Description of Securities Registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act
EX-4.4 2 dms-ex4descriptionofsecuri.htm EX-4.4 Document
EXHIBIT 4.4*
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
The following is a summary of the material terms of Digital Media Solutions, Inc.’s (“DMS,” the “Company” or “our”) Class A common stock and is not intended to be a complete summary of the rights and preferences of our Class A common stock. Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws are included as exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this exhibit is a part. You are encouraged to read the applicable provisions of Delaware law, our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws in their entirety for a complete description of the rights and preferences of our Class A common stock.
Authorized Capitalization
General
The total amount of our authorized capital stock consists of 600,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, consisting of (a) 500,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, (b) 60,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, (c) 40,000,000 shares of Class C Common Stock, and (d) 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Preferred Stock”).
Common Stock
Voting rights. Each holder of Common Stock is entitled to one (1) vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder. The holders of shares of Common Stock will not have cumulative voting rights. Except as otherwise required in the Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the holders of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock will vote together as a single class on all matters on which stockholders are generally entitled to vote (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock). In addition to any other vote required in the Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the holders of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock will each be entitled to vote separately as a class only with respect to amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation that increase or decrease the par value of the shares of such class or alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the shares of such class so as to affect them adversely. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, will not be entitled to vote on any amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the Delaware General Corporate Law (“DGCL”).
Dividend rights. Subject to any other provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, as it may be amended from time to time, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably, in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock held by them, such dividends and other distributions in cash, stock or property of the Company when, as and if declared thereon by the Board from time to time out of assets or funds of the Company legally available therefor.
Except as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, dividends and other distributions will not be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock.
Subject to any other provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, as it may be amended from time to time, holders of shares of Class C Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably, in proportion to the number of shares held by them, the dividends and other distributions in cash, stock or property of the Company payable or to be made on outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock that would have been payable on the shares of Class C Common Stock if each such share of Class C Common Stock had been converted into a fraction of a share of Class A Common Stock equal to the Conversion Ratio (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) immediately prior to the record date for such dividend or distribution. The holders of shares of Class C Common Stock are entitled to receive, on a pari passu basis with the holders of the Class A Common
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Stock, such dividend or other distribution on the Class A Common Stock when, as and if declared by the Board from time to time out of assets or funds of the Company legally available therefor.
Rights upon Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up (either voluntary or involuntary) of the Company after payments to creditors of the Company that may at the time be outstanding, and subject to the rights of any holders of Preferred Stock that may then be outstanding, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably, in proportion to the number of shares held by them, all remaining assets and funds of the Company available for distribution; provided, however, that, for purposes of any such distribution, each share of Class C Common Stock are entitled to receive the same distribution as would have been payable if such share of Class C Common Stock had been converted into a fraction of a share of Class A Common Stock equal to the Conversion Ratio immediately prior to the record date for such distribution. The holders of shares of Class B Common Stock, as such, will not be entitled to receive any assets of the Company in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company.
Automatic Conversion of Class B Common Stock. Immediately and automatically upon the earlier of (the “Effective Time”) (i) July 4, 2024 and (ii) the date on which there are no amounts owed to any lender pursuant to the Credit Facility, each share of Class B Common Stock will automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, be reclassified as and changed, pursuant to a reverse stock split, into a fraction of a share of Class B Common Stock equal to the Conversion Ratio.
Conversion of Class C Common Stock. Each holder of Class C Common Stock will have the right, at such holder’s option, at any time, to convert all or any portion of such holder’s shares of Class C Common Stock, and the Company will have the right, at the Company’s option, from and after the Effective Time, to convert all or any portion of the issued and outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock, in each case into shares of fully paid and non-assessable Class A Common Stock at the ratio of one (1) share of Class A Common Stock for the number of shares of Class C Common Stock equal to the Issuance Multiple (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) so converted.
Other rights. No holder of shares of Common Stock are entitled to preemptive or subscription rights. There is no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Common Stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of the Common Stock are subject to those of the holders of any shares of the Preferred Stock the Company may issue in the future.
Preferred Stock
The Board has the authority to issue shares of preferred stock from time to time on terms it may determine, to divide shares of preferred stock into one or more series and to fix the designations, preferences, privileges, and restrictions of preferred stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preference, sinking fund terms, and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of any series to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. The issuance of Preferred Stock of DMS could have the effect of decreasing the trading price of Common Stock, restricting dividends on the capital stock of the DMS, diluting the voting power of the Common Stock, impairing the liquidation rights of the capital stock of DMS, or delaying or preventing a change in control of DMS.
Dividends
DMS has never paid any dividends. The payment of future dividends on the shares of Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, will depend on the financial condition of the Company after the completion of the Business Combination subject to the discretion of the Board. It is presently expected that the Company will retain all earnings for use in the business operations of the Company and, accordingly, it is not expected that the Board will declare any dividends in the foreseeable future. The ability of the Company to declare dividends may be limited by the terms of any other financing and other agreements entered into by the Company or its subsidiaries from time to time
The Company is a holding company with no material assets other than the equity interests in Blocker Corp held by it. Blocker Corp is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and a holding company with no material assets other than its ownership of DMS. The Amended Partnership Agreement requires DMS to make “tax distributions” pro rata to holders of
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DMS Units (including Blocker Corp) in amounts sufficient for the Company and Blocker Corp to cover applicable taxes and other obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement as well as any cash dividends declared by the Company.
The Company anticipates that the distributions Blocker Corp will receive from DMS may, in certain periods, exceed the Company’s and Blocker Corp’s actual tax liabilities and obligations to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. The Board, in its sole discretion, will make any determination from time to time with respect to the use of any such excess cash so accumulated, which may include, among other uses, acquiring additional newly issued DMS Units from DMS at a per unit price determined by reference to the market value of the shares of Class A Common Stock at such time (which DMS Units are expected to be contributed to Blocker Corp); paying dividends, which may include special dividends, on Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock; funding repurchases of Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock; or any combination of the foregoing. The Company will have no obligation to distribute such cash (or other available cash other than any declared dividend) to its stockholders. To the extent that the Company does not distribute such excess cash as dividends on Class A Common Stock or otherwise undertake ameliorative actions between DMS Units and shares of Class A Common Stock and instead, for example, holds such cash balances, holders of DMS Units other than Blocker Corp may benefit from any value attributable to such cash balances as a result of their ownership of shares of Class A Common Stock following an exchange of their DMS Units, notwithstanding that such holders may previously have participated as holders of DMS Units in distributions by DMS that resulted in such excess cash balances at the Company.
Election of Directors and Vacancies
Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances and the terms and conditions of the Director Nomination Agreement, the number of directors which will constitute the Board are not less than five (5) nor more than eleven (11), and the exact number of directors are fixed from time to time, within the limits specified herein, by the Board.
Under the Bylaws, at all meetings of stockholders called for the election of directors, a plurality of the votes cast is sufficient to elect such directors to the Board.
Except as the DGCL or the Director Nomination Agreement may otherwise require, in the interim between annual meetings of stockholders or special meetings of stockholders called for the election of directors and/or the removal of one or more directors and the filling of any vacancy in that connection, newly created directorships and any vacancies on the Board, including unfilled vacancies resulting from the removal of directors, may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director. All directors will hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors will have been elected and qualified. A director elected or appointed to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a director or a newly created directorship will serve for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor will have been elected and qualified.
Any director may be removed from office with or without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting stock (as defined below) of the Company. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Director Nomination Agreement, in case the Board or any one or more directors should be so removed, new directors may be elected at the same time for the unexpired portion of the full term of the director or directors so removed.
The directors in their discretion may submit any contract or act for approval or ratification at any annual meeting of the stockholders or at any meeting of the stockholders called for the purpose of considering any such act or contract, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any contract or act that are approved or be ratified by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Company, which is represented in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereon (provided that a lawful quorum of stockholders be there represented in person or by proxy), are as valid and binding upon the Company and upon all the stockholders as though it had been approved or ratified by every stockholder of the Company, whether or not the contract or act would otherwise be open to legal attack because of directors’ interests, or for any other reason.
In addition to the powers and authorities hereinbefore or by statute expressly conferred upon them, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the
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Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation and to any Bylaws adopted from time to time by the stockholders; provided, however, that no Bylaw so adopted will invalidate any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if such Bylaw had not been adopted.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, any director elected pursuant to the right, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances will serve for such term or terms and pursuant to such other provisions as specified in the relevant Preferred Stock Designation.
Quorum
The holders of a majority of the voting power of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise required by law or provided by the Certificate of Incorporation. If, however, such quorum will not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of the voting power present in person or represented by proxy, will have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum are present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting is given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.
Anti-takeover Effects of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws
The Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws contain provisions that may delay, defer or discourage another party from acquiring control of us. We expect that these provisions, which are summarized below, will discourage coercive takeover practices or inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with the Board, which we believe may result in an improvement of the terms of any such acquisition in favor of our stockholders. However, they also give the Board the power to discourage acquisitions that some stockholders may favor.
Authorized but Unissued Capital Stock
Delaware law does not require stockholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares. However, the listing requirements of NYSE, which would apply if and so long as the Class A common stock remains listed on NYSE, require stockholder approval of certain issuances equal to or exceeding 20% of the then outstanding voting power or then outstanding number of shares of Class A common stock. Additional shares that may be issued in the future may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings, to raise additional capital or to facilitate acquisitions.
One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved common stock may be to enable the Board to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which issuance could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise and thereby protect the continuity of management and possibly deprive stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of Class A Common Stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.
Special Meeting, Action by Written Consent and Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals
Unless otherwise required by law, and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Company, for any purpose or purposes, may be called only (i) by a majority of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or (ii) at any time when Prism, Clairvest and any of their respective affiliates (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) (including any Affiliated Companies (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) of Clairvest) (collectively, the “DMS Group”) collectively own, in the aggregate, at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock of the Company, by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting stock of the Company Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, at any time when the DMS Group collectively owns, in the aggregate, at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock of the Company, any action required or permitted to
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be taken by the stockholders of the Company may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the actions so taken, shall be signed by the holders of shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Company in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL and the Bylaws; provided that, from and after the first date that the DMS Group ceases to collectively own, in the aggregate, at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock of the Company, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Company shall be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders. Unless otherwise required by law, written notice of a special meeting of stockholders, stating the time, place and purpose or purposes thereof, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, not less than ten (10) or more than sixty (60) days before the date fixed for the meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders are limited to the purposes stated in the notice.
The Bylaws also provide that unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.
In addition, the Bylaws require advance notice procedures for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders, including the nomination of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting may only consider the proposals specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board, or by a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has delivered a timely written notice in proper form to our secretary, of the stockholder’s intention to bring such business before the meeting.
These provisions could have the effect of delaying until the next stockholder meeting any stockholder actions, even if they are favored by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities.
Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote on amendments to a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws is required to approve such amendment, unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as the case may be, requires a greater percentage.
The Certificate of Incorporation will provide that the following provisions therein may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% in voting power all the then outstanding shares of the Company’s stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class:
• the provisions regarding the size of the Board and the election of directors pursuant to the Director Nomination Agreement;
• the provisions regarding calling special meetings of stockholders;
• the provisions regarding the limited liability of directors of the Company;
• the provisions regarding the election not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL;
• the provision regarding the votes necessary to amend the Bylaws; and
• the amendment provision requiring that the above provisions be amended only with an 662/3% supermajority vote.
Further, the provision regarding the waiver of the corporate opportunity doctrine may only be amended by the affirmative vote of at least eighty percent (80%) of the outstanding voting stock of the Company.
As long as there are any shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding, the existence of the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock, and the rights, preferences and privileges conferred upon the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock in the Certificate of Incorporation, including those related to the
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Redemption Right and the Exchange Option, may not be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconstant therewith or herewith may be adopted, only by the unanimous affirmative vote of all of the holders of the Class B Common Stock.
The Bylaws may be amended (A) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board (subject to any bylaw requiring the affirmative vote of a larger percentage of the members of the Board) or (B) without the approval of the Board, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting stock of the Company.
Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute
Section 203 of the DGCL provides that if a person acquires 15% or more of the voting stock of a Delaware corporation, such person becomes an “interested stockholder” and may not engage in certain “business combinations” with the corporation for a period of three years from the time such person acquired 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock, unless:
• the board of directors approves the acquisition of stock or the merger transaction before the time that the person becomes an interested stockholder;
• the interested stockholder owns at least 85% of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at the time the merger transaction commences (excluding voting stock owned by directors who are also officers and certain employee stock plans); or
• the merger transaction is approved by the board of directors and at a meeting of stockholders, not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. A Delaware corporation may elect in its certificate of incorporation or bylaws not to be governed by this particular Delaware law.
Under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Company opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL and therefore is not subject to Section 203. However, the Certificate of Incorporation contains similar provisions providing that the Company may not engage in certain “business combinations” with any “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
• prior to such time, the Board approved either the business combination or the transaction which 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 our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding certain shares; or
• at or subsequent to that time, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.
Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with that person’s affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three years owned, 15% or more of our voting stock.
Under certain circumstances, this provision will make it more difficult for a person who would be an “interested stockholder” to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a three-year period. This provision may encourage companies interested in acquiring our company to negotiate in advance with the Board because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if the Board approves either the business combination or the transaction which results in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in the Board and may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions which stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
The Certificate of Incorporation provides that Sponsor, Seller, any Affiliated Company (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), any of their respective direct or indirect transferees of at least 15% of our outstanding common stock and any group as to which such persons are party to, do not constitute “interested stockholders” for purposes of this provision.
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Corporate Opportunity
The Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Company renounces any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that may from time to time be presented to each of the stockholders and directors of the Company or any of their respective affiliates and all of their respective partners, principals, directors, officers, members, managers, equityholders and/or employees, including any of the foregoing who serve as directors of the Company (other than the Company and its subsidiaries and other than directors that are employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries) (the “Exempted Person”) and that may be a business opportunity for the Company, even if the opportunity is one that we might reasonably have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so. No such person are liable to us for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person, pursues or acquires any such business opportunity, directs any such business opportunity to another person or fails to present any such business opportunity, or information regarding any such business opportunity, to us unless, in the case of any such person who is our director, any such business opportunity is expressly offered to such director solely in his or her capacity as our director. Each of the Exempted Person will not have any duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as us or any of our subsidiaries. The provision regarding the waiver of the corporate opportunity doctrine in the Certificate of Incorporation may only be amended by the affirmative vote of at least eighty percent (80%) of the outstanding voting stock of the Company.
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
The Certificate of Incorporation limits the liability of the directors of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, and the Bylaws provide that we will indemnify them to the fullest extent permitted by such law. We have entered and expect to continue to enter into agreements to indemnify our directors, executive officers and other employees as determined by the Board. Under the terms of such indemnification agreements, we are required to indemnify each of our directors and officers, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the state of Delaware, if the basis of the indemnitee’s involvement was by reason of the fact that the indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or was serving at the Company’s request in an official capacity for another entity. We must indemnify our officers and directors against all reasonable fees, expenses, charges and other costs of any type or nature whatsoever, including any and all expenses and obligations paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in, participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness or participate in any completed, actual, pending or threatened action, suit, claim or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, or establishing or enforcing a right to indemnification under the indemnification agreement. The indemnification agreements also require us, if so requested, to advance within 10 days of such request all reasonable fees, expenses, charges and other costs that such director or officer incurred; provided that such person will return any such advance if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification by us. Any claims for indemnification by our directors and officers may reduce our available funds to satisfy successful third-party claims against us and may reduce the amount of money available to us.
Exclusive Jurisdiction of Certain Actions
The Certificate of Incorporation requires, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in the name of the Company, actions against directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit are deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel. Although we believe this provision benefits the Company by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
Warrants
Warrants
Each DMS public warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing 30 days after the completion of our Business Combination, provided that we have an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available (or we permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis under the circumstances specified in the warrant agreement) and
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such shares are registered, qualified or exempt from registration under the securities, or blue sky, laws of the state of residence of the holder. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of shares of Class A Common Stock. This means only a whole warrant may be exercised at a given time by a warrant holder. The warrants will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
We will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to our satisfying our obligations described below with respect to registration. No warrant is exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue a share of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of a warrant unless the Class A Common Stock issuable upon such warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a warrant, the holder of such warrant will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant.
We have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than twenty business days after the closing of the Business Combination, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants. We will use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. If a registration statement covering the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the sixtieth day after the closing of the Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption.
Once the warrants become exercisable, we may call the warrants for redemption:
• in whole and not in part;
• at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
• upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption (the “30-day redemption period”) to each warrant holder; and
• if, and only if, the reported closing price of the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three business days before we send to the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.
If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
We have established the last of the redemption criterion discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption of the warrants, each warrant holder are entitled to exercise his, her or its warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the Class A Common Stock may fall below the $18.00 redemption trigger price (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) as well as the $11.50 warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.
If we call the warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise his, her or its warrant to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis,” our management will consider, among other factors, our cash position, the number of warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our stockholders of issuing the maximum number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of our warrants. If our management takes advantage of this option, all
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holders of warrants would pay the exercise price by surrendering their warrants for that number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” will mean the average reported closing price of the Class A Common Stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. If our management takes advantage of this option, the notice of redemption will contain the information necessary to calculate the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be received upon exercise of the warrants, including the “fair market value” in such case. Requiring a cashless exercise in this manner will reduce the number of shares to be issued and thereby lessen the dilutive effect of a warrant redemption. We believe this feature is an attractive option to us if we do not need the cash from the exercise of the warrants after the Business Combination. If we call our warrants for redemption and our management does not take advantage of this option, the holders of the private placement warrants and their permitted transferees would still be entitled to exercise their private placement warrants for cash or on a cashless basis using the same formula described above that other warrant holders would have been required to use had all warrant holders been required to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, as described in more detail below.
A holder of a warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (as specified by the holder) of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
If the number of shares of outstanding Class A Common Stock is increased by a share dividend payable in Class A Common Stock, or by a split-up of common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such share dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each warrant are increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. A rights offering to holders of Class A Common Stock entitling holders to purchase Class A Common Stock at a price less than the fair market value are deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for Class A Common Stock) and (ii) the quotient of (x) the price per share of Class A Common Stock paid in such rights offering and (y) the fair market value. For these purposes, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Class A Common Stock, in determining the price payable for Class A Common Stock, there are taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) fair market value means the volume weighted average price of Class A Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the Class A Common Stock trades on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
In addition, if we, at any time while the warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of Class A Common Stock on account of such Class A Common Stock (or other securities into which the warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, (b) certain ordinary cash dividends or (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Class A ordinary shares in connection with the Business Combination, then the warrant exercise price are decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Class A Common Stock in respect of such event.
If the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each warrant are decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding Class A Common Stock.
Whenever the number of shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price are adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which are the number of shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable
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upon the exercise of the warrants immediately prior to such adjustment and (y) the denominator of which are the number of Class A ordinary shares so purchasable immediately thereafter.
In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Class A Common Stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of the Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of our outstanding Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of us as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the warrants and in lieu of the shares of Class A Common Stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of Class A Common Stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their warrants immediately prior to such event. If less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of Class A Common Stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the warrant properly exercises the warrant within thirty days following public disclosure of such transaction, the warrant exercise price are reduced as specified in the warrant agreement based on the Black-Scholes value (as defined in the warrant agreement) of the warrant. The purpose of such exercise price reduction is to provide additional value to holders of the warrants when an extraordinary transaction occurs during the exercise period of the warrants pursuant to which the holders of the warrants otherwise do not receive the full potential value of the warrants.
The warrants were issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding Warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders. You should review a copy of the warrant agreement, which are filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the warrants.
The warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of warrants being exercised. The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of Class A Common Stock and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive Class A Common Stock. After the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of the warrants, each holder is entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.
No fractional shares are issued upon exercise of the warrants. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to the warrant holder.
Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent
The transfer agent for Class A Common Stock and warrant agent is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
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