EX-4.3 2 ck0002035832-ex4_3.htm EX-4.3 EX-4.3

 

Exhibit 4.3

Description of Securities of Aktis Oncology, Inc.

The following is a summary of the capital stock of Aktis Oncology, Inc. (“Aktis,” the “Company,” “our,” “we” or “us”) and certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Restated Charter”), and our amended and restated bylaws (the “Restated Bylaws”), and certain provisions of Delaware law. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to our Restated Charter and Restated Bylaws, current copies of which are filed as exhibits to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

General

Our Restated Charter authorizes us to issue up to 480,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, 10,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share, all of which shares of preferred stock will be undesignated. Our board of directors may establish the rights and preferences of the preferred stock from time to time.

Common Stock and Class A Common Stock

Our Restated Charter authorizes the issuance of up to 480,000,000 shares of our common stock and 10,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock.

The holders of our common stock and our Class A common stock have identical rights, provided that, (i) except as otherwise expressly provided in our Restated Charter 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 A common stock are not entitled to any votes per share of Class A common stock, including for the election of directors, and (ii) holders of our common stock have no conversion rights, while holders of our Class A common stock shall have the right to convert each share of our Class A common stock into one share of common stock at such holder’s election, provided that as a result of such conversion, such holder, together with its affiliates and any members of a Schedule 13(d) group with such holder, would not beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of our common stock immediately prior to and following such conversion, unless otherwise as expressly provided for in our Restated Charter. However, the beneficial ownership limitation may be increased or decreased to any other percentage (not to exceed 19.99%) designated by such holder of Class A common stock upon 61 days’ notice to us.

Voting Rights

Our common stock is entitled to one vote per share on any matter that is submitted to a vote of our stockholders, except on matters relating solely to terms of preferred stock, and our Class A common stock is not entitled to any votes per share. However, as long as any shares of Class A common stock are outstanding, we will not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Class A common stock, alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Class A common stock.

Except as otherwise expressly provided in our Restated Charter or required by applicable law, all shares of common stock and Class A common stock have the same rights and privileges and rank

 


 

equally, share ratably, and be identical in all respects for all matters, including those described below. Our Restated Charter does not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors.

Dividends

Subject to preferences that may apply to any shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of our common stock and Class A common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor if our board of directors, in its discretion, determines to issue dividends and then only at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may determine.

Liquidation rights

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of our common stock and Class A common stock will be entitled to share equally, identically, and ratably in all assets remaining after payment of or provision for any liabilities, liquidation preferences and accrued or declared but unpaid dividends, if any, with respect to any outstanding preferred stock, unless a different treatment is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of such affected class, voting separately as a class.

Other Rights

The holders of our common stock and Class A common stock have no preemptive rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock and Class A common stock.

Preferred Stock

Under the terms of our Restated Charter, our board of directors is authorized to direct us to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series without stockholder approval. Our board of directors has the discretion to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, of each series of preferred stock.

The purpose of authorizing our board of directors to issue preferred stock and determine its rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions, future financings and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third-party to acquire, or could discourage a third-party from seeking to acquire, a majority of our outstanding voting stock.

We have no present plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.

Registration Rights

The holders of the shares of 34,027,218 shares of common stock which includes all common stock issued upon the automatic conversion of our redeemable convertible preferred stock outstanding immediately prior to the closing of our initial public offering in January 2026 (the “IPO”) and the shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of Class A common stock issued upon conversion of our redeemable convertible preferred stock upon closing of the IPO, are

 


 

entitled to the following rights with respect to the registration of such shares for public resale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to an amended and restated investors’ rights agreement by and among us and certain investors (the “Investors’ Rights Agreement” and such securities, the “Registrable Securities”). The registration of shares of common stock as a result of the following rights being exercised would enable holders to trade these shares without restriction under the Securities Act when the applicable registration statement is declared effective.

Demand Registration Rights

At any time beginning 180 days following the completion of the IPO, the holders of a majority of Registrable Securities then outstanding have the right to demand that we file a registration statement covering at least 40% of the Registrable Securities then outstanding. These registration rights are subject to specified conditions and limitations, including the right of the underwriters, if any, to limit the number of shares included in any such registration under specified circumstances. Upon such a request, we are required to effect the registration as soon as practicable, but in any event no later than 60 days after the receipt of such request; provided, however, that we will not be required to effect such a registration if, among other things, we have already effected two registrations for the holders of registrable securities in response to these demand registration rights.

Piggyback Registration Rights

If we propose to register any of our securities under the Securities Act either for our own account or for the account of other stockholders, the holders of Registrable Securities will each be entitled to notice of the registration and will be entitled to include their shares of common stock in the registration statement. These piggyback registration rights are subject to specified conditions and limitations, including the right of the underwriters to limit the number of shares included in any such registration under specified circumstances.

Registration on Form S-3

At any time after we become eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-3, the holders of Registrable Securities then outstanding will be entitled to request to have such shares registered by us on a Form S-3 registration statement. These Form S-3 registration rights are subject to other specified conditions and limitations, including the condition that the anticipated aggregate offering price, net of certain selling expenses, is at least $5.0 million. Upon receipt of this request, the holders of registrable securities will each be entitled to participate in this registration. Upon such a request, we are required to effect the registration as soon as practicable, but in any event no later than 45 days after the receipt of such request; provided, however, that we will not be required to effect such a registration if, among other things, we have already effected two registrations on Form S-3 for the holders of Registrable Securities in response to these demand registration rights within the preceding 12 months.

Expenses of Registration

We are required to pay all expenses, including fees and expenses of one counsel to represent the selling stockholders (up to $75,000 total), relating to any demand, piggyback or Form S-3 registration, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, stock transfer taxes and any additional fees of counsel for the selling stockholders, subject to specified conditions and

 


 

limitations. We are not required to pay registration expenses if a demand registration request is withdrawn at the request of a majority of holders of registrable securities to be registered, unless holders of a majority of the registrable securities agree to forfeit their right to one demand registration.

The Investors’ Rights Agreement contains customary cross-indemnification provisions, pursuant to which we are obligated to indemnify the selling stockholders in the event of material misstatements or omissions in the applicable registration statement attributable to us, and the selling stockholders are obligated to indemnify us for material misstatements or omissions in the registration statement attributable to them, subject to certain limitations.

Termination of Registration Rights

The registration rights granted under the Investors’ Rights Agreement will terminate with respect to any particular stockholder upon the earlier of (a) the closing of a liquidation event, in which the consideration received by the stockholders is in the form of cash and/or publicly traded securities, or if the stockholders receive registration rights from the acquiring company or other successor to us that are reasonably comparable to those granted under the Investors’ Rights Agreement, (b) with respect to each stockholder, at such time such stockholder, together with its “affiliates” (as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) holds less than 1% of our outstanding capital stock and is able to sell all of its shares pursuant to Rule 144 or another similar exemption under the Securities Act during a three-month period without registration and (c) the third anniversary of the closing of the IPO.

Anti-Takeover Effects of our Restated Charter and our Restated Bylaws

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law

Our Restated Charter and Restated Bylaws contain certain provisions that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our board of directors but which may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a future takeover or change in control of us unless such takeover or change in control is approved by our board of directors.

These provisions include:

Classified Board

Our Restated Charter provides that our board of directors will be divided into three classes of directors, with the classes as nearly equal in number as possible. As a result, approximately one-third of our board of directors are elected each year. The classification of directors will have the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our board of directors. Our Restated Charter also provides that, subject to any rights of holders of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors will be fixed exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by our board of directors.

Action by Written Consent; Special Meetings of Stockholders 

Our Restated Charter provides that stockholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and cannot be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting. Our Restated Charter and the Restated Bylaws also provide that, except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of the stockholders can only be called pursuant to a resolution adopted by a

 


 

majority of our board of directors. Except as described above, stockholders will not be permitted to call a special meeting or to require our board of directors to call a special meeting.

Removal of Directors

Our Restated Charter provides that our directors may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the voting power of our outstanding shares of capital stock, then entitled to vote thereon voting together as a single class. This requirement of a supermajority vote to remove directors could enable a minority of our stockholders to prevent a change in the composition of our board of directors.

Advance Notice Procedures

Our Restated Bylaws establishes an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our board of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting are only be able to consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our board of directors or by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has given our Secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the stockholder’s intention to bring that business before the meeting. Although the Restated Bylaws do not give our board of directors the power to approve or disapprove stockholder nominations of candidates or proposals regarding other business to be conducted at a special or annual meeting, the Restated Bylaws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.

Supermajority Approval Requirements 

Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) generally provides that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless either a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws requires a greater percentage. Our Restated Charter and Restated Bylaws provide that the affirmative vote of holders of at least 75% of the total votes eligible to be cast in the election of directors are required to amend, alter, change or repeal specified provisions. This requirement of a supermajority vote to approve amendments to our Restated Charter and Restated Bylaws could enable a minority of our stockholders to exercise veto power over any such amendments.

Authorized but Unissued Shares

Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock, Class A common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of a majority of our common stock by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Choice of Forum

 


 

Our Restated Bylaws provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the sole and exclusive forum for the following claims or causes of action under the Delaware statutory or common law: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of, or a claim based on, a breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our current or former directors, officers, or other employees or stockholders to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the the DGCL, or our Restated Charter or Restated Bylaws (including the interpretation, validity or enforceability thereof) or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine.

However, Section 27 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all claims brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Consequently, this choice of forum provision would not apply to claims or causes of action brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction or the Securities Act. Moreover, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all claims brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

In addition, our Restated Bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause or causes of action arising under the Securities Act, including all causes of action asserted against any defendant to such complaint. For the avoidance of doubt, this provision is intended to benefit and may be enforced by us, our officers and directors, the underwriters to any offering giving rise to such complaint, and any other professional entity whose profession gives authority to a statement made by that person or entity and who has prepared or certified any part of the documents underlying a particular offering.

While the Delaware courts have determined that such choice of forum provisions are facially valid, a stockholder may nevertheless seek to bring a claim in a venue other than those designated in the exclusive forum provisions, and there can be no assurance that such provisions will be enforced by a court in those other jurisdictions. We note that investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Additionally, our Restated Bylaws provide that any person or entity holding, owning or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our securities shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to these provisions.

Section 203 of the DGCL

We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that this stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes, among other things, a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or did own within three

 


 

years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock.

Under Section 203, a business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder is prohibited unless it satisfies one of the following conditions: before the stockholder became interested, the corporation’s board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which 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 the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans, in some instances; or at or after the time the stockholder became interested, the business combination was approved by the board of directors of the corporation and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

A Delaware corporation may “opt out” of these provisions with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or an express provision in its certificate of incorporation or bylaws resulting from a stockholders’ amendment approved by at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares. We have not opted out of these provisions. As a result, mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts of us may be discouraged or prevented.

Limitations of Liability and Indemnification Matters

Our Restated Charter contains provisions that limit the liability of our current and former directors and officers for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that directors and officers of a corporation will not be personally liable for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors or officers, except liability for:

any breach of the director’s or officer’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders;
any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
as a director, unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions;
as an officer, derivative claims brought on behalf of the corporation by a stockholder; or
any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit.

Such limitation of liability does not apply to liabilities arising under federal securities laws and does not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission.

Our Restated Charter authorizes us to indemnify our directors, officers, employees and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Our Restated Bylaws provide that we are required to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law and may indemnify our other employees and agents. Our Restated Bylaws also provide that, on satisfaction of certain conditions, we will advance expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding, and permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee, or other agent for any liability arising out of his or her actions in that capacity regardless of whether we would otherwise be permitted to indemnify him or her under the provisions of Delaware law. We have entered and expect to continue to enter into

 


 

agreements to indemnify our directors, executive officers and other employees as determined by the board of directors. With certain exceptions, these agreements provide for indemnification for related expenses including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any of these individuals in any action or proceeding.

We believe that these Restated Charter and Restated Bylaw provisions and indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. We also maintain customary directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our Restated Charter and Restated Bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and other stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers as required by these indemnification provisions.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted for directors, executive officers, or persons controlling us, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, 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 Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The transfer agent’s address is 150 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.

Listing

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the trading symbol “AKTS.”