EX-4.1 2 ocgn-20191231x10kxex41.htm EX-4.1
Exhibit 4.1
DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Ocugen, Inc. (the “Company”) has one class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended: our common stock, par value $0.01 per share. As used in this summary, the terms “Ocugen,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Ocugen, Inc.
The following is a description of the material terms and provisions relating to our common stock. The following description is a summary that is not complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and our amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws”), and to provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). Copies of our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws, each of which may be amended from time to time, are included as exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K to which this description is an exhibit.
General
Our authorized capital stock consists of 210,000,000 shares, 200,000,000 of which are designated as common stock with a par value of $0.01 per share and 10,000,000 of which are designated as preferred stock with a par value of $0.01.
Common Stock
Shares of our common stock have the following rights, preferences and privileges:
Voting Rights
Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. We have not provided for cumulative voting in the election of directors. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors can elect all of the directors standing for election. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of our common stock are not entitled to vote on any amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation that relates solely to the terms of an outstanding series of preferred stock if the holders of such series are entitled to vote thereon pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation or any certificate of designation.
Dividends
Subject to preferences that may apply to shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of outstanding shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of assets legally available at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may determine from time to time. The timing, declaration, amount and payment of future dividends will depend on our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements and debt service obligations, as well as legal requirements, regulatory constraints, industry practice and other factors that its board of directors deems relevant. Our board of directors will make all decisions regarding our payment of dividends from time to time in accordance with applicable law.
Liquidation
Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of all liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any outstanding preferred stock.

No Preemptive or Similar Rights
The holders of our common stock do not have any preemptive rights or preferential rights to subscribe for shares of our capital stock or any other securities. Our common stock is not subject to any redemption or sinking fund provisions.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “OCGN.”
Preferred Stock
Pursuant to our Certificate of Incorporation, our board of directors has the authority, without further approval by our stockholders, to designate and issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series. Our board of directors has provided for the issuance of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred”) pursuant to the Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designation”). Up to 30,000 shares are designated as Series A Preferred. Holders of Series A Preferred are entitled to receive dividends on Series A Preferred equal (on an as-converted to common stock basis) to and in the same form as dividends actually paid on shares of common stock, when and if such dividends are paid. Except as provided by law, the Series A Preferred has no voting rights. Upon our liquidation or dissolution, holders of Series A Preferred will be entitled to receive the same amount that a holder of common stock would receive if the preferred stock were fully converted to common stock. Shares of Series A Preferred are convertible to common stock at the option of the holder, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Certificate of Designation.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation, our Bylaws and Delaware Law
Various provisions contained in the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and Delaware law could delay, deter or discourage some transactions involving an actual or potential change in control of Ocugen, including acquisition of us by means of a tender offer; acquisition of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or removal of our incumbent officers and directors. These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of its potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging these proposals because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Preferred Stock
The Certificate of Incorporation authorizes our board of directors to establish one or more series of preferred stock and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred stock, the preferences, rights and other terms of such series. Under this authority, our board of directors could create and issue a series of preferred stock with rights, preferences or restrictions that have the effect of discriminating against an existing or prospective holder of our capital stock as a result of such holder beneficially owning or commencing a tender or exchange offer for a substantial amount of common stock. One of the effects of authorized but unissued and unreserved shares of preferred stock may be to render it more difficult for, or to discourage an attempt by, a potential acquiror to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender or exchange offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the

continuity of the company’s management. The issuance of shares of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us without any action by our stockholders.
Classified Board
The Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws provide that the directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any series of preferred stock under specified circumstances, shall be divided into three classes. Such classes shall be as nearly equal in number of directors as reasonably possible. The election of the classes is staggered, such that only approximately one third of our board of directors is up for election in any given year. Each director shall serve for a term ending on the third annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting of stockholders at which such director was elected. Each director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have become duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or other removal.
Election of Directors
The Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors can elect all of the directors standing for election.
Board Vacancies; Removal
The Certificate of Incorporation provides that any vacancy occurring on our board of directors will be filled by a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum. The Certificate of Incorporation also provides that our directors can only be removed for cause upon the vote of more than two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of all the then-outstanding shares of capital stock, voting together as a single class.
Special Meetings of Stockholders; Number of Directors and No Action by Written Consent of Stockholders
The Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws provide that only the board of directors, the chairman of the board of directors or the president may call a special meeting of our stockholders. The Bylaws provide that the authorized number of directors be changed only by resolution of the board of directors. The Bylaws provide that the stockholders may act only duly called annual or special meeting and no action may be effected by written consent.
Advance Notification of Shareholder Nominations and Proposals
The Bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to shareholder proposals and the nomination of persons for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our board of directors.
Amendments to Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
The amendment of any of the above provisions (except for the provision making it possible for the board of directors to issue undesignated preferred stock) and the exclusive form and indemnification provisions described below, would require approval by a stockholder vote by the holders of at least a two thirds of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock.
Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute
We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL which prohibits persons deemed “interested stockholders” from engaging in a “business combination” with a publicly held Delaware corporation for three years following the date these persons become interested stockholders unless the business combination is, or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder was, approved in a prescribed manner or another prescribed exception applies. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status did own, 15% or more of a

corporation’s voting stock. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. The existence of this provision may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by our board of directors, such as discouraging takeover attempts that might result in a premium over the market price of our common stock.
Exclusive Jurisdiction for Certain Actions
The 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 shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This exclusive forum provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
The enforceability of similar federal court choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that a court could find this type of provision to be inapplicable or unenforceable. If a court were to find either of the choice of forum provisions contained in the Certificate of Incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions.
The choice of forum provisions 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 other employees and result in increased costs for investors to bring a claim.
Indemnification
The Certificate of Incorporation includes provisions that limit the liability of our directors for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except for liability that cannot be eliminated under the DGCL. Accordingly, our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except for liabilities:
•for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;
•for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
•for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions, as provided under Section 174 of the DGCL; or
•for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
Any amendment or repeal of these provisions will require the approval of the holders of shares representing at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting as one class. The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws also permit us to purchase insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of his or her actions as its officer, director, employee or agent, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit indemnification. We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers that require us, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors and to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. We believe that the limitation of liability provision in the Certificate of Incorporation and the indemnification

agreements facilitate our ability to continue to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and officers.
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and our stockholders. A stockholder’s investment may be harmed to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.