This section contains a description of our capital stock. The following discussion is not meant to be complete and is qualified by reference to our articles of incorporation and bylaws that we describe in this section.
Our authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per-share, 10,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value per-share, and 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per-share.
Common Stock
Dividend Rights
Subject to preferences that may apply to shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of outstanding shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of funds legally available if our board of directors, in its discretion, determines to issue dividends and only then at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may determine.
Voting Rights
The holders of our Class B common stock are entitled to ten votes per share, and holders of our Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share. The holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock vote together as a single class, unless otherwise required by law. Florida law could require either holders of our Class A common stock or our Class B common stock to vote separately as a single class in the following circumstances:
- if we were to seek to amend our articles of incorporation to decrease the issued and outstanding number of shares of a class of stock that would adversely alter or change any preference, or any relative or other right given to any other class of stock, then that class adversely affected would be required to vote separately to approve the proposed amendment; and
- if we were to seek to amend our articles of incorporation to increase or decrease the authorized number of shares of a class of stock that would adversely alter or change any preference, or any relative or other right given to any other class of stock, then that class adversely affected would be required to vote separately to approve the proposed amendment; and
- if we were to seek to amend our articles of incorporation in a manner that alters or changes the powers, preferences or special rights of a class of stock in a manner that affected its holders adversely, then that class would be required to vote separately to approve the proposed amendment.
Stockholders do not have the ability to cumulate votes for the election of directors.
No Preemptive or Similar Rights
Our common stock is not entitled to preemptive rights and is not subject to conversion, redemption or sinking fund provisions.
Right to Receive Liquidation Distributions
Upon our dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, the assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders are distributable ratably among the holders of our common stock, subject to prior satisfaction of all outstanding debt and liabilities and the preferential rights and payment of liquidation preferences, if any, on any outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Preferred Stock
We are authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Florida law, to issue preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations or restrictions. Our board of directors also can increase or decrease the number of shares of any series, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding, without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of the common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company and may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock. We have no current plan to issue any shares of preferred stock.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
So long as the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock represent a majority of the combined voting power of common stock, Ronald P. Russo, Jr. will effectively control all matters submitted to our stockholders for a vote, as well as the overall management and direction of our company, which will have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another person from acquiring control of our company.
After such time as the shares of our Class B common stock no longer represent a majority of the combined voting power of our common stock, the provisions of Florida 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.
Florida Anti-Takeover Laws
Control Share Acquisitions
Florida Revised Statutes sections 78.378 to 78.379 provide state regulation over the acquisition of a controlling interest in certain Florida corporations unless the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation provide that the provisions of these sections do not apply. Our articles of incorporation and bylaws do not state that these provisions do not apply. The statute creates a number of restrictions on the ability of a person or entity to acquire control of a Florida company by setting down certain rules of conduct and voting restrictions in any acquisition attempt, among other things. The statute is limited to corporations that are organized in the state of Florida and that have 200 or more stockholders, at least 100 of whom are stockholders of record and residents of the State of Florida; and does business in the State of Florida directly or through an affiliated corporation. Because of these conditions, the statute currently does not apply to our company.
Business Combinations
The “business combination” provisions of Florida Revised Statutes sections 78.411 to 78.444 generally prohibit a Florida corporation with at least 200 stockholders of record, a “resident domestic corporation,” from engaging in various “combination” transactions with any “interested stockholder” unless certain conditions are met or the corporation has elected in its articles of incorporation to not be subject to these provisions. We have not elected to opt out of these provisions and if we meet the definition of resident domestic corporation, now or in the future, our company will be subject to these provisions.
A “combination” is generally defined to include (a) a merger or consolidation of the resident domestic corporation or any subsidiary of the resident domestic corporation with the interested stockholder or affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder; (b) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer, or other disposition, in one transaction or a series of transactions, by the resident domestic corporation or any subsidiary of the resident domestic corporation to or with the interested stockholder or affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder having: (i) an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of the assets of the resident domestic corporation, (ii) an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of all outstanding shares of the resident domestic corporation, or (iii) 10% or more of the earning power or net income of the resident domestic corporation; (c) the issuance or transfer in one transaction or series of transactions of shares of the resident domestic corporation or any subsidiary of the resident domestic corporation having an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the resident domestic corporation to the interested stockholder or affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder; and (d) certain other transactions with an interested stockholder or affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.
An “interested stockholder” is generally defined as a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years, did own) 10% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. An “affiliate” of the interested stockholder is any person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries is controlled by or is under common control with the interested stockholder. An “associate” of an interested stockholder is any (a) corporation or organization of which the interested stockholder is an officer or partner or is directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of 10% or more of any class of voting shares of such corporation or organization; (b) trust or other estate in which the interested stockholder has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which the interested stockholder serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; or (c) relative or spouse of the interested stockholder, or any relative of the spouse of the interested stockholder, who has the same home as the interested stockholder.
If applicable, the prohibition is for a period of two years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless such transaction is approved by the board of directors prior to the date the interested stockholder obtained such status; or the combination is approved by the board of directors and thereafter is approved at a meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of stockholders representing at least 60% of the outstanding voting power held by disinterested stockholders; and extends beyond the expiration of the two-year period, unless (a) the combination was approved by the board of directors prior to the person becoming an interested stockholder; (b) the transaction by which the person first became an interested stockholder was approved by the board of directors before the person became an interested stockholder; (c) the transaction is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power held by disinterested stockholders at a meeting called for that purpose no earlier than two years after the date the person first became an interested stockholder; or (d) if the consideration to be paid to all stockholders other than the interested stockholder is, generally, at least equal to the highest of: (i) 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, plus compounded interest and less dividends paid, (ii) the market value per share of common shares on the date of announcement of the combination and the date the interested stockholder acquired the shares, whichever is higher, plus compounded interest and less dividends paid, or (iii) for holders of preferred stock, the highest liquidation value of the preferred stock, plus accrued dividends, if not included in the liquidation value. With respect to (i) and (ii) above, the interest is compounded at the rate for one-year United States Treasury obligations from time to time in effect.
Applicability of the Florida business combination statute would discourage parties interested in taking control of our company if they cannot obtain the approval of our Board. These provisions could prohibit or delay a merger or other takeover or change in control attempt 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.
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaw Provisions
Our articles of incorporation and our bylaws include provisions that may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying or preventing changes in control of our company, even after such time as the shares of our Class B common stock no longer represent a majority of the combined voting power of our common stock, including the following:
Dual Class Stock. As described above, our articles of incorporation provide for a dual class common stock structure, which provides Ronald Russo, our founder and Chief Executive Officer, with the ability to control the outcome of matters requiring stockholder approval, even if he owns significantly less than a majority of the shares of our outstanding Class A common stock, including the election of directors and significant corporate transactions, such as a merger or other sale of our company or its assets.
Issuance of Undesignated Preferred Stock. Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock with rights and preferences, including voting rights, designated from time to time by the 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.
Limitation of Director Liability and Indemnification
Florida law allows us to indemnify our directors, officers, employees, and agents, under certain circumstances, against attorney’s fees and other expenses incurred by them in any litigation to which they become a party arising from their association with or activities on our behalf, and under certain circumstances to advance the expenses of such litigation upon securing their promise to repay us if it is ultimately determined that indemnification will not be allowed to an individual in that litigation.
Our articles of incorporation provide that we shall indemnify our directors and may indemnify our officers, employees, and agents against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement that are incurred by reason of the fact that such person is or was our director, officer, employee, and / or agent.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us under the provisions that we describe above or otherwise, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
We may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions in that capacity, regardless of whether our amended articles of incorporation or bylaws would otherwise permit indemnification for that liability. We have not obtained liability insurance for our officers and directors. At the present time, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers, employees or agents in which indemnification will be required or permitted. We are not aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding which may result in a claim for indemnification.
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of January 15, 2023. The information in this table provides the ownership information for:
- each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock;
- each of our directors;
- each of our executive officers; and
- our executive officers, directors and director nominees as a group.
Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and includes voting or investment power with respect to the shares. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to the number of shares indicated as beneficially owned by them. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner is web3 Holdings, Inc., 3450 S Ocean Blvd, Suite 122, Palm Beach, FL 33480, (212) 213-5444, info@web3.holdings.
- NAME
-
Ronald P. Russo, Jr.
-
Felipe Alberto Lopez
- # OF SHARES OWNED
-
1,500,000 (2)
-
100,000
- % OWNERSHIP (1)
-
Founder & CEO
-
Chief Marketing Officer
- Before giving effect to the issuance of the securities included in the Shares offered hereby.
- Of Mr. Russo’s 1,500,000 shares; all are Class B Common shares. Mr. Russo is the only holder of Class B Common shares.