GulfSlope Energy (GSPE) Risk Analysis

The SEC has adopted Rule 15g-9 which establishes the definition of a "penny stock," for the purposes relevant to us, as any equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share or with an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the rules require: - that a broker or dealer approve a person's account for transactions in penny stocks; and   - the broker or dealer receives from the investor a written agreement to the transaction, setting forth the identity and quantity of the penny stock to be purchased. In order to approve a person's account for transactions in penny stocks, the broker or dealer must: - obtain financial information and investment experience and objectives of the person; and   - make a reasonable determination that the transactions in penny stocks are suitable for that person and the person has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial matters to be capable of evaluating the risks of transactions in penny stocks. The broker or dealer must also deliver, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, a disclosure schedule prescribed by the SEC relating to the penny stock market, which, in highlight form sets forth: - the basis on which the broker or dealer made the suitability determination; and   - that the broker or dealer received a signed, written agreement from the investor prior to the transaction. Generally, brokers may be less willing to execute transactions in securities subject to the "penny stock" rules. This may make it more difficult for investors to dispose of common stock and cause a decline in the market value of stock. Disclosure also has to be made about the risks of investing in penny stocks in both public offerings and in secondary trading and about the commissions payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative, current quotations for the securities and the rights and remedies available to an investor in cases of fraud in penny stock transactions. Finally, monthly statements have to be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stocks. In addition to the "penny stock" rules promulgated by the SEC, FINRA has adopted rules that require a broker-dealer to have reasonable grounds for believing that an investment is suitable for a customer when recommending the investment to that customer. Prior to recommending speculative low-priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer's financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our common stock, which may limit investors' ability to buy and sell our stock and have an adverse effect on the market for our shares.

The trading price of our common stock is likely to be highly volatile and could fluctuate in response to factors such as: - actual or anticipated variations in our operating results including but not limited to leasing, drilling, and discovery of oil and gas;- the price of oil and gas;- announcements of developments by us, our strategic partners or our competitors;- announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments;- adoption of new accounting standards affecting our Company's industry;- additions or departures of key personnel;- sales of our common stock or other securities in the open market;- our ability to acquire seismic data and other intellectual property on commercially reasonable terms and to defend such intellectual property from third party claims;- the effects of government regulation, permitting and other legal requirements, including new legislation or regulation;- litigation; and - other events or factors, many of which are beyond our control. The stock market is subject to significant price and volume fluctuations. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of companies' securities, securities class action litigation has often been initiated against those companies. Litigation initiated against us, whether or not successful, could result in substantial costs and diversion of our management's attention and resources, which could harm our business and financial condition.

Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 50 million shares of "blank check" preferred stock with designations, rights and preferences determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Accordingly, our Board of Directors is empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting, or other rights, which could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of the common stock. In the event of issuance, the preferred stock could be utilized, under certain circumstances, as a method of discouraging, delaying, or preventing a change in control of the Company. Although we have no present intention to issue any shares of its authorized preferred stock, there can be no assurance that we will not do so in the future.

Our common stock is traded on the OTC Markets (Pink Marketplace Tier), an inter-dealer automated quotation system for equity securities. During the three calendar months preceding filing of this report, the average daily trading volume of our common stock was approximately 0.2 million shares. As of December 27, 2022, we had approximately 190 record holders of our common stock (not including an indeterminate number of stockholders whose shares are held by brokers in "street name"). There has been limited trading activity in our stock, and when it has traded, the price has fluctuated widely. We consider our common stock to be "thinly traded" and any last reported sale prices may not be a true market-based valuation of the common stock. Stockholders may experience difficulty selling their shares if they choose to do so, because of the illiquid market and limited public float for our common stock. This situation is attributable to a number of factors including, but not limited to: - we are a small company that is relatively unknown to stock analysts, stockbrokers, institutional investors, and others in the investment community that generate or influence sales volume; and   - stock analysts, stockbrokers and institutional investors may be risk-averse and reluctant to follow a company such as ours that faces substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern or to purchase or recommend the purchase of our shares until such time as we become more viable. As a result, an investor may find it difficult to dispose of, or to obtain accurate quotations of the price of our common stock. Accordingly, investors must assume they may have to bear the economic risk of an investment in our common stock for an indefinite period of time and may lose their entire investment. There can be no assurance that a more active market for our common stock will develop, or if one should develop, there is no assurance that it will be sustained. This severely limits the liquidity of our common stock and would likely have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock and on our ability to raise additional capital.