Attached files
| file | filename |
|---|---|
| EX-32.1 - EX-32.1 - Adamas Pharmaceuticals Inc | adms10k2019ex321.htm |
| EX-31.2 - EX-31.2 - Adamas Pharmaceuticals Inc | adms10k2019ex312.htm |
| EX-31.1 - EX-31.1 - Adamas Pharmaceuticals Inc | adms10k2019ex311.htm |
| EX-23.1 - EX-23.1 - Adamas Pharmaceuticals Inc | adms10k2019ex231.htm |
| EX-21.1 - EX-21.1 - Adamas Pharmaceuticals Inc | adms10k2019ex211.htm |
| EX-10.41 - EX-10.41 - Adamas Pharmaceuticals Inc | adms10k2019ex1041.htm |
| EX-10.37 - EX-10.37 - Adamas Pharmaceuticals Inc | adms10k2019ex1037.htm |
| EX-10.6 - EX-10.6 - Adamas Pharmaceuticals Inc | adms10k2019ex106.htm |
| 10-K - 10-K - Adamas Pharmaceuticals Inc | adms-20191231.htm |
Exhibit 4.4
DESCRIPTION OF ADAMAS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. COMMON STOCK
Our authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share. A description of material terms and provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws affecting the rights of holders of our common stock is set forth below. The description is intended as a summary, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation and the bylaws.
Common Stock
Voting Rights. Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, except as otherwise expressly provided in our certificate of incorporation or required by applicable law. Our certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting for the election of directors, which means that the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of our common stock can elect all of the directors then standing for election.
Dividends. Subject to preferences that may apply to any shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of outstanding shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, out of funds legally available at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may determine.
Liquidation. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders would be distributable ratably among the holders of our common stock and any participating preferred stock outstanding at that time after payment of liquidation preferences on any outstanding shares of preferred stock, and payment of other claims of creditors.
Rights and Preferences. The rights, preferences, and privileges of holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.
Fully Paid and Nonassessable. All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.
Anti-takeover Effects of Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and Delaware Law
Delaware Law
We are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law regulating corporate takeovers. This section prevents some Delaware corporations from engaging, under some circumstances, in a business combination, which includes a merger or sale of at least 10% of the corporation’s assets with any interested stockholder, meaning a stockholder who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock, unless:
•the transaction is approved by the board of directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder;
•upon completion 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 began, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned (a) by persons who are directors and also officers and (b) pursuant to 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 that the stockholder became an interested stockholder the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
A Delaware corporation may “opt out” of these provisions with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or an express provision in its certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws resulting from a stockholders’ amendment approved by at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares. We have not opted out of these provisions. As a result, mergers, or other takeover or change in control attempts of us may be discouraged or prevented.
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws Provisions
Our certificate of incorporation provides for our board of directors to be divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms. 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 voting power of our shares of common stock outstanding will be able to elect all of our directors. The directors may be removed by the stockholders only for cause and upon the vote of holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. Furthermore, the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of our board of directors, and vacancies and newly created directorships on our board of directors may, except as otherwise required by law or determined by our board, only be filled by a majority vote of the directors then serving on the board, even though less than a quorum.
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws also provide that all stockholder actions must be effected at a duly called meeting of stockholders and not by a consent in writing. A special meeting of stockholders may be called only by a majority of our whole board of directors, the chair of our board of directors, or our chief executive officer. Our bylaws also provide that stockholders seeking to present proposals before a meeting of stockholders to nominate candidates for election as directors at a meeting of stockholders must provide timely advance notice in writing, and specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice.
Our certificate of incorporation further provides that the affirmative vote of holders of at least 662/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of voting stock, voting as a single class, is required to amend certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation, including provisions relating to the structure of our board of directors, the size of the board, removal of directors, special meetings of stockholders, actions by written consent and cumulative voting. The affirmative vote of holders of at least 662/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of voting stock, voting as a single class, is required to amend or repeal our bylaws, although our bylaws may be amended by a simple majority vote of our board of directors.
The foregoing provisions make it more difficult for our stockholders to replace our board of directors as well as for another party to obtain control of the company by replacing our board of directors. Since our board of directors has the power to retain and discharge our officers, these provisions could also make it more difficult for our stockholders or another party to effect a change in management. In addition, the authorization of 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 the control of the company.
These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continued stability in the composition of our board of directors and its policies. These provisions are also designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal and to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights. However, such provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares and may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control of the company or our management. As a consequence, these provisions also may inhibit fluctuations in the market price of our stock that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts.
Choice of Forum
Our amended and restated 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: (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; (b) any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders; (c) any action asserting a claim against us arising under the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws; or (d) any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This provision does not apply to actions arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or any claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.