Please wait
Description of Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
As used herein, references to “we,” “our” or “us” are to Claritev Corporation.
The following summary of the material terms of our securities is not intended to be a complete summary of the rights and preferences of such securities and is qualified in its entirety by our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated bylaws. The full text of our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated bylaws are filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to our Form 10-K. For a complete description of the rights and preferences of our securities, we urge you to read our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, our amended and restated bylaws, and the applicable provisions of Delaware law.
On September 20, 2024, we amended our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, to effect a 1-for-40 reverse stock split (the “reverse stock split”) of our common stock. As a result of the reverse stock split, each share of our Class A common stock was reclassified into one fortieth (1/40th) of a share of issued and outstanding common stock. The reverse stock split had no effect on the number of authorized shares of Class A common stock or preferred stock, or on the par value per share of our stock.
As of December 31, 2025, our only class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) was our Class A common stock. Our Class A common stock is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “CTEV”.
Description of Capital Stock
Authorized Capital Stock
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, authorizes the issuance of shares of our capital stock, each with a par value of $0.0001, consisting of (a) 1,500,000,000 shares of Class A common stock and (b) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The outstanding shares of our Class A common stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. We have no outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Voting Power
Except as otherwise required by law or as otherwise provided in any certificate of designation for any series of preferred stock, under our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, the holders of common stock will possess all voting power for the election of directors and all other matters requiring stockholder action and will be entitled to one vote per share on matters to be voted on by stockholders. The holders of our Class A common stock will at all times vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of the common stock under the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended.
Dividends
Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock, under our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, holders of our Class A common stock will be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) in its discretion out of funds legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions.
Liquidation, Dissolution and Winding Up
In the event of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of the Company, the holders of our Class A common stock will be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Company available for distribution to stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A common stock held by them,
after the rights of creditors of the Company and the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock have been satisfied.
Preemptive or Other Rights
The holders of our Class A common stock do not have preemptive or other subscription rights and there is no sinking fund or redemption provisions applicable to our Class A common stock.
Preferred Stock
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, authorizes 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock and 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 is 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 is 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. Although we do not currently intend to issue any shares of preferred stock, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future.
Effects of Our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as Amended, and Our Amended and Restated Bylaws and Certain Provisions of Delaware Law
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, our amended and restated bylaws, and the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) contain provisions, which are summarized in the following paragraphs, that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the Board. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, reduce our vulnerability to a hostile change of control and enhance the ability of the Board to maximize stockholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire us. However, these provisions may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a merger or acquisition of the Company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or other takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including attempts that might result in a premium over the prevailing market price for the shares of our Class A common stock held by stockholders.
Authorized but Unissued Capital Stock
Delaware law does not require stockholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares. However, the listing requirements of the NYSE, which would apply if and so long as our Class A common stock remains listed on the NYSE, require stockholder approval of certain issuances equal to or exceeding 20% of the then outstanding voting power or then outstanding number of shares of our Class A common stock. Additional shares that may be used in the future may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings, to raise additional capital or to facilitate acquisitions.
The Board may generally issue one or more series of preferred shares on terms calculated to discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of the Company or the removal of our management. Moreover, our authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock will be available for future issuances in one or more series without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, to facilitate acquisitions and employee benefit plans.
One of the effects of the existence of authorized and unissued and unreserved common stock or preferred stock may be to enable the Board to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which issuance could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of our management and possibly deprive our stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of Class A common stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.
Classified Board of Directors
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that, subject to the right of holders of any series of preferred stock, the Board will be divided into three classes of directors, with the classes to be as nearly equal in number as possible, and with the directors serving staggered three-year terms, with only one class of directors being elected at each annual meeting of stockholders. As a result, approximately one-third of the Board will be elected each year. The classification of directors will have the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to change the composition of the Board. Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated bylaws provide that, subject to that certain Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2020, by and among the Company, Churchill Sponsor III, LLC, Polaris Investment Holdings, L.P., Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VIII, L.P., the Public Investment Fund of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and certain other parties thereto (the “Investor Rights Agreement”), or any rights of holders of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors will be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board; however, any determination by the Board to increase or decrease the total number of directors shall require the approval of 66 2/3% of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present.
Business Combinations
We have opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL; however, our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, contains similar provisions providing that we may not engage in certain “business combinations” with any “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
• prior to such time, the Board approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;
• upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding certain shares;
• at or subsequent to that time, the business combination is approved by the Board and by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of our outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder; or
• the stockholder became an interested stockholder inadvertently and (i) as soon as practicable divested itself of sufficient ownership to cease to be an interested stockholder and (ii) had not been an interested stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership within three years of the business combination.
Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with that person’s affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three years owned, 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock. For purposes of this section only, “voting stock” has the meaning given to it in Section 203 of the DGCL.
Under certain circumstances, this provision will make it more difficult for a person who would be an “interested stockholder” to effect various business combinations with the Company for a three-year period. This provision may encourage companies interested in acquiring the Company to negotiate in advance with the Board because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if the Board approves either the business combination or the transaction which results in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in the Board and may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that Hellman & Friedman LLC (together with its affiliates, subsidiaries, successors and assigns (other than the Company and its subsidiaries)), any of its direct transferees, any of their respective affiliates or successors, and any group as to which such persons or entities are a party, does not constitute an “interested stockholder” for purposes of this provision.
Removal of Directors; Vacancies
Under the DGCL, unless otherwise provided in our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, directors serving on a classified board may be removed by the stockholders only for cause. Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that, without limiting the rights of any party to the Investor Rights Agreement and other than directors elected by holders of our preferred stock, if any, directors may be removed with or without cause upon the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of all outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class; provided, however, at any time when the Sellers and their Permitted Transferees (each as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement) beneficially own less than 50% in voting power of the stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, directors may only be removed for cause, and only by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. In addition, our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that, without limiting the rights of any party to the Investor Rights Agreement, any newly created directorship on the Board that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board will be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director or by the stockholders; provided, however, at any time when the Sellers and their Permitted Transferees beneficially own less than 50% in voting power of the stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any newly created directorship on the Board that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the Board may only be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by the stockholders). Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that the Board may increase or decrease the number of directors by the affirmative vote of 66 2/3% of the directors present at the meeting at which a quorum is present.
No Cumulative Voting
Under Delaware law, the right to vote cumulatively does not exist unless the certificate of incorporation specifically authorizes cumulative voting. Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, does not authorize cumulative voting. Therefore, stockholders holding a majority in voting power of the shares of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors will be able to elect all of our directors.
Special Stockholder Meetings
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that special meetings of our stockholders may be called at any time only by or at the direction of the Board or the chairman of the Board. Our amended and restated bylaws prohibit the conduct of any business at a special meeting other than as specified in the notice for such meeting. These provisions may have the effect of deferring, delaying or discouraging hostile takeovers, or changes in control or management of the Company.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Director Nominations and Stockholder Proposals
Our amended and restated bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the Board or a committee of the Board. In order for any matter to be properly brought before a meeting of our stockholders, a stockholder will have to comply with advance notice requirements and provide us with certain information. Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received by our secretary not less than 90 calendar days nor more than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Our amended and restated bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. Our amended and restated bylaws allow the chairman of the meeting at a meeting
of the stockholders to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings, which may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the rules and regulations are not followed. These provisions may also deter, delay or discourage a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to influence or obtain control of the Company.
Stockholder Action by Written Consent
Pursuant to Section 228 of the DGCL, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of our stock entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, unless our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides otherwise. Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, precludes stockholder action by written consent at any time when the Sellers and their Permitted Transferees beneficially own less than 50% in voting power of the stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, other than certain rights that holders of our preferred stock may have to act by written consent.
Supermajority Provisions
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated bylaws provide that the Board is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend, change, add to, rescind or repeal, in whole or in part, our bylaws without a stockholder vote in any matter not inconsistent with Delaware law, our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or the Investor Rights Agreement. At any time when the Sellers and their Permitted Transferees beneficially own less than 50% in voting power of all outstanding shares of the stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any amendment, alteration, rescission, change, addition or repeal of our bylaws by our stockholders will require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.
The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, unless the certificate of incorporation requires a greater percentage.
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that at any time when the Sellers and their Permitted Transferees beneficially own less than 50% in voting power of the stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, in addition to any vote required by applicable law, the following provisions in our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconsistent therewith may be adopted, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class:
• the provision requiring a 66 2/3% supermajority vote for stockholders to amend our amended and restated bylaws;
• the provisions providing for a classified board of directors (the election and term of our directors);
• the provisions regarding resignation and removal of directors;
• the provisions regarding competition and corporate opportunities;
• the provisions regarding filling vacancies on the Board and newly created directorships; and
• the amendment provision requiring that the above provisions be amended only with a 66 2/3% supermajority vote.
The combination of the classification of the Board, the lack of cumulative voting and the supermajority voting requirements will make it more difficult for our existing stockholders to replace the Board as well as for another party to obtain control of us by replacing the Board. Because the Board 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.
These provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying or preventing changes in control of our management or the Company, such as a merger, reorganization or tender offer. These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continued stability in the composition of the Board and its policies and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened acquisition of the Company. These provisions are designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal. These provisions are also intended 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, as a consequence, they also may inhibit fluctuations in the market price of our shares that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts. Such provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in management of the Company.
Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal and Payment
Under the DGCL, with certain exceptions, our stockholders will have appraisal rights in connection with a merger or consolidation of us. Pursuant to the DGCL, stockholders who properly request and perfect appraisal rights in connection with such merger or consolidation will have the right to receive payment of the fair value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Exclusive Forum
Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, a state court located within the State of Delaware (or if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any (i) derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Company’s stockholders, (iii) action asserting a claim against the Company or any director, officer or other employee of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or our amended and restated bylaws (as either may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time), (iv) action asserting a claim against the Company or any director, officer or other employee of the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine, or (v) action asserting an “internal corporate claim” as that term is defined in Section 115 of the DGCL. These provisions shall not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Unless the Company consents in writing to the selections of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Company shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended. However, it is possible that a court could find our forum selection provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable.
Our Transfer Agent
The transfer agent for our common stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.