Liquidation, Dissolution and Winding Up
On the liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or winding up of BuzzFeed, each holder of common stock will be entitled, pro rata on a per share basis, to all assets of BuzzFeed of whatever kind available for distribution to the holders of common stock, subject to the designations, preferences, limitations, restrictions and relative rights of any other class or series of preferred stock of BuzzFeed then outstanding.
Lock-Up
Certain holders of common stock issued as consideration pursuant to the Two-Step Merger or issuable upon the settlement or exercise of restricted stock units, stock options or other equity awards outstanding as of immediately following the closing of the Business Combination in respect of awards of Legacy BuzzFeed outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Business Combination may not Transfer such shares for 180 days following the closing of the Business Combination. These holders include the directors and officers of BuzzFeed and holders that are party to the IRA (as defined herein). The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine to waive, amend, or repeal the foregoing lockup restriction; provided that any such waiver, amendment, termination, shortening, repeal or other modification shall apply pro rata to the common stock held by the stockholders party to the IRA.
The Sponsor, PA 2 Co-Investment, Craig-Hallum and certain affiliated individuals (the “Initial Stockholders”) agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their shares of Class A common stock until the earlier to occur of: (i) December 3, 2022 (the one year anniversary of the Closing Date), (ii) the date that the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Closing Date, and (iii) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction after the Closing Date that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A common stock for cash, securities or other property.
Other Matters
Holders of shares of Class A common stock do not have subscription, redemption or conversion rights. Holders of Class B common stock and Class C common stock do not have subscription or redemption rights All the outstanding shares of common stock are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Each share of Class B common stock is convertible into one share of Class A common stock at the option of the holder thereof at any time upon written notice to the Company. In addition, each share of Class B common stock will automatically, without further action by the Company or the holder thereof, convert into one share of Class A common stock upon (A) the earliest to occur of (x) the date specified by the affirmative vote or written consent of holders of a majority of the shares of Class B common stock then outstanding; or (y) the date of the death of Jonah Peretti or (B) transfer to a non-authorized holder.
No share of Class C common stock is convertible into Class A common stock until February 16, 2023 (the “Class C Reference Date”). From and after the Class C Reference Date, each share of Class C common stock will be convertible into one share of Class A common stock at the option of the holder thereof upon written notice to the Company.
Preferred Shares
The Certificate of Incorporation provides that shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board is authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences, the relative, participating, optional or other special rights and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable to the shares of each series. The Board will be able to, without stockholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of the common stock and could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of the Board to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of us or the removal of existing management.