Exhibit 4.3
DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
BioAtla, Inc. (“we,” “our,” “us,” or the “Company”) has one class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended: our common stock. The following summary of the terms of our common stock is based upon our restated certificate of incorporation and our restated bylaws. This summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by express reference to, the applicable provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 10-K and are incorporated by reference herein. We encourage you to read our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated bylaws and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law for more information.
Common stock and class B common stock
We are authorized to issue up to a total of 350,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share and up to a total of 15,368,569 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share. The holders of our common stock and Class B common stock have identical rights, provided that (i) except as otherwise expressly provided in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as required by applicable law, on any matter that is submitted to a vote by our stockholders, holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share of common stock, and holders of our Class B common stock are not entitled to any votes per share of Class B common stock, including for the election of directors and (ii) holders of our common stock have no conversion rights, while holders of our Class B common stock shall have the right to convert each share of our Class B common stock into one share of common stock at such holder’s election, provided that as a result of such conversion, such holder would not beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of any class of our securities registered under the Exchange Act, unless otherwise as expressly provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. However, this ownership limitation may be increased or decreased to any other percentage designated by such holder of Class B common stock upon 61 days’ notice to us.
Our common stock and Class B common stock have no preemptive rights or other subscription rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, holders of our common stock and Class B common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of all liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any of our outstanding shares of preferred stock. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of our common stock and Class B common stock are entitled to receive dividends only if declared from time to time by our board of directors out of assets which are legally available.
Preferred stock
Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 200,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, to fix the rights, preferences and privileges of the shares of each wholly unissued series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such series, but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding.
Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of the common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control that may otherwise benefit holders of our common stock and may adversely affect the market price of the common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of common stock.
Warrants
As of December 31, 2020, we had 717,674 outstanding warrants.
On February 29, 2016, we issued a warrant to purchase 339,952 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $88.25 per share, which warrant was subsequently amended and restated. The warrant is exercisable during the period commencing on December 19, 2020 and ending on December 18, 2021, and provides for cashless exercise at the option of the warrant holder.
On March 24, 2016, we issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 226,634 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $88.25 per share, which warrants were subsequently amended and restated. The warrants are exercisable during the period commencing on December 19, 2020 and ending on December 18, 2021, and provide for cashless exercise at the option of the warrant holder.
On June 6, 2016, we issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 151,088 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $132.37 per share, which warrants were subsequently amended and restated. The warrants are exercisable during the period commencing on December 19, 2020 and ending on March 13, 2022, and provide for cashless exercise at the option of the warrant holder.
Registration rights
Upon the completion of the initial public offering and subject to the lock-up agreements entered into in connection with such offering and federal securities laws, certain holders of shares of our common stock are initially be entitled to certain rights with respect to registration of such shares under the Securities Act. These shares are referred to as registrable securities. The registration of shares of our common stock pursuant to the exercise of the registration rights described below would enable the holders to trade these shares without restriction under the Securities Act when the applicable registration statement is declared effective. We will pay the registration expenses, other than underwriting discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes, of the shares registered pursuant to the demand, piggyback and Form S-3 registrations described below.
Generally, in an underwritten offering, the managing underwriter, if any, has the right, subject to specified conditions and limitations, to limit the number of shares the holders may include. The demand, piggyback and Form S-3 registration rights described below will terminate upon the earliest of (i) with respect to each stockholder, such date, on or after the completion of our initial public offering, on which all registrable shares held by such stockholder may immediately be sold during any three month period pursuant to Rule 144, (ii) the occurrence of a deemed liquidation event, as defined in our certificate of incorporation, as currently in effect and (iii) the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering.
Demand registration rights
As of December 31, 2020, holders of approximately 12.9 million shares of our common stock are entitled to certain demand registration rights. Beginning on June 14, 2021, investors holding, collectively, a majority of registrable securities having an anticipated aggregate offering price of at least $5.0 million may, on not more than two occasions, request that we register all or a portion of their shares, subject to certain specified exceptions. If any of these holders exercises its demand registration rights, then holders of approximately 15.4 million shares of our common stock will be entitled to register their shares, subject to specified conditions and limitations in the corresponding offering.
Piggyback registration rights
As of December 31, 2020, holders of approximately 12.9 million shares of our common stock are entitled to their rights to notice of public offerings and to include their shares of registrable securities in public offerings. In the event that we propose to register any of our securities under the Securities Act in an offering, either for our own account or for the account of other security holders, the holders of registrable securities will be entitled to certain “piggyback” registration rights allowing them to include their shares in such registration, subject to specified conditions and limitations.
S-3 registration rights
As of December 31, 2020, the holders of approximately 12.9 million shares of our common stock are initially entitled to certain Form S-3 registration rights. Certain major investors holding at least 10% of registrable securities may, on not more than two registrations on Form S-3 within any 12-month period, request that we register all or a portion of their shares on Form S-3 if we are qualified to file a registration statement on Form S-3, subject to specified exceptions. Such request for registration on Form S-3 must cover securities with an aggregate offering price which equals or exceeds $3.0 million, net of selling expenses. The right to have such shares registered on Form S-3 is further subject to other specified conditions and limitations.
Anti-takeover effects of provisions of our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and Delaware law
Certain provisions of Delaware law and certain provisions included in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, summarized below, may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in our control or change in our management, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares or transactions that our stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. Therefore, these provisions could adversely affect the price of our common stock.
Delaware anti-takeover law
We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or Section 203. Section 203 generally prohibits a public Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless:
| • | prior to the date of the transaction, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; |
| • | the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding upon consummation of the transaction, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding |
(a) shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and (b) shares owned by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or |
| • | on or subsequent to the consummation of the transaction, the business combination is approved by the board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
Section 203 defines a business combination to include:
| • | any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; |
| • | any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition involving the interested stockholder of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation; |
| • | subject to exceptions, any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; |
| • | subject to exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; and |
| • | the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation. |
In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by the entity or person.
Preferred stock
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that permit our board of directors to issue, without any further vote or action by the stockholders, shares of preferred stock in one or more series and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting the series and the designation of the series, the voting rights (if any) of the shares of the series and the powers, preferences or relative, participation, optional and other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions, of the shares of such series.
Classified board
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors is divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class will be an equal number of directors, as nearly as possible, consisting of one third of the total number of directors constituting the entire board of directors.
Removal of directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that stockholders may only remove a director for cause by a vote of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of our then outstanding common stock and that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution adopted by a majority of the board of directors.
Director vacancies
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that all vacancies, including newly created directorships, may, except as otherwise required by law or subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock as designated from time to time, be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum.
Special meetings of stockholders
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide that, except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by the chairman of the board, our Chief Executive Officer or by the board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exists any vacancies).
Advance notice procedures for director nominations
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders must provide timely notice thereof in writing and also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice.
Action by written consent
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws require that any action to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and not be taken by written consent.
Cumulative voting
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for cumulative voting rights (therefore allowing the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors to elect all of the directors standing for election, if they should so choose).
Amending our certificate of incorporation and bylaws
The amendment of any of the provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, with the exception of the ability of our board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock and designate any rights, preferences and privileges thereto, would require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of our then outstanding common stock. Additionally, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed by the board of directors.
Exclusive forum provision
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 (or, if the Court of Chancery of the
State of Delaware does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the following types of proceedings: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or stockholders to our company or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or as to which the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or (iv) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws (in each case, as they may be amended from time to time) or governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the U.S. federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all such Securities Act actions. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. Our amended and restated bylaws further provide that the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forum to the fullest extent permitted by law, for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws described above.
Nasdaq Global Market
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “BCAB.”
Transfer agent and registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock and Class B common stock is Philadelphia Stock Transfer, Inc. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 2320 Haverford Rd., Suite 230, Ardmore, PA 19003.
