BIOC Biocept Inc

PROPOSAL 1

APPROVAL OF A SERIES OF ALTERNATE AMENDMENTS TO OUR AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO IMPLEMENT A REVERSE STOCK SPLIT OF OUR COMMON STOCK

Our Board of Directors has unanimously approved a series of alternate amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation each of which would effect a reverse stock split (“Reverse Stock Split”) of all issued and outstanding shares of our common stock, at a ratio ranging from 1-for-15 to 1-for-30, inclusive.

Accordingly, effecting a Reverse Stock Split would reduce the number of outstanding shares of our common stock. The effectiveness of any one of these amendments and the abandonment of the other amendments, or the abandonment of all of these amendments, will be determined by our Board of Directors following the Special Meeting and prior to the one-year anniversary of the date the Reverse Stock Split is approved by our stockholders. Our Board of Directors has recommended that these proposed amendments be presented to our stockholders for approval.

Our stockholders are being asked to approve these proposed amendments pursuant to Proposal 1, and to grant authorization to our Board of Directors to determine, at its option, whether to implement a Reverse Stock Split, including its specific timing and ratio.

Should we receive the required stockholder approval for Proposal 1, our Board of Directors will have the sole authority to elect, at any time on or prior to the one-year anniversary of the date the Reverse Stock Split is approved by our stockholders, and without the need for any further action on the part of our stockholders whether to effect a Reverse Stock Split.

Notwithstanding approval of Proposal 1 by our stockholders, our Board of Directors may, at its sole option, abandon the proposed amendments and determine prior to the effectiveness of any filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware not to effect any Reverse Stock Split, as permitted under Section 242(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

By approving Proposal 1, our stockholders will (a) approve a series of alternate amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation pursuant to which (i) any whole number of outstanding shares of common stock between and including 1-for-15 and 1-for-30 could be combined into one share of common stock; and (b) authorize our Board of Directors to file only one such amendment as determined by the Board at its sole option, and to abandon each amendment not selected by the Board. Our Board of Directors may also elect not to undertake a Reverse Stock Split and therefore abandon all amendments.

The text of the proposed form of Certificate of Amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which we refer to as the Certificate of Amendment, is attached hereto as Appendix A.

We are proposing that our Board of Directors have the discretion to select the Reverse Stock Split ratio from within a range between and including 1-for-15 and 1-for-30, rather than proposing that stockholders approve a specific ratio at this time, in order to give our Board of Directors the flexibility to implement a Reverse Stock Split at a ratio that reflects the Board’s then-current assessment of the factors described below under “Criteria to be Used for Determining Whether to Implement the Reverse Stock Split.” If the Board decides to implement a Reverse Stock Split, we will file the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the Reverse Stock Split will be effective at the close of business on the business day following its filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or such later time as is chosen by the Board and set forth in the Certificate of Amendment. Except for adjustments that may result from the treatment of fractional shares as described below, each of our stockholders will hold the same percentage of our outstanding common stock immediately following the Reverse Stock Split as such stockholder holds immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split.

Statements in this Proposal 1 contain “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on our current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements may include statements regarding the expected or potential benefits of implementing a Reverse Stock Split as described in this Proposal 1, as well as the expected sufficiency of our currently authorized and available shares in the near term, and other forward-looking information in this Proposal 1. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those stated or implied by forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. Forward-looking statements should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect our business, particularly those mentioned under the “Risk Factors” heading of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, and any subsequently filed report containing “Risk Factors.”

Reasons for Reverse Stock Split

Meet certain continued listing requirements of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. To continue our listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market, we must comply with Nasdaq Marketplace Rules, which requirements include a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share. On October 18, 2022, we received a notice (the “Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) advising us that for the 30 consecutive trading days preceding the Notice, the bid price of our common stock had closed below the $1.00 per share minimum required for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Minimum Bid Price Requirement”). Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), if during the 180 calendar day period following the date of the Notice (the “Compliance Period”) the closing bid price of our common stock is at or above $1.00 for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days, we will regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement and our common stock will continue to be eligible for listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market absent noncompliance with any other requirement for continued listing. If we do not regain compliance by the end of the Compliance Period, we may be eligible for an additional 180 calendar day compliance period (the “Additional Compliance Period”) if, as of the end of the Compliance Period, we meet the continued listing requirement for the market value of publicly held shares and all other initial listing standards for The Nasdaq Capital Market, except for the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, and we provide written notice of our intention to cure the deficiency during the Additional Compliance Period. If we are not eligible for the Additional Compliance Period or it appears to the Staff of the Nasdaq Stock Market (the “Staff”) that we will not be able to cure the deficiency, the Staff will provide written notice to us that our common stock will be subject to delisting. At that time, we may appeal the Staff’s delisting determination to a Nasdaq Hearing Panel. Our Board of Directors has considered the potential harm to us and our stockholders should Nasdaq delist our common stock from The Nasdaq Capital Market. Delisting could adversely affect the liquidity of our common stock since alternatives, such as the OTC Bulletin Board and the pink sheets, are generally considered to be less efficient markets. An investor likely would find it less convenient to sell, or to obtain accurate quotations in seeking to buy, our common stock on an over-the-counter market. Many investors likely would not buy or sell our common stock due to difficulty in accessing over-the-counter markets, policies preventing them from trading in securities not listed on a national exchange or for other reasons.

The Board of Directors believes that a Reverse Stock Split is a potentially effective means for us to maintain compliance with the $1.00 minimum bid requirement and to avoid, or at least mitigate, the likely adverse consequences of our common stock being delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market by producing the immediate effect of increasing the bid price of our common stock.

Criteria to be Used for Determining Whether to Implement Reverse Stock Split

In determining whether to implement the Reverse Stock Split and which Reverse Stock Split ratio to implement, if any, following receipt of stockholder approval of Proposal 1, our Board of Directors may consider, among other things, various factors, such as:

Certain Risks and Potential Disadvantages Associated with a Reverse Stock Split

We cannot assure you that the proposed Reverse Stock Split will increase our stock price and have the desired effect of maintaining compliance with Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. We expect that the Reverse Stock Split will increase the market price of our common stock so that we may be able to regain and maintain compliance with the Nasdaq $1.00 minimum bid price requirement. However, the effect of the Reverse Stock Split upon the market price of our common stock cannot be predicted with any certainty, and the history of similar reverse stock splits for companies in like circumstances is varied, particularly since some investors may view a reverse stock split negatively. It is possible that the per share price of our common stock after the Reverse Stock Split will not rise in proportion to the reduction in the number of shares of our common stock outstanding resulting from the Reverse Stock Split, and the market price per post-Reverse Stock Split share may not exceed or remain in excess of the $1.00 minimum bid price for a sustained period of time, and the Reverse Stock Split may not result in a per share price that would attract brokers and investors who do not trade in lower priced stocks. In addition, although it is possible that the Reverse Stock Split may enhance the desirability of our common stock to certain potential investors, we cannot assure you that, if implemented, our common stock will be more attractive to institutional and other long-term investors. Even if we implement the Reverse Stock Split, the market price of our common stock may decrease due to factors unrelated to the Reverse Stock Split. In any case, the market price of our common stock may also be based on other factors which may be unrelated to the number of shares outstanding, including our future performance. If the Reverse Stock Split is consummated and the trading price of the common stock declines, the percentage decline as an absolute number and as a percentage of our overall market capitalization may be greater than would occur in the absence of the Reverse Stock Split. Even if the market price per post-Reverse Stock Split share of our common stock remains in excess of $1.00 per share, we may be delisted due to a failure to meet other continued listing requirements, including Nasdaq requirements related to the minimum number of shares that must be in the public float, the minimum market value of the public float and the minimum number of “round lot” holders.

The proposed Reverse Stock Split may decrease the liquidity of our common stock and result in higher transaction costs. The liquidity of our common stock may be negatively impacted by a Reverse Stock Split, given the reduced number of shares that would be outstanding after the Reverse Stock Split, particularly if the stock price does not increase as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. In addition, if a Reverse Stock Split is implemented, it will increase the number of our stockholders who own “odd lots” of fewer than 100 shares of common stock. Brokerage commission and other costs of transactions in odd lots are generally higher than the costs of transactions of more than 100 shares of common stock. Accordingly, a Reverse Stock Split may not achieve the desired results of increasing marketability and liquidity of our common stock described above.

The effective increase in the authorized number of shares of our common stock as a result of the Reverse Stock Split could have anti-takeover implications. The implementation of a Reverse Stock Split will result in an effective increase in the authorized number of shares of our common stock, which could, under certain circumstances, have anti-takeover implications. The additional shares of common stock that would become available for issuance if this Proposal 1 is approved and a Reverse Stock Split is implemented could be used by us to oppose a hostile takeover attempt or to delay or prevent changes in control or our management. For example, without further stockholder approval, the Board could adopt a “poison pill” which would, under certain circumstances related to an acquisition of our securities that is not approved by the Board, give certain holders the right to acquire additional shares of our common stock at a low price. The Board also could strategically sell shares of common stock in a private transaction to purchasers who would oppose a takeover or favor the current Board. Although this Proposal 1 has been prompted by business and financial considerations and not by the threat of any hostile takeover attempt (nor is the Board currently aware of any such attempts directed at us), stockholders should be aware that approval of this Proposal 1 could facilitate future efforts by us to deter or prevent changes in control, including transactions in which the stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over then current market prices.

Principal Effects of a Reverse Stock Split

After the effective date of any Reverse Stock Split that our Board of Directors elects to implement, each stockholder will own a reduced number of shares of common stock. However, any Reverse Stock Split will affect all of our stockholders uniformly and will not affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership interests in Biocept, except to the extent that the Reverse Stock Split results in any of our stockholders owning a fractional share as described below. Voting rights and other rights and preferences of the holders of our common stock will not be affected by a Reverse Stock Split (other than as a result of the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares). For example, a holder of 2% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock immediately prior to a Reverse Stock Split would continue to hold 2% (assuming there is no impact as a result of the payment of cash in lieu of issuing fractional shares) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock immediately after such Reverse Stock Split. The number of stockholders of record will not be affected by a Reverse Stock Split (except to the extent that any stockholder holds only a fractional share interest and receives cash for such interest after such Reverse Stock Split).

The principal effects of a Reverse Stock Split will be that:

The following table contains approximate information, based on share information as of April 11, 2023, relating to our outstanding common stock based on the proposed Reverse Stock Split ratios (without giving effect to the treatment of fractional shares), and information regarding our authorized and available shares:

After the effective date of any Reverse Stock Split that our Board of Directors elects to implement, our common stock would have a new committee on uniform securities identification procedures, or CUSIP number, a number used to identify our common stock.

Our common stock is currently registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and we are subject to the periodic reporting and other requirements of the Exchange Act. The implementation of any proposed Reverse Stock Split will not affect the registration of our common stock under the Exchange Act. Our common stock would continue to be listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “BIOC” immediately following the Reverse Stock Split, although it is likely that Nasdaq would add the letter “D” to the end of the trading symbol for a period of twenty trading days after the effective date of the Reverse Stock Split to indicate that the Reverse Stock Split had occurred.

Effective Date

The proposed Reverse Stock Split would become effective at 4:05 p.m., Eastern Time, on the business day following the filing of a Certificate of Amendment with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or such later date as is chosen by the Board and set forth in the Certificate of Amendment, which date we refer to in this Proposal 1 as the Effective Date. Except as explained below with respect to fractional shares, effective as of 4:05 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Effective Date, shares of common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior thereto will be combined, automatically and without any action on the part of us or our stockholders, into a lesser number of new shares of our common stock in accordance with the Reverse Stock Split ratio determined by our Board of Directors within the limits set forth in this Proposal 1.

Cash Payment In Lieu of Fractional Shares

No fractional shares of common stock will be issued as a result of any Reverse Stock Split. Instead, in lieu of any fractional shares to which a stockholder of record would otherwise be entitled as a result of the Reverse Stock Split, we will pay cash (without interest) equal to such fraction multiplied by the average of the closing sales prices of the common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market during regular trading hours for the five consecutive trading days immediately preceding the Effective Date (with such average closing sales prices being adjusted to give effect to the Reverse Stock Split). After the Reverse Stock Split, a stockholder otherwise entitled to a fractional interest will not have any voting, dividend or other rights with respect to such fractional interest except to receive payment as described above.

As of April 11, 2023, there were 12 stockholders of record of our common stock. Upon stockholder approval of Proposal 1, if our Board of Directors elects to implement the proposed Reverse Stock Split, stockholders owning, prior to the Reverse Stock Split, less than the number of whole shares of common stock that will be combined into one share of common stock in the Reverse Stock Split would no longer be stockholders. For example, if a stockholder held only 15 shares of common stock immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split and the Reverse Stock Split ratio selected by the Board was 1:25, then such stockholder would cease to be a stockholder of Biocept following the Reverse Stock Split and would not have any voting, dividend or other rights except to receive payment for the fractional share as described above. Based on our stockholders of record as of April 11, 2023, and assuming a Reverse Stock Split ratio of 1-for-25, we expect that cashing out fractional stockholders would reduce the number of stockholders of record by [    ] holders. In addition, we do not intend for this transaction to be the first step in a series of plans or proposals of a “going private transaction” within the meaning of Rule 13e-3 of the Exchange Act.

Record and Beneficial Stockholders

If this Proposal 1 is approved by our stockholders and our Board of Directors elects to implement a Reverse Stock Split, stockholders of record holding all of their shares of our common stock electronically in book-entry form under the direct registration system for securities will be automatically exchanged by the exchange agent and will receive a transaction statement at their address of record indicating the number of new post-split shares of our common stock they hold after the Reverse Stock Split along with payment in lieu of any fractional shares. Non-registered stockholders holding common stock through a bank, broker or other nominee should note that such banks, brokers or other nominees may have different procedures for processing the Reverse Stock Split and making payment for fractional shares than those that would be put in place by us for registered stockholders. If you hold your shares with such a bank, broker or other nominee and if you have questions in this regard, you are encouraged to contact your nominee.

If this Proposal 1 is approved by our stockholders and our Board of Directors elects to implement a Reverse Stock Split, stockholders of record holding some or all of their shares in certificate form will receive a letter of transmittal from Biocept or its exchange agent, as soon as practicable after the effective date of the Reverse Stock Split. Our transfer agent is expected to act as “exchange agent” for the purpose of implementing the exchange of stock certificates. Holders of pre-Reverse Stock Split shares will be asked to surrender to the exchange agent certificates representing pre-Reverse Stock Split shares in exchange for post-Reverse Stock Split shares and payment in lieu of fractional shares (if any) in accordance with the procedures to be set forth in the letter of transmittal. No new post-Reverse Stock Split share 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.

STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD NOT DESTROY ANY PRE-SPLIT STOCK CERTIFICATE AND SHOULD NOT SUBMIT ANY CERTIFICATES UNTIL THEY ARE REQUESTED TO DO SO.

Accounting Consequences

The par value per share of our common stock would remain unchanged at $0.0001 per share after any Reverse Stock Split. As a result, on the Effective Date, the stated capital on our balance sheet attributable to the common stock would be reduced proportionally, based on the actual Reverse Stock Split ratio, from its present amount, and the additional paid-in capital account would be credited with the amount by which the stated capital would be reduced. The net income or loss per share of common stock would be increased because there would be fewer shares of common stock outstanding. The Reverse Stock Split would be reflected retroactively in our consolidated financial statements. We do not anticipate that any other accounting consequences would arise as a result of any Reverse Stock Split.

No Appraisal Rights

Our stockholders are not entitled to dissenters’ or appraisal rights under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware with respect to the proposed alternate amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to allow for a Reverse Stock Split and we will not independently provide the stockholders with any such right if any Reverse Stock Split is implemented.

Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders

The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split that are generally expected to be applicable to stockholders that hold their shares of common stock as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (generally property held for investment). This summary is based upon the provisions of the Code, Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, administrative rulings and judicial decisions, all as in effect as of the date hereof, and all of which are subject to change and differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in these authorities or their interpretation may result in the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split differing substantially from the consequences summarized below. This summary, except for the discussion under “Information Reporting and Backup Withholding” below, is limited to stockholders who are U.S. Holders (as defined below).

This summary is for general information purposes only and does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to U.S. Holders in light of their particular circumstances or to U.S. Holders that may be subject to special tax rules, including, without limitation: (i) persons subject to the alternative minimum tax; (ii) banks, insurance companies, or other financial institutions; (iii) tax-exempt organizations; (iv) dealers in securities or commodities; (v) regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts; (vi) partnerships (including entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and their partners or members); (vii) traders in securities that elect to use the mark-to-market method of accounting; (viii) persons whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar; (ix) persons holding our common stock in a hedging transaction, “straddle,” “conversion transaction” or other risk reduction transaction; (x) persons who acquired our common stock in connection with employment or the performance of services; (xii) retirement plans; (xiii) persons who are not treated as U.S. Holders for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or (xiv) certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States.

In addition, this summary does not address: (a) the tax consequences of transactions effectuated before, after or at the same time as the Reverse Stock Split, whether or not they are in connection with the Reverse Stock Split; (b) any U.S. federal non-income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split, including estate, gift or other tax consequences; (c) any state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split; (d) the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income, or (e) tax consequences to holders of options, warrants or similar rights to acquire our common stock. No ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or opinion of counsel, has been or will be requested in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Stockholders should be aware that the IRS could adopt a position which could be sustained by a court contrary to that set forth in this discussion. Accordingly, each stockholder should consult with such stockholder’s own tax advisor with respect to all of the potential tax consequences to such stockholder of the Reverse Stock Split.

For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of shares of our common stock that is any of the following:

If a partnership (including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds shares of our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships holding our common stock and the partners therein should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences to them of the Reverse Stock Split.

EACH STOCKHOLDER SHOULD CONSULT ITS TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT TO SUCH STOCKHOLDER.

Taxation of U.S. Holders

The Reverse Stock Split should constitute a “recapitalization” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a recapitalization, except as described below with respect to cash received in lieu of fractional shares, a U.S. Holder should not recognize gain or loss as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. A U.S. Holder’s aggregate tax basis in the shares of the common stock received pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split should equal the U.S. Holder’s aggregate tax basis in the shares of the common stock surrendered pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split, decreased by the basis allocated to any fractional share for which such U.S. Holder is entitled to receive cash (if any), and such U.S. Holder’s holding period in the shares of the common stock received should include the holding period of the shares of the common stock surrendered pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split. Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code provide detailed rules for allocating the tax basis and holding period of shares of common stock surrendered pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split to shares of common stock received pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split. U.S. Holders holding shares of common stock that were acquired on different dates and at different prices should consult their tax advisors regarding the allocation of the tax basis and holding period of such shares.

A U.S. Holder who receives cash in lieu of a fractional share of common stock pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split generally should recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of cash received and the portion of the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the shares of common stock surrendered pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split that is allocated to such fractional share of common stock. Such capital gain or loss generally should be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common stock surrendered in the Reverse Stock Split exceeds one year at the time of the Reverse Stock Split. Long-term capital gains of non-corporate U.S. Holders are generally subject to preferential tax rates. There are limitations on the deductibility of capital losses under the Code.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Stockholders may be subject to information reporting with respect to any cash received in exchange for a fractional share interest in a new share in the Reverse Stock Split. Stockholders who are subject to information reporting and who do not provide a correct taxpayer identification number and other required information (such as by submitting a properly completed IRS Form W-9) may also be subject to backup withholding, at the applicable rate. Any amount withheld under such rules is not an additional tax and may be refunded or credited against the stockholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is properly furnished in a timely manner to the Internal Revenue Service.

The preceding discussion is intended only as a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split. It is not a complete analysis or discussion of all potential tax effects that may be important to a particular holder. All holders of our common stock should consult their own tax advisors as to the specific tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split to them, including record retention and tax-reporting requirements, and the applicability and effect of any federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax laws.

Vote Required

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power presented by the shares of common stock and the one share of Series B Preferred Stock outstanding on the record date for the Special Meeting, voting together as a single class, is required for approval of this proposal. Each share of common stock has one vote. The share of Series B Preferred Stock has 300,000,000 votes, but those votes must be voted in the same proportion as the votes cast by shares of common stock on this proposal. Although abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will technically have the same effect as “Against” votes, because the share of Series B Preferred Stock has 300,000,000 votes and will vote in a manner that mirrors votes actually cast (which does not include abstentions or broker non-votes), abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will have a minimal effect on the outcome of this proposal. Therefore, if you do not wish for this proposal to pass, you should vote “Against” this proposal. We do not expect there to be any broker non-votes on this proposal.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS

A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL 1.