dividend payments or payments upon liquidation. Such issuance could have the effect of decreasing the market price of the common stock. The issuance of preferred stock or even the ability to issue preferred stock could also have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction which holders of some, or a majority, of such shares might believe to be in their best interests or in which holders of some, or a majority, of such shares might receive a premium for their shares over the then-market price of such shares.
Prior to the issuance of shares of a series of preferred stock, our board of directors will adopt resolutions and file a certificate of designation with the SEC. The certificate of designation will fix for each series the designation and number of shares and the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the shares including, but not limited to, the following:
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the maximum number of shares in the series and the distinctive designation;
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voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock;
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the dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation applicable to the preferred stock;
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whether dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative, and if cumulative, the date from which dividends on the preferred stock will accumulate;
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the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs;
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the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred stock will be convertible into common stock, another series of preferred stock, or any other class of securities being registered hereby, including the conversion price (or manner of calculation) and conversion period;
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the provision for redemption, if applicable, of the preferred stock;
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the provisions for a sinking fund, if any, for the preferred stock;
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liquidation preferences;
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any limitations on the issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the class or series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs; and
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any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of the preferred stock.
There will be no limitation or restriction on any variation between any of the different series of preferred stock as to the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof; and the several series of preferred stock may, except as otherwise expressly provided in any prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or any free writing prospectus, as applicable, vary in any and all respects as fixed and determined by the resolution or resolutions of our board of directors or any committee thereof, providing for the issuance of the various series; provided, however, that all shares of any one series of preferred stock will have the same designation, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions.
Except as otherwise required by law, or as otherwise fixed by resolution or resolutions of our board of directors with respect to one or more series of preferred stock, the entire voting power and all voting rights will be vested exclusively in the common stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws contain certain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing another party from acquiring control of us. These provisions and certain provisions of Delaware law, which are summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate more favorable terms with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging a proposal to acquire us.