Rhode Island Proposed Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation: Authorizing 10,000,000 Shares of Preferred Stock Rhode Island is considering a proposed amendment to the certificate of incorporation that would enable businesses to authorize up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock with amendment. This potential change aims to provide companies with more flexibility in their capital structure and grants them the ability to issue preferred shares to attract potential investors and raise additional funds. Preferred stock is a type of equity security that holds certain advantages over common stock, offering shareholders preferential treatment when it comes to dividends and liquidation preference. These shares often carry a fixed dividend rate and have priority over common stockholders in receiving payments. If the amendment is approved, companies in Rhode Island will be able to issue authorized preferred stock up to the cap of 10,000,000 shares. This change will allow businesses to tailor their fundraising efforts, attract investors, and potentially acquire necessary capital for growth and expansion. It is important to note that there may be different types of preferred stock that a company can issue. These various types carry different rights and terms, enabling businesses to customize their offering to match their specific funding requirements or investor expectations. Some types of preferred stock could include: 1. Cumulative Preferred Stock: This type of preferred stock offers the advantage of accruing unpaid dividends. If a company fails to pay dividends in a given year, they accumulate and must be paid before any dividends are distributed to common stockholders. 2. Convertible Preferred Stock: Convertible preferred stock gives shareholders the option to convert their preferred shares into a predetermined number of common shares, allowing them to participate in any potential upside in the company's value in the future. 3. Participating Preferred Stock: Participating preferred stock provides shareholders the right to receive dividends, both preferred and common, in addition to their fixed dividend rate. This allows preferred stockholders to benefit from the company's success alongside common stockholders. 4. Redeemable Preferred Stock: Redeemable preferred stock allows the issuing company to repurchase the shares from shareholders at a predetermined price or on a specified date, providing flexibility in managing equity ownership. By authorizing up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, Rhode Island businesses would have more options at their disposal for obtaining capital and attracting potential investors. This proposed amendment recognizes the importance of providing companies with the tools necessary to grow and expand, fostering a favorable business environment in the state.