EX-3.1 3 a2238967zex-3_1.htm EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

AKERO THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

(Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the

General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware)

 

Akero Therapeutics, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”),

 

DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

 

1.                                      That the name of this corporation is Akero Therapeutics, Inc. and that this corporation was originally incorporated pursuant to the General Corporation Law on January 24, 2017 under the name Pippin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., its name was changed to Pippin Therapeutics, Inc. on February 6, 2017 and its name was again changed to Akero Therapeutics, Inc. on May 16, 2018.

 

2.                                      That the Board of Directors duly adopted resolutions proposing to amend and restate the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation, declaring said amendment and restatement to be advisable and in the best interests of this corporation and its stockholders, and authorizing the appropriate officers of this corporation to solicit the consent of the stockholders therefor, which resolution setting forth the proposed amendment and restatement is as follows:

 

RESOLVED, that the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation be amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

FIRST:   The name of this corporation is Akero Therapeutics, Inc.  (the “Corporation”).

 

SECOND:   The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is located at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 19801, New Castle County.  The name of the registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

THIRD:   The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law.

 

FOURTH:   The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is (i) 75,000,000  shares of Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”) and (ii) 64,730,410 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”).

 

The following is a statement of the designations and the powers, privileges and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof in respect of each class of capital stock of the Corporation.

 


 

A.                                    COMMON STOCK

 

1.                                      General.  The voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights, powers and preferences of the holders of Preferred Stock set forth herein.

 

2.                                      Voting.  The holders of the Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held at all meetings of stockholders (and written actions in lieu of meetings); provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or pursuant to the General Corporation Law. There shall be no cumulative voting. The number of authorized shares of Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by (in addition to any vote of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock that may be required by the terms of this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the General Corporation Law.

 

B.                                    PREFERRED STOCK

 

50,858,462 shares of the authorized and unissued Preferred Stock of the Corporation are hereby designated  “Series A Preferred Stock” with the following rights, preferences, powers, privileges and restrictions, qualifications and limitations.  13,871,948 shares of the authorized and unissued Preferred Stock of the Corporation are hereby designated  “Series B Preferred Stock” with the following rights, preferences, powers, privileges and restrictions, qualifications and limitations. Unless otherwise indicated, references to “sections” or “subsections” in this Part B of this Article Fourth refer to sections and subsections of Part B of this Article Fourth.

 

1.                                      Dividends.

 

1.1                               From and after the date of the issuance of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, dividends (the “Series A Preferred Dividends”) at the rate per annum of $0.080 per share of Series A Preferred Stock subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, shall be payable, in any calendar year when and as declared by the Corporation’s Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”), out of any assets legally available therefor.  From and after the date of the issuance of any shares of Series B Preferred Stock, dividends (the “Series B Preferred Dividends” and collectively with the Series A Preferred Dividends, the “Preferred Dividends”) at the rate per annum of $0.2624 per share of Series B Preferred Stock subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock, shall be payable, in any calendar year when and as declared by the Board of Directors, out of any assets legally available therefor.  The Preferred Dividends will be paid out on a pari passu basis.

 

1.2                               The Corporation shall not declare, pay or set aside any dividends on shares of any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation (other than dividends on

 

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shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock) unless (in addition to the obtaining of any consents required elsewhere in this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) the holders of Preferred Stock then outstanding shall first receive, or simultaneously receive, a dividend on each outstanding share of Preferred Stock in an amount at least equal to the greater of (i) the amount of the Preferred Dividend for such share of Preferred Stock not previously paid during the applicable fiscal year of the Corporation and (ii) in the case of a dividend on Common Stock or any class or series that is convertible into Common Stock, that dividend per share of such series of Preferred Stock as would equal the product of (A) the dividend payable on each share of such class or series determined, if applicable, as if all shares of such class or series had been converted into Common Stock and (B) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a share of such series of Preferred Stock, in each case calculated on the record date for determination of holders entitled to receive such dividend or (ii) in the case of a dividend on any class or series that is not convertible into Common Stock, at a rate per share of each series of Preferred Stock determined by (A) dividing the amount of the dividend payable on each share of such class or series of capital stock by the original issuance price of such class or series of capital stock (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to such class or series) and (B) multiplying such fraction by an amount equal to the applicable Original Issue Price (as defined below); provided that, if the Corporation declares, pays or sets aside, on the same date, a dividend on shares of more than one class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, the dividend payable to the holders of Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 1 shall be calculated based upon the dividend on the class or series of capital stock that would result in the highest dividend to such holders of each series of Preferred Stock.

 

1.3                               The “Series A Original Issue Price” shall mean $1.00 per share, subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock. The “Series B Original Issue Price” shall mean $3.28 per share, subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock. For purposes hereof, the “Original Issue Price” shall mean the Series A Original Issue Price, in the case of the Series A Preferred Stock, and the Series B Original Issue Price, in the case of the Series B Preferred Stock, as applicable.

 

2.                                      Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-Up; Certain Mergers, Consolidations and Asset Sales.

 

2.1                               Preferential Payments to Holders of Preferred Stock.  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation or Deemed Liquidation Event (as defined below), the holders of shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, pari passu pro rata and before any payment shall be made to the holders of Common Stock by reason of their ownership thereof, an amount per share equal to the Original Issue Price together with any dividends declared but unpaid thereon.  If upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation or Deemed Liquidation Event, the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders shall be insufficient to pay the holders of shares of Preferred Stock the full amount to which they shall be entitled under this Subsection 2.1, the holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall share ratably in any distribution of the assets available for distribution in proportion to the respective amounts which would

 

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otherwise be payable in respect of the shares held by them upon such distribution if all amounts payable on or with respect to such shares were paid in full.

 

2.2                               Payments to Holders of Common Stock and Preferred Stock.  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation or Deemed Liquidation Event, after the payment of all preferential amounts required to be paid to the holders of shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with Section 2.1, the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders shall be distributed among the holders of shares of Preferred Stock and Common Stock, pro rata based on the number of shares held by each such holder, treating for this purpose all such securities as if they had been converted to Common Stock pursuant to the terms of this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation immediately prior to such liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Corporation.

 

2.3                               Deemed Liquidation Events.

 

2.3.1                     Definition.  Each of the following events shall be considered a “Deemed Liquidation Event” unless the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class on an as-converted basis (the “Requisite Preferred”) elect otherwise by written notice sent to the Corporation at least five days prior to the effective date of any such event:

 

(a)                                 a merger or consolidation in which: (i) the Corporation is a constituent party, or (ii) a subsidiary of the Corporation is a constituent party and the Corporation issues shares of its capital stock pursuant to such merger or consolidation; except any such merger or consolidation involving the Corporation or a subsidiary in which the shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continue to represent, or are converted into or exchanged for shares of capital stock that represent, immediately following such merger or consolidation, at least a majority, by voting power, of the capital stock of (1) the surviving or resulting corporation; or (2) if the surviving or resulting corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of another corporation immediately following such merger or consolidation, the parent corporation of such surviving or resulting corporation; or

 

(b)                                 the sale, lease, transfer, exclusive license or other disposition, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or the sale or disposition (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise) of one or more subsidiaries of the Corporation if substantially all of the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole are held by such subsidiary or subsidiaries, except where such sale, lease, transfer, exclusive license or other disposition is to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation.

 

2.3.2                     Effecting a Deemed Liquidation Event.

 

(a)                                 The Corporation shall not have the power to effect a Deemed Liquidation Event referred to in Subsection 2.3.1(a)(i) unless the agreement or plan of merger or consolidation for such transaction (the “Merger Agreement”) provides that the

 

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consideration payable to the stockholders of the Corporation shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Subsections 2.1 and 2.2.

 

(b)                                 In the event of a Deemed Liquidation Event referred to in Subsection 2.3.1(a)(ii), or 2.3.1(b) above, if the Corporation does not effect a dissolution of the Corporation under the General Corporation Law within ninety (90) days after such Deemed Liquidation Event, then (i) the Corporation shall send a written notice to each holder of Preferred Stock no later than the ninetieth (90th) day after the Deemed Liquidation Event advising such holders of their right (and the requirements to be met to secure such right) pursuant to the terms of the following clause (ii) to require the redemption of such shares of Preferred Stock, and (ii) if the holders representing the Requisite Preferred so request in a written instrument delivered to the Corporation not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after such Deemed Liquidation Event, the Corporation shall use the consideration received by the Corporation for such Deemed Liquidation Event (net of any retained liabilities associated with the assets sold or technology licensed, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, including the approval of a majority of the Preferred Directors then in office, together with any other assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders (the “Net Proceeds”)), all to the extent permitted by Delaware law governing distributions to stockholders, on the one hundred fiftieth (150th) day after such Deemed Liquidation Event, to redeem all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock at a price per share equal to the Liquidation Amount, as applicable.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a redemption pursuant to the preceding sentence, if the Net Proceeds are not sufficient to redeem all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, or if the Corporation does not have sufficient lawfully available funds to effect such redemption, the Corporation shall redeem each holder’s shares of Preferred Stock ratably (based on the respective amounts that each holder would have received if all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock were redeemed as provided in clause (ii) above) to the fullest extent of such Net Proceeds or such lawfully available funds, as the case may be, and shall redeem the remaining shares ratably (in the same manner) as soon as it may lawfully do so under Delaware law governing distributions to stockholders. The provisions of Subsections 2.3.2(c)(ii) through 2.3.2(c)(iv) below shall apply, with such necessary changes in the details thereof as are necessitated by the context, to the redemption of the Preferred Stock pursuant to this Subsection 2.3.2(b).  Prior to the distribution or redemption provided for in this Subsection 2.3.2(b), the Corporation shall not expend or dissipate the consideration received for such Deemed Liquidation Event, except to discharge expenses incurred in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event or in the ordinary course of business.

 

2.3.3                     Amount Deemed Paid or Distributed.  The amount deemed paid or distributed to the holders of capital stock of the Corporation upon any such Deemed Liquidation Event shall be the cash or the value of the property, rights or securities paid or distributed to such holders by the Corporation or the acquiring person, firm or other entity.  The value of such property, rights or securities shall be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, including the approval of a majority of the Preferred Directors (as defined herein) then in office.

 

2.3.4                     Allocation of Escrow and Contingent Consideration. In the event of a Deemed Liquidation Event pursuant to Subsection 2.3.1(a)(i), if any portion of the consideration payable to the stockholders of the Corporation is payable only upon satisfaction of contingencies (the “Additional Consideration”), the Merger Agreement shall provide that (a)

 

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the portion of such consideration that is not Additional Consideration (such portion, the “Initial Consideration”) shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Subsections 2.1 and 2.2 as if the Initial Consideration were the only consideration payable in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event; and (b) any Additional Consideration which becomes payable to the stockholders of the Corporation upon satisfaction of such contingencies shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Subsections 2.1 and 2.2 after taking into account the previous payment of the Initial Consideration as part of the same transaction.  For the purposes of this Subsection 2.3.4, consideration placed into escrow or retained as holdback to be available for satisfaction of indemnification or similar obligations in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event shall be deemed to be Additional Consideration.

 

3.                                      Voting.

 

3.1                               General.  On any matter presented to the stockholders of the Corporation for their action or consideration at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation (or by written consent of stockholders in lieu of a meeting), each holder of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to cast the number of votes equal to the number of whole shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Preferred Stock held by such holder are convertible as of the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote on such matter.  Except as provided by law or by the other provisions of this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, holders of Preferred Stock shall vote together with the holders of Common Stock as a single class on an as-converted basis.

 

3.2                               Election of Directors.  The holders of record of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock, exclusively and as a separate class, shall be entitled to elect four (4) directors of the Corporation (the “Preferred Directors”), the Requisite Preferred shall be entitled to elect two (2) directors of the Corporation, and the holders of record of the shares of Common Stock, exclusively and as a separate class, shall be entitled to elect one (1) director of the Corporation.  Any director elected as provided in the preceding sentence may be removed without cause by, and only by, the affirmative vote of the holders of the shares of the class or series of capital stock entitled to elect such director or directors, given either at a special meeting of such stockholders duly called for that purpose or pursuant to a written consent of stockholders. If the holders of shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock, as the case may be, fail to elect a sufficient number of directors to fill all directorships for which they are entitled to elect directors, voting exclusively and as a separate class, pursuant to the first sentence of this Subsection 3.2, then any directorship not so filled shall remain vacant until such time as the holders of the Preferred Stock or Common Stock, as the case may be, elect a person to fill such directorship by vote or written consent in lieu of a meeting; and no such directorship may be filled by stockholders of the Corporation other than by the stockholders of the Corporation that are entitled to elect a person to fill such directorship, voting exclusively and as a separate class.  The holders of record of the shares of Common Stock and of any other class or series of voting stock (including the Preferred Stock), exclusively and voting together as a single class on an as-converted basis, shall be entitled to elect the balance of the total number of directors of the Corporation.  At any meeting held for the purpose of electing a director, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the class or series entitled to elect such director shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of electing such director.  Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection 3.2, a vacancy in any directorship filled by the holders of any class or series shall

 

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be filled only by vote or written consent in lieu of a meeting of the holders of such class or series or by any remaining director or directors elected by the holders of such class or series pursuant to this Subsection 3.2.

 

3.3                               Preferred Stock Protective Provisions. At any time when any shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall not, either directly or indirectly by amendment, merger, consolidation or otherwise, do any of the following without (in addition to any other vote required by law or this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) the written consent or affirmative vote of the Requisite Preferred given in writing or by vote at a meeting, consenting or voting (as the case may be) as a separate class, and any such act or transaction entered into without such consent or vote shall be null and void ab initio, and of no force or effect:

 

3.3.1                     liquidate, dissolve or wind-up the business and affairs of the Corporation, effect any merger or consolidation or any other Deemed Liquidation Event, or consent to any of the foregoing;

 

3.3.2                     waive, amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

3.3.3                     alter, amend, waive, repeal or change the powers, preferences or rights of the Preferred Stock (including without limitation any consent rights contained in this Subsection 3.3);

 

3.3.4                     (i) create, or authorize the creation of, or issue or obligate itself to issue, shares of any additional class or series of capital stock, or any other security convertible into or exercisable for any equity security, unless the same ranks junior to the Preferred Stock with respect to the rights, preferences and privileges of such additional class or series of capital stock or any other security, the distribution of assets on the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, and the payment of dividends and rights of redemption; (ii) increase or decrease the authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock, (iii) increase or decrease the authorized number of shares of any additional class or series of capital stock, or any other security convertible into or exercisable for any equity security of the Corporation, or (iv) increase or decrease the authorized number of shares of Common Stock;

 

3.3.5                     (i) reclassify, alter or amend any existing security of the Corporation that is pari passu with the Preferred Stock in respect of the rights, preferences and privileges of such existing security, the distribution of assets on the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, or the payment of dividends or right of redemption, if such reclassification, alteration or amendment would render such other security senior to the Preferred Stock in respect of any such right, preference, or privilege or (ii) reclassify, alter or amend any existing security of the Corporation that is junior to the Preferred Stock in respect of the rights, preferences and privileges of such existing security, the distribution of assets on the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the payment of dividends or rights of redemption, if such reclassification, alteration or amendment would render such other security senior to, or pari passu with, the Preferred Stock in respect of any such right, preference or privilege;

 

3.3.6                     purchase or redeem (or permit any subsidiary to purchase or redeem) or pay or declare any dividend or make any distribution on, any shares of capital

 

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stock of the Corporation other than (i) redemptions of or dividends or distributions on Preferred Stock as expressly authorized herein, (ii) repurchases of stock from former employees, officers, directors, consultants or other persons who performed services for the Corporation or any subsidiary in connection with the cessation of such employment or service at the lower of the original purchase price or the then-current fair market value thereof pursuant to stock restriction agreements or pursuant to equity incentive agreements with such persons and (iii) repurchases of stock upon exercise of the Corporation’s right of first refusal;

 

3.3.7                     create, or authorize the creation of, or issue, or authorize the issuance of any debt security or other indebtedness for borrowed money, including but not limited to obligations and contingent obligations under guarantees but not including equipment leases or lines of credit, or permit any subsidiary to take any such action with respect to any debt security or other indebtedness for borrowed money, if the aggregate indebtedness of the Corporation and its subsidiaries for borrowed money following such action would exceed $500,000;

 

3.3.8                     approve, authorize or effect any corporate strategic relationship involving the payment, contribution or assignment by the Company, or to the Company, of assets in excess of $500,000;

 

3.3.9                     create, or hold capital stock in, any subsidiary that is not wholly owned (either directly or through one or more other subsidiaries) by the Corporation, or permit any subsidiary to create, or authorize the creation of, or issue or obligate itself to issue, any shares of any class or series of capital stock, or sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any capital stock of any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Corporation, or permit any direct or indirect subsidiary to sell, lease, transfer, exclusively license or otherwise dispose (in a single transaction or series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of such subsidiary;

 

3.3.10              sell, assign, license, pledge or encumber material technology or intellectual property, other than licenses granted in the ordinary course of business; or

 

3.3.11              increase or decrease the authorized number of directors constituting the Board of Directors.

 

4.                                      Optional Conversion.

 

The holders of the Preferred Stock shall have conversion rights as follows (the “Conversion Rights”):

 

4.1                               Right to Convert.

 

4.1.1                     Conversion Ratio.  Each share of Preferred Stock shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time and from time to time, and without the payment of additional consideration by the holder thereof, into such number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock as is determined by dividing the Original Issue Price by the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price (as defined below) in effect at the time of conversion.  For purposes hereof, the “Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price” shall

 

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initially (as of the Series B Original Issue Date) be equal to (a) in the case of the Series A Preferred Stock, $1.00 and (b) in the case of the Series B Preferred Stock, $3.28. Such initial Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price, and the rate at which shares of Preferred Stock may be converted into shares of Common Stock, shall be subject to adjustment as provided below.

 

4.1.2                     Termination of Conversion Rights. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation or a Deemed Liquidation Event, the Conversion Rights shall terminate at the close of business on the last full day preceding the date fixed for the payment of any such amounts distributable on such event to the holders of Preferred Stock.

 

4.2                               Fractional Shares.  No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of Preferred Stock.  In lieu of any fractional shares to which the holder would otherwise be entitled, the Corporation shall pay cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, including the approval of a majority of the Preferred Directors then in office.  Whether or not fractional shares would be issuable upon such conversion shall be determined on the basis of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock the holder is at the time converting into Common Stock and the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion.

 

4.3                               Mechanics of Conversion.

 

4.3.1                     Notice of Conversion.  In order for a holder of Preferred Stock to voluntarily convert shares of Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock, such holder shall (a) provide written notice to the Corporation’s transfer agent at the office of the transfer agent for the Preferred Stock (or at the principal office of the Corporation if the Corporation serves as its own transfer agent) that such holder elects to convert all or any number of such holder’s shares of Preferred Stock and, if applicable, any event on which such conversion is contingent, and (b), if such holder’s shares are certificated, surrender the certificate or certificates for such shares of Preferred Stock (or, if such registered holder alleges that such certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, a lost certificate affidavit and agreement reasonably acceptable to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of such certificate), at the office of the transfer agent for the Preferred Stock (or at the principal office of the Corporation if the Corporation serves as its own transfer agent).  Such notice shall state such holder’s name or the names of the nominees in which such holder wishes the shares of Common Stock to be issued.  If required by the Corporation, any certificates surrendered for conversion shall be endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Corporation, duly executed by the registered holder or his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing.  The close of business on the date of receipt by the transfer agent (or by the Corporation if the Corporation serves as its own transfer agent) of such notice and, if applicable, certificates (or lost certificate affidavit and agreement) shall be the time of conversion (the “Conversion Time”), and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the specified shares shall be deemed to be outstanding of record as of such date.  The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable after the Conversion Time (i) issue and deliver to such holder of Preferred Stock, or to his, her or its nominees, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion in accordance with the provisions hereof and a certificate for the

 

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number (if any) of the shares of Preferred Stock represented by the surrendered certificate that were not converted into Common Stock, (ii) pay in cash such amount as provided in Subsection 4.2 in lieu of any fraction of a share of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon such conversion and (iii) pay all declared but unpaid dividends on the shares of Preferred Stock converted.

 

4.3.2                     Reservation of Shares.  The Corporation shall at all times when the Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued capital stock, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Preferred Stock, such number of its duly authorized shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Preferred Stock; and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall take such corporate action as may be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes, including, without limitation, engaging in best efforts to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of any necessary amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation. Before taking any action which would cause an adjustment reducing the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price below the then par value of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, the Corporation will take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Corporation may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock at such adjusted Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price.

 

4.3.3                     Effect of Conversion.  All shares of Preferred Stock which shall have been surrendered for conversion as herein provided shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights with respect to such shares shall immediately cease and terminate at the Conversion Time, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive shares of Common Stock in exchange therefor, to receive payment in lieu of any fraction of a share otherwise issuable upon such conversion as provided in Subsection 4.2 and to receive payment of any dividends declared but unpaid thereon.  Any shares of Preferred Stock so converted shall be retired and cancelled and may not be reissued as shares of such series, and the Corporation may thereafter take such appropriate action (without the need for stockholder action) as may be necessary to reduce the authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock accordingly.

 

4.3.4                     No Further Adjustment.  Upon any such conversion, no adjustment to the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price shall be made for any declared but unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock surrendered for conversion or on the Common Stock delivered upon conversion.

 

4.3.5                     Taxes.  The Corporation shall pay any and all issue and other similar taxes that may be payable in respect of any issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 4.  The Corporation shall not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other than that in which the shares of Preferred Stock so converted were registered, and no such issuance or delivery shall be made unless and until the person or entity requesting such issuance has paid to the Corporation the amount of any such tax or has established, to the satisfaction of the Corporation, that such tax has been paid.

 

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4.4                               Adjustments to Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price for Diluting Issues.

 

4.4.1                     Special Definitions.  For purposes of this Article Fourth, the following definitions shall apply:

 

(a)                                 Option” shall mean rights, options or warrants to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

 

(b)                                 Series B Original Issue Date” shall mean the date on which the first share of Series B Preferred Stock was issued.

 

(c)                                  Convertible Securities” shall mean any evidence of indebtedness, shares or other securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, but excluding Options.

 

(d)                                 Additional Shares of Common Stock” shall mean all shares of Common Stock issued (or, pursuant to Subsection 4.4.3 below, deemed to be issued) by the Corporation after the Series B Original Issue Date, other than (1) the following shares of Common Stock and (2) shares of Common Stock deemed issued pursuant to the following Options and Convertible Securities (clauses (1) and (2), collectively, “Exempted Securities”):

 

 

(i)

shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities issued as a dividend or distribution on Series B Preferred Stock;

 

 

 

 

(ii)

shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities issued by reason of a dividend, stock split, split-up or other distribution on shares of Common Stock that is covered by Subsection 4.5, 4.6, 4.7 or 4.8 and approved by the Board of Directors, including the approval of a majority of the Preferred Directors then in office;

 

 

 

 

(iii)

shares of Common Stock or Options issued to employees or directors of, or consultants or advisors to, the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to a plan, agreement or arrangement approved by the Board of Directors, including the approval of a majority of the Preferred Directors then in office;

 

 

 

 

(iv)

shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities actually issued upon the exercise of Options outstanding as of the Series B Original Issue Date or shares of Common

 

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Stock actually issued upon the conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities outstanding as of the Series B Original Issue Date, in each case provided such issuance is pursuant to the terms of such Option or Convertible Security;

 

 

 

 

(v)

shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities issued to banks, equipment lessors or other financial institutions, or to real property lessors, pursuant to commercial credit arrangements, equipment leasing or commercial real property leasing transactions approved by the Board of Directors, including the approval of a majority of the Preferred Directors then in office;

 

 

 

 

(vi)

shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities issued to suppliers or third party service providers in connection with the provision of goods or services pursuant to transactions approved by the Board of Directors, including the approval of a majority of the Preferred Directors then in office;

 

 

 

 

(vii)

shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities issued as acquisition consideration pursuant to the acquisition of another corporation by the Corporation by merger, purchase of substantially all of the assets or other reorganization or to a joint venture agreement, provided that such issuances are approved by the Board of Directors, including the approval of a majority of the Preferred Directors then in office;

 

 

 

 

(viii)

shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities issued in connection with sponsored research, collaboration, technology license, development, marketing or other similar agreements or strategic partnerships approved by the Board of Directors, including the approval of a majority of the Preferred Directors then in office;

 

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(ix)

shares of Common Stock issued in connection with a firmly underwritten public offering of shares of Common Stock of the Company at a pre-money valuation of at least $300,000,000 (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to the Common Stock or Preferred Stock) and for a total offering of not less than $60,000,000 (before deduction of underwriters’ commissions and expenses);

 

 

 

 

(x)

shares of Common Stock issued upon the conversion of Preferred Stock; and

 

 

 

 

(xi)

securities deemed at the time of issuance to be Exempted Securities by the Requisite Preferred.

 

4.4.2                     No Adjustment of Conversion Price.  No adjustment in the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price shall be made as the result of the issuance or deemed issuance of Additional Shares of Common Stock if the Corporation receives written notice from the Requisite Preferred, agreeing that no such adjustment shall be made as the result of the issuance or deemed issuance of such Additional Shares of Common Stock.

 

4.4.3                     Deemed Issuance of Additional Shares of Common Stock.

 

(a)                                 If the Corporation at any time or from time to time after the Series B Original Issue Date shall issue any Options or Convertible Securities (excluding Options or Convertible Securities which are themselves Exempted Securities) or shall fix a record date for the determination of holders of any class of securities entitled to receive any such Options or Convertible Securities, then the maximum number of shares of Common Stock (as set forth in the instrument relating thereto, assuming the satisfaction of any conditions to exercisability, convertibility or exchangeability but without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such number) issuable upon the exercise of such Options or, in the case of Convertible Securities and Options therefor, the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, shall be deemed to be Additional Shares of Common Stock issued as of the time of such issue or, in case such a record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date.

 

(b)                                 If the terms of any Option or Convertible Security, the issuance of which resulted in an adjustment to the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price pursuant to the terms of Subsection 4.4.4, are revised as a result of an amendment to such terms or any other adjustment pursuant to the provisions of such Option or Convertible Security (but excluding automatic adjustments to such terms pursuant to anti-dilution or similar provisions of such Option or Convertible Security) to provide for either (1) any increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise, conversion and/or exchange of any such Option or Convertible Security or (2) any increase or decrease in

 

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the consideration payable to the Corporation upon such exercise, conversion and/or exchange, then, effective upon such increase or decrease becoming effective, the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price computed upon the original issuance of such Option or Convertible Security (or upon the occurrence of a record date with respect thereto) shall be readjusted to the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price as would have been obtained had such revised terms been in effect upon the original date of issuance of such Option or Convertible Security.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no readjustment pursuant to this clause (b) shall have the effect of increasing the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price to an amount which exceeds the lower of (i) the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the original adjustment made as a result of the issuance of such Option or Convertible Security, or (ii) the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price that would have resulted from any issuances of Additional Shares of Common Stock (other than deemed issuances of Additional Shares of Common Stock as a result of the issuance of such Option or Convertible Security) between the original adjustment date and such readjustment date.

 

(c)           If the terms of any Option or Convertible Security (excluding Options or Convertible Securities which are themselves Exempted Securities), the issuance of which did not result in an adjustment to the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price pursuant to the terms of Subsection 4.4.4 (either because the consideration per share (determined pursuant to Subsection 4.4.5) of the Additional Shares of Common Stock subject thereto was equal to or greater than the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price then in effect, or because such Option or Convertible Security was issued before the Series B Original Issue Date), are revised after the Series B Original Issue Date as a result of an amendment to such terms or any other adjustment pursuant to the provisions of such Option or Convertible Security (but excluding automatic adjustments to such terms pursuant to anti-dilution or similar provisions of such Option or Convertible Security) to provide for either (1) any increase in the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of any such Option or Convertible Security or (2) any decrease in the consideration payable to the Corporation upon such exercise, conversion or exchange, then such Option or Convertible Security, as so amended or adjusted, and the Additional Shares of Common Stock subject thereto (determined in the manner provided in Subsection 4.4.3(a)) shall be deemed to have been issued effective upon such increase or decrease becoming effective.

 

(d)           Upon the expiration or termination of any unexercised Option or unconverted or unexchanged Convertible Security (or portion thereof) which resulted (either upon its original issuance or upon a revision of its terms) in an adjustment to the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price pursuant to the terms of Subsection 4.4.4, the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price shall be readjusted to the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price as would have been obtained had such Option or Convertible Security (or portion thereof) never been issued.

 

(e)           If the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise, conversion and/or exchange of any Option or Convertible Security, or the consideration payable to the Corporation upon such exercise, conversion and/or exchange, is calculable at the time such Option or Convertible Security is issued or amended but is subject to adjustment based upon subsequent events, any adjustment to, as applicable, the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price provided for in this Subsection 4.4.3 shall be effected at the time of such issuance or amendment based on such number of shares or amount of consideration

 

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without regard to any provisions for subsequent adjustments (and any subsequent adjustments shall be treated as provided in clauses (b) and (c) of this Subsection 4.4.3).  If the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise, conversion and/or exchange of any Option or Convertible Security, or the consideration payable to the Corporation upon such exercise, conversion and/or exchange, cannot be calculated at all at the time such Option or Convertible Security is issued or amended, any adjustment to, as applicable, the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price that would result under the terms of this Subsection 4.4.3 at the time of such issuance or amendment shall instead be effected at the time such number of shares and/or amount of consideration is first calculable (even if subject to subsequent adjustments), assuming for purposes of calculating such adjustment to the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price that such issuance or amendment took place at the time such calculation can first be made.

 

4.4.4       Adjustment of the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price Upon Issuance of Additional Shares of Common Stock.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Series B Original Issue Date issue Additional Shares of Common Stock (including Additional Shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued pursuant to Subsection 4.4.3), without consideration or for a consideration per share less than the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such issuance or deemed issuance, then the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price shall be reduced, concurrently with such issue, to a price (calculated to the nearest one-hundredth of a cent) determined in accordance with the following formula:

 

CP2 = CP1*  (A + B) ÷ (A + C).

 

For purposes of the foregoing formula, the following definitions shall apply:

 

(a)           “CP2” shall mean the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price in effect immediately after such issuance or deemed issuance of Additional Shares of Common Stock;

 

(b)           “CP1” shall mean the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such issuance or deemed issuance of Additional Shares of Common Stock;

 

(c)           “A” shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issuance or deemed issuance of Additional Shares of Common Stock (treating for this purpose as outstanding all shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Options outstanding immediately prior to such issuance or deemed issuance or upon conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities (including the Preferred Stock) outstanding (assuming exercise of any outstanding Options therefor) immediately prior to such issuance or deemed issuance);

 

(d)           “B” shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued if such Additional Shares of Common Stock had been issued or deemed issued at a price per share equal to CP1 (determined by dividing the aggregate consideration received by the Corporation in respect of such issue by CP1); and

 

(e)           “C” shall mean the number of such Additional Shares of Common Stock issued or deemed issued in such transaction.

 

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4.4.5       Determination of Consideration.  For purposes of this Subsection 4.4, the consideration received by the Corporation for the issuance or deemed issuance of any Additional Shares of Common Stock shall be computed as follows:

 

(a)           Cash and Property:  Such consideration shall:

 

(i)                                     insofar as it consists of cash, be computed at the aggregate amount of cash received by the Corporation, excluding amounts paid or payable for accrued interest;

 

(ii)                                  insofar as it consists of property other than cash, be computed at the fair market value thereof at the time of such issue, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, including the approval of a majority of the Preferred Directors then in office; and

 

(iii)                               in the event Additional Shares of Common Stock are issued together with other shares or securities or other assets of the Corporation for consideration which covers both, be the proportion of such consideration so received, computed as provided in clauses (i) and (ii) above, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, including the approval of a majority of the Preferred Directors then in office.

 

(b)           Options and Convertible Securities.  The consideration per share received by the Corporation for Additional Shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued pursuant to Subsection 4.4.3, relating to Options and Convertible Securities, shall be determined by dividing:

 

(i)                                     The total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Corporation as consideration for the issue of such Options or Convertible Securities, plus the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration (as set forth in the instruments relating thereto, without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such consideration) payable to the Corporation upon the exercise of such Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, or in the case of Options for Convertible Securities, the exercise of such Options for Convertible

 

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Securities and the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, by

 

(ii)                                  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock (as set forth in the instruments relating thereto, without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such number) issuable upon the exercise of such Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, or in the case of Options for Convertible Securities, the exercise of such Options for Convertible Securities and the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities.

 

4.4.6       Multiple Closing Dates.  In the event the Corporation shall issue on more than one date Additional Shares of Common Stock that are a part of one transaction or a series of related transactions and that would result in an adjustment to the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price pursuant to the terms of Subsection 4.4.4, and such issuance dates occur within a period of no more than ninety (90) days from the first such issuance to the final such issuance, then, upon the final such issuance, the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price shall be readjusted to give effect to all such issuances as if they occurred on the date of the first such issuance (and without giving effect to any additional adjustments as a result of any such subsequent issuances within such period).

 

4.5          Adjustment for Stock Splits and Combinations.  If the Corporation shall at any time or from time to time after the Series B Original Issue Date effect a subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock, the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price in effect immediately before that subdivision shall be proportionately decreased so that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on conversion of each share of such series shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding.  If the Corporation shall at any time or from time to time after the Series B Original Issue Date combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price in effect immediately before the combination shall be proportionately increased so that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on conversion of each share of such series shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding.  Any adjustment under this subsection shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective.

 

4.6          Adjustment for Certain Dividends and Distributions.  In the event the Corporation at any time or from time to time after the Series B Original Issue Date shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or other distribution payable on the Common Stock in additional shares of Common Stock, then and in each such event the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price in effect immediately before such event shall be decreased as of the time of such issuance or, in the event such a record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date, by multiplying the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price then in effect by a fraction:

 

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(1)           the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date, and

 

(2)           the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date plus the number of shares of Common Stock issuable in payment of such dividend or distribution.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing (a) if such record date shall have been fixed and such dividend is not fully paid or if such distribution is not fully made on the date fixed therefor, the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price shall be recomputed accordingly as of the close of business on such record date and thereafter the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price shall be adjusted pursuant to this subsection as of the time of actual payment of such dividends or distributions; and (b) no such adjustment shall be made if the holders of Preferred Stock simultaneously receive a dividend or other distribution of shares of Common Stock in a number equal to the number of shares of Common Stock as they would have received if all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock had been converted into Common Stock on the date of such event.

 

4.7          Adjustments for Other Dividends and Distributions.  In the event the Corporation at any time or from time to time after the Series B Original Issue Date shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or other distribution payable in securities of the Corporation (other than a distribution of shares of Common Stock in respect of outstanding shares of Common Stock) or in other property and the provisions of Section 1 do not apply to such dividend or distribution, then and in each such event the holders of Preferred Stock shall receive, simultaneously with the distribution to the holders of Common Stock, a dividend or other distribution of such securities or other property in an amount equal to the amount of such securities or other property as they would have received if all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock had been converted into Common Stock on the date of such event.

 

4.8          Adjustment for Merger or Reorganization, etc.  Subject to the provisions of Subsection 2.3, if there shall occur any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation or merger involving the Corporation in which the Common Stock (but not the Preferred Stock) is converted into or exchanged for securities, cash or other property (other than a transaction covered by Subsections 4.4, 4.6 or 4.7), then, following any such reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation or merger, each share of Preferred Stock shall thereafter be convertible in lieu of the Common Stock into which it was convertible prior to such event into the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation issuable upon conversion of one share of Preferred Stock immediately prior to such reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation or merger would have been entitled to receive pursuant to such transaction; and, in such case, appropriate adjustment (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, including the approval of a majority of the Preferred Directors then in office) shall be made in the application of the provisions in this Section 4 with respect to the rights and interests thereafter of the holders of the Preferred Stock, to the end that the provisions set forth in this Section 4 (including provisions with respect to changes in and other adjustments of the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to any securities or other property thereafter deliverable upon the

 

18


 

conversion of the Preferred Stock.  For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Subsection 4.8 shall be construed as preventing the holders of Preferred Stock from seeking any appraisal rights to which they are otherwise entitled under the General Corporation Law in connection with a merger triggering an adjustment hereunder, nor shall this Subsection 4.8 be deemed conclusive evidence of the fair value of the shares of Preferred Stock in any such appraisal proceeding.

 

4.9          Certificate as to Adjustments.  Upon the occurrence of each adjustment or readjustment of the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price pursuant to this Section 4, the Corporation at its expense shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable but in any event not later than ten (10) days thereafter, compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and furnish to each holder of the Preferred Stock a certificate setting forth such adjustment or readjustment (including the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property into which such series of  Preferred Stock is convertible) and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based. The Corporation shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable after the written request at any time of any holder of Preferred Stock (but in any event not later than ten (10) days thereafter), furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder a certificate setting forth (i) the Applicable Preferred Stock Conversion Price then in effect, and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock and the amount, if any, of other securities, cash or property which then would be received upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock.

 

4.10        Notice of Record Date.  In the event:

 

(a)           the Corporation shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock (or other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any dividend or other distribution, or to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or any other securities, or to receive any other security; or

 

(b)           of any capital reorganization of the Corporation, any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Corporation, or any Deemed Liquidation Event; or

 

(c)           of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Corporation,

 

then, and in each such case, the Corporation will send or cause to be sent to the holders of the Preferred Stock a notice specifying, as the case may be, (i) the record date for such dividend, distribution or right, and the amount and character of such dividend, distribution or right, or (ii) the effective date on which such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation, winding-up, or Deemed Liquidation Event is proposed to take place, and the time, if any is to be fixed, as of which the holders of record of Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock) shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, and the amount per share and character of such exchange applicable to the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock.  Such notice shall be sent at least ten (10) days prior to the record date or effective date for the event specified in such notice.

 

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5.             Mandatory Conversion.

 

5.1          Trigger Events.  Upon either (a) the closing of the sale of shares of Common Stock to the public in a firm-commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, at a pre-money valuation of at least $300,000,000 resulting in at least $60,000,000 of gross proceeds (before deduction of underwriters’ discounts and commissions and offering expenses) or (b) the date and time, or the occurrence of an event, specified by vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class on an as-converted basis, and the Requisite Preferred (the time of such closing or the date and time specified or the time of the event specified in such vote or written consent is referred to herein as the “Mandatory Conversion Time”), then (i) all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into shares of Common Stock, at conversion rate specified in Subsection 4.1.1, and (ii) such shares may not be reissued by the Corporation.

 

5.2          Procedural Requirements.  All holders of record of shares of Preferred Stock shall be sent written notice of the Mandatory Conversion Time and the place designated for mandatory conversion of all such shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5.  Such notice need not be sent in advance of the occurrence of the Mandatory Conversion Time.  Upon receipt of such notice, each holder of shares of Preferred Stock in certificated form shall surrender his, her or its certificate or certificates for all such shares (or, if such holder alleges that such certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, a lost certificate affidavit and agreement reasonably acceptable to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of such certificate) to the Corporation at the place designated in such notice.  If so required by the Corporation, any certificates surrendered for conversion shall be endorsed or accompanied by written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Corporation, duly executed by the registered holder or by his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing.  All rights with respect to the Preferred Stock converted pursuant to Subsection 5.1, including the rights, if any, to receive notices and vote (other than as a holder of Common Stock), will terminate at the Mandatory Conversion Time (notwithstanding the failure of the holder or holders thereof to surrender any certificates at or prior to such time), except only the rights of the holders thereof, upon surrender of any certificate or certificates of such holders (or lost certificate affidavit and agreement) therefor, to receive the items provided for in the next sentence of this Subsection 5.2.  As soon as practicable after the Mandatory Conversion Time and, if applicable, the surrender of any certificate or certificates (or lost certificate affidavit and agreement) for Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall (a) issue and deliver to such holder, or to his, her or its nominees, a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable on such conversion in accordance with the provisions hereof, and (b) pay cash as provided in Subsection 4.2 in lieu of any fraction of a share of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon such conversion and the payment of any declared but unpaid dividends on the shares of Preferred Stock converted.  Such converted Preferred Stock shall be retired and cancelled and may not be reissued as shares of such series, and the Corporation may thereafter take such appropriate action (without the need for stockholder action) as may be necessary to reduce the authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock accordingly.

 

6.             Redeemed or Otherwise Acquired Shares.  Any shares of Preferred Stock that are redeemed or otherwise acquired by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries shall be

 

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automatically and immediately cancelled and retired and shall not be reissued, sold or transferred.  Neither the Corporation nor any of its subsidiaries may exercise any voting or other rights granted to the holders of Preferred Stock following redemption.

 

7.             Waiver.  Except as specifically stated herein, any of the rights, powers, preferences and other terms of the Series A Preferred Stock set forth herein may be waived on behalf of all holders of Series A Preferred Stock by the affirmative written consent or vote of the holders of at least a majority of Series A Preferred Stock, voting exclusively as a separate class. Except as specifically stated herein, any of the rights, powers, preferences and other terms of the Series B Preferred Stock set forth herein may be waived on behalf of all holders of Series B Preferred Stock by the affirmative written consent or vote of the holders of at least a majority of Series B Preferred Stock, voting exclusively as a separate class.

 

8.             Notices.  Any notice required or permitted by the provisions of this Article Fourth to be given to a holder of shares of Preferred Stock shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the post office address last shown on the records of the Corporation, or given by electronic communication in compliance with the provisions of the General Corporation Law, and shall be deemed sent upon such mailing or electronic transmission.

 

FIFTH:  Subject to any additional vote required by the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, in furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind any or all of the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

SIXTH:  Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the Bylaws of the Corporation may provide.  The books of the Corporation may be kept outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

SEVENTH:  Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so provide.

 

EIGHTH:  To the fullest extent permitted under the General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.  Any amendment or repeal of this paragraph shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment or repeal.

 

NINTH:  To the fullest extent permitted by law, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.  If the General Corporation Law or any other law of the State of Delaware is amended after approval by the stockholders of this Article Ninth to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law as so amended.

 

Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article Ninth by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of

 

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the Corporation existing at the time of, or increase the liability of any director of the Corporation with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to, such repeal or modification.

 

TENTH:    To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation is authorized to provide indemnification of (and advancement of expenses to) directors, officers and agents of the Corporation (and any other persons to which General Corporation Law permits the Corporation to provide indemnification) through Bylaw provisions, agreements with such agents or other persons, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, in excess of the indemnification and advancement otherwise permitted by Section 145 of the General Corporation Law.

 

Any amendment, repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article Tenth shall not (a) adversely affect any right or protection of any director, officer or other agent of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification or (b) increase the liability of any director of the Corporation with respect to any acts or omissions of such director, officer or agent occurring prior to, such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

ELEVENTH:  The Corporation renounces, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any interest or expectancy of the Corporation in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any Excluded Opportunity.  An “Excluded Opportunity” is any matter, transaction or interest that is presented to, or acquired, created or developed by, or which otherwise comes into the possession of (i) any director of the Corporation who is not an employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or (ii) any holder of Preferred Stock or any partner, member, director, stockholder, employee, affiliate or agent of any such holder, other than someone who is an employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, “Covered Persons”), unless such matter, transaction or interest is presented to, or acquired, created or developed by, or otherwise comes into the possession of, a Covered Person expressly and solely in such Covered Person’s capacity as a director of the Corporation while such Covered Person is performing services in such capacity.  Any repeal or modification of this Article Eleventh will only be prospective and will not affect the rights under this Article Eleventh in effect at the time of the occurrence of any actions or omissions to act giving rise to liability.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of Preferred Stock the outstanding, will be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provisions inconsistent with this Article Eleventh.

 

TWELFTH:  Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not

 

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subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. If any provision or provisions of this Article Twelfth shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article Twelfth (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article Twelfth containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

3.             That the foregoing amendment and restatement was approved by the holders of the requisite number of shares of this corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law.

 

4.             That this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which restates and integrates and further amends the provisions of this Corporation’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, has been duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law.

 

23


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been executed by a duly authorized officer of this corporation on this 10th day of December, 2018.

 

 

/s/ Andrew Cheng

 

Name:

Andrew Cheng

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

24


 

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

OF

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

AKERO THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”),

 

DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

 

1.                                      That the name of this corporation is Akero Therapeutics, Inc. and that this corporation was originally incorporated pursuant to the General Corporation Law on January 24, 2017 under the name Pippin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  The name of this corporation was changed on February 6, 2017 to Pippin Therapeutics, Inc. and was changed again on May 16, 2018 to Akero Therapeutics, Inc.  A Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 10, 2018.

 

2.                                      That the Board of Directors of the Corporation duly adopted resolutions proposing to amend the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, declaring said amendment to be advisable and in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders, and authorizing the appropriate officers of the Corporation to solicit the consent of the stockholders therefor, which resolutions setting forth the proposed amendments are as follows:

 

RESOLVED, that the following is hereby inserted into Article FOURTH immediately before the first sentence therein:

 

“Effective upon the filing of this Certificate of Amendment of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Effective Time”), every 3.07418 shares of Common Stock then issued and outstanding or held in the treasury of the Corporation immediately prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be combined into one (1) share of Common Stock, without any further action by the holders of such shares (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The Reverse Stock Split will be effected on a certificate-by-certificate basis, and any fractional shares resulting from such combination shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share on a certificate-by-certificate basis. No fractional shares shall be issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. In lieu of any fractional shares to which a holder would otherwise be entitled, the Corporation shall pay cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined in good faith by the Corporation’s Board of Directors. The Reverse Stock Split shall occur automatically without any further action by the holders of the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock affected thereby. All rights, preferences and privileges of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the Reverse Stock Split in accordance with this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.”

 


 

3.                                      That the foregoing amendment was approved by the holders of the requisite number of shares of the Corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law.

 

4.                                      That said amendment has been duly adopted in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law.

 

[Signature Page to Follow]

 


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Amendment has been executed by a duly authorized officer of the Corporation on this 6th day of June, 2019.

 

 

/s/ Andrew Cheng

 

Name:

Andrew Cheng

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT