Description of Capital Stock

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Stock Agreements
EX-4.4 4 seat-ex4_4.htm EX-4.4 EX-4.4

Exhibit 4.4

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following summary of the material terms of our capital stock is not intended to be a complete summary of the rights and preferences of such securities. The full text of the Amended and Restated Charter and Amended and Restated Bylaws are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You are encouraged to read the applicable provisions of Delaware law, the Amended and Restated Charter and the Amended and Restated Bylaws in their entirety for a complete description of the rights and preferences of our securities.

Authorized and Outstanding Capital Stock

The Amended and Restated Charter authorizes the issuance of 800,000,000 shares, of which 500,000,000 shares are shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 250,000,000 shares are shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share and 50,000,000 shares are shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

Common Stock

Voting

Except as otherwise required by the Amended and Restated Charter, holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock vote together as a single class on all matters on which stockholders are generally entitled to vote. Each holder of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share and each holder of Class B common stock is entitled to one vote per share. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Charter, the holders of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock shall be entitled to vote separately as a class upon any amendment to the Amended and Restated Charter (including by merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event or otherwise) that would alter or change the powers, preferences, or special rights of a class of stock so as to affect them adversely.

Hoya Topco controls approximately 60.6% of the combined voting power of our common stock as a result of its ownership of all of the shares of Class B common stock. Accordingly, Private Equity Owner, through its control of Hoya Topco, controls our business policies and affairs and can control any action requiring the general approval of its stockholders.

Dividends

The holders of Class A common stock are entitled to receive dividends, as and if declared by the Board out of our assets that are by law available for such use. Dividends shall not be declared or paid on the Class B common stock.

Liquidation or Dissolution

Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of ours as required by law and of the preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of preferred stock shall be entitled, the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A common stock will be entitled to receive our remaining assets available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder. The holders of shares of Class B common stock shall not be entitled to receive any assets of ours in the event of any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up our affairs.

Redemption Rights

We will at all times reserve and keep available out of our authorized and unissued shares of Class A common stock, for the purposes of effecting any redemptions or exchanges pursuant to the applicable provisions of Article IX of the Second A&R LLCA, the number of shares of Class A common stock that are issuable in connection with the redemption or exchange of all outstanding Intermediate Common Units as a result of any Redemption or Direct Exchange (each as defined in the Second A&R LLCA) pursuant to the applicable provisions of Article IX of the Second A&R LLCA, as applicable. In the event that (a) a share of Class A common stock is issued as a result of any Redemption or Direct Exchange of an Intermediate Common Unit pursuant to the applicable provisions of Article IX of the Second A&R LLCA or (b) a Redemption by Cash Payment (as defined in the Second A&R LLCA) is effected with respect to any Intermediate Common Units pursuant to the applicable provisions of Article IX of the Second A&R LLCA, a share of Class B common stock held by such unitholder chosen by us in our sole discretion will automatically and without further action on our part of or the holder thereof be transferred to us for no consideration and thereupon shall automatically be retired and cease to exist, and such share thereafter may not be reissued by us.

Other Provisions

None of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock has any pre-emptive or other subscription rights.

Preferred Stock


We are authorized to issue up to 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The Board is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock in one or more series, and with respect to each series, to establish the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the voting powers (if any), designations, powers, 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 (including voting powers), preferences, and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of preferred stock and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any other series at any time outstanding. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, the number of authorized shares of preferred stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares of preferred stock then outstanding) by the approval of the Board and by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in an election of directors, without the separate vote of the holders of the preferred stock as a class, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

Redeemable Warrants

Vivid Seats PubCo IPO Warrants — Public

In connection with the Business Combination, each Horizon IPO Public Warrant was converted into a corresponding Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrant. The terms of the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants are identical to those of the Horizon IPO Public Warrants.

Each whole Vivid Seats Public IPO 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 the Business Combination, except as discussed in the immediately succeeding paragraph. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated 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 Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants will expire five years after the completion of the 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 Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrant and will have no obligation to settle such exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Class A common stock underlying such warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to our satisfying our obligations described below with respect to registration, or a valid exemption from registration is available. No Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrant will be exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue a share of Class A common stock upon exercise of a Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrant unless the share of 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 such warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a Vivid Seats Public IPO 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 15 business days after the closing of the Business Combination, we will use 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 Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants. We will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days after the closing of the Business Combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants in accordance with the provisions of the Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement. If a registration statement covering the issuance of the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of the Business Combination, holders of Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants 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 such warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the Vivid Seats Public IPO 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 Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” (defined below) less the exercise price of the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” as used in this paragraph shall mean the volume weighted average price of the shares of Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the warrant agent.

Redemption of Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants When the Price Per Share of Class A Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $18.00

Once the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants become exercisable, we may call the outstanding Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants for redemption:


 

 

in whole and not in part;

 

 

at a price of $0.01 per Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrant;

 

 

upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption (the “30-day redemption period”) to each holder of Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants; and

 

 

if, and only if, the closing price of the shares of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrant as described under the heading “— Vivid Seats PubCo IPO Warrants — Public — Anti-Dilution Adjustments”) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the holders of Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants.

We will not redeem the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants as described above unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period. If and when the Vivid Seats Public IPO 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 Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants, each holder of such warrants will be entitled to exercise his, her or its Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the shares of Class A common stock may fall below the $18.00 redemption trigger price (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrant as described under the heading “— Vivid Seats PubCo IPO Warrants — Public — Anti-Dilution Adjustments”) as well as the $11.50 (for whole shares) warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.

Redemption Procedures

A holder of a Vivid Seats Public IPO 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% (or such other amount as specified by the holder) of the shares of Class A common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.

Anti-Dilution Adjustments

If the number of outstanding shares of Class A common stock is increased by a share capitalization or share dividend payable in shares of Class A common stock, or by a split-up of shares of Class A common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such share capitalization or share dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable on exercise of each Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Class A common stock. A rights offering to holders of shares of Class A common stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Class A common stock at a price less than the “historical fair market value” (as defined below) will be deemed a share capitalization 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 shares of Class A common stock) multiplied by (ii) one minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Class A common stock paid in such rights offering and divided by (y) the historical fair market value. For these purposes (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of Class A common stock, in determining the price payable for shares of Class A common stock, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “historical fair market value” means the volume weighted average price of shares of Class A common stock during the 10-trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Class A common stock trade 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 Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to holders of shares of Class A common stock on account of such shares of Class A common stock (or other securities into which the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above or (b) any cash dividends or cash distributions which, when combined on a per share basis with all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the shares of Class A common stock during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution (as adjusted to appropriately reflect any other adjustments and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the exercise price or to the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant) does not exceed $0.50, then the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrant exercise price will be 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 share sub-division or reclassification of shares of Class A common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse share sub-division, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable on exercise of each Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Class A common stock.

Whenever the number of shares of Class A common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants is adjusted, as described above, the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of shares of Class A common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of Class A common stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.

In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such shares of 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 issued and outstanding shares of 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 Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Vivid Seats Public IPO 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 shares 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 Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants immediately prior to such event. However, if such holders were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets for which each Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants will become exercisable will be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by such holders in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election. Additionally, if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of shares of Class A common stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of 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 Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement based on the Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined in the Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement) of the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrant. The purpose of such exercise price reduction is to provide additional value to holders of the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants when an extraordinary transaction occurs during the exercise period of the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants pursuant to which the holders of the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants otherwise do not receive the full potential value of the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants.

The Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants are governed by the warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and Horizon. The Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement provides that the terms of the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any mistake, including to conform the provisions of the Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement to the description of the terms of the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants and the Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement set forth in this prospectus related to Horizon’s IPO, or defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the Vivid Seats Private Placement IPO Warrants or any provision of the Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement with respect to the Vivid Seats Private Placement IPO Warrants, 65% of the then outstanding Vivid Seats Private Placement IPO Warrants. You should review a copy of the Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants.

The Vivid Seats Public IPO 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 Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants being exercised. The holders of the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants do not have the rights or privileges of holders of common stock and any voting rights until they exercise their Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants and receive shares of Vivid Sears Class A common stock. After the issuance of shares of Class A common stock upon exercise


of the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.

Vivid Seats PubCo IPO Warrants — Private

In connection with the Business Combination, each Horizon IPO Private Placement Warrant was converted into a corresponding Vivid Seats Private Placement IPO Warrant.

Except as described below, the Vivid Seats Private Placement IPO Warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants. The Vivid Seats Private Placement IPO Warrants (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of such Vivid Seats Private Placement IPO Warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of the Business Combination (except, among other limited exceptions, to officers, directors and affiliates of Sponsor) and they will not be redeemable. Sponsor or its permitted transferees will have certain registration rights with respect to the Class A common stock underlying the Vivid Seats Private Placement IPO Warrants.

Vivid Seats PubCo $10.00 Exercise Warrants and Vivid Seats PubCo $15.00 Exercise Warrants

In connection with the Business Combination, we issued the Vivid Seats PubCo $10.00 Exercise Warrants and the Vivid Seats PubCo $15.00 Exercise Warrants. The Vivid Seats PubCo $10.00 Exercise Warrants and the Vivid Seats PubCo $15.00 Exercise Warrants have identical terms (other than with respect to exercise price) and were each issued pursuant to a warrant agreement between Horizon and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this propsectus forms a part, substantially in the form of the Form of New Warrant Agreement.

The Form of New Warrant Agreement is substantially consistent with the Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement other than with respect to the following key terms:

 

 

The Form of New Warrant Agreement excludes references to ownership through The Depository Trust Company;

 

 

The Form of New Warrant Agreement reflects the fact that the Vivid Seats PubCo $10.00 Exercise Warrants and Vivid Seats PubCo $15.00 Exercise Warrants were not issued as part of a unit;

 

 

The Form of New Warrant Agreement does not distinguish between “private” and “public” warrants;

 

 

The Vivid Seats PubCo $10.00 Exercise Warrants and the Vivid Seats PubCo $15.00 Exercise Warrants terminate on the date that is ten years after the date of completion of the Business Combination;

 

 

The Form of New Warrant Agreement does not provide for the redemption of the Vivid Seats PubCo $10.00 Exercise Warrants or the Vivid Seats PubCo $15.00 Exercise Warrants;

 

 

The underlying value for purposes of warrant exercise makes reference to the last reported sale price; and

 

 

The Form of New Warrant Agreement excludes provisions contingent upon the consummation of the Business Combination.

Vivid Seats PubCo Class B Warrants

In connection with the Business Combination, we issued the Vivid Seats PubCo Class B Warrants. Each Vivid Seats PubCo Class B Warrant will exercise automatically upon the exercise of a corresponding Hoya Intermediate Warrant. The terms of the Hoya Intermediate Warrants have terms substantially consistent with the Vivid Seats PubCo $10.00 Exercise Warrants and the Vivid Seats PubCo $15.00 Exercise Warrants.

Choice of Forum

The Amended and Restated Charter provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of us, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or stockholders to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Amended and Restated Charter or Amended and Restated Bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. The Amended and Restated Charter further provides that the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. There is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such a provision relating to causes of action arising under the Securities Act, and investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. The clauses described above will not apply to


suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of the Amended and Restated Charter and Amended and Restated Bylaws

The provisions of the Amended and Restated Charter and Amended and Restated Bylaws and of the DGCL summarized below may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that you might consider in your best interest, including an attempt that might result in your receipt of a premium over the market price for your shares of Class A common stock.

The Amended and Restated Charter and the Amended and Restated Bylaws contain certain provisions that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the Board and that may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a future takeover or change in control of us unless such takeover or change in control is approved by the Board.

These provisions include:

 

 

Action by Written Consent; Special Meetings of Stockholders. The Amended and Restated Charter provides that, following the time Private Equity Owner and its affiliated companies cease to beneficially own in the aggregate fifty percent (50%) of the voting control of us, stockholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and cannot be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting. The Amended and Restated Charter and the Amended and Restated Bylaws also provide that, subject to any special rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock and except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of our stockholders may be called only (i) by or at the direction of the Board or the chair of the Board pursuant to a written resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of the majority of the total number of directors that we would have if there were no vacancies or (ii) prior to the date on which Private Equity Owner and its affiliated companies cease to beneficially own at least thirty percent (30%) of the voting control of us, by the chair of the Board at the written request of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of voting stock in the manner provided for in the Amended and Restated Bylaws.

 

 

Advance Notice Procedures. The Amended and Restated Bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders, and for stockholder nominations of persons for election to the Board to be brought before an annual or special meeting of stockholders. Stockholders at an annual meeting will only be able to consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors or by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has given our Secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the stockholder’s intention to bring that business or nomination before the meeting. Although the Amended and Restated Bylaws do not give the Board the power to approve or disapprove stockholder nominations of candidates or proposals regarding other business to be conducted at a special or annual meeting, as applicable, the Amended and Restated Bylaws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.

 

 

Authorized but Unissued Shares. Our authorized but unissued shares of Class A common stock and preferred stock will be available for future issuance without stockholder approval. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of Class A common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of a majority of Class A common stock by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

 

 

Business Combinations with Interested Stockholders. The Amended and Restated Charter provides that we are not subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination, such as a merger, with an “interested stockholder” (which includes a person or group owning 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock) for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless (with certain exceptions) the business combination or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Accordingly, we are not subject to any anti-takeover effects of Section 203. Nevertheless, the Amended and Restated Charter contains provisions that have a similar effect to Section 203, except that they provide that Sponsor, Hoya Topco, and the Private Equity Owner, and their respective affiliates and successors and their direct and indirect transferees will not be deemed to be “interested stockholders,” regardless of the percentage of our voting stock owned by them, and accordingly will not be subject to such restrictions.

 


 

 

Director Designees; Classes of Directors. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Charter, the directors of the Board are divided into three classes, with each class serving staggered three year terms. The existence of a classified board of directors could discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us as it is more difficult and time consuming for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors on a classified board of directors.

 

 

No Cumulative Voting for Directors. The DGCL provides that stockholders are not entitled to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. The Amended and Restated Charter does not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, the holders of shares of common stock representing a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of our capital stock of will be able to elect all of the directors then standing for election.

 

 

Restriction on Issuance of Class B Common Stock. No shares of Class B common stock may be issued by us except to a holder of Intermediate Common Units, such that after such issuance the holder of shares of Class B common stock holds an identical number of Intermediate Common Units and shares of Class B common stock. The Intermediate Common Units are held by us and Hoya Topco and such Intermediate Common Units are subject to transfer restrictions set forth in the Second A&R LLCA. The restriction on issuance of Class B common stock and the restriction on transfer of Intermediate Common Units could make it more difficult for a third party to obtain control of us from Hoya Topco, which controls our business policies and affairs and will control any action requiring the general approval of stockholders by virtue of its ownership of all outstanding Class B common stock.

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

The Amended and Restated Charter limits the liability of our directors to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL and provides that we will provide them with customary indemnification and advancement of expenses. We entered into customary indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors that provide them, in general, with customary indemnification in connection with their service to us or on our behalf.

Corporate Opportunity

The Amended and Restated Charter provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (a) we renounce any interest or expectancy in a transaction or matter that may be a corporate opportunity for us and (b) the Private Equity Owner and/or its affiliated companies or Sponsor and/or its affiliates companies and/or their respective directors, members, managers and/or employees have no duty to present such corporate opportunity to us.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent for our common stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

Listing of Class A Common Stock and Warrants

Our Class A common stock and Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants are listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “SEAT” and “SEATW” respectively.