Description of registrants securities
EX-4.1 2 plbyex41descriptionofregis.htm EX-4.1 Document
Exhibit 4.1
DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED
Authorized Capital Stock
As of December 31, 2023, the authorized capital stock of PLBY Group, Inc. (the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) comprised 155,000,000 shares, consisting of 150,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).
The following summary describes the material provisions of our capital stock. Because it is only a summary, it may not contain all information that is important to an investor in our securities. Defined terms used and not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Common Stock
Ranking
The voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of our Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock of any series as may be designated by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) upon any issuance of the Preferred Stock of any series.
Voting
Except as otherwise required by law or the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented and/or restated from time to time, including the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation (as defined below), the “Certificate of Incorporation”), each holder of record of Common Stock, as such, shall have one vote for each share of Common Stock which is outstanding in his, her or its name on the books of the Company on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally. Except as otherwise required by law or our Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation (as defined below)), the holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other purposes. Notwithstanding any other provision of our Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) 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 our Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”).
The holders of shares of Common Stock do not have cumulative voting rights.
Dividends
Subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and distributions 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.
Liquidation, Dissolution and Winding Up
Subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock, shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the assets and funds of the Company available for distribution in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary. A liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, as such terms are used in Section B(4) of our Certificate of Incorporation, shall not be deemed to be occasioned by or to include any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other person or a sale, lease, exchange or conveyance of all or a part of its assets.
No Preemptive, Conversion or Redemption Rights
The holders of shares of Common Stock have no preemptive rights and no right to convert their Common Stock into other securities. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our Common Stock under the Company’s existing Certificate of Incorporation or its Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”).
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Preferred Stock
Issuance of Preferred Stock
Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board is authorized to provide by resolution or resolutions from time to time for the issuance, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, of one or more series of Preferred Stock, without stockholder approval, by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware (a “Preferred Stock Designation”), setting forth such resolution and, with respect to each such series, establishing the number of shares to be included in such series, and fixing the voting powers, full or limited, or no voting power of the shares of such series, and the designation, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, of the shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The powers, designation, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. The authority of the Board with respect to each series of Preferred Stock shall include, but not be limited to, the determination of the following:
•the designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;
•the number of shares of the series, which number the Board may thereafter (except where otherwise provided in the Preferred Stock Designation) increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);
•the amounts or rates at which dividends will be payable on, and the preferences, if any, of, shares of the series in respect of dividends, and whether such dividends, if any, shall be cumulative or noncumulative;
•the dates on which dividends, if any, shall be payable;
•the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;
•the terms and amount of any sinking fund, if any, provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;
•the amounts payable on, and the preferences, if any, of, shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company;
•whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or series, or any other security, of the Company or any other corporation, and, if so, the specification of such other class or series or such other security, the conversion or exchange price or prices or rate or rates, any adjustments thereof, the date or dates at which such shares shall be convertible or exchangeable and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange may be made;
•restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or any other class or series;
•the voting rights, if any, of the holders of shares of the series generally or upon specified events; and
•any other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such shares, all as may be determined from time to time by the Board and stated in the Preferred Stock Designation for such Preferred Stock.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Preferred Stock Designation of any series of Preferred Stock may provide that such series shall be superior or rank equally or be junior to any other series of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by law.
On each of May 16, 2022 and August 8, 2022, the Company issued 25,000 shares of Preferred Stock, designated as “Series A Preferred Stock,” as described in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 17, 2022 and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 9, 2022. As of August 8, 2022, all of the Company’s 50,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. The Series A Preferred Stock was not registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). As of May 10, 2023, all 50,000 shares of the Series A Preferred Stock had been eliminated, resulting in no shares of Preferred Stock being issued or outstanding as of December 31, 2023.
Registration Rights
Certain of our stockholders or their permitted transferees, are entitled to rights with respect to the registration of certain shares of Common Stock held by them under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). These rights are provided under the terms of registration rights agreements between us and such stockholders (the “Registration Rights Agreements”) and include demand registration rights and piggyback registration rights. The Registration Rights Agreements also provide that we will pay certain expenses of these holders relating to such registrations and indemnify them against certain liabilities which may arise under the Securities Act.
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Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law and the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
The Company has expressly opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL. However, our 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 which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the Company outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (a) persons who are directors and also officers and (b) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or
•at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the Company which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale or certain other transactions 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, owns or within the previous three years owned, 15% or more of the Company’s 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 the Company to negotiate in advance with the Board because the Company’s 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 Company’s Board and may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions which stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that RT and its affiliates, any of its respective direct or indirect transferees of at least 15% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock, and any group as to which such persons are a part, do not constitute “interested stockholders” for purposes of this provision.
In addition, our Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors. The Company’s Board is empowered to elect a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the Board or the resignation, death or removal of a director in certain circumstances.
Authorized shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved Common Stock and Preferred Stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Special Meeting, Action by Written Consent and Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals
Except as otherwise required by law, our Certificate of Incorporation or our Bylaws, written or printed notice of the meeting of the stockholders stating the place, day and hour of the meeting and, in case of a special meeting, stating the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, and in case of a meeting held by remote communication stating such means, shall be delivered not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting, either personally, or by mail, or if prior consent has been received by a stockholder by electronic transmission, by or at the direction of the Chairman or the President, the Secretary, or the persons calling the meeting, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given to stockholders, any notice shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to (in a manner consistent with the DGCL) by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. If notice is given by mail, such notice shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Company. If notice is given by electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed given at the time specified in Section 232 of the DGCL.
Our Bylaws also provide that unless otherwise restricted by our Certificate of Incorporation or our Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of our Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of our 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 our Board or committee.
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In addition, our 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 the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that so long as RT and its affiliates own, in the aggregate, at least 50% in voting power of our Common Stock, any amendment, alteration, change, addition, or repeal of our Certificate of Incorporation requires an affirmative vote of a majority of the then- outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote thereon. At any time when RT and its affiliates beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than 50% of our outstanding Common Stock, our Certificate of Incorporation requires the affirmative vote by the holders of at least 66 2/3% of our outstanding Common Stock for any amendment, alteration, change, addition, or repeal of our Certificate of Incorporation; provided that, irrespective of RT ownership, the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of our outstanding Common Stock is required to amend certain provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation, including those provisions changing the size of the Board, the removal of certain directors, the availability of action by majority written consent of the stockholders or the restriction on business combinations with interest stockholders, among others.
The provisions of the DGCL, our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our Common Stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Exclusive Forum
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, with certain limited exceptions, be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including any beneficial owner) to bring (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Company or the Company’s stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim against the Company, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the charter or bylaws, or (d) any action asserting a claim against the Company, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Subject to the provisions in the preceding sentence, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint, claim or proceeding asserting a cause of action arising under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Stockholders cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in Certificate of Incorporation.
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
The DGCL authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties, subject to certain exceptions. Our Certificate of Incorporation includes a provision that, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, eliminates the personal liability of directors to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director. The effect of these provisions will be to eliminate the rights of us and our stockholders, through stockholders’ derivative suits on our behalf, to recover monetary damages from a director for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, including breaches resulting from grossly negligent behavior. However, exculpation will not apply to any director if the director has acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized illegal dividends or redemptions or derived an improper benefit from his or her actions as a director.
Further, our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws provide that we must indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. We also are expressly authorized to carry directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing indemnification for our directors, officers and certain employees for some liabilities. We believe that these indemnification and advancement provisions and insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and officers.
The limitation of liability, indemnification and advancement provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
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There is currently no pending material litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees for which indemnification is sought.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent for our Common Stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Listing of Common Stock
Our Common Stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “PLBY”.
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