Document

Exhibit 4.5







DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934




Silk Road Medical, 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 $0.001 per share.


As used in this summary, the terms “Silk Road Medical,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Silk Road Medical, Inc.


Description of Common Stock


                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 amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, and to provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law.  Copies of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated 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.


Voting Rights


Each holder of our 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 convertible preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds.


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 and the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any then outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock.


Rights and Preferences


Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion, subscription or other rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.


Fully Paid and Nonassessable


All of our outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.










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Exhibit 4.5



Anti-Takeover Effects or Provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our Amended and Restated Bylaws and Delaware Law


Some provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws that are in effect contain provisions that could make the following transactions more difficult: 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.  It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish or could deter transactions that stock holders may otherwise consider to be in their best interest or in our best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium over the market price for our shares.


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 our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of a non-friendly 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.


Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute


We are subject to Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, 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:


•Before such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested holder;


•Upon completion of the transaction that 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 began, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned (i) by persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or


•On or after such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.  


In general, Section 203 defines business combination to include the following:


•Any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;


•Any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder;


•Subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;


•Any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock or any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or


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Exhibit 4.5



•The receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loss, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits by or through the corporation.


In general, Section 203 defines interested stockholder as an entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation or any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.


Undesignated Preferred Stock


The ability to authorize 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 acquire us.  These and other provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of our company.


Special Stockholder Meetings


Our amended and restated bylaws provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by our board of directors, the chairperson of our board of directors, or our Chief Executive Officer or President.  This provision might delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or for stockholders controlling a majority of our common stock to take any action, including the removal of directors.


Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and 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 of directors or a committee of the board of directors.  Our amended and restated bylaws also specify certain requirements regarding the form and content of a stockholder’s notice.


Advance Notice of Stockholder Business


If a stockholder is submitting a stockholder proposal related to the business of the company, such stockholder must: (i) be a stockholder of record at the time notice is given, (ii) submit the notice in a timely manner, and (iii) such business must be of a proper matter for stockholder action in accordance with our bylaws and applicable law.  To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice related to the business of the company must contain the following items: (i) a brief description of the business intended to be brought before the annual meeting, the text of the proposed business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration) and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (ii) the name and address of the stockholder proposing such business, (iii) the class and number of shares that are held of record or are beneficially held by the stockholder, (iv) whether and the extent to which any hedging activities have been entered into by or on behalf of such stockholder with respect to our securities, (v) any material interest of the stockholder in such business, (vi) a statement whether such stockholder will deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders required under applicable law to carry the proposal.


Advance Notice of Director Nominations


If a stockholder is submitting a nomination in connection with an annual meeting, such stockholder must: (i) be a stockholder of record at the time notice if given, and (ii) submit the notice in a timely manner.  To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice related to director nominations must contain the following items with respect to each nominee: (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of the nominee, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of the nominee, (iii) the class and number of shares of the company that are held of record or are beneficially owned by the nominee and any derivative positions held or beneficially held by the nominee, (iv) whether and the extent to which any hedging activities have been entered into by or on behalf of the nominee with respect to our securities, (v) a description of all arrangements or understandings between or among the stockholder, any nominee or any other person or persons pursuant to which the nominations are to be made by the stockholder and (vi) a written statement executed by the nominee acknowledging and representing that the nominee intends to serve a full term on our board of directors if elected.  With respect to the stockholder, the notice must contain the following items: (i) the name and address of the stockholder proposing such business, (ii) the class and number of shares that are held of 
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Exhibit 4.5



record or are beneficially held by the stockholder, (iii) whether and the extent to which any hedging activities have been entered into by or on behalf of such stockholder with respect to our securities, (iv) any material interest of the stockholder in such business, and (v) a statement whether such stockholder will deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy reasonably believed by such stockholder to be necessary to elect such nominee.


Elimination of Stockholder Action by Written Consent


Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws eliminate the right of stockholders to act by written consent without a meeting.  As a result, a holder controlling a majority of our common stock would not be able to amend our amended and restated bylaws or remove directors without holding a meeting of our stockholders called in accordance with our amended and restated bylaws.


Classified Board; Election and Removal of Directors


Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws authorizes only our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, including newly created seats.  In addition, the number of directors constituting our board of directors are permitted to be set only by a resolution adopted by our board of directors.  These provisions prevent a stockholder from increasing the size of our board of directors and then gaining control of our board of directors by filling the resulting vacancies with its own nominees.  This makes it more difficult to change the composition of our board of directors but promotes continuity of management.


Our board of directors is divided into three classes.  The directors in each class will serve for a three-year term, one class being elected each year by our stockholders, with staggered three-year terms.  Only one class of directors will be elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms.  Because our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights, our stockholders holding a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding will be able to elect all of our directors up for election.  In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that directors may only be removed for cause.  For more information on the classified board, see the section entitled “Management—Board of Directors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K to which this description is an Exhibit. This system of electing and removing directors may tend to discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, because it generally makes it more difficult for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors.


Exclusive Forum


Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, for (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (2) 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, (3) any action asserting a claim against the company or any director or officer of the company arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or (4) any other action asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or federal court located within the State of Delaware if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, in all cases subject to the court’s having jurisdiction over indispensable parties named as defendants.  A complaint asserting a cause of action under the Securities Act may be brought in state or federal court.  With respect to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or Exchange Act, only claims brought derivatively under the Exchange Act would be subject to the forum selection clause described above.  The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation and bylaws has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that, in connection with any action, a court could find the choice of forum provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in such action.  Although we believe these provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law for the specified types of actions and proceedings, the provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against us or our directors and officers.  Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in our shares of common stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this exclusive forum provision, but will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
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Exhibit 4.5



Amendment of Charter Provisions


The amendment of any of the above provisions, except for the provision making it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock, would require approval by holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of our then outstanding voting stock.


The provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws may have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts.  These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management.  It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.


Exchange Listing


Our common stock is quoted on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “SILK.”


Transfer Agent


The transfer agent for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.  The transfer agent’s address is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219.


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