With regard to the sale of restricted securities submitted by non-affiliates who have held securities for more than six months and less than 12 months for reporting companies and the sale of restricted securities by shareholders deemed to be affiliates of the issuer, we will continue to require legal opinions. We will also require opinions in all instances for any issuer who was a “former shell company” as that term is defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act and Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

With regard to legend removal requests by non-affiliates who have held securities for more than 12 months for reporting or non-reporting issuers who have never been a shell company, based on advice of counsel and the new STA Guidelines, we no longer will require opinions. Indeed, because the Release indicates that the removal of legends is solely at the discretion of the issuer (see footnote 65), we will accept, in lieu of a legal opinion, direction from the issuer to be executed by an authorized officer. The Issuer Direction Form must be submitted by presenting shareholders and/or brokers with their shares in proper transfer order. Issuers are encouraged to request a formal Shareholder Rule 144 representation letter from the non-affiliate shareholder prior to executing the Issuer Direction Form. Accordingly, you can expect that brokers and shareholders will come directly to you for execution of this Issuer Direction Form rather than following their previous practice of contacting your counsel for an opinion.