Description of Securities
Exhibit 4.3
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
Unless the context otherwise requires, throughout this exhibit, the words “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to Alimera Sciences, Inc. and its subsidiaries (as applicable).
Common Stock
We currently have authorized 150,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of March 1, 2021, there were 5,753,434 shares of the registrant’s common stock issued and outstanding. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights and no right to convert their common stock into any other securities. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.
The following summary of the terms of our common stock is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws, copies of which are on file with the SEC as exhibits to previous SEC filings.
Voting Rights. The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including, without limitation, the election of our board of directors. Our stockholders have no right to cumulate their votes in the election of directors.
Dividends. Subject to preferences that may apply to shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably those dividends declared from time to time by the board of directors.
Rights Upon Liquidation. Subject to preferences that may apply to shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in assets remaining after payment of liabilities.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and Delaware Law. Some provisions of Delaware law and our restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws could make the following transactions more difficult: our acquisition by means of a tender offer; our acquisition by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or removal of our incumbent officers and directors.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law is applicable to takeovers of Delaware corporations. Subject to exceptions enumerated in Section 203, Section 203 provides that a corporation shall not engage in any business combination with any “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the date that the stockholder becomes an interested stockholder unless:
| · | prior to that date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; |
| · | upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, though some shares may be excluded from the calculation; and |
| · | on or subsequent to that date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors of the corporation and by the affirmative votes of holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Except as specified in Section 203, an interested stockholder is generally defined to include any person who, together with any affiliates or associates of that person, beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation, or is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation, any time within three years immediately prior to the relevant date. Under certain circumstances, Section 203 makes it more difficult for an interested stockholder to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a three-year period, although the stockholders may elect not to be governed by this section, by adopting an amendment to the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, effective 12 months after adoption. Our restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws do not opt out from the restrictions imposed under Section 203. We anticipate that the provisions of Section 203 may encourage companies interested in acquiring us to negotiate in advance with the board because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if a majority of the directors then in office excluding an interested stockholder approve either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control, which could depress the market price of our common stock and deprive stockholders of opportunities to realize a premium on shares of common stock held by them.
In addition to our board of directors’ ability to issue shares of preferred stock, our restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that may discourage, delay or prevent a change in our management or control over us that stockholders may consider favorable. Our restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws:
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| · | authorize the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock that could be issued by our board of directors to thwart a takeover attempt; |
| · | do not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors, which would allow holders of less than a majority of the stock to elect some directors; |
| · | establish a classified board of directors, as a result of which the successors to the directors whose terms have expired will be elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting following their election; |
| · | require that directors only be removed from office for cause; |
| · | provide that vacancies on the board of directors, including newly-created directorships, may be filled only by a majority vote of directors then in office; |
| · | limit who may call special meetings of stockholders; |
| · | prohibit stockholder action by written consent, requiring all actions to be taken at a meeting of the stockholders; and |
| · | establish advance notice requirements for nominating candidates for election to the board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings. |
Transfer Agent and Registrar. The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC.
Listing. Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “ALIM.”
