Description of Securities
Exhibit 4.7
DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
As of December 31, 2019, PolarityTE, Inc. (“we”, “us”, “our”, or the “Company”) had two classes of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended: our common stock and preferred stock. The following description summarizes the material terms and provisions of our common stock and preferred stock. The following description of our capital stock does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, which are exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K to which this document is attached as an exhibit, and by applicable law. You should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you. The terms of our common stock and preferred stock may also be affected by Delaware law.
Authorized Capital Stock
Our authorized capital stock consists of 250,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, all of which are undesignated preferred stock except for 100,000 shares designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
Common Stock
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders. The holders of our common stock do not have any cumulative voting rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, subject to any preferential dividend rights of any outstanding preferred stock. Our common stock has no preemptive rights, conversion rights or other subscription rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions.
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of all debts and other liabilities and any liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock. All outstanding shares are fully paid and non-assessable.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors is authorized to issue up to 25,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock in one or more series without stockholder approval. Our board of directors may determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, of each series of preferred stock.
The purpose of authorizing our board of directors to issue preferred stock in one or more series and determine the number of shares in the series and its rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. Examples of rights and preferences that the board of directors may fix are:
● | dividend rights; | |
● | conversion rights; | |
● | voting rights; | |
● | preemptive rights; |
● | terms of redemption; | |
● | liquidation preferences; | |
● | sinking fund terms; and | |
● | the number of shares constituting, or the designation of, such series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of common stock. |
The existence of authorized but unissued shares of undesignated preferred stock may enable our board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. For example, if in the due exercise of its fiduciary obligations, our board of directors were to determine that a takeover proposal is not in the best interests of us or our stockholders, our board of directors could cause shares of preferred stock to be issued without stockholder approval in one or more private offerings or other transactions that might dilute the voting or other rights of the proposed acquirer, stockholder or stockholder group. The rights of holders of our common stock described above, will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of any preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future. The issuance of shares of undesignated preferred stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to holders of shares of common stock. The issuance may also adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of these holders and may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control of us.
In connection with the adoption of the Rights Agreement described below, we filed a Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of PolarityTE, Inc. (the “Certificate of Designation”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which designated 100,000 shares of Preferred Stock as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. The Rights Agreement is described in more detail below.
Rights Agreement
On November 7, 2019, the Board authorized and declared a dividend to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 18, 2019 (the “Record Date”) of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of our common stock. Each Right entitles the holder to purchase from us one one-thousandth (subject to adjustment) of one share of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”) at an exercise price of $12.00 per one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (the “Purchase Price”). The complete terms of the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”), dated as of November 7, 2019, between us and Equity Stock Transfer, LLC, as rights agent.
Generally, the Rights Agreement works by imposing a significant penalty upon any person or group (including a group of persons that are acting in concert with each other) that acquires 10% or more (or 20% or more in the case of a “Passive Institutional Investor,” as defined in the Rights Agreement) of our common stock without the approval of the Board. As a result, the overall effect of the Rights Agreement and the issuance of the Rights may be to render more difficult or discourage a tender or exchange offer or other acquisition of our common stock that is not approved by the Board. The Rights Agreement does not prevent the Board from considering any offer that it considers to be in the best interest of its stockholders.
The following is a summary of the terms of the Rights Agreement. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Rights Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Form 8-K that we filed with the SEC on November 7, 2019 and which is incorporated by reference herein.
2 |
Distribution and Transfer of Rights; Rights Certificates
The Board has declared a dividend of one Right for each outstanding share of our common stock. Prior to the Distribution Date referred to below:
● | the Rights will be evidenced by and trade with the certificates for the shares of our common stock (or, with respect to any uncertificated common stock registered in book-entry form, by notation in book-entry), and no separate rights certificates will be distributed; | |
● | new certificates for shares of our common stock issued after the Record Date will contain a legend incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference (for uncertificated shares of Common Stock registered in book-entry form, this legend will be contained in a notation in book-entry); | |
● | the surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of our common stock (or the surrender for transfer of any uncertificated shares of our common stock registered in book-entry form) will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of our common stock; and | |
● | the Rights will accompany any new shares of our common stock that are issued after the Record Date. |
Distribution Date
Subject to certain exceptions specified in the Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the shares of our common stock and become exercisable following the earlier of (i) the tenth (10th) business day after a public announcement that either discloses that a person or a group of related persons has acquired beneficial ownership of 10% or more (or 20% or more in the case of a Passive Institutional Investor) of the shares of our common stock other than as a result of repurchases of shares of our common stock by us or certain inadvertent acquisitions (an “Acquiring Person”) or information which reveals the existence of an Acquiring Person, or (ii) the tenth (10th) business day (or, if such tenth (10th) business day occurs before the Record Date, the close of business on the Record Date), or such later date as may be determined by the Board, after a person or a group of related persons announce or commence a tender or exchange offer that would result in a person or a group of related persons becoming an Acquiring Person. For purposes of the Rights Agreement, beneficial ownership is defined to include the ownership of derivative securities.
The date on which the Rights separate from the shares of our common stock and become exercisable is referred to as the “Distribution Date.”
After the Distribution Date, we will mail Rights certificates to the Company’s stockholders as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and the Rights will become transferable apart from the shares of our common stock. Thereafter, such Rights certificates alone will represent the Rights.
Exempt Persons
The Rights Agreement provides that an Acquiring Person does not include the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or any person holding shares of our common stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such employee benefit plan of the Company. In addition, certain inadvertent acquisitions will not trigger the occurrence of the Distribution Date. The Rights Agreement also provides that any person that would otherwise be deemed an Acquiring Person as of the date of the adoption of the Rights Agreement will be exempted but only for so long as neither it nor any of its Related Persons (as defined in the Rights Agreement) acquire or are deemed to acquire, without the prior approval of the Board, beneficial ownership of any additional shares of our common stock following the adoption of the Rights Agreement.
3 |
Grandfathered Persons
The Rights Agreement provides that a “Grandfathered Person” means any Person which, together with all of its Affiliates and Associates, is, as of the date of the Agreement, the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the shares of our common stock then outstanding; provided, however, that such Person shall cease to be a Grandfathered Person and shall become an Acquiring Person if such Person exceeds its Grandfathered Percentage (as defined in the Rights Agreement) by 0.01% or more of the shares of our common stock, subject to certain exemptions for (i) any unilateral grant of any security by the Company, (ii) the exercise of any options, warrants, rights or similar interests, (iii) the grant of stock options pursuant to any written agreement with us and (iv) any increase in the percentage of stock ownership as a result of any Company stock repurchases.
Preferred Stock Purchasable Upon Exercise of Rights
After the Distribution Date, each Right will entitle the holder to purchase, for the Purchase Price, one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock having economic and other terms similar to that of one share of our common stock. This portion of a share of Preferred Stock is intended to give a stockholder approximately the same dividend, voting and liquidation rights as would one share of our common stock.
Flip-In Trigger
If a person or group of related persons becomes an Acquiring Person, then each Right will entitle the holder thereof to purchase, upon payment of the Purchase Price, in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement, in lieu of a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock, a number of shares of our common stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a then-current market value of twice the Purchase Price. However, the Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of the foregoing event until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by us, as further described below.
Following the occurrence of an event set forth in the preceding paragraph, all Rights that are or, under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, were beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or certain of its transferees will be null and void.
Flip-Over Trigger
If, after an Acquiring Person obtains 10% or more (or 20% or more in the case of a Passive Institutional Investor) of the shares of our common stock, (i) we merge into another entity, (ii) an acquiring entity merges into us, and, in connection with such transaction, all or part of the outstanding shares of our common stock are converted into stock or other securities of another entity, cash, or other property or (iii) we sell or transfer 50% or more of the Company’s assets or earning power, then each Right (except for Rights that have previously been voided as set forth above) will entitle the holder thereof to purchase, upon payment of the Purchase Price, in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement, a number of shares of common stock of the person engaging in the transaction having a then-current market value of twice the Purchase Price.
4 |
Redemption of the Rights
The Rights will be redeemable at the Board’s sole discretion for $0.001 per Right (payable in cash, shares of our common stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board) at any time ending on the earlier of (i) the tenth (10th) business day (or such later date as may be determined by the Board) after the public announcement that a person has acquired beneficial ownership of 10% or more (or 20% or more in the case of a Passive Institutional Investor) of the shares of our common stock and (ii) the final expiration date of the Rights Agreement. Until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by us, the Rights are not exercisable. Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering redemption, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of the Rights will be to receive the $0.001 redemption price. The redemption price will be adjusted if we undertake a stock dividend, a stock split or similar transaction.
Exchange Provision
At any time after the date on which a person beneficially owns 10% or more (or 20% or more in the case of a Passive Institutional Investor) of the shares of our common stock and prior to the acquisition by the person of 50% or more of the shares of our common stock, the Board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by the Acquiring Person or any Related Person, which would have become void), in whole or in part, for shares of our common stock at an exchange ratio (subject to adjustment) of one share of our common stock per Right (or, if insufficient shares are available, we may issue preferred stock, cash, debt or equity securities, property or a combination thereof in exchange for the Rights).
Expiration of the Rights
The Rights expire at or prior to the earlier of (i) November 7, 2020 or (ii) the redemption or exchange of the Rights as described above.
Amendment of Terms of Rights Agreement and Rights
The terms of the Rights and the Rights Agreement may be amended by action of the Board in any respect without the consent of the holders of the Rights on or prior to the time a person becomes an Acquiring Person. Thereafter, the terms of the Rights and the Rights Agreement may not be supplemented or amended in any manner that would adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights.
Rights of Holders
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.
Anti-Dilution Provisions
The Board may adjust the Purchase Price, the number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable and the number of outstanding Rights to prevent dilution that may occur from a stock dividend, a stock split or a reclassification of the Preferred Stock or common stock.
With certain exceptions, no adjustments to the Purchase Price will be made until the cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase Price.
5 |
Taxes
The distribution of Rights should not be taxable for federal income tax purposes. However, following an event that renders the Rights exercisable or upon redemption of the Rights, stockholders may recognize taxable income.
Certain Anti-Takeover Effects
The Rights are not intended to prevent a takeover of the Company and should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by the Board. However, the Rights may cause substantial dilution to a person or group that acquires beneficial ownership of 10% or more (or 20% or more in the case of a Passive Institutional Investor) of the outstanding shares of our common stock (which includes for this purpose stock referenced in derivative transactions and securities).
Antitakeover Effects of Delaware Law and Provisions of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws
Certain provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law and of our restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us unless such takeover or change of control is approved by the board of directors. These provisions, which are summarized below, are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and, therefore, they might also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions are also designed in part to encourage anyone seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. These provisions might 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 might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. However, we believe that the advantages gained by protecting our ability to negotiate with any unsolicited and potentially unfriendly acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging such proposals, including those priced above the then-current market value of our common stock, because, among other reasons, the negotiation of such proposals could improve their terms.
Delaware Takeover Statute. We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that this stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. Under Section 203, a business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder is prohibited unless it satisfies one of the following conditions:
● | before the stockholder became interested, our board of directors 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 corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans, in some instances, but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder; or | |
● | at or after the time the stockholder became interested, the business combination was approved by our board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
6 |
● | Section 203 defines a business combination to include: | |
● | any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; | |
● | any sale, transfer, lease, pledge, exchange, mortgage or other disposition involving the interested stockholder of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation; | |
● | 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; | |
● | 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; or | |
● | 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.
Provisions of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws. Our restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws include several provisions that may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us and encouraging persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals to negotiate with our board of directors rather than pursue non-negotiated takeover attempts. These provisions include the items described below.
Board composition and filling vacancies. In accordance with our restated certificate of incorporation, our board is divided into three classes serving staggered three-year terms, with one class being elected each year. Our restated certificate of incorporation also provides that directors may be removed only for cause and then only by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or more of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. Furthermore, any vacancy on our board of directors, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the size of our board, may only be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of our directors then in office even if less than a quorum.
No written consent of stockholders. Our restated certificate of incorporation provides that all stockholder actions are required to be taken by a vote of the stockholders at an annual or special meeting, and that stockholders may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting. This limit may lengthen the amount of time required to take stockholder actions and would prevent the amendment of our bylaws or removal of directors by our stockholder without holding a meeting of stockholders.
Meetings of stockholders. Our bylaws provide that only a majority of the members of our board of directors then in office or stockholders holding at least one-quarter of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors may call special meetings of stockholders and only those matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered or acted upon at a special meeting of stockholders. Our bylaws limit the business that may be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders to those matters properly brought before the meeting.
Advance notice requirements. Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures regarding stockholder proposals pertaining to the nomination of candidates for election as directors or new business to be brought before meetings of our stockholders. These procedures provide that notice of stockholder proposals must be timely given in writing to our corporate secretary prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken. Generally, to be timely, notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 45 days or more than 75 days prior to the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year. The notice must contain certain information specified in our bylaws.
Amendment to certificate of incorporation and bylaws. As required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, any amendment of our restated certificate of incorporation must first be approved by a majority of our board of directors, and if required by law or our restated certificate of incorporation, must thereafter be approved by a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the amendment, and a majority of the outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote thereon as a class, except that the amendment of the provisions relating to stockholder action, directors, amending our bylaws, limitation of liability and the amendment of our restated certificate of incorporation must be approved by not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the amendment, and a majority of the outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote thereon as a class. Our bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of a majority vote of the directors then in office, subject to any limitations set forth in the bylaws; and may also be amended by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
7 |