Company: CERO
Filing Date: 2025-05-02
Form Type: PRER14A
Source: 0001213900-25-039149
Chunk: 69

Company: CERO THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
Filing Date: 2025-05-02
Form: PRER14A
Chunk 69
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 not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In making these determinations, our board of directors considered the current and prior relationships that each non -employeedirector has with us and all other facts and circumstances our board of directors deemed relevant in determining independence, including the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock by each non -employeedirector and relationships with the Company. 37 Staggered Board In accordance with the terms of our Certificate of Incorporation, our board of directors is divided into three classes with staggered, three -yearterms. At each annual meeting of stockholders, the directors whose terms then expire will be eligible for re -electionuntil the third annual meeting following reelection. Our directors are divided among the three classes as follows: •the Class I directors are Mr. Byrnes and Dr. Rolfe, and their terms will expire at this Annual Meeting; •the Class II directors are Mr. Atwood and Ms. LaPorte, and their terms will expire at our 2026 annual meeting of stockholders; and •the Class III directors are Mr. Ehrlich and Mr. Patel, and their terms will expire at our 2027 annual meeting of stockholders. Our Bylaws provide that the number of members of our board of directors shall be fixed in accordance with our Certificate of Incorporation. Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors. Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one -thirdof the directors. Our board of directors is currently fixed at six members. The division of our board of directors into three classes with staggered three -yearterms may delay or prevent a change of our board of directors or a change in control of our company. Our directors may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two -thirdsof our outstanding voting stock then entitled to vote in an election of directors. Board Leadership Structure Our board of directors does not have a policy regarding separation of the roles of Chief Executive Officer and chairman of the board of directors. Our board of directors recognizes that it is important to determine an optimal board leadership structure to ensure the independent oversight of management as we continue to grow, and believes it is in our best interests to make determinations regarding such leadership structure based on circumstances from time to time. Currently