Document:

eqbk-ex42_649.htm

Exhibit 4.2

DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES

As of December 31, 2019, Equity Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” or “our”) had one class of securities, our Class A Voting Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class A common stock”), registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

General

We are incorporated in the State of Kansas. The rights of our stockholders are generally governed by Kansas law, our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (“Articles of Incorporation”) and our Amended and Restated Bylaws (“Bylaws”). The terms of our common stock are therefore subject to Kansas law and federal law governing bank holding companies.

The following description of our Class A common stock is a summary and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of our Articles of Incorporation and our Bylaws. For more detailed information about the rights of our Class A common stock, you should refer to our Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and the applicable provisions of Kansas law for additional information.

Authorized Capital Stock

We are authorized to issue (i) 50,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which (a) 45,000,000 shares are designated as Class A common stock, and (b) 5,000,000 shares are designated as Class B Non-Voting common stock (“Class B common stock”), and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock.  All outstanding shares of our Class A common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

Voting Rights

Each holder of our Class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted on by our stockholders.  Our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of directors. If we issue preferred stock, holders of our preferred stock may also possess voting rights.  Our Class B common stock has no voting rights.

Subject to the rights of the holders of any preferred stock then outstanding, removal of any of directors without cause requires the affirmative vote of the holders of record of outstanding shares representing at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all the shares of our capital stock then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

Our Articles of Incorporation provide that our board of directors is authorized to make, amend, alter or repeal our Bylaws, subject to the power of the stockholders, as described below, to make, amend, alter or repeal our Bylaws.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all the shares of our then outstanding voting stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter or repeal, or adopt any provisions inconsistent with, Articles II (Meetings of Stockholders), III (Directors), VIII (Indemnification of Directors, Officers, Employees & Agents) or IX (Amendments) of our Bylaws.

Our Articles of Incorporation also require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the shares of our then outstanding voting stock, voting together as a single class, to amend or repeal, or adopt any provisions inconsistent with, Articles VI (Action by Stockholders), VII (Number, Classification and Election of Directors; Vacancies), VIII (Removal of Directors), IX (Indemnification of Officers and Directors), XI (Control Share Acquisitions), XII (Business Combinations with Interested Stockholders), XIII (Amendment of Bylaws), or XIV (Amendment of Articles) of our Articles of Incorporation.

No Preemptive or Similar Rights

Our Class A common stock has no preemptive rights and is not entitled to the benefits of any redemption or sinking fund provision.

 

 

Dividend Rights

To the extent permitted under Kansas law and subject to the rights of holders of any outstanding shares of our preferred stock, holders of our Class A common stock are entitled to participate ratably on a per share basis with holders of our Class B common stock in the payment of dividends, when, as and if declared thereon by our board of directors. If we issue preferred stock, the holders of the preferred stock may have a priority over the holders of Class A common stock with respect to dividends.

Liquidation Rights

Subject to the provisions of any outstanding series of preferred stock and after payment of all of our debts and other liabilities, the holders of Class A common stock are entitled to participate ratably on a per share basis in all distributions to the holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock in any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.

Certain Provisions of Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

Advance Notice for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations

Our Articles of Incorporation contain provisions requiring that advance notice be delivered to us of any business to be brought by a stockholder before an annual meeting of stockholders and provide for certain procedures to be followed by stockholders in nominating candidates for election as directors. Generally, the advance notice provisions require that stockholder proposals be provided to us no less than 120 days prior to the day corresponding to the date on which we released our proxy statement in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting in order to be properly brought before a stockholder meeting. The notice must set forth specific information regarding the stockholder submitting the proposal or nomination and the proposal or director nominee, as described in our Articles of Incorporation, and must otherwise comply with the terms of our Articles of Incorporation. These requirements are in addition to those set forth in the regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act.

Special Meetings of Stockholders

Our Articles of Incorporation provide that special meetings of stockholders may be called by our President, or by or at the direction of a majority of the board of directors, and shall be called by the Chairman of the board of directors, the President or the Secretary upon the written request of the holders of not less than twenty percent (20%) of all of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote at such special meeting. The business transacted at a special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to that stated in the notice of such meeting or in a duly executed waiver thereof.

Potential Anti-Takeover Effect

Certain provisions of our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws could make the acquisition of control of our Company and/or the removal of our existing management or directors more difficult, including those that:

	
 
	
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empower our board of directors, without stockholder approval, to issue our preferred stock, the terms of which, including voting power, are set by our board of directors;

	
 
	
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only permit stockholder action to be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and not by written consent in lieu of such a meeting;

	
 
	
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provide for a classified board of directors, so that only approximately one-third of or directors are elected each year;

	
 
	
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require the affirmative vote of the holders of record of outstanding shares representing at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all the shares of our capital stock then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, to remove any of our directors;

	
 
	
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prohibit us from engaging in certain business combinations with “interested stockholders” (generally defined as a holder of 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock);

 

 

	
 
	
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require at least 120 days’ advance notice of nominations for the election of directors and the presentation of stockholder proposals at meetings of stockholders; and

	
 
	
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require prior regulatory application and approval of any transaction involving acquiring control of our organization.

These provisions are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. They are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of the Company to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection give us the potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us and that these benefits outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging the proposals. Negotiating with the proponent could result in an improvement of the terms of the proposal.

Stock Exchange Listing

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbol “EQBK.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company at 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, NY 10004-1561.stsa-ex46_164.htm

Exhibit 4.6

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

The following summary describes our capital stock and the material provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, the amended and restated investors’ rights agreement to which we and certain of our stockholders are parties and of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Because the following is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a complete description, you should refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and amended and restated investors’ rights agreement, copies of which are incorporated by reference as Exhibits 3.1, 3.2 and 4.3, respectively, to our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Common Stock 

 

As of December 31, 2019, Satsuma Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Satsuma”) had common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the trading symbol “STSA.”  

 

Shares Outstanding

We are authorized to issue up to 300,000,000 shares of Common Stock. As of December 31, 2019, there are 17,382,047 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, 1,568,874 shares are issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options to purchase common stock and 5,116 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants.

As of December 31, 2019, there were approximately 23 holders of record of our Common Stock. This number does not include beneficial owners whose shares are held by nominees in street name.

The actual number of stockholders is greater than the number of record holders and includes stockholders who are beneficial owners but whose shares are held in street name by brokers and other nominees. This number of holders of record also does not include stockholders whose shares may be held in trust by other entities.

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. In addition, the affirmative vote of holders of 66 2⁄3% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding voting stock will be required to take certain actions, including amending certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, such as the provisions relating to amending our amended and restated bylaws, the classified board and director liability. 

Dividends 

Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding 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 preferred stock. 

 

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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. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to and may be adversely affected by the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate in the future. 

 

Fully Paid and Nonassessable 

All of our outstanding shares of common stock are, and the shares of common stock to be issued in this offering will be, fully paid and nonassessable. 

Convertible Preferred Stock 

Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof. These rights, preferences and privileges could include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting, or the designation of, such series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of our common stock. The issuance of our preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock and the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon our liquidation. In addition, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company or other corporate action. As of December 31, 2019, no shares of preferred stock were outstanding, and we have no present plan to issue any shares of preferred stock. 

Registration Rights 

Under our amended and restated investors’ rights agreement, based on the number of shares outstanding as of December 31, 2019, the holders of approximately 10.9 million shares of common stock, or their transferees, have the right to require us to register their shares under the Securities Act so that those shares may be publicly resold, and to include their shares in any registration statement we file, in each case as described below. 

Demand Registration Rights 

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of December 31, 2019, the holders of approximately 10.9 million shares of our common stock (on an as-converted basis), or their transferees, are entitled to certain demand registration rights. The holders of at least 20% of these shares can, on not more than two occasions, request that we register all or a portion of their shares if the aggregate price to the public of the shares offered is at least $10.0 million (before deductions of underwriters’ commissions and expenses). 

Piggyback Registration Rights 

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of December 31, 2019, after the consummation of this offering, in the event that we determine to register any of our securities under the Securities Act (subject to certain exceptions), either for our own account or for the account of other security holders, the holders of approximately 10.9 million shares of our common stock (on an as-converted basis), or their transferees, are entitled to certain “piggyback” registration rights allowing the holders to include their shares in such registration, subject to certain marketing and other limitations. As a result, whenever we propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act, other than with respect to a registration related to employee benefit plans, the offer and sale of debt securities, or corporate reorganizations or certain other transactions, the holders of these shares are entitled to notice of the registration and have the right, subject to limitations that the underwriters may impose on the number of shares included in the registration, to include their shares in the registration. In an underwritten offering, the managing underwriter, if any, has the right, subject to specified conditions, to exclude or limit the number of shares such holders may include. 

 

 

 

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Form S-3 Registration Rights 

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of December 31, 2019, the holders of approximately 10.9 million shares of our common stock (on an as-converted basis), or their transferees, are entitled to certain Form S-3 registration rights. The holders of at least 20% of these shares can make a written request that we register their shares on Form S-3 if we are eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-3 and if the aggregate price to the public of the shares offered is at least $1.0 million (before deductions of underwriters’ commissions and expenses). These stockholders may make an unlimited number of requests for registration on Form S-3, but in no event shall we be required to file more than two registrations on Form S-3 in any given twelve-month period. 

Expenses of Registration 

We will pay the registration expenses of the holders of the shares registered pursuant to the demand and Form S-3 registration rights described above. 

Expiration of Registration Rights 

The demand, piggyback and Form S-3 registration rights described above will expire, with respect to any particular stockholder, upon the earlier of five years after the consummation of our initial public offering or when that stockholder can sell all of its shares under Rule 144 of the Securities Act during any 90-day period (and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Section c(1) of Rule 144 of the Securities Act). 

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

Certain provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws 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 stockholders 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 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. 

Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute 

We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, 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 the board of directors, such as discouraging takeover attempts that might result in a premium over the market price of our common stock. 

 

 

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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 change control of 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 at any time by our board of directors, or our President or Chief Executive Officer, but such special meetings may not be called by the stockholders or any other person or persons. 

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. 

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. 

Classified Board; Election and Removal of Directors; Filling Vacancies 

Our board of directors is divided into three classes. The directors in each class serve for a three-year term, with 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. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide for the removal of any of our directors only for cause and requires a stockholder vote by the holders of at least a 66 2/3% of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock. For more information on the classified board, see “Management—Board Composition.” Furthermore, any vacancy on our board of directors, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the size of the board, may only be filled by a resolution of the board of directors unless the board of directors determines that such vacancies shall be filled by the stockholders. This system of electing and removing directors and filling vacancies 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. 

 

Choice of Forum 

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf us, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors or officers to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us governed by the internal affairs doctrine. As a result, any action brought by any of our stockholders with regard to any of these matters will need to be filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and cannot be filed in any other jurisdiction; provided that, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction; and provided further that, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware. Nothing in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws precludes stockholders that assert claims under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from bringing such claims in state or federal court, subject to applicable law. 

 

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This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. 

Amendment of Charter and Bylaws Provisions 

The amendment of any of the above provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, except for the provision making it possible for our board of directors to issue undesignated preferred stock would require approval by a stockholder vote by the holders of at least a 66 2/3% of the voting power of the 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 could 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. 

Limitations of Liability and Indemnification Matters 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that limit the liability of our directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Consequently, our directors are not personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for:

	
 
	
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any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

	
 
	
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any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

	
 
	
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unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or

	
 
	
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any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Each of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that we are required to indemnify our directors and officers, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Our amended and restated bylaws also obligates us to 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 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 our board of directors. With specified exceptions, these agreements provide for indemnification for related expenses including, among other things, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any of these individuals in any action or proceeding. We believe that these bylaw provisions and indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. We also maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and officers 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 our stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damages.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar 

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

 

 

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