Description of Securities
Exhibit 4.5
VIEWRAY, INC.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
The common stock of ViewRay, Inc. is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “VRAY.” All outstanding shares of common stock are validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.
The following description of the terms of our common stock is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), and our Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), both of which are exhibits to our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
Voting Rights
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share held on all matters submitted for to a vote of stockholders. There is no provision for cumulative voting with regard to the election of directors. There is no cumulative voting of the election of directors then standing for election.
Dividend and Liquidation Rights
The holders of outstanding shares of common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of assets or funds legally available for the payment of dividends at such times and in such amounts as the board from time to time may determine. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, the assets legally available for distribution to stockholders are distributable ratably among the holders of the common stock after payment of liquidation preferences, if any, on any outstanding payment of other claims of creditors.
Other Rights
The holders of our common stock have no pre-emptive rights and no rights to convert their common stock into any other securities, and our common stock is not subject to any redemption or sinking fund provisions.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Under Section 203, we would generally be prohibited from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the time that this stockholder became an interested stockholder unless:
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| • | prior to this time, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; |
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| • | upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and 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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| • | at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the board of directors 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 that is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Under Section 203, a “business combination” includes:
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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 of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder; |
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| • | any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder, subject to limited exceptions; |
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| • | 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 |
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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 an 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 such entity or person.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws
Some provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws could make the following transactions more difficult: acquisition of us by means of a tender offer; acquisition of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or removal of our incumbent officers and directors. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish or could deter transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interest or in our best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium over the price of our common stock.
These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging these proposals because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Undesignated Preferred Stock. The ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control of the company. These and other provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of the company.
Board of Directors Vacancies. Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that except as otherwise provided by law or as determined by resolution of our board of directors, any vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of the board of directors, and not by the stockholders.
Classified Board. Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that our board of directors is classified into three classes of directors. Only one class of directors will be elected at each annual meeting
of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms. Because our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights, our stockholders holding a majority of the shares of our common stock outstanding will be able to elect all of our directors. In addition, our directors may not be removed without cause, and removal of our directors for cause will require a majority stockholder vote. This system of electing and removing directors may tend to discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, because it generally makes it more difficult for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors.
Stockholder Action; Special Meeting of Stockholders. Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that our stockholders may not take action by written consent, but may only take action at annual or special meetings of our stockholders. Special meetings of the stockholders of the company may be called, for any purpose or purposes, by the Secretary of the Corporation at the direction of the board of directors, pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the entire board of directors, but such special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons.
Requirements for Advanced Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals. Our Bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors.
Choice of 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 be the exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty; any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, our Certificate of Incorporation or our Bylaws; or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine.
Amendment of Provisions. The amendment of any of the above provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation, except for the provision making it possible for our board of directors to authorize undesignated preferred stock, would require approval by holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of our then outstanding voting stock. A vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of our then-outstanding voting stock is also required for stockholders to amend our Bylaws.
