ·
	 if the consideration to be paid by the interested stockholder is at least equal to the highest of: (a) the highest price per share paid by the interested stockholder within the three years immediately preceding the date of the announcement of the combination or in the transaction in which it became an interested stockholder, whichever is higher, (b) the market value per share of common stock on the date of announcement of the combination and the date the interested stockholder acquired the shares, whichever is higher, or (c) for holders of preferred stock, the highest liquidation value of the preferred stock, if it is higher.

     
 A “combination” is generally defined to include mergers or consolidations or any sale, lease exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition, in one transaction or a series of transactions, with an “interested stockholder” having: (a) an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of the assets of the corporation, (b) an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of all outstanding shares of the corporation, (c) 10% or more of the earning power or net income of the corporation, and (d) certain other transactions with an interested stockholder or an affiliate or associate of an interested stockholder.
  
 In general, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years, did own) 10% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. The statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire our company even though such a transaction may offer our stockholders the opportunity to sell their stock at a price above the prevailing market price.
  
 Because we have less than 200 shareholders of record, these “business combination” provisions do not currently apply to us. Our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation state that we have elected not to be governed by the “business combination” provisions.
  
 Control Share Acquisitions
  
 The “control share” provisions of Sections 78.378 to 78.3793, inclusive, of the NRS apply to “issuing corporations,” which are Nevada corporations with at least 200 stockholders, including at least 100 stockholders of record who are Nevada residents, and which conduct business directly or indirectly in Nevada. The control share statute prohibits an acquirer, under certain circumstances, from voting its shares of a target corporation’s stock after crossing certain ownership threshold percentages, unless the acquirer obtains approval of the target corporation’s disinterested stockholders. The statute specifies three thresholds: one-fifth or more but less than one-third, one-third but less than a majority, and a majority or more, of the outstanding voting power. Generally, once an acquirer crosses one of the above thresholds, those shares in an offer or acquisition and acquired within 90 days thereof become “control shares” and such control shares are deprived of the right to vote until disinterested stockholders restore the right.
  
 	 
	2
	

	 

  
 These provisions also provide that if control shares are accorded full voting rights and the acquiring person has acquired a majority or more of all voting power, all other stockholders who do not vote in favor of authorizing voting rights to the control shares are entitled to demand payment for the fair value of their shares in accordance with statutory procedures established for dissenters’ rights.
  
 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 disinterested stockholders at an annual or special meeting. The Nevada control share law, if applicable, could have the effect of discouraging takeovers of our company.
  
 A corporation may elect to not be governed by, or “opt out” of, the control share provisions by making an election in its articles of incorporation or bylaws, provided that the opt-out election must be in place on the 10th day following the date an acquiring person has acquired a controlling interest, that is, crossing any of the three thresholds described above. We intend to amend our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to elect not to be governed by the “control share” provisions in the future.
  
 	 
	3

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