Description of Common Stock of the Company
Exhibit 4.4
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
The following summary description of the common stock of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., or we, our or us is based on the provisions of our certificate of incorporation, as amended, as well as our bylaws, as amended, and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law. This information is qualified entirely by reference to the applicable provisions of our certificate of incorporation, as amended, bylaws, as amended, and the Delaware General Corporation Law. Our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and bylaws, as amended, have previously been filed as exhibits with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Common Stock
Voting. Common stockholders are entitled to one vote per share for the election of directors and on all other matters that require stockholder approval, and do not have cumulative voting rights.
Dividends and Other Distributions. Subject to any preferential rights of outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in any dividends declared by our board of directors on the common stock and paid out of funds legally available for such dividends.
Distribution on Dissolution. Subject to any preferential rights of outstanding preferred stock, in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in any assets remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any outstanding preferred stock.
Other Rights. Our common stock does not carry any preemptive rights enabling a holder to subscribe for, or receive shares of, any class of our common stock or any other securities convertible into shares of any class of our common stock. There are no redemption rights or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.
Anti-takeover Effects of Provisions of Delaware Law and Charter Documents
Delaware Anti-Takeover Law
We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or Section 203. Section 203 generally prohibits a public Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless:
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| prior to the date of the transaction, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; |
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| the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding upon consummation of the transaction, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding (a) shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and (b) shares owned by 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 |
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| on or subsequent to the consummation of the transaction, 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 which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Section 203 defines a business combination to include:
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| any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; |
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| any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition involving the interested stockholder of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation; |
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| subject to exceptions, any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; |
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| subject to exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; and |
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| the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation. |
In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by the entity or person.
Certificate of Incorporation
Our certificate of incorporation, as amended, (i) provides for a board comprised of three classes of directors with each class serving a staggered three-year term, (ii) authorizes our board of directors to issue preferred stock from time to time, in one or more classes or series, without stockholder approval, (iii) requires the approval of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock to amend certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our bylaws, as amended, and (iv) does not include a provision for cumulative voting for directors. Under cumulative voting, a minority stockholder holding a sufficient percentage of a class of shares may be able to ensure the election of one or more directors. These and other provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and bylaws, as amended, could delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in control of us or our management, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over then current prices. Such provisions could also limit the ability of stockholders to remove current management or approve transactions that stockholders may deem to be in their best interests and could adversely affect the price of our common stock.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 59 Maiden Lane, New York, New York 10038.
Listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol NBIX.
