UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934
Filed
by the Registrant ☒
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check
the appropriate box:
☒ |
Preliminary Proxy Statement |
☐ |
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
☐ |
Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ |
Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ |
Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
GulfSlope
Energy, Inc.
(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
☒ |
No fee required. |
☐ |
Fee paid previously
with preliminary materials |
☐ |
Fee computed on
table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
|
|
GULFSLOPE
ENERGY, INC.
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
We
hereby give notice that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of GulfSlope Energy, Inc. (“we,” “us” and the
“Company”) will be held on September 30, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, at 1000 Main Street, Suite 2300, Houston,
Texas 77002, for the following purposes:
|
(1) |
To elect three directors; |
|
(2) |
To ratify the selection
of Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September
30, 2022; |
|
(3) |
To approve an amendment
to our certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock of the Company from 1,500,000,000
to 3,000,000,000; |
|
(4) |
To approve an amendment
to our certificate of incorporation to effect one or a series of reverse splits of our common stock at a ratio of not less
than 1-for-2 and not greater than 1-for-200, with the exact ratio to be set within such range in the discretion of our board
of directors, without further approval or authorization of stockholders; |
|
(5) |
To approve an amendment
to our certificate of incorporation that eliminates reference to the classification of the board of directors into classes
with staggered terms; |
|
(6) |
To approve a non-binding
advisory resolution on executive compensation; |
|
(7) |
To vote on whether
advisory votes on executive compensation should occur every one, two or three years; and |
|
(8) |
To transact such
other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
Under
Delaware law, only stockholders of record on the record date, which is August 12, 2022, are entitled to notice of and to vote
at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment. It is important that your shares of common stock be represented at this meeting so that
the presence of a quorum is assured.
Due
to the public health impact of the novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) outbreak, any person in attendance who exhibits
cold or flu-like symptoms or who has been exposed to COVID-19 may be asked to leave the premises for the protection of the other
attendees. We reserve the right to take any additional precautionary measures deemed appropriate in relation to the meeting and
access to the meeting premises. As a result of the public health and travel risks and concerns due to COVID-19, we may announce
alternative arrangements for the meeting, which may include switching to a virtual meeting format, or changing the time, date
or location of the Annual Meeting. If we take this step, we will announce any changes in advance in a press release available
on our website (gulfslope.com) and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as additional proxy materials, and as otherwise
required by applicable state law.
Your
vote is important. Even if you plan to attend the meeting in person, please date and execute the enclosed proxy and return it
promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope as soon as possible. If you attend the meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote
your shares in person.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors, |
|
|
August
[•], 2022 |
John
N. Seitz |
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board |
|
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held September 30, 2022. |
|
The
proxy statement, form of proxy card and annual report are available at:
www.gulfslope.com |
|
GULFSLOPE
ENERGY, INC.
1000
Main Street, Suite 2300
Houston,
Texas 77002
PROXY
STATEMENT
INFORMATION
CONCERNING THE ANNUAL MEETING
Mailing
and Solicitation. Proxies are being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of GulfSlope Energy, Inc. This proxy statement
and accompanying form of proxy card will be sent on or about August [•], 2022 to stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting. The cost of the solicitation of proxies will be paid by us. The solicitation is to be made primarily by mail but may
be supplemented by telephone calls and personal solicitation by our officers and other employees.
Annual
Report on Form 10-K. A copy of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2021, as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, has been mailed with this proxy statement to all stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Proxies.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we request that you date and execute the enclosed proxy card and return
it in the postage-paid return envelope. If your shares are held in “street name” through a brokerage, bank or other
institution, telephone and internet instructions are also provided on the proxy card you receive. The availability of telephone
and internet proxy will depend on the nominee’s proxy processes. A control number, located on the proxy card, is designed
to verify your identity, allow you to vote your shares, and confirm that your voting instructions have been properly recorded.
Under
the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), brokers who hold shares in “street name” for customers
are precluded from exercising voting discretion with respect to the approval of non-routine matters (so called “broker non-votes”)
where the beneficial owner has not given voting instructions. Because most large brokerage firms are NYSE member organizations,
these rules affect almost all public companies and not just those listed on the NYSE. A broker is not entitled to vote the shares
unless the beneficial owner has given instructions with respect to the election of directors (Proposal 1). Additionally, a broker
is not entitled to vote uninstructed shares on matters relating to executive compensation, including the vote to approve a non-binding
resolution on executive compensation (Proposal 6) and the vote on how often the advisory votes on executive compensation should
occur (Proposal 7). With respect to the ratification of the selection of Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. as our independent
registered public accounting firm (Proposal 2), the amendment to our certificate of incorporation to increase our authorized common
stock (Proposal 3), the authorization of our board of directors to effect a reverse stock split of all our outstanding common
stock at its discretion (Proposal 4), and the amendment to our certificate of incorporation that eliminates reference to the classification
of the board of directors into classes with staggered terms (Proposal 5), a broker will have discretionary authority to vote the
shares of common stock if the beneficial owner has not given instructions.
Revocation
of Proxies. The proxy may be revoked by the stockholder at any time before a vote is taken by notifying our President in writing
at the address of GulfSlope Energy, Inc. given above; by executing a new proxy bearing a later date or by submitting a new proxy
by telephone or internet; or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.
Voting
in Accordance with Instructions. The shares represented by your properly completed proxy will be voted in accordance with
your instructions marked on it. If you properly sign, date, and deliver to us your proxy but you mark no instructions on it, the
shares represented by your proxy will be voted for the election of the director nominees as proposed (Proposal 1), for the ratification
of Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending September 30,
2022 (Proposal 2), for the amendment to our certificate of incorporation to increase our authorize common stock (Proposal 3),
for the authorization of our board of directors to effect a reverse stock split of all our outstanding common stock at its discretion
(Proposal 4), for the amendment to our certificate of incorporation that eliminates reference to the classification of the board
of directors into classes with staggered terms (Proposal 5), for the vote to approve a non-binding resolution on executive compensation
(Proposal 6) and for holding advisory votes on executive compensation every three years (Proposal 7). The board of directors is
not aware of any other matters to be presented for action at the Annual Meeting, but if other matters are properly brought before
the Annual Meeting, shares represented by properly completed proxies received by mail will be voted in accordance with the judgment
of the persons named as proxies.
Quorum.
The presence in person or by proxy of a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding on the record date constitutes a quorum
for purposes of voting on a particular matter and conducting business at the meeting.
Required
Vote. A plurality of the common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting will elect as directors
the nominees proposed (Proposal 1). The ratification of Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. as our independent registered public
accounting firm for the current fiscal year (Proposal 2) and the vote to approve a non-binding resolution on executive compensation
(Proposal 6) requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the common stock present in person or represented
by proxy. A plurality of the votes present in person or by proxy will determine the stockholders selection on the frequency of
advisory resolutions on executive compensation (Proposal 7). The amendment to our certificate of incorporation to increase our
authorize common stock (Proposal 3), the authorization of our board of directors to effect a reverse stock split of all our outstanding
common stock at its discretion (Proposal 4) and the amendment to our certificate of incorporation that eliminates reference to
the classification of the board of directors into classes with staggered terms (Proposal 5), requires the affirmative vote of
a majority of our outstanding common stock entitled to vote. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of
determining the presence or absence of a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as having voted either for
or against a proposal.
Record
Date. The close of business on August 12, 2022 has been fixed as the record date of the Annual Meeting, and only stockholders
of record at that time will be entitled to vote. As of August 12, 2022, there were 1,268,240,346 shares of common stock issued
and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of common
stock held.
No
Dissenters’ Rights. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, stockholders are not entitled to dissenters’ rights
with respect to the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.
PROPOSAL
1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
General
Information
Under
our bylaws, the board of directors consists of at least one director and may consist of such number of directors as may be fixed
from time to time by action of the board of directors. Directors are elected to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders
and until their successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. At our annual meeting of stockholders
held in 2014, stockholders approved adoption of an amendment to our certificate of incorporation to classify the board of directors
into three classes with staggered terms, the implementation of which was to commence with the 2015 annual meeting of stockholders.
We did not hold a subsequent annual meeting of stockholders until 2018, however, and the staggered board classifications were
never implemented. For this and other reasons, the board has determined it to be in the best interest of stockholders to amend
our certificate of incorporation to eliminate reference to the classification of the board of directors into classes with staggered
terms (see Proposal 5).
Presently,
the board of directors consists of three members. Our Governance and Nominating Committee recommended to the board of directors
the nomination of three nominees, and our board of directors approved and recommends to stockholders the election of these three
nominees to serve on the board. These nominees are John N. Seitz, Paul L. Morris and Richard S. Langdon. All three of the nominees
presently serve as members of our board of directors. There are no family relationships among any of our directors, director nominees
or executive officers.
The
persons named in the enclosed Proxy (“Proxy”) have each been selected by the board of directors to serve as proxy
and will vote the shares represented by valid proxies at the Annual Meeting and adjournments thereof. Unless otherwise instructed
or unless authority to vote is withheld, the enclosed Proxy will be voted for the election of the nominees listed below. Each
duly elected director will hold office until his successor shall have been elected and qualified. Although our board of directors
does not contemplate that any of the nominees will be unable to serve, if such a situation arises prior to the Annual Meeting,
the person named in the enclosed Proxy will vote for the election of such other person(s) as may be nominated by the board of
directors.
Information
Regarding Nominees
The
names of the nominees for election to the board, their principal occupations and certain other information follow:
John
N. Seitz – age 70 – Mr. Seitz has served as the Company’s chief executive officer and chairman of the
board and director since May 31, 2013, and served as a consultant to the Company from March 2013 through May 2013. Prior to joining
the Company, Mr. Seitz held positions of increasing responsibility at Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: APC), serving most
recently as a director and as president and chief executive officer until 2003. Mr. Seitz serves on the board of directors of
ION Geophysical Corporation (NYSE: IO). Mr. Seitz is a Certified Professional Geological Scientist from the American Institute
of Professional Geologists and a licensed professional geoscientist with the State of Texas. Mr. Seitz has also served as a trustee
for the American Geological Institute Foundation. In 2000, the Houston Geological Society honored Mr. Seitz as a “Legend
in Wildcatting,” and he is a member of the All American Wildcatters. Mr. Seitz holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology
from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Science degree in Geology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and has completed
the Advanced Management Program at the Wharton School.
Richard
S. Langdon. – age 72 – Richard S. Langdon has served as a director of the Company since March 2014. Mr. Langdon
is currently the chief executive officer, president and chief financial officer of Altamont Energy, Inc., a privately held exploration
and production company formed in April 2018. Mr. Langdon served as the president, chief executive officer and outside director
of Badlands Energy, Inc. and its predecessor entity, Gasco Energy, Inc. from May 2013 and Debtor-in Possession since August 2017
to October 2018 (the company filed for Chapter XI bankruptcy on August 11, 2017). Prior to assuming the President and CEO role,
Mr. Langdon had served as a Gasco Energy Inc. outside board member from 2003 to October 2018. Mr. Langdon serves as a member of
the board of managers of Evolve Transition Infrastructure GP, LLC, and is a member of its Audit, Nominating and Corporate Governance
and Conflicts Committees. Mr. Langdon was the president and chief executive officer of KMD Operating Company, LLC (“KMD
Operating”), and its predecessor entity, Matris Exploration Company LP (“Matris Exploration”), both privately
held exploration and production companies, from July 2004 through December 2015. Mr. Langdon was executive vice president and
chief operating officer of KMD Operating, from August 2009, until the merger of Matris Exploration into KMD Operating in November
2011. From 1997 until 2002, Mr. Langdon served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of EEX Corporation, a publicly
traded exploration and production company that merged with Newfield Exploration Company in 2002. Prior to that, he held various
positions with the Pennzoil Companies from 1991 to 1996, including executive vice president - International Marketing - Pennzoil
Products Company; senior vice president - Business Development - Pennzoil Company and senior vice president - Commercial &
Control - Pennzoil Exploration & Production Company. Mr. Langdon graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor
of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1972 and a Masters of Business Administration in 1974.
Paul
L. Morris. – age 80 – Mr. Morris has served as a director of the Company since March 2014. Mr. Morris founded
Elk River Resources, LLC in August 2013 to explore and develop oil and gas potential in the oil-producing regions of the southwest
United States. Mr. Morris served as chairman and chief executive officer of Elk River Resources since inception to November 2020.
Prior to Elk River Resources, Mr. Morris served as president and chief executive officer from 1988 to September 2013 of Wagner
& Brown, Ltd., an independent oil and gas company headquartered in Midland, Texas. With Wagner & Brown, Mr. Morris oversaw
all company operations, including exploration and production activities, in eight states as well as in France, England and Australia.
Mr. Morris also oversaw affiliates involved in natural gas gathering and marketing, crude oil purchasing and reselling, pipeline
development, construction and operation, and compressed natural gas (CNG) design, fabrication and operations. Mr. Morris served
as president of Banner Energy from 1981 until 1988. Mr. Morris graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of
Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1964. Mr. Morris has also completed the Executive Management Program in the College
of Business Administration of Penn State University.
OUR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION
OF
THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.
Information
Regarding Executive Officers
Executive
officers are appointed to serve at the discretion of the board. Our current executive officers are as follows:
Name |
|
Age |
|
Title |
John N. Seitz |
|
70 |
|
Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer |
John H. Malanga |
|
54 |
|
Chief Financial
Officer |
John
H. Malanga. Mr. Malanga has served as chief financial officer since July 2014 and is responsible for leading the financial
function of the organization, overseeing strategic planning and analysis, accounting and reporting, treasury, tax, audit and risk
management. From 2005 to 2014, Mr. Malanga worked as a senior investment banker with the energy firms of Weisser, Johnson &
Co. and Sanders Morris Harris Inc. Mr. Malanga began his investment banking career with Jefferies & Co. Over his career, he
has participated in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and financial advisory transactions with particular emphasis on
providing strategic and financial advice to emerging growth companies. Mr. Malanga holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from
Texas A&M University and a Master in Business Administration with a concentration in finance from Rice University.
See
“Information Regarding Nominees” above for biographical information of Mr. Seitz.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE MATTERS
Meetings
of the Board
All
directors are expected to make every effort to attend meetings of the board, meetings of any board committees on which such director
serves, and annual meetings of stockholders. The board of directors held five meetings during the fiscal year ended September
30, 2021. The board of directors currently has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Governance and Nominating Committee.
During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, the Audit Committee held five meetings, the Compensation Committee held four
meetings, and the Governance and Nominating Committee held five meetings. Of our incumbent directors, during the year ended September
30, 2021, all attended no fewer than 75 percent of (i) the total number of meetings of the board of directors (including consents
to action in lieu of a meeting) held during the period for which he has been a director, and (ii) the total number of meetings
held by all committees of the board on which he served during the periods that he served. All of our incumbent directors attended
the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders.
Director
Independence
We
currently have two independent directors on our board, Paul L. Morris and Richard S. Langdon. The definition of “independent”
used herein is arbitrarily based on the independence standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC. The board performed a review to
determine the independence of Messrs. Morris and Langdon and made a subjective determination as to each of these directors that
no transactions, relationships or arrangements exist that, in the opinion of the board, would interfere with the exercise of independent
judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director of GulfSlope Energy, Inc. In making these determinations, the board
reviewed information provided by these directors with regard to each individual’s business and personal activities as they
may relate to us and our management.
Audit
Committee
We
maintain a separately-designated standing audit committee. The Audit Committee currently consists of our two independent directors,
Paul L. Morris and Richard S. Langdon. The board of directors has determined that Mr. Langdon is an audit committee financial
expert as defined in Item 5(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. The primary purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the board in oversight
of (1) the integrity of the financial statements of the Company, (2) the compliance by the Company with legal and regulatory requirements,
(3) the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and independent auditors, and (4) the independent auditors’
qualifications and independence. The Audit Committee meets privately with our management and with our independent registered public
accounting firm and evaluates the responses by our management both to the facts presented and to the judgments made by our outside
independent registered public accounting firm. Our Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements
for the year ended September 30, 2021 with our management.
A
copy of the Audit Committee Charter can be found in our website at www.gulfslope.com. The Charter establishes the independence
of our Audit Committee and sets forth the scope of the Audit Committee’s duties. All members of the Audit Committee will
be independent. The Audit Committee is objective, and reviews and assesses the work of our independent registered public accounting
firm and our internal accounting.
Report
of the Audit Committee
The
Audit Committee’s role in the Company’s corporate governance is summarized above. Management has the primary responsibility
for the preparation and integrity of the Company’s financial statements, accounting and financial reporting principles,
and internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations.
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of the consolidated
financial statements and expressing an opinion on the conformity of those financial statements with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America.
In
fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for
the period ended September 30, 2021, with the Company’s management and has discussed with Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas,
P.C. the matters that are required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional
Standards, Vol. 1. AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in AS 1301. In addition, Pannell
Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. has provided the Board the letter required by the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence
Discussions with Audit Committees, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in AS 1301, and the Board has
discussed with Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. their independence.
The
members of the Audit Committee are not engaged professionally in rendering, auditing or accounting services on behalf of the Company
nor are they Company employees. The Company’s management is responsible for its accounting, financial management and internal
controls. As such, it is not the duty or responsibility of the Audit Committee or its members to conduct “field work”
or other types of auditing or accounting reviews or procedures.
Based
on such reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s
annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2021, with the SEC.
/s/
Richard S. Langdon |
/s/
Paul L. Morris |
Richard
S. Langdon |
Paul
L. Morris |
All
information within this “Audit Committee” section of the proxy statement, including but not limited to the Report
of the Audit Committee, shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material,” or to be “filed” with the SEC
or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C (17 CFR 240.14a-1 through 240.14b-2 or 240.14c-1 through 240.14c-101) or to the liabilities
of section 18 of the Exchange Act. Such information will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
Compensation
Committee
The
Compensation Committee discharges the responsibilities of our board of directors relating to compensation of our directors and
executive officers, and meets regularly without management’s presence. Under its charter, the Compensation Committee fulfills
its general responsibilities by: (a) reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the
chief executive officer; (b) evaluating the chief executive officer’s performance in light of those goals and objectives;
(c) making recommendations to our board of directors with respect to chief executive officer, director, and executive officer
compensation, incentive and equity-based compensation plans; (d) producing a committee report on executive compensation; and (e)
conducting an annual performance evaluation of itself. This committee also administers our equity-based compensation plan and
is given absolute discretion to, among other things, construe and interpret the plan; to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and
regulations relating to the plan; to select the persons to whom plan awards will be given; to determine the number of shares subject
to each plan award; and to determine the terms and conditions to which each plan award is subject. The members of this committee
are Messrs. Morris and Langdon, each of whom is independent. The Compensation Committee also has the authority to obtain advice
and assistance from external advisors, including compensation consultants, although the Compensation Committee did not elect to
retain a compensation consultant to assist with determining executive compensation during the present fiscal year. A copy of the
Compensation Committee Charter can be found in our website at www.gulfslope.com.
Governance
and Nominating Committee
Under
its charter, the Governance and Nominating Committee assists our board of directors by: (a) identifying individuals qualified
to become directors consistent with criteria approved by the board; (b) selecting or recommending that the board select the director
nominees for the next annual meeting of stockholders; (c) developing and recommending to the board a set of corporate governance
principles applicable to us that are consistent with sound corporate governance practices and in compliance with applicable legal,
regulatory, or other requirements; (d) monitoring and reviewing any other corporate governance matters which the board may refer
to this committee; and (e) overseeing the evaluation of the board and management. The members of this committee are Messrs. Morris
and Langdon, each of whom is independent. A copy of the Governance and Nominating Committee Charter can be found in our website
at www.gulfslope.com.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Currently,
no member of our Board’s Compensation Committee has served as an officer or employee of the Company. None of the Company’s
executive officers serves on the board of directors or compensation committee of a company that has an executive officer that
serves on the Company’s board of directors or Compensation Committee. No member of the Company’s board of directors
is an executive officer of a company in which one of the Company’s executive officers serves as a member of the board of
directors or compensation committee of that company.
The
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
Risk
is inherent with every business, and how well a business manages risk can ultimately determine its success. Management is responsible
for the day-to-day management of risks the company faces, while the board of directors, as a whole and through its committees,
has responsibility for the oversight of risk management. In its risk oversight role, the board of directors has the responsibility
to satisfy itself that the risk management processes designed and implemented by management are adequate and functioning as designed.
The board of directors believes that establishing the right “tone at the top” and that full and open communication
between executive management and the board of directors are essential for effective risk management and oversight.
The
board of directors as a whole has responsibility for risk oversight, with reviews of certain areas being conducted by the relevant
board committees. These committees will then provide reports to the full board. The oversight responsibility of the board and
its committees is enabled by management reporting processes that are designed to provide visibility to the board about the identification,
assessment, and management of critical risks and management’s risk mitigation strategies. These areas of focus include strategic,
operational, financial and reporting, succession planning and compensation, compliance, and other risks. The board of directors
and its committees oversee risks associated with their respective areas of responsibility, as summarized below. Each committee
will meet in executive session with key management personnel and representatives of outside advisors as appropriate.
Board/Committee |
|
Primary
Areas of Risk Oversight |
Full Board of Directors |
|
Strategic,
financial and execution risks and exposures associated with our business strategy, policy matters, significant litigation
and regulatory exposures, and other current matters that may present material risk to our financial performance, operations,
infrastructure, plans, prospects or reputation, mergers and acquisition activities and related integration matters, and divestitures. |
|
|
Audit Committee |
|
Risks
and exposures associated with financial matters, particularly financial reporting, tax, accounting, disclosure, internal control
over financial reporting, investment guidelines and credit and liquidity matters, our programs and policies relating to legal
compliance and strategy, and financial infrastructure. |
|
|
Nominating
and Governance Committee |
|
Risks
and exposures associated with director and management succession planning, corporate compliance and ethics, corporate governance,
and overall board effectiveness, including appropriate allocation of responsibility for risk oversight among the committees
of the Board. |
|
|
|
Compensation Committee |
|
Risks
and exposures related to the attraction and retention of talent and risks relating to the design of compensation programs
and arrangements, including incentive plans. We have determined that it is not reasonably likely that compensation and benefit
plans would have a material adverse effect on the Company. |
Code
of Ethics
We
have adopted a written code of ethics and whistleblower policy (the “Code of Ethics”) that applies to our principal
executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions.
We believe that the Code of Ethics is reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and promote honest and ethical conduct; provide
full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in public reports; comply with applicable laws; ensure prompt internal
reporting of code violations; and provide accountability for adherence to the code. A copy of our Code of Ethics is available
on our website at www.gulfslope.com.
Director
Nomination Process
Director
Qualifications. Our Nominating and Governance Committee has not formally established any specific qualifications that must
be met by each candidate for the board of directors or specific qualities or skills that are necessary for one or more of the
members of the board of directors to possess. However, we seek board members who are highly qualified individuals with diverse
backgrounds, have an understanding of the Company’s business and industry on a technical level, have good judgment and skills
and have depth and breadth of professional experience or other background characteristics.
Identifying
Nominees. The Nominating and Governance Committee, on a periodic basis, will solicit ideas for possible candidates from members
of the board of directors, executive officers and individuals personally known to members of the board of directors. In addition,
the Nominating and Governance Committee is authorized to use its authority under its charter to retain at the Company’s
expense one or more search firms to identify candidates (and to approve such firms’ fees and other retention terms). Prospective
candidates recommended by stockholders are also considered (as discussed below).
Stockholder
Nominations. Our Nominating and Governance Committee will consider director nominees recommended by stockholders. Pursuant
to the charter of our Nominating and Governance Committee, any candidates recommended by stockholders will be reviewed and evaluated
against the same criteria applicable to the evaluation of candidates proposed by our directors, executive officers, third-party
search firms or other sources.
Review
of Director Nominees. In evaluating proposed director candidates, the Nominating and Governance Committee may consider, in
addition to any minimum qualifications and other criteria for board of directors’ membership approved by the board of directors
from time to time, all facts and circumstances that it deems appropriate or advisable, including, among other things, the proposed
director candidate’s understanding of the Company’s business and industry on a technical level, his or her judgment
and skills, his or her depth and breadth of professional experience or other background characteristics, his or her independence,
his or her willingness to devote the time and effort necessary to be an effective board member, and the needs of the board of
directors. We do not have a policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees. However, our
Nominating and Governance Committee takes into account diversity in professional experience, skills and background, and diversity
in race and gender, in considering prospective director nominees and committee appointments and planning for director succession.
The Nominating and Governance Committee considers at least annually, and recommends to the board of directors suggested changes
to, if any, the size, composition, organization and governance of the board of directors and its committees.
Stockholder
Communications
The
board welcomes communications from our stockholders, and maintains a process for stockholders to communicate with the board. Stockholders
who wish to communicate with the board may send a letter to Corporate Secretary, at 1000 Main Street, Suite 2300, Houston, Texas
77002. The mailing envelope must contain a clear notation indicating that the enclosed letter is a “Stockholder-Board Communication.”
All such letters should identify the author as a security holder. All such letters will be reviewed by the Secretary and submitted
to the entire board no later than the next regularly scheduled board meeting. Stockholders wishing to submit proposals for inclusion
in the proxy statement relating to the 2023 annual stockholders meeting should follow the procedures specified under “PROPOSALS
FOR NEXT ANNUAL MEETING” in this proxy statement.
COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION
Compensation
to Officers of the Company
The
following tables contain compensation data for our named executive officers for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and
2020:
Summary Compensation Table | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Name and Principal Position | |
| Year | | |
| Salary | | |
| Bonus | | |
| Stock Awards | | |
| Stock Option Awards | | |
| All Other Compensation | | |
| Total | |
John N. Seitz(1) | |
| 2021 | | |
$ | — | | |
$ | — | | |
$ | — | | |
$ | — | | |
$ | — | | |
$ | — | |
CEO | |
| 2020 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
John H. Malanga | |
| 2021 | | |
| 150,000 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 34,100 | | |
| — | | |
| 184,100 | |
CFO | |
| 2020 | | |
| 71,250 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 262,000 | | |
| — | | |
| 333,250 | |
(1) |
Mr.
Seitz is not currently receiving or accruing any compensation as of the date of this Proxy Statement. |
Employment
and Consulting Arrangements
Not
applicable.
Compensation
Policies and Practices as they Relate to the Company’s Risk Management
Not
applicable.
Director
Compensation
In
January of 2017, the Company’s nonemployee directors were each awarded 2,500,000 stock options for the Company’s stock
at an exercise price of $0.0278 per share, 50% vested in January 2017 and 50% vested in January of 2018. The stock options will
expire in January 2024. In June of 2018, the Company’s nonemployee directors were each awarded 4,500,000 stock options for
the Company’s stock at an exercise price of $0.075 per share, 1.5 million vested in June 2018, and 1.5 million vested in
June 2019 and 1.5 million vested in June 2020. The stock options will expire in December 2025. In January 2021, the Company’s
nonemployee directors were each awarded 5,000,000 stock options for the Company’s stock at an exercise price of $0.004 per
share, 2.5 million vested in July 2021, and 2.5 million vested in January 2022. The stock options will expire in December 2025.
Grants
of Plan-Based Awards
The
Company stockholders approved the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan in May of 2018. Restricted stock and stock option awards made after
this date, to executives, employees, and directors were made pursuant to the plan.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
In
October 2013, two million stock options were awarded with an exercise price of $0.12 and have an expiration of October 2023. In
January 2017, 28.5 million stock options were awarded to GulfSlope Energy executives and employees and five million to directors.
The exercise price of the stock options is $0.0278 and they expire in January 2024. In May 2018, 0.5 million stock options were
awarded to an employee, the exercise price is $0.065 and they expire in December 2025. In June 2018, 67.5 million stock options
were awarded to GulfSlope Energy executives, employees, consultants and directors. The exercise price of the stock options is
$0.075 and they expire in December 2025. On January 2, 2019, the Company issued 1 million stock options to a former employee and
consultant. The exercise price of the stock options is $0.045 and they expire in December 2025. All of the 2013 through 2019 stock
option awards are fully vested. In January 2021, 41.5 million stock options were awarded to GulfSlope Energy executives, employees,
consultants and directors. The exercise price of the options is $0.004 per share and 50% of the options vested in July 2021 and
50% vested in January 2022. The expiration date of the options is December 31, 2025.
Delinquent
Section 16(a) Reports
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our directors and executive officers, and persons who own beneficially more
than ten percent of our common stock, to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Based solely upon a review of Forms 3, 4 and 5 furnished to us during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, we believe that
the directors, executive officers, and greater than ten percent beneficial owners have complied with all applicable filing requirements
during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021.
Related
Person Transactions
During
April 2013 through September 2017, the Company entered into convertible promissory notes whereby it borrowed a total of $8,675,500
from John Seitz, the chief executive officer (“CEO”). The notes are due on demand, bear interest at the rate of 5%
per annum, and $5,300,000 of the notes are convertible into shares of common stock at a conversion price equal to $0.12 per share
of common stock (the then offering price of shares of common stock to unaffiliated investors). As of September 30, 2021 and 2020,
the total amount owed to John Seitz is $8,675,500. This amount is included in loans from related parties within the condensed
balance sheets. There was approximately $2.96 million and $2.52 million, respectively, of unpaid interest associated with these
loans included in accrued interest payable within the balance sheet as of September 30, 2021 and 2020.
On
November 15, 2016, a family member of the CEO entered into a $50,000 convertible promissory note with associated warrants under
the same terms received by other investors (see Note 7).
Domenica
Seitz CPA, who is related to the CEO, has provided accounting services to the Company, as a consultant and beginning October 2020
as an employee. During the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the services provided were valued at approximately $75,000
and $60,000, respectively. The amount owed to this related party totals approximately $346,000 as of September 30, 2021 and 2020,
respectively. The Company has accrued these amounts, and they have been reflected in related party payable in the September 30,
2021 and 2020 financial statements.
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The
following table sets forth the number and percentage of outstanding shares of common stock owned by: (a) each of our directors;
(b) each person who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock; (c) the
named executive officers as defined in Item 402 of Regulation S-K; and (d) all current directors and executive officers, as a
group. As of August 12, 2022, there were 1,268,240,346 shares of common stock deemed issued and outstanding.
Unless
otherwise stated, beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act. Under this rule,
certain shares may be deemed to be beneficially owned by more than one person (if, for example, persons share the power to vote
or the power to dispose of the shares). In addition, shares are deemed to be beneficially owned by a person if the person has
the right to acquire shares (for example, upon exercise of an option or warrant) within 60 days of the date as of which the information
is provided. In computing the percentage ownership of any person or group of persons, the number of shares beneficially owned
by such person or group of persons is deemed to include the number of shares beneficially owned by such person or the members
of such group by reason of such acquisition rights, and the total number of shares outstanding is also deemed to include such
shares (but not shares subject to similar acquisition rights held by any other person or group) for purposes of that calculation.
As a result, the percentage of outstanding shares of any person as shown in the following table does not necessarily reflect the
person’s actual voting power at any particular date. To our knowledge, except as indicated in the footnotes to this table
and pursuant to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with
respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them. The address for each of the beneficial owners is the
Company’s address.
Named
Executives Officers and Directors |
|
Beneficially
Owned
Shares
of Common Stock |
|
|
Percentage
of Beneficially
Owned
Common Stock |
|
John
N. Seitz (1) |
|
|
261,391,324 |
|
|
|
20.6 |
% |
John
H. Malanga (3) |
|
|
46,666,667 |
|
|
|
3.7 |
% |
Richard
S. Langdon (4) |
|
|
12,916,667 |
|
|
|
1.0 |
% |
Paul
L. Morris (2) |
|
|
14,228,038 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
% |
All
Executive Officers & Directors |
|
|
335,202,696 |
|
|
|
26.4 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greater
than 5% Stockholders |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Delek
GOM Investments LLC |
|
|
294,018,459 |
|
|
|
23.2 |
% |
(1) |
Includes
44,166,667 shares of common stock underlying the convertible demand note in the principal amount of $5.3 million and 17,639,101
shares underlying the convertible accrued interest in the amount of $2,116,692. |
(2) |
Includes
61,371 shares of common stock held by the Morris Family Limited Partnership LP, a partnership of which an entity controlled
by Mr. Morris is the general partner and 2,500,000 stock options awarded in January 2017, one-half vested in January of 2017
and one-half vested in January 2018. Includes 4,500,000 stock options awarded in June 2018, one-third vested in June of 2018,
one-third vested in June 2019 and one-third vested in June 2020. Includes 5,000,000 stock options awarded in January 2021,
one-half vested in July of 2021, one-half vested in January 2022. |
(3) |
Includes
15,000,000 stock options awarded in January 2017, one-half vested in January of 2017 and one-half vested in January 2018.
Includes 18,000,000 stock options awarded in June 2018, one-third vested in June of 2018, one-third vested in June 2019 and
one-third vested in June 2020. Includes 11,000,000 stock options awarded in January 2021, one-half vested in July of 2021,
one-half vested in January 2022. |
(4) |
Includes
2,500,000 stock options awarded in January 2017, one-half vested in January of 2017 and one-half vested in January 2018. Includes
4,500,000 stock options awarded in June 2018, one-third vested in June of 2018, one-third vested in June 2019 and one-third
vested in June 2020. Includes 5,000,000 stock options awarded in January 2021, one-half vested in July of 2021, one-half vested
in January 2022. |
Securities
Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The
following table sets forth information with respect to the equity compensation plans available to directors, officers, certain
employees and certain consultants of the Company at September 30, 2021.
|
|
(a) |
|
|
(b) |
|
|
(c) |
|
Plan
category |
|
Number
of
securities to
be
issued upon
exercise
of
outstanding
stock options(1) |
|
|
Weighted-average
exercise
price of
outstanding
stock options |
|
|
Number
of
securities
remaining
available for
future
issuance
under equity
compensation
plans(2) |
|
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders |
|
|
146,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
0.0444 |
|
|
|
—19,970,000 |
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total |
|
|
146,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—19,970,000 |
|
(1) |
This
column reflects the maximum number of shares of our common stock subject to stock option awards granted as Inducement Shares
or under the 2014 and 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plans vested and unvested. |
(2)
|
This column reflects
the total number of shares of our common stock remaining available for issuance under the 2014 and 2018 Omnibus Incentive
Plans. |
PROPOSAL
2 – RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
The
board of directors has selected Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the
current fiscal year. Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. has served as our independent registered public accounting firm continuously
since November 1, 2019. The board of directors wishes to obtain from the stockholders a ratification of the board’s action
in selecting Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022. Such ratification requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting. We do not anticipate a representative from Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. to be present at the meeting.
Although
not required by law or otherwise, the selection is being submitted to the stockholders for their approval as a matter of good
corporate practice. In the event the selection of Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. as our independent registered public accounting
firm is not ratified by the stockholders, the adverse vote will be considered as a direction to the board of directors to reconsider
whether or not to retain that firm as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022.
Even if the selection is ratified, the board of directors in its discretion may direct the selection of a different independent
accounting firm at any time during or after the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of us
and our stockholders.
OUR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF PANNELL KERR FORSTER OF TEXAS, P.C. AS
OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2022.
Audit
Fees and Services
For
the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021and 2020 professional services were performed by Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C.
The aggregate fees billed by Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 were as follows:
|
|
September
30,
2021 |
|
Audit
Fees (1) |
|
$ |
101,000 |
|
Audit-Related
Fees (2) |
|
|
67,000 |
|
Tax
Fees (3) |
|
|
17,000 |
|
All
Other Fees |
|
|
— |
|
|
(1) |
Audit services include
fees for professional services rendered only for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the fiscal
year ended September 30, 2021. |
|
(2) |
Audit-related services
primarily include fees for assurance and related services by our principal accountants that are reasonably related to the
performance of the review of our financial statements for the quarterly periods December 31, 2020, March 31, 2021 and June
30, 2021. |
|
(3) |
Tax services include
fees for assistance with tax preparation and compliance during the year ended September 30, 2021. |
Audit
Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The
Audit and Compliance Committee has adopted policies and procedures that will require the Company to obtain the Committee’s
pre-approval of all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided by the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm. The Committee pre-approved 100% of the non-audit services provided to the Company by Pannell Kerr Forster of
Texas, P.C.
PROPOSAL
3 – APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
The
board has unanimously approved an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation to increase the number of shares
of common stock authorized for issuance from 1,500,000,000 to 3,000,000,000. At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders will be asked
to consider and vote upon this proposed amendment. The amendment as described in this Proposal 3, if approved by the Company’s
stockholders, would become effective as set forth in the form of certificate of amendment to certificate of incorporation which
is annexed to this proxy statement as Exhibit A, to be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State.
The
terms of the additional shares of common stock will be identical to those of the currently outstanding shares of common stock
and will not affect the relative voting power or equity interest of any stockholder. However, because holders of common stock
have no preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any unissued stock of the Company, the issuance of additional shares of
common stock will reduce the current stockholders’ percentage ownership interest in the total outstanding shares of common
stock. This amendment and the creation of additional shares of authorized common stock will not alter the current number of issued
shares.
Reasons
for Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation
Currently,
the Company’s certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of 1,550,000,000 shares of capital stock, 1,500,000,000
of which are designated as common stock and 50,000,000 of which are designated as preferred stock. The Company has not designated
or issued any preferred stock. As of the Record Date, there were 1,268,240,346 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and
288,849,968 shares of common stock underlying outstanding derivative securities. As of the Record Date, not including the shares
underlying the Company’s outstanding derivate securities, we have 231,759,654 shares of common stock that are authorized
to be issued and are unissued.
We
do not presently have any agreements, commitments or arrangements regarding the 1,500,000,000 shares of our common stock that
would be newly authorized upon the increase to our authorized capital stock as contemplated in this proposal. The common stock
does not have any cumulative voting, preemptive, subscription or conversion rights.
The
Effects on the Increase in the Company’s Authorized Shares of Common Stock
The
amendment will not affect the relative voting power or equity interest of any stockholder. Additional shares of common stock,
however, would continue to be available for issuance from time to time in the future. The shares issued pursuant to the increase
in the authorized shares, will dilute the percentage ownership interest of existing holders of our common stock and the value
of the shares held by such stockholders may be diluted.
The
Company’s certificate of incorporation presently authorizes 1,500,000,000 shares of common stock and 50,000,000 shares of
preferred stock. The adoption of the proposal to amend the Company’s certificate of incorporation would increase the authorized
number of shares common stock from 1,500,000,000 to 3,000,000,000. For illustrative purposes only, the following table shows the
effect on our authorized shares of common stock if the increase in authorized shares pursuant to this proposal is effected:
|
|
On
Record Date |
|
|
Assuming
Approval of Amendment |
|
Authorized Shares of Common
Stock |
|
|
1,500,000,000 |
|
|
|
3,000,000,000 |
|
Issued and Outstanding Shares of Common Stock* |
|
|
1,268,240,346 |
|
|
|
1,268,240,346 |
|
Shares of Common Stock available for future
issuance |
|
|
231,759,654 |
|
|
|
1,731,759,654 |
|
*
This does not include 288,849,968 shares of common stock underlying outstanding derivative securities.
As
a result of the amendment, additional shares of common stock would be available from time to time in the future, for any proper
corporate purpose, including equity financings, stock splits, stock dividends, acquisitions, stock option plans and other employee
benefit plans, and for strategic transactions. We believe that the availability of the additional shares will provide us with
the flexibility to meet business needs as they arise, to take advantage of favorable opportunities and to respond to a changing
corporate environment. Common stock does not have any cumulative voting, preemptive, subscription or conversion rights
The
increased proportion of unissued authorized shares to issued shares could also, under certain circumstances, have an anti-takeover
effect. For example, the issuance of a large block of common stock could dilute the ownership of a person seeking to effect a
change in the composition of our board or contemplating a tender offer or other transaction. However, the increase in authorized
capital stock has not been authorized in response to any effort of which the Company is aware to accumulate shares of our capital
stock to obtain control of the Company. The board is not aware of any attempt, or contemplated attempt, to acquire control of
the Company.
Our
certificate of incorporation and bylaws currently include certain other provisions that may have an anti-takeover effect, including
the board of directors’ right to issue preferred stock without obtaining additional approval of our stockholders. Other
than Proposal 3, the Board does not currently contemplate recommending the adoption of any other amendments to our certificate
of incorporation that could be construed to reduce or interfere with the ability of third parties to take over or change the control
of our Company. Additionally, the Company has no current plans to use the newly authorized shares of common stock in connection
with any merger, consolidation, or other business combination transaction.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE
THE AUTHORIZE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.
PROPOSAL
4 – REVERSE STOCK SPLIT OF OUR OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK
IN
A RATIO OF BETWEEN ONE-FOR-TWO AND ONE-FOR-200
The
board of directors has approved, subject to approval by our stockholders, effecting a reverse stock split of all of our outstanding
common stock at a ratio of between one-for-two and one-for-200 (the “Exchange Ratio”), with our board having the sole
discretion as to whether or not the reverse split is to be effected, and with the exact Exchange Ratio of any reverse split to
be set at a whole number within the above range as determined by our board in its sole discretion (the “Reverse Stock Split”).
Our board will have sole discretion to elect, at any time before the earlier of (a) September 30, 2023, and (b) the date of our
next annual meeting of stockholders, as it determines to be in our best interest, whether or not to effect the Reverse Stock Split,
and, if so, at what Exchange Ratio.
The
determination as to whether to effect the Reverse Stock Split, and which Exchange Ratio will apply, will be based upon those market
or business factors deemed relevant by the board of directors at that time, including, but not limited to:
|
● |
listing
standards under any national securities exchange to which we are subject, if any; |
|
● |
existing
and expected marketability and liquidity of our common stock; |
|
● |
prevailing
stock market conditions; |
|
● |
the
historical trading price and trading volume of our common stock; |
|
● |
the
then prevailing trading price and trading volume of our common stock and the anticipated impact of the reverse split on the
trading market for our common stock; |
|
● |
the
anticipated impact of the reverse split on our ability to raise additional financing; |
|
● |
business
developments affecting us; |
|
● |
our
actual or forecasted results of operations; and |
|
● |
the
likely effect on the market price of our common stock. |
If
our board determines that effecting the Reverse Stock Split is in our best interest, the Reverse Stock Split will become effective
upon the filing of an amendment to our certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The
form of the proposed amendment to our certificate of incorporation to affect the Reverse Stock Split is attached to this proxy
statement as Exhibit B (the “Amendment”). The Amendment filed thereby will set forth the number of shares to
be combined into one share of our common stock within the limits set forth above, but will not have any effect on the number of
shares of common stock or preferred stock then authorized, the ability of our board of directors to designate preferred stock,
the par value of our common or preferred stock, or any series of preferred stock previously authorized (except to the extent such
Reverse Stock Split adjusts the conversion ratio of such preferred stock, provided that no shares of our preferred stock are currently
outstanding). The form of Amendment attached hereto shall be subject to technical, administrative or similar changes and modifications
as determined in the discretion of our officers, to the extent required to comply with Delaware law or affect the timing of the
Reverse Stock Split, to the extent such changes and modifications do not individually or in the aggregate, adversely affect the
rights of our stockholders.
Purpose
of the Reverse Stock Split
We
believe that the increased market price of our common stock expected as a result of implementing the Reverse Stock Split may improve
the marketability and liquidity of our common stock and encourage interest and trading in our common stock. Because of the trading
volatility often associated with low-priced stocks, many brokerage houses and institutional investors have internal policies and
practices that either prohibit them from investing in low-priced stocks or tend to discourage individual brokers from recommending
low-priced stocks to their customers. Some of those policies and practices may function to make the processing of trades in low-priced
stocks economically unattractive to brokers. Moreover, because brokers’ commissions on low-priced stocks generally represent
a higher percentage of the stock price than commissions on higher-priced stocks, the current average price per share of common
stock can result in individual stockholders paying transaction costs representing a higher percentage of their total share value
than would be the case if the share price were substantially higher. Although it should be noted that the liquidity of our common
stock may be harmed by the Reverse Stock Split given the reduced number of shares that would be outstanding after the Reverse
Stock Split, our board of directors is hopeful that the anticipated higher market price will offset, to some extent, the negative
effects on the liquidity and marketability of our common stock inherent in some of the policies and practices of institutional
investors and brokerage houses described above.
Board
Discretion to Implement the Reverse Stock Split
The
Reverse Stock Split will be affected, if at all, only upon a determination by the board of directors that the Reverse Stock Split
is in the best interests of the company and our stockholders. The board of directors’ determination as to whether the Reverse
Stock Split will be effected and, if so, at which Exchange Ratio, will be based upon certain factors, including existing and expected
marketability and liquidity of our common stock, prevailing stock market conditions, business developments affecting us, actual
or forecasted results of operations and the likely effect on the market price of our common stock. If the board does not act to
implement the Reverse Stock Split prior to the earlier of (a) September 30, 2023; and (b) the date of our next annual meeting
of stockholders, the authorization for the Reverse Stock Split will be deemed withdrawn.
Effect
of the Reverse Stock Split
If
implemented by the board of directors, as of the effective time of the Amendment, each issued and outstanding share of our common
stock would immediately and automatically be reclassified and reduced into a fewer number of shares of our common stock, depending
upon the Exchange Ratio selected by the board of directors, which could range between one-for-two and one-for-200, provided that
all fractional shares as a result of the split shall be automatically rounded up to the next whole share on a per stockholder
basis.
Except
to the extent that the Reverse Stock Split would result in any stockholder receiving an additional whole share of common stock
in connection with the rounding of fractional shares or any dilution to other stockholder in connection therewith, as described
below, the Reverse Stock Split will not:
|
● |
affect
any stockholder’s percentage ownership interest in us; |
|
● |
affect
any stockholder’s proportionate voting power; |
|
● |
substantially
affect the voting rights or other privileges of any stockholder; or |
|
● |
alter
the relative rights of stockholders, warrant holders or holders of equity compensation plan awards and options. |
Depending
upon the Exchange Ratio selected by the board of directors, the principal effects of the Reverse Stock Split are:
|
● |
the
number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding will be reduced by a factor ranging between two and 200; and |
|
● |
the
per share exercise price will be increased by a factor between two and 200, and the number of shares issuable upon exercise
shall be decreased by the same factor, for all outstanding options, warrants and other convertible or exercisable equity instruments
entitling the holders to purchase shares of our common stock. |
The
following table contains approximate information relating to our common stock, our outstanding warrants and the amount outstanding
under the Plan, under various exchange ratio options:*
| |
Pre-Reverse Split | | |
1 for 2 | | |
1 for 100 | | |
1 for 200 | |
Authorized Common Stock | |
| 3,000,000,000 | | |
| 3,000,000,000 | | |
| 3,000,000,000 | | |
| 3,000,000,000 | |
Outstanding Common Stock | |
| 1,268,240,346 | | |
| 634,120,173 | | |
| 12,682,403 | | |
| 6,341,202 | |
Reserved for issuance in connection with the exercise and conversion of outstanding derivative securities | |
| 288,849,968 | | |
| 144,424,984 | | |
| 2,888,500 | | |
| 1,444,250 | |
Total Outstanding and Reserved Shares | |
| 1,557,090,314 | | |
| 778,545,157 | | |
| 15,570,903 | | |
| 7,785,452 | |
Shares available for future issuance | |
| 1,442,909,686 | | |
| 2,221,454,843 | | |
| 2,984,429,097 | | |
| 2,992,214,548 | |
*
Assumes the increase in the authorized common stock from 1,500,000,000 to 3,000,000,000 (Proposal 3) is approved by stockholders
and effected. Does not take into account the rounding of fractional shares described below under “Fractional Shares.”
If
the Reverse Stock Split is implemented, the Amendment will not reduce the number of shares of our common stock or preferred stock
authorized under our certificate of incorporation, as amended, the right of our board of directors to designate preferred stock,
the par value of our common or preferred stock, or otherwise effect our designated series of preferred stock (of which no shares
are outstanding).
Our
common stock is currently registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and we are subject to the periodic reporting and
other requirements thereof. We presently do not have any intent to seek any change in our status as a reporting company under
the Exchange Act either before or after the Reverse Stock Split, if implemented, and the Reverse Stock Split, if implemented,
will not result in a going private transaction.
Additionally,
as of the date of this proxy statement, we do not have any current plans, agreements, or understandings with respect to the authorized
shares that will become available for issuance after the Reverse Stock Split has been implemented.
Fractional
Shares
Stockholders
will not receive fractional shares in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Instead, stockholders otherwise entitled to fractional
shares will receive an additional whole share of our common stock. For example, if the board of directors’ effects a one-for-five
split, and you held four shares of our common stock immediately prior to the effective date of the Amendment, you would hold one
share of our common stock following the Reverse Stock Split.
Effective
Time and Implementation of the Reverse Stock Split
The
effective time for the Reverse Stock Split will be the date on which we file the Amendment with the office of the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware or such later date and time as specified in the Amendment, provided that the effective date must
occur prior to the earlier of (a) September 30, 2023; and (b) the date of our next annual meeting of stockholders.
Our
transfer agent will act as exchange agent for purposes of implementing the exchange of stock certificates. As soon as practicable
after the effective time, a letter of transmittal will be sent to our stockholders of record as of the effective time for purposes
of surrendering to the transfer agent certificates representing pre-Reverse Stock Split shares in exchange for certificates representing
post-Reverse Stock Split shares in accordance with the procedures set forth in the letter of transmittal. No new certificates
will be issued to a stockholder until such stockholder has surrendered such stockholder’s outstanding certificate(s), together
with the properly completed and executed letter of transmittal, to the exchange agent. From and after the effective time, any
certificates formerly representing pre-Reverse Stock Split shares which are submitted for transfer, whether pursuant to a sale,
other disposition or otherwise, will be exchanged for certificates representing post-Reverse Stock Split shares.
STOCKHOLDERS
SHOULD NOT DESTROY ANY STOCK CERTIFICATE(S) AND SHOULD NOT SUBMIT ANY STOCK CERTIFICATE(S) UNTIL THE REVERSE SPLIT IS EFFECTIVE,
IF AT ALL.
Accounting
Matters
The
Reverse Stock Split will not affect the par value of our common stock ($0.001 per share). However, at the effective time of the
Reverse Stock Split, the stated capital attributable to common stock on our balance sheet will be reduced proportionately based
on the Exchange Ratio (including a retroactive adjustment of prior periods), and the additional paid-in capital account will be
credited with the amount by which the stated capital is reduced. Reported per share net income or loss would be expected to be
proportionally higher because there will be fewer shares of our common stock outstanding.
No
Appraisal Rights
Under
Delaware Law, our stockholders are not entitled to appraisal rights with respect to the Reverse Stock Split.
Certain
Risks Associated with the Reverse Stock Split
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● |
The
price per share of our common stock after the Reverse Stock Split may not reflect the Exchange Ratio implemented by the board
of directors and the price per share following the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split may not be maintained for any
period of time following the Reverse Stock Split. Accordingly, the total market capitalization of our common stock following
a Reverse Stock Split may be lower than before the Reverse Stock Split. |
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● |
Effecting
the Reverse Stock Split may not attract institutional or other potential investors, or result in a sustained market price
that is high enough to overcome the investor policies and practices, and other issues relating to investing in lower priced
stock described in “Purpose of the Reverse Stock Split” above. |
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● |
The
trading liquidity of our common stock could be adversely affected by the reduced number of shares outstanding after the Reverse
Stock Split. |
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If
a Reverse Stock Split is implemented by the board of directors, some stockholders may consequently own less than 100 shares
of our common stock. A purchase or sale of less than 100 shares (an “odd lot” transaction) may result in
incrementally higher trading costs through certain brokers, particularly “full service” brokers. Therefore,
those stockholders who own fewer than 100 shares following the Reverse Stock Split may be required to pay higher transaction
costs if they should then determine to sell their shares of our common stock. |
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A
stockholder who receives a “round up” from a fractional share to a whole share, as discussed above, may have a
tax event based on the value of the “rounded up” share. We believe such tax event will be minimal or insignificant
for most stockholders. |
Potential
Anti-Takeover Effect
The
increased proportion of unissued authorized shares to issued shares could, under certain circumstances, have an anti-takeover
effect (for example, by permitting issuances that would dilute the stock ownership of a person seeking to effect a change in the
composition of our board or contemplating a tender offer or other transaction for our combination with another company). However,
the Reverse Stock Split was not approved in response to any effort of which we are aware to accumulate shares of our common stock
or obtain control of us, nor is it part of a plan by management to recommend a series of similar amendments to our board and stockholders.
Federal
Income Tax Consequences of the Reverse Stock Split
A
summary of the federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split to individual stockholders is set forth below. It is
based upon present federal income tax law, which is subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. The discussion is not
intended to be, nor should it be relied on as, a comprehensive analysis of the tax issues arising from or relating to the Reverse
Stock Split. In addition, we have not requested and will not seek an opinion of counsel or a ruling from the Internal Revenue
Service regarding the federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split. Accordingly, stockholders are advised to
consult their own tax advisors for more detailed information regarding the effects of the Reverse Stock Split on them under applicable
federal, state, local and foreign income tax laws.
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● |
We
believe that the Reverse Stock Split will be a tax-free recapitalization for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a stockholder
will generally not recognize any gain or loss as a result of the receipt of the post-reverse split common stock pursuant to
the Reverse Stock Split. However, a stockholder who receives a “round up” from a fractional share to a whole share
may have a tax event based on the value of the “rounded up” share provided to the stockholder. We believe such
tax event will be minimal or insignificant for most stockholders. |
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The
shares of post-reverse split common stock in the hands of a stockholder will have an aggregate basis for computing gain or
loss equal to the aggregate basis of the shares of pre-reverse split common stock held by that stockholder immediately prior
to the Reverse Stock Split. |
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A
stockholder’s holding period for the post-reverse split common stock will include the holding period of the pre-reverse
split common stock exchanged. |
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO authorize
our board of directors, without further stockholder approval, to effect a reverse stock split.
PROPOSAL
5 – APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO eliminate reference to the classification of the
board of directors into classes with staggered terms
At
our annual meeting of stockholders held on May 29, 2014, stockholders approved an amendment to our certificate of incorporation
to provide for the classification of the board of directors into three classes with staggered terms. This amendment was adopted
and became effective on May 29, 2014 when we filed the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware. The implementation of this amendment was to commence with the 2015 annual meeting of stockholders.
We did not hold a subsequent annual meeting of stockholders until 2018, however, and the staggered board classifications were
never implemented. Accordingly, the board of directors deems it in the best interest of stockholders to eliminate reference to
the classification of the board of directors into classes with staggered terms, as reflected in the form of certificate of amendment
to certificate of incorporation which is annexed to this proxy statement as Exhibit C.
Although
the Company still believes that implementing a staggered board can provide important benefits to the Company and its stockholders,
such as discouraging third parties from attempting certain types of takeover and change of control transactions, and providing
continuity and stability of the Company’s business strategies and management of the Company’s business because a majority
of the board of directors at any given time will have prior experience as directors of the Company, at this time, the board of
directors believes that implementing a staggered board might be counterproductive given the size of the company and the board—there
are presently only three members. Further, the Company is not aware of any present third-party plans to takeover or gain control
of the Company, and such an action seems unlikely in the near future.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO ELIMINATE
REFERENCE TO THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INTO CLASSES WITH STAGGERED TERMS.
PROPOSAL
6 – NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The
SEC’s proxy rules provide that not less than once every three years, all companies subject to the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) must include a separate resolution subject to stockholder vote to approve the compensation
of the company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the proxy statement. This vote, commonly known as a “say-on-pay”
vote, gives a company’s stockholders the opportunity to endorse or not endorse the company’s executive pay program
and policies. We are asking stockholders to approve the following resolution:
“RESOLVED,
that the compensation paid to GulfSlope Energy, Inc.’s named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant
to Item 402 of Regulation S–K, including the Compensation Discussion, compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby
APPROVED.”
As
provided in Section 14A of the Exchange Act, this vote will not be binding on us or our board of directors and may not be construed
as overruling a decision by the board, creating or implying any change to the fiduciary duties of the board or any additional
fiduciary duty by the board or restricting or limiting the ability of stockholders to make proposals for inclusion in proxy materials
related to executive compensation. The Compensation Committee may, however, take into account the outcome of the vote when considering
future executive compensation arrangements.
This
Annual Meeting will be the first stockholders meeting where we include a say-on-pay vote.
In
voting to approve the above resolution, stockholders may vote for the resolution, against the resolution or abstain from voting.
This matter will be decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. On this matter, abstentions
and broker non-votes will have no effect on the voting.
OUR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS DISCLOSED
IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
PROPOSAL
7 – NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF VOTES ON
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
As
required by the SEC’s proxy rules, we are seeking an advisory, non-binding stockholder vote about how often we should present
stockholders with the opportunity to vote on compensation awarded to our named executive officers. You may elect to have the say-on-pay
vote held every year, every two years, or every three years, or you may abstain.
As
provided in Section 14A of the Exchange Act, this vote will not be binding on us or the board of directors and may not be construed
as overruling a decision by the Board, creating or implying any change to the fiduciary duties of the Board or any additional
fiduciary duty by the Board or restricting or limiting the ability of stockholders to make proposals for inclusion in proxy materials
related to executive compensation.
The
board of directors recommends that say-on-pay votes be held once every three years, but stockholders are not voting to approve
or disapprove of that recommendation. We believe that a three-year voting frequency will provide our stockholders with sufficient
time to evaluate the effectiveness of our overall compensation philosophy, policies, and practices in the context of our long-term
business results for the corresponding period, while avoiding over-emphasis on short-term variations in compensation and business
results. We also believe that a three-year timeframe provides a better opportunity to observe and evaluate the impact of any changes
to our executive compensation policies and practices that have occurred since the last advisory vote.
This
Annual Meeting is the first stockholder meeting where we have included a vote on the frequency of say-on-pay votes. The next stockholder
advisory vote on the frequency of say-on-pay votes will occur at our Annual Meeting held in 2028.
The
frequency that receives the highest number of votes cast will be deemed to be the frequency selected by the stockholders. Because
this vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon our board of directors. The board of directors will, however, consider the
outcome of the stockholder vote, along with other relevant factors, in determining the voting frequency.
OUR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE TO HAVE THE NON-BINDING VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION EVERY THREE YEARS.
INTERESTS
OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN OPPOSITION TO
MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
None
of the persons who have served as our executive officers or directors since the beginning of our last fiscal year, or any associates
of such persons, have any substantial interest, direct or indirect, in any of the proposals set forth herein, other than elections
to office.
OTHER
MATTERS WHICH MAY BE PRESENTED FOR ACTION AT THE MEETING
The
board of directors does not intend to present for action at this Annual Meeting any matter other than those specifically set forth
in the Notice of Annual Meeting. If any other matter is properly presented for action at the Annual Meeting, it is the intention
of persons named in the proxy to vote thereon in accordance with their judgment pursuant to the discretionary authority conferred
by the proxy.
PROPOSALS
FOR NEXT ANNUAL MEETING
Under
the SEC’s proxy rules, stockholder proposals that meet specified conditions must be included in our proxy statement and
proxy for the 2023 annual meeting. Under Exchange Act Rules 14a-5(e) and 14a-8(e), stockholders that intend to present a proposal
at our 2023 annual meeting must give us written notice of the proposal not later than [•] [•], 2023 for the proposal
to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for that meeting. Our timely receipt of a proposal by a qualified stockholder
will not guarantee the proposal’s inclusion in our proxy materials or presentation at the 2023 annual meeting, because there
are other requirements in the proxy rules. We reserve the right to reject, rule out of order, or take other appropriate action
with respect to any proposal that does not comply with all applicable requirements of the SEC’s proxy rules, state law,
and our bylaws.
Delivery
of Documents to Stockholders Sharing an Address
Some
banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of “householding” proxy statements,
information statements and annual reports. This means that only one copy of this proxy statement may have been sent to multiple
stockholders in your household. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of this document to you if you call or write us at the
following address or phone number: 1000 Main Street, Suite 2300, Houston, Texas 77002, (281) 918-4100. If you want to receive
separate copies of our proxy statements, information statements and annual reports in the future, or if you are receiving multiple
copies and would like to receive only one copy for your household, you should contact your bank, broker, or other nominee record
holder, or you may contact us at the above address and phone number.
Where
you can Find Additional Information
The
Company is subject to the informational filing requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, is required to file
periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC relating to its business, financial condition and other
matters. Such reports, proxy statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the public reference facility maintained
by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549-0213. Information regarding the public reference facilities may be obtained
from the SEC by telephoning 1-800-SEC-0330. The Company’s filings are also available to the public on the SEC’s website
(www.sec.gov). Copies of such materials may also be obtained by mail from the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy of the
SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. We maintain a website at https://www.gulfslope.com. You
may access our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those
reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at our website as
soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to the SEC.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors, |
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|
|
John
N. Seitz |
Dated:
August [•], 2022 |
Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board |
Exhibit
A
STATE
OF DELAWARE
CERTIFICATE
OF AMENDMENT TO
AMENDED
AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
GULFSLOPE
ENERGY, INC.
The
corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware does hereby certify:
FIRST:
That at a meeting of the Board of Directors of GulfSlope Energy, Inc., resolutions were duly adopted setting forth a proposed
amendment to the certificate of incorporation, as amended, of said corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”),
subject to the approval for such amendment, by the stockholders of the corporation.
The
resolution setting forth the proposed amendment is as follows:
RESOLVED,
that the Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation be amended by amending and restating the first paragraph of the article
named “ARTICLE 4” as follows:
“The
total number of shares of capital stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 3,050,000,000, consisting of 3,000,000,000
shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and 50,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).”
SECOND:
That thereafter, pursuant to resolution of its Board of Directors, an annual meeting of the stockholders of said corporation was
duly called and held upon notice in accordance with Section 222 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware at which
meeting the necessary number of shares as required by statute were voted in favor of the amendment.
THIRD:
That said amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware.
I,
the undersigned, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, have signed this Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of
Incorporation on [ ].
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John N. Seitz |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
A-1
Exhibit
B
STATE
OF DELAWARE
CERTIFICATE
OF AMENDMENT TO
AMENDED
AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
GULFSLOPE
ENERGY, INC.
The
corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware does hereby certify:
FIRST:
That at a meeting of the Board of Directors of GulfSlope Energy, Inc., resolutions were duly adopted setting forth a proposed
amendment to the certificate of incorporation, as amended, of said corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”),
subject to the approval for such amendment, by the stockholders of the corporation.
The
resolution setting forth the proposed amendment is as follows:
RESOLVED,
that the Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation be amended by adding the below paragraph to the end of the article named
“ARTICLE 4” as follows:
“Reverse
Stock Split of Outstanding Common Stock
Effective
as of the effective date of such Amendment as set forth below (the “Effective Time”), every [2 to 200, depending
on the final ratio approved by the Board of Directors] shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock, issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time, or held in treasury prior to the Effective Time (collectively the “Old Capital
Stock”), shall be automatically reclassified and combined into 1 share of Common Stock (the “Reverse Stock
Split”). Any stock certificate that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented shares of Old Capital Stock
will, from and after the Effective Time, automatically and without the necessity of presenting the same for exchange, represent
the number of shares as equals the quotient obtained by dividing the number of shares of Old Capital Stock represented by such
certificate immediately prior to the Effective Time by [2 to 200, depending on the final ratio approved by the Board of Directors],
subject to any adjustments for fractional shares as set forth below; provided, however, that each person holding of record a stock
certificate or certificates that represented shares of Old Capital Stock shall receive, upon surrender of such certificate or
certificates, a new certificate or certificates evidencing and representing the number of shares of capital stock to which such
person is entitled under the foregoing reclassification. No fractional shares of capital stock shall be issued as a result of
the Reverse Stock Split. In lieu of any fractional share of capital stock to which a stockholder would otherwise be entitled,
the Corporation shall issue that number of shares of capital stock as rounded up to the nearest whole share. The Reverse Stock
Split shall have no effect on the number of authorized shares of capital stock, previously designated series of preferred stock
or the par value thereof as set forth above in the preceding paragraphs.”
SECOND:
That thereafter, pursuant to resolution of its Board of Directors, an annual meeting of the stockholders of said corporation was
duly called and held upon notice in accordance with Section 222 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware at which
meeting the necessary number of shares as required by statute were voted in favor of the amendment.
THIRD:
That said amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware.
FOURTH:
That said amendment shall be effective for all purposes as of [____________].
I,
the undersigned, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, have signed this Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of
Incorporation on [ ].
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John N. Seitz |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
B-1
Exhibit
C
STATE
OF DELAWARE
CERTIFICATE
OF AMENDMENT TO
AMENDED
AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
GULFSLOPE
ENERGY, INC.
The
corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware does hereby certify:
FIRST:
That at a meeting of the Board of Directors of GulfSlope Energy, Inc., resolutions were duly adopted setting forth a proposed
amendment to the certificate of incorporation, as amended, of said corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”),
subject to the approval for such amendment, by the stockholders of the corporation.
The
resolution setting forth the proposed amendment is as follows:
RESOLVED,
that the Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation be amended by amending and restating the article named “ARTICLE
6” as follows:
“ARTICLE
6
The
affairs of the Corporation shall be governed by a Board of Directors. The number of directors of the Corporation shall be determined
in the manner set forth in the Bylaws of the Corporation.”
SECOND:
That thereafter, pursuant to resolution of its Board of Directors, an annual meeting of the stockholders of said corporation was
duly called and held upon notice in accordance with Section 222 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware at which
meeting the necessary number of shares as required by statute were voted in favor of the amendment.
THIRD:
That said amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware.
I,
the undersigned, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, have signed this Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of
Incorporation on [ ].
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John N. Seitz |
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Chief Executive Officer |
C-1
PROXY
GULFSLOPE
ENERGY, INC.
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS FOR THE
ANNUAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
The
undersigned hereby appoints John N. Seitz and John H. Malanga, and each of them as the true and lawful attorney, agent and proxy
of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to represent and to vote all shares of common stock of GulfSlope Energy,
Inc. (the “Company”) held of record by the undersigned on August 12, 2022, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to
be held on September 30, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. (Central Time) at 1000 Main Street, Suite 2300, Houston, Texas 77002, and at any
adjournments thereof. Any and all other proxies heretofore given are hereby revoked.
WHEN
PROPERLY EXECUTED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DESIGNATED BY THE UNDERSIGNED. IF NO CHOICE
IS SPECIFIED, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED IN NUMBER 1, FOR THE RATIFICATION IN NUMBER 2, for
the amendment to our certificate of incorporation IN NUMBER 3, for the authorization to effect a reverse stock split
IN NUMBER 4, for the amendment to our certificate of incorporation IN NUMBER 5, for the non-binding resolution in
NUMBER 6, FOR THE THREE YEAR OPTION IN NUMBER 7, and FOR THE APPROVAL IN NUMBER 8.
1.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY. (INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, STRIKE A LINE THROUGH,
OR OTHERWISE STRIKE, THAT NOMINEE’S NAME IN THE LIST BELOW.)
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☐ |
FOR all
nominees listed |
☐ |
WITHHOLD
authority to |
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below except as marked |
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vote for all nominees |
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to the contrary. |
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below. |
John
N. Seitz
Paul
L. Morris
Richard
S. Langdon
2.
PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE SELECTION OF Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. AS THE COMPANY’S
independent registered public accounting firm FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2022.
☐
FOR ☐ AGAINST ☐ ABSTAIN
3.
PROPOSAL TO approve the filing of an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized
shares of common stock from 1,500,000,000 to 3,000,000,000.
☐
FOR ☐ AGAINST ☐ ABSTAIN
4.
PROPOSAL TO authorize the board of directors, without further stockholder approval, to effect a reverse stock split of all the
Company’s outstanding common stock, by the filing of a certificate of amendment to the certificate of incorporation, in
a ratio of between one-for-two and one-for-200, with the board of directors having the discretion as to whether or not the reverse
split is to be effected, and with the exact exchange ratio of any reverse split to be set at a whole number within the above range
as determined by the board of directors in its sole discretion, at any time before the earlier of (a) SEPTEMBER
30, 2023; and (b) the date of our next annual meeting of stockholders.
☐
FOR ☐ AGAINST ☐ ABSTAIN
5.
PROPOSAL TO approve the filing of an amendment to the COMPANY’s certificate of incorporation to ELIMINATE REFERENCE TO THE
CLASSIFICATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INTO CLASSES WITH STAGGERED TERMS.
☐
FOR ☐ AGAINST ☐ ABSTAIN
6.
PROPOSAL TO approve a non-binding advisory resolution on executive compensation.
☐
FOR ☐ AGAINST ☐ ABSTAIN
7.
PROPOSAL TO APPROVE, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, WHETHER THE NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION SHOULD OCCUR EVERY
ONE, TWO, OR THREE YEARS.
☐
THREE YEARS ☐ TWO YEARS ☐ ONE YEAR ☐ ABSTAIN
8.
IN HIS DISCRETION, THE PROXY IS AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING.
☐
FOR ☐ AGAINST ☐ ABSTAIN
Please
sign exactly as name appears below. When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, as executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized
person. If a corporation or other business entity, please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer.
NUMBER OF |
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SIGNATURE:
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SHARES OWNED |
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PRINTED NAME: |
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DATE: |
THIS
PROXY MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS VOTED AT THE MEETING. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY.
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Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held September 30, 2022. |
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The
proxy statement, form of proxy card and annual report are available at:
www.gulfslope.com |
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