Exhibit 4.3
DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
As of December 31, 2022, Eargo, Inc. had common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the trading symbol “EAR.”
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following summary describes our capital stock and the material provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (our “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), our amended and restated bylaws (our “Amended and Restated Bylaws”), the amended and restated investors’ rights agreement with certain of our stockholders (the “Original Investors’ Rights Agreement”), the investors’ rights agreement (the “PSC Investors’ Rights Agreement”) with PSC Echo, LP, an affiliate of Patient Square Capital (the “PSC Stockholder”), the registration rights agreement with the PSC Stockholder (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) and the Delaware General Corporation Law. Because the following is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a complete description, you should refer to the full text of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Amended and Restated Bylaws, the Original Investors’ Rights Agreement, the PSC Investors’ Rights Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, copies of which are incorporated by reference as Exhibits 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 10.1, 10.25 and 10.26, respectively, to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
General
Our authorized capital stock consists of 450,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
Common stock
Voting rights
Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors. Our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the voting shares are able to elect all of the directors.
Dividends
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then-outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends that our board of directors may declare out of funds legally available.
Liquidation
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities, subject to the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any then-outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Rights and preferences
Holders of our common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.
Preferred stock
Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 5,000,000 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 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 control of our company 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.
Classified Board of Directors
Our board of directors is divided into three classes. Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that each class will consist, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of directors, and each class has a staggered, three-year term.
PSC Investors’ Rights Agreement
Pursuant to the PSC Investors’ Rights Agreement, the PSC Stockholder has the right to nominate the number of directors (the “Investor Directors”) to our board of directors that is proportionate to the PSC Stockholder’s ownership of us, rounded up to the nearest whole number (and in no event be less than one). The PSC Stockholder has the right to nominate six directors to our board of directors given the size of our board of directors as of December 31, 2022. The PSC Stockholder has exercised its right to nominate three Investor Directors, Trit Garg, M.D., Karr Narula and Justin Sabet-Peyman.
We have entered into an indemnification agreement with each Investor Director (the “Indemnification Agreement”). The Indemnification Agreement generally requires us, among other things, to indemnify each Investor Director against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as a director. The Indemnification Agreement also generally requires us to advance any expenses incurred by each Investor Director as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. These indemnification provisions and the Indemnification Agreements may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of each Investor Director for liabilities, including reimbursement of expenses incurred, arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
For additional information regarding the Indemnification Agreement, refer to the full text of the Indemnification Agreement, which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 10.23 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Registration rights
Under our Original Investors’ Rights Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, certain holders of shares of our common stock, or their transferees, have the right to require us to register their shares (the “registrable securities”) under the Securities Act so that those shares may be publicly resold, and the holders of these shares of common stock, or their transferees, have the right to include their shares in any registration statement we file, in each case as described below.
Original Investors’ Rights Agreement
Demand registration rights
Certain holders of our common stock are entitled to certain demand registration rights. Pursuant to the Original Investors’ Rights Agreement, beginning after April 13, 2021, the holders of at least 35% of such registrable securities may, on not more than two occasions, request that we register all or a portion of their shares, subject to certain specified exceptions.
Piggyback registration rights
In the event that we propose to register any of our securities under the Securities Act, either for our own account or for the account of other security holders, certain 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
Certain holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to certain Form S-3 registration rights. The holders of such registrable securities may, with respect to not more than two such registrations 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 to the public which equals or exceeds $1.0 million. The right to have such shares registered on Form S-3 is further subject to other specified conditions and limitations.
Registration Rights Agreement
Resale registration statement
Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, we have filed a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-268859) covering the sale or distribution of up to 15,821,299 shares of our common stock from time to time by the PSC Stockholder (the “PSC Resale Registration Statement”) on a delayed or continuous basis under the Securities Act. We are required to use reasonable best efforts to maintain and update the registration statement, subject to the terms and conditions therein. The PSC Resale Registration Statement became effective on February 13, 2023.
Demand registration rights
The PSC Stockholder and its permitted transferees are entitled to certain demand registration rights. The holders of a majority of such registrable securities may, on not more than four occasions per 12-month period, request that not less than $10 million of registrable securities be sold through an underwritten offering, subject to certain specified exceptions. Additionally, the PSC Stockholder may request that we amend or supplement the PSC Resale Registration Statement as may be necessary, subject to certain specified exceptions, to effect a sale or distribution.
Piggyback registration rights
In the event that we propose to register any of our securities under the Securities Act, either for our own account or for the account of other security holders, the PSC Stockholder (and its permitted transferees) will be entitled to certain “piggyback” registration rights allowing them to include their shares in such registration, subject to specified conditions and limitations.
Anti-takeover provisions of Delaware law and our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”)
We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, with the following exceptions:
In general, Section 203 defines a “business combination” to include the following:
In general, Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” as an entity or person who, together with the person’s affiliates and associates, beneficially owns, or within three years prior to the time of determination of interested stockholder status did own, 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation.
The statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire us even though such a transaction may offer our stockholders the opportunity to sell their stock at a price above the prevailing market price.
Because our board of directors approved the transaction pursuant to which the PSC Stockholder became a significant stockholder of us, the limitations of Section 203 described above do not apply to a potential business combination with the PSC Stockholder.
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws
Among other things, our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws:
The amendment of any of these provisions, except for the provision making it possible for our board of directors to issue undesignated preferred stock, would require approval by the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of our then-outstanding common stock.
The combination of these provisions makes it more difficult for our existing stockholders to replace our board of directors as well as for another party to obtain control of us by replacing our board of directors. Because our board of directors has the power to retain and discharge our officers, these provisions could also make it more difficult for existing stockholders or another party to effect a change in management. In addition, the authorization of undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to effect a change in control of our company.
These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continued stability in the composition of our board of directors and its policies and to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to reduce our vulnerability to hostile takeovers and to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights. However, such provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares and may have the effect of delaying changes in control or management of our company. As a consequence, these provisions may also inhibit fluctuations in the market price of our stock that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts. We believe that the benefits of these provisions, including increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure our company, outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging takeover proposals, because negotiation of takeover proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Choice of forum
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for the following types of actions or proceedings under Delaware statutory or common law: any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or stockholders to us or to our stockholders; any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the DGCL, our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or our Amended and Restated Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time); or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. As a result, any action brought by any of our stockholders with regard to any of these matters will need to be filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and cannot be filed in any other jurisdiction; provided that, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction; and provided further that, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware. Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws also provide that the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action against us or any of our directors, officers, employees or agents and arising under the Securities Act.
If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope described above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware, or a Foreign Action, in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the applicable provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws and having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder. Although our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated
Bylaws contain the choice of forum provision described above, it is possible that a court could find that such a provision is inapplicable for a particular claim or action or that such provision is unenforceable.
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 any of our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Limitation on liability and indemnification
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Amended and Restated Bylaws limit our directors’ liability and provide that we may indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL. The DGCL provides that directors of a corporation will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability for any:
These limitations of liability do not apply to liabilities arising under federal securities laws and do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or recession.
The DGCL and our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that we will, in certain situations, indemnify our directors and officers and may indemnify other employees and other agents, to the fullest extent permitted by law. Any indemnified person is also entitled, subject to certain limitations, to advancement, direct payment or reimbursement of reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding.
In addition, we have entered, and intend to continue to enter, into separate indemnification agreements with our directors, officers and certain other employees. These indemnification agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify our directors, officers and certain other employees for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by a director, officer or other employee in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as a director, officer or employee of our company, or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request.
We maintain a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy pursuant to which our directors and officers are insured against liability for actions taken in their capacities as directors and officers. We believe that these provisions in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws and these indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors, officers and other employees.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act, may be permitted to directors, officers or control persons, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy, as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Transfer agent and registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219.