UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 30, 2020
Avita Therapeutics, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-39059 | 85-1021707 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||
28159 Avenue Stanford, Suite 220, Valencia, CA 91355 | 661.367.9170 | |||
(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code) | (Registrants telephone number, including area code) |
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share | RCEL | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Explanatory Note
Completion of Redomiciliation
On June 30, 2020 (the Effective Date), the redomiciliation (Redomiciliation) of Avita Medical Limited, a public company incorporated under the laws of the State of Victoria Australia (Avita Australia) was completed in accordance with the Scheme Implementation Agreement, dated April 20, 2020, between Avita Australia and Avita Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company). As a result of the Redomiciliation, the location of incorporation of the ultimate parent company of the Avita group of companies was changed from Australia to Delaware.
The Redomiciliation was effected pursuant to a statutory scheme of arrangement under Australian law (the Scheme), whereby on the Effective Date, all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Avita Australia were exchanged for newly issued shares of common stock of the Company, on the basis of one share of the Companys common stock for every 100 ordinary shares of Avita Australia issued and outstanding. Holders of Avita Australias American Depository Shares (ADSs) (each of which represents 20 ordinary shares) received one share of the Companys common stock for every 5 ADSs held.
The Companys common stock issued in the Scheme was exempt from registration under Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act).
Prior to the Redomiciliation, Avita Australias ordinary shares were registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), and its ADSs listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (Nasdaq). Avita Australias ADSs were suspended from trading on Nasdaq prior to the start of trading on the Effective Date, and following the Effective Date will no longer trade on Nasdaq.
Pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) under the Exchange Act, as of the Effective Date the Company is the successor issuer to Avita Australia, the Companys common stock is deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company is subject to the periodic and current reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Company hereby reports this succession in accordance with Rule 12g-3(f) under the Exchange Act.
The Companys common stock began trading on Nasdaq at the start of trading on the Effective Date under the symbol RCEL, the same symbol under which Avita Australias ADSs were traded on Nasdaq prior to the Effective Date. The CUSIP for the Companys common stock is 05380C102. Nasdaq has filed a Form 25 with the SEC to remove Avita Australias ADS listing on Nasdaq. Avita Australia expects to file a Form 15 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to terminate the registration under the Exchange Act of Avita Australias ordinary shares, and to suspend its reporting obligations under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.
The information included under the Explanatory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference to this Item 3.01.
Item 3.02 Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities.
The information included under the Explanatory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference to this Item 3.02.
Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
The information included under the Explanatory Note, Item 5.03 and Item 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference to this Item 3.03.
Item 5.01 Changes in Control of Registrant.
The information included under the Explanatory Note and Item 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference to this Item 5.01.
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangement of Certain Officers.
Directors and Executive Officers
The directors of Avita Australia prior to the completion of the Redomiciliation are the same directors of the Company. As of the Effective Date, the committees of the board of directors of the Company were constituted as follows:
| Audit Committee: Louis Drapeau (Chair), Lou Panaccio and Damien McDonald |
| Compensation Committee: Suzanne Crowe (Chair), Lou Drapeau and Jeremy Curnock Cook |
| Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee: Suzanne Crowe (Chair), Lou Drapeau and Jeremy Curnock Cook |
Dr. Michael Perry will serve as chief executive officer of the Company, and David McIntyre will serve as chief financial officer of the Company. Dr. Perry and Mr. McIntyre served in these same roles at Avita Australia prior to the Redomiciliation.
Biographical information with respect to the above directors and executive officers of the Company can be found under Item 6A of the Annual Report on Form 20-F filed by Avita Australia with the SEC on October 31, 2019, and is incorporated by reference to this Item 5.02.
Indemnification Agreements
On the Effective Date, the Company entered into indemnification agreements with each of the directors and executive officers of the Company. These agreements provide for the indemnification by the Company of these persons against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of his or her status or service as a director or officer or in such other capacity and to advance expenses incurred as a result of certain proceedings, to the fullest extent provided by law.
The foregoing description of the indemnification agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of such agreement filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to this Item 5.02.
Restricted Share Units
On the Effective Date, and pursuant to the Scheme, the Company assumed Avita Australias obligations with respect to the settlement of restricted share units awards (RSUs) and ordinary share options (Options that were granted by Avita Australia prior to the Effective Date pursuant to Avita Australias Employee Incentive Option Plan and Employee Share Plan, as amended (the Plans), which provided for grants of RSUs and options to Avita Australias employees. Accordingly, the RSUs and Options will be settled in shares of common stock of the Company rather than ordinary shares of Avita Australia and the exercise price of Options will be adjusted pursuant to the terms of the Scheme. Other than as described above, the terms of the Plans and the RSUs and Options remain unchanged.
Following the Effective Date, no new awards or grants will be made under the Plans. The Company intends to present a new equity incentive plan to stockholders for approval at the Companys next annual meeting of stockholders.
The foregoing description of the Plans is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of such Plans previously filed as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2 to the Companys Registration Statement on Form 20-F filed September 27, 2019. and incorporated by reference to this Item 5.02.
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
In connection with the Redomiciliation, the Companys board of directors approved the Companys certificate of incorporation (Certificate) and bylaws (the Bylaws). The summary of the material terms of the Certificate and
Bylaws is included under the heading Description of Common Stock in Item 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to this Item 5.03.
The foregoing description of the Certificate and Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Certificate and Bylaws, which are filed as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to this Item 5.03.
Item 5.05. Amendments to the Registrants Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.
On the Effective Date, the Company adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (the Code), which applies to all directors, officers and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries.
The foregoing description of the Code is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Code, which is filed as Exhibit 14.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to this Item 5.05. The Code will be made available on the Companys website at www.avitamedical.com.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
Press Release
On June 29, 2020, the Company issued a press release announcing the completion of the Redomiciliation and other information related thereto. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to this Item 8.01.
Successor Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) under the Exchange Act, as of the Effective Date the Company is the successor issuer to Avita Australia, the Companys common stock is deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company is subject to the periodic and current reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Company hereby reports this succession in accordance with Rule 12g-3(f) under the Exchange Act.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
The following description of the Companys common stock is a summary. This summary is subject to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL) and the complete text of the Certificate and Bylaws, which are filed as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference to this Item 8.01.
General
The Certificate authorizes the issuance of up to 200,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share. On the Effective Date, all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Avita Australia were exchanged for newly issued shares of common stock of the Company, on the basis of one share of the Companys common stock for every one hundred ordinary shares issued and outstanding.
Voting Rights
Each holder of 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. The Companys stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Accordingly, in an uncontested election, 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 preferred stock, holders of the Companys common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Companys board of directors out of legally available funds. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of common stock. Declaration and payment of any dividend will be subject to the discretion of the board of directors. The time and amount of dividends will be dependent upon the Companys financial condition, operations, cash requirements and availability, debt repayment obligations, capital expenditure needs, restrictions in the Companys debt instruments, industry trends, the provisions of Delaware law affecting the payment of distributions to stockholders and any other factors the Board may consider relevant.
Liquidation
In the event of the Companys liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of the Companys common stock are entitled to share rateably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of the Companys debts and other liabilities and the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any then outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Rights and Preferences
Holders of the Companys common stock have no pre-emptive, conversion, subscription or other rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Companys common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Companys common stock are subject to and may be adversely affected by the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that the Company may designate in the future.
Fully Paid and Nonassessable
All outstanding shares of the Companys common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.
Annual Stockholder Meetings
The Certificate and Bylaws provide that annual stockholder meetings will be held at a date, place (if any) and time, as exclusively selected by the board of directors. To the extent permitted under applicable law, the Company may but is not obligated to conduct meetings by remote communications, including by webcast.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of the Certificate and Bylaws and DGCL
Some provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate and Bylaws could make the following transactions difficult: (i) acquisition of the Company by means of a tender offer; (ii) acquisition of the Company by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or (iii) removal of incumbent officers and directors of the Company. 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 the best interests of the Company, including transactions that might result in a premium over the market price for the Companys common stock.
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 the Company to first negotiate with the Board.
Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute
The Company is 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 corporations voting stock, and 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 the Companys common stock.
Special Stockholder Meetings
The Bylaws provide that a special meeting of stockholders (1) may be called at any time by the order of a majority of the entire board of directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President (in the absence of a chief executive officer), and (2) shall be called by the Secretary upon the written request of the holders of record of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals
The Bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors.
Composition of the Board of Directors; Election and Removal of Directors; Filling Vacancies
The Companys board of directors consists of one or more directors. In any uncontested elections of directors, a director nominee for the board of directors of the Company will be elected by the plurality of the votes cast with respect to such director at a meeting at which a quorum is present.
In a contested election, a plurality voting standard will apply to director elections. The directors of the Company are elected until the expiration of the term for which they are elected and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified.
The directors of the Company may be removed by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the holders of the Companys then- outstanding common stock. Furthermore, any vacancy on the Companys board of directors, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the size of the board, may be filled only by a majority vote of the board of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director.
Amendment of the Certificate and Bylaws
The Certificate may be amended in any manner permitted under the DGCL and the Bylaws may be amended by the holders of at a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock or by the board of directors.
Limitations of Liability and Indemnification Matters
Each of the Certificate and Bylaws provide that the Company is required to indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. The Bylaws also obligates the Company to advance expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision, from which there is no further right to appeal, that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses.
The Company may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for Companys common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The transfer agent and registrars address is 250 Royall St., Canton, Massachusetts 02021.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
* | Filed herewith. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: June 30, 2020
AVITA THERAPEUTICS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ David McIntyre | |
Name: | David McIntyre | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
AVITA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
ARTICLE I
Identification
SECTION 1.01. Name. The name of the Corporation is Avita Therapeutics, Inc. (the Corporation).
ARTICLE II
Purpose
SECTION 2.01. Purpose. The purpose for which the Corporation is organized is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL).
ARTICLE III
Capital Stock
SECTION 3.01. Amount. The total number of shares which the Corporation has authority to issue is 210,000,000 shares, consisting of: 10,000,000 shares designated as Preferred Stock, par value of $0.0001 per share (Preferred Stock), and 200,000,000 shares designated as Common Stock, par value of $0.0001 per share (Common Stock).
SECTION 3.02. Preferred Stock. Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors (or any committee to which it may duly delegate the authority granted in this Article III) is hereby empowered to authorize the issuance from time to time of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, for such consideration and for such corporate purposes as the Board of Directors (or such committee thereof) may from time to time determine, and by filing a certificate (a Preferred Stock Designation) pursuant to applicable law of the State of Delaware, as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, to establish from time to time for each such series the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the designations, powers, rights, and preferences of the shares of each such series, and the qualifications, limitations, and restrictions thereof to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by this Certificate of Incorporation and the laws of the State of Delaware, including, without limitation, voting powers (if any), dividend rights, dissolution rights, conversion rights, exchange rights, and redemption rights thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors (or such committee thereof) providing for the issuance of such series of Preferred Stock. Each series of Preferred Stock shall be distinctly designated. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, without a separate vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof, unless a vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation.
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SECTION 3.03. Common Stock.
(A) The holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter submitted to the stockholders on which the holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote. Except as otherwise required by law or this Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock, at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have the right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation that relates solely to the terms, number of shares, powers, designations, preferences, or relative participating, optional, or other special rights (including, without limitation, voting rights), or to qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereon, of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, by any Preferred Stock Designation or pursuant to the DGCL.
(B) Subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property, or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the Board of Directors from time to time out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor, and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions.
(C) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, and subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock in respect thereof, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them.
(D) The number of authorized shares of Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by (in addition to any vote of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock that may be required by the terms of this Certificate of Incorporation or any Preferred Stock Designation) the affirmative vote of the holders of shares of capital stock of the Corporation representing a majority of the votes represented by all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.
ARTICLE IV
Directors
SECTION 4.01. Management of the Corporation. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
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SECTION 4.02. Number. The number of directors of the Corporation shall be determined exclusively by resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board. For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, the term Whole Board means the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.
SECTION 4.03. Election of Directors. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders by such stockholders as have the right to vote on such election. Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation. Unless required by the Bylaws, the election of the Board of Directors need not be by written ballot.
SECTION 4.04. Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors or newly created directorship, however occurring, including a newly created directorship resulting from an enlargement of the Board of Directors, may be filled only by vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director.
SECTION 4.05. Amendment of the Bylaws by the Board. The Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE V
Indemnification
SECTION 5.01. Right to Indemnification and Advancement. The Corporation shall indemnify (and advance expenses to) its officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as amended from time to time; provided, however, except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the Corporation shall not be required to indemnify a director or officer in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person unless the commencement of such proceeding (or part thereof) by such director or officer was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VI
Director Liability
SECTION 6.01. Exculpation. A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable either to the Corporation or to any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL. Any amendment or modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence or of the DGCL shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification, or repeal. If the DGCL hereafter is amended to further eliminate or limit the liability of a director, then a director of the Corporation, in addition to the circumstances in which a director is not personally liable as set forth in the preceding sentence, shall not be liable to the fullest extent permitted by the amended DGCL.
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ARTICLE VII
Registered Agent and Registered Office
SECTION 7.01. Registered Agent and Office. The name and address of the registered agent at the Corporations registered office are:
Corporate Creations Networks Inc., 3411 Silverside Road, Tatnall Building, Suite 104, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, 19808.
SECTION 7.02. Incorporator. The name and mailing address of the incorporator of the Corporation is:
David J. McIntyre,
Avita Medical Limited Level 7,
330 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia
ARTICLE VIII
Quorum Requirement
SECTION 8.01. Quorum. The holders representing a majority of the combined voting power of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at a meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE IX
Cumulative Voting
SECTION 9.01. No Cumulative Voting. No holder of any shares of any class of stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to cumulative voting rights in any circumstances.
ARTICLE X
Advance Notice of Stockholder Action and Business
SECTION 10.01. Advance Notice of Stockholder Action and Business. Advance notice of new business and stockholder nominations for the election of directors shall be given in the manner and to the extent provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation..
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ARTICLE XI
Venue
SECTION 11.01. Venue for Internal Corporate Claims. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for all internal corporate claims. Internal corporate claims mean claims, including claims in the right of the Corporation, (i) that are based upon a violation of a duty by a current or former director or officer or stockholder in such capacity or (ii) as to which Title 8 of the Delaware Code confers jurisdiction upon the Court of Chancery, except for, as to each of (i) through (ii) above, any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction; provided, however, if (and only if) the Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware (Complex Commercial Litigation Division) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for all internal corporate claims unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum; provided, however, if (and only if) the Superior Court of the State of Delaware (Complex Commercial Litigation Division) declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for all internal corporate claims unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum. If any provision of this Article XI shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XI (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article XI containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 11.02. Venue for Claims Under the Securities Act. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 11.02.
ARTICLE XII
Supermajority Provisions
SECTION 12.01. Amendments to Bylaws by Stockholders. The stockholders shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation or any Preferred Stock Designation, the amendment of the Bylaws by the Corporations stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the incorporator hereinbefore named, for the purpose of forming a corporation to do business both within and without the State of Delaware and in pursuance of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, does make and file this Certificate of Incorporation, hereby declaring and certifying that the facts herein stated are true, and accordingly has hereunto set his hand this on this 17th day of April, 2020.
By: | /s/ David J. McIntyre | |
Name: | David J. McIntyre | |
Title: | Incorporator |
Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
AVITA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(as adopted June 21, 2020)
ARTICLE I
Meeting of Stockholders
Section 1.1. Annual Meetings. If required by applicable law, an annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors at such date, time and place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated by resolution of the board of directors (the Board of Directors) of Avita Therapeutics, Inc. (the Corporation) from time to time. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting.
Section 1.2. Special Meetings.
(A) Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Corporations certificate of incorporation, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (the Certificate of Incorporation), (1) may be called at any time by the order of a majority of the Whole Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President (in the absence of a chief executive officer), and (2) shall be called by the Secretary upon the written request of the holders of record of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Corporation (the Requisite Percentage), subject to and in compliance with these Bylaws. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice. For purposes of these bylaws, the term Whole Board shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.
(B) Any request by stockholders to call a special meeting in accordance with Section 1.2(A)(2) of these Bylaws shall (1) be delivered to, or mailed to and received by, the Secretary of the Corporation at the Corporations principal executive offices, (2) be signed by each stockholder, or a duly authorized agent of such stockholder, requesting the special meeting, (3) set forth the purpose or purposes of the meeting, and (3) include all of the information required by Section 1.13(A)(2) as to any nominations proposed to be presented and any other business proposed to be conducted at such special meeting and as to the stockholder(s) proposing such business or nominations, and a representation by the stockholder(s) proposing such business that within five business days after the record date for any such special meeting it will provide such information as of the record date for such special meeting. A special meeting requested by stockholders shall be held at such date, time and place within or without the State of Delaware as may be fixed by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the date of any such special meeting shall not be more than ninety (90) days after the request to call the special meeting is received by the Corporate Secretary.
(C) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a special meeting requested by stockholders in accordance with Section 1.2(A)(2) of these Bylaws shall not be held if: (1) the stated business to be brought before the special meeting is not a proper subject for stockholder action under applicable law, (2) the Board of Directors has called or calls for an annual or special meeting of stockholders to be held within one hundred twenty (120) days after the request for the special meeting is delivered to or received by the Secretary and the Board of Directors determines in good faith that the business of such annual or special meeting includes (among any other matters properly brought before the annual or special meeting) the purpose specified in the request, (3) an annual or special meeting was held not more than one hundred twenty (120) days before the request to call the special meeting was received by the Corporation which
included the purpose specified in the request, and (4) the special meeting requested by stockholders involves or was made in a manner that involved a violation of or does or did not comply with the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (as hereinafter defined) or other applicable law.
(D) A stockholder may revoke a request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to, or mailed to and received by, the Secretary. If, at any time after receipt by the Secretary of the Corporation of a proper request for a special meeting of stockholders, there are no longer valid requests from stockholders holding in the aggregate at least the Requisite Percentage, whether because of revoked requests or otherwise, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may cancel the special meeting (or, if the special meeting has not yet been called, may direct the Chairman of the Board or the Secretary of the Corporation not to call such a meeting).
Section 1.3. Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting shall be given that shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholders address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.
Section 1.4. Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.
Section 1.5. Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, at each meeting of stockholders the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of not less than a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum, then either (i) the chairperson of the meeting or (ii) a majority in voting power of the stockholders so present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote may adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 1.4 of these bylaws until a quorum shall attend. Shares of its own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to vote stock, including but not limited to its own stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity.
Section 1.6. Organization. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or, in his or her absence, by the Chief Executive Officer or, in his or her absence, by the President or, in his or her absence, by a Vice President or, in the absence of the foregoing persons, by a chairman designated by the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such designation, by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 1.7. Voting; Proxies. Except as otherwise provided by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary of the Corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot. At all meetings of stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect. All other elections and questions presented to the stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of the Corporation which are present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon.
Section 1.8. Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.
(A) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.
(B) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such other action. If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 1.9. List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of meeting or (ii) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 1.9 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
Section 1.10. Action by Written or Electronic Consent of Stockholders. Any action which is required to be or may be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice to stockholders and without a vote if consents in writing or by electronic communication, setting forth the action so taken, shall have been signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or to take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
Section 1.11. Inspectors of Election. The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. In the event that no inspector so appointed or designated is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (ii) determine the shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and such inspectors count of all votes and ballots. Such certification and report shall specify such other information as may be required by law. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.
Section 1.12. Conduct of Meetings. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the person presiding over the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the person
presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the presiding person of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the presiding person of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The presiding person at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
Section 1.13. Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.
(A) Annual Meetings of Stockholders. (1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (a) pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time the notice provided for in this Section 1.13 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.13.
(2) For any nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph (A)(1) of this Section 1.13, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and any such proposed business (other than the nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors) must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholders notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day, nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or if the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation). In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above. Such stockholders notice shall set forth: (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (i) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) such persons written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (b) as to any other business that
the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporations books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal between or among such stockholder and/or such beneficial owner, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, including, in the case of a nomination, the nominee, (iv) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholders notice by, or on behalf of, such stockholder and such beneficial owners, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of capital stock of the Corporation, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or such beneficial owner, with respect to securities of the Corporation, (v) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (vi) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (a) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporations outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (b) otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination, and (vii) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 1.13 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business other than a nomination if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholders proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as the Corporation may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 1.13 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation at the annual meeting is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 1.13 and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, a stockholders notice required by this Section 1.13 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(B) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 1.13 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.13. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporations notice of meeting, if the stockholders notice required by paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 1.13 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above.
(C) General. (1) Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.13 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.13. Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty (a) to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.13 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such stockholders nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholders representation as required by clause (A)(2)(c)(vi) of this Section 1.13) and (b) if any proposed nomination or business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 1.13, to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.13, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 1.13, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.
(2) For purposes of this Section 1.13, public announcement shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or other national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.13, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.13; provided however, that any references in these bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 1.13 (including paragraphs (A)(1)(c) and (B) hereof), and compliance with paragraphs (A)(1)(c) and (B) of this Section 1.13 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than, as provided in the penultimate sentence of (A)(2), business other than nominations brought properly under and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, as may be amended from time to time). Nothing in this Section 1.13 shall be deemed to affect any rights (a) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals or nominations in the Corporations proxy statement pursuant to applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act or (b) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.
ARTICLE II
Board of Directors
Section 2.1. Number; Qualifications. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall consist of one or more members, the number thereof to be determined from time to time by resolution of the Whole Board. Directors need not be stockholders.
Section 2.2. Election; Resignation; Vacancies. The Board of Directors shall initially consist of the persons named as directors in the Certificate of Incorporation or elected by the incorporator of the Corporation, and each director so elected shall hold office until the first annual meeting of stockholders or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. At the first annual meeting of stockholders and at each annual meeting thereafter, the stockholders shall elect directors each of whom shall hold office for a term of one year or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, subject to such directors earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect when such notice is given unless the notice specifies (a) a later effective date, or (b) an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events, such as the failure to receive the required vote for reelection as a director and the acceptance of such resignation by the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, any newly created directorship or any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors for any cause may be filled only by a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors, although such majority is less than a quorum, and each director so elected shall hold office until the expiration of the term of office of the director whom he or she has replaced or until his or her successor is elected and qualified.
Section 2.3. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places within or without the State of Delaware and at such times as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 2.4. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time or place within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary, or by any two members of the Board of Directors. Notice of a special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given by the person or persons calling the meeting at least twenty-four hours before the special meeting.
Section 2.5. Telephonic Meetings Permitted. Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this by-law shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.6. Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the Board of Directors the directors entitled to cast a majority of the votes of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except in cases in which the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws or applicable law otherwise provides, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 2.7. Organization. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or, in his or her absence, by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 2.8. Action by Unanimous Consent of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee in accordance with applicable law.
Section 2.9. Chairman of the Board and Vice-Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors may elect one or more of its members to serve as Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Board and may fill any vacancy in such position at such time and in such manner as the Board of Directors shall determine. The Chairman of the Board, if any, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he or she is present and shall perform such duties and possess such powers as are designated by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors appoints a Vice-Chairman of the Board, he or she shall, in the absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chairman of the Board and shall perform such other duties and possess such other powers as may from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors. The fact that a person serves as either Chairman of Vice-Chairman of the Board shall not make such person considered an Officer of the Corporation.
Section 2.10. Compensation of Directors. If the Corporation is admitted to the official list of ASX Limited (ASX), this Section 2.10 shall apply. Directors may receive, pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, fees and other compensation for their services as directors, including without limitation their services as members of committees of the Board of Directors. The maximum aggregate annual cash fee pool from which non-executive directors may be paid for their service as a member of the Board of Directors, exclusive of expense reimbursement, genuine special exertion fees paid in accordance with these bylaws and equity grants, shall not exceed A$450,000 (or such larger sum as may be approved by the Stockholders at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders).
ARTICLE III
Committees
Section 3.1. Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the
committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.
Section 3.2. Committee Rules. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 4.1 Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, which may include, without limitation, one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries or Assistant Treasurers. Each of the Corporations officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors, each to have such authority, functions or duties as set forth in these bylaws or as determined by the Board of Directors. Each officer shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors and until such persons successor shall have been duly chosen and qualified, or until such persons earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal.
Section 4.2 Removal, Resignation and Vacancies. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors, without prejudice to the rights, if any, of such officer under any contract to which it is a party. Any officer may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect when such notice is given unless the notice specifies (a) a later effective date, or (b) an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events, such as the failure to receive the required vote for reelection as a director and the acceptance of such resignation by the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. If any vacancy occurs in any office of the Corporation, the Board of Directors may elect a successor to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term and until a successor shall have been duly chosen and qualified.
Section 4.3 Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general supervision and direction of the business and affairs of the Corporation, shall be responsible for corporate policy and strategy, and shall report directly to the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise provided in these bylaws, all other officers of the Corporation shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer or as otherwise determined by the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall, if present and in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, preside at meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors.
Section 4.4 President. The President shall be the chief operating officer of the Corporation, with general responsibility for the management and control of the operations of the Corporation. The President shall have the power to affix the signature of the Corporation to all contracts that have been authorized by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. The President shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. In the absence of a separately appointed President, the Chief Executive Officer shall be the President.
Section 4.5 Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall exercise all the powers and perform the duties of the office of the chief financial officer and in general have overall supervision of the financial operations of the Corporation and shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Corporation, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital retained earnings, and shares. The Chief Financial Officer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. In the absence of a separately appointed Treasurer, the Chief Financial Officer shall be the Treasurer.
Section 4.6 Vice Presidents. The Vice President shall have such powers and duties as shall be prescribed by his or her superior officer or the Chief Executive Officer. A Vice President shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 4.7 Treasurer. The Treasurer shall supervise and be responsible for all the funds and securities of the Corporation, the deposit of all moneys and other valuables to the credit of the Corporation in depositories of the Corporation, borrowings and compliance with the provisions of all indentures, agreements and instruments governing such borrowings to which the Corporation is a party, the disbursement of funds of the Corporation and the investment of its funds, and in general shall perform all of the duties incident to the office of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 4.8 Secretary. The powers and duties of the Secretary are to: (i) act as Secretary at all meetings of the Board of Directors, of the committees of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders and to record the proceedings of such meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose; (ii) see that all notices required to be given by the Corporation are duly given and served; (iii) act as custodian of the seal of the Corporation and affix the seal or cause it to be affixed to all certificates of stock of the Corporation and to all documents, the execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is duly authorized in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws; (iv) have charge of the books, records and papers of the Corporation and see that the reports, statements and other documents required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and (v) perform all of the duties incident to the office of Secretary. The Secretary shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 4.9 Additional Matters. The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation shall have the authority to designate employees of the Corporation to have the title of Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary. Any employee so designated shall have the powers and duties determined by the officer making such designation. The persons upon whom such titles are conferred shall not be deemed officers of the Corporation unless elected by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.10 Execution of Contracts and Instruments. All contracts, deeds, mortgages, bonds, certificates, checks, drafts, bills of exchange, notes and other instruments or documents to be executed by or in the name of the Corporation shall be signed on the corporations behalf by such officer or officers, or other
person or persons, as may be so authorized (i) by the Board of Directors, or (ii) subject to such limitations, if any, as the Board of Directors may impose, by the Chief Executive Officer. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances and, if the Board of Directors or Chief Executive Officer (whichever grants authority) so authorizes or otherwise directs, may be delegated by the authorized officers to other persons. Unless otherwise provided in such resolution, any resolution of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof authorizing the Corporation to enter into any such instruments or documents or authorizing their execution by or on behalf of the Corporation shall be deemed to authorize the execution thereof on its behalf by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President (an Authorized Officer). Furthermore, each Authorized Officer shall be authorized to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation in matters arising in the ordinary course of the Corporations business and to the extent incident to the normal performance of such Authorized Officers duties.
ARTICLE V
Stock
Section 5.1. Certificates. The shares of the Corporation may be certificated or uncertificated in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law, and shall be entered in the books of the Corporation and registered as they are issued. The issue of shares in uncertificated form shall not affect shares represented by a certificate until the certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Any certificates representing shares of the Corporations stock shall be in such form as may be prescribed by law and by the Board of Directors, certifying the number and class of shares owned by such stockholder in the Corporation. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by any two authorized officers of the Corporation certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation. Any of or all the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue.
Section 5.2. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates. The Corporation may issue (i) a new certificate of stock or (ii) uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owners legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.
ARTICLE VI
Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses
Section 6.1. Right to Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (a Covered Person) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a proceeding), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys fees) reasonably incurred by such Covered Person. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.3, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Covered Person only if the commencement of such proceeding (or part thereof) by the Covered Person was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
Section 6.2. Prepayment of Expenses. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that, to the extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VI or otherwise.
Section 6.3. Claims. If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Article VI is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a written claim therefor by the Covered Person has been received by the Corporation, the Covered Person may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.
Section 6.4. Nonexclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such Covered Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 6.5. Other Sources. The Corporations obligation, if any, to indemnify or to advance expenses to any Covered Person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such Covered Person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.
Section 6.6. Amendment or Repeal. Any right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses of any Covered Person arising hereunder shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to or repeal of these bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought.
Section 6.7. Other Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. This Article VI shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Covered Persons when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous
Section 7.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 7.2. Seal. The corporate seal shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 7.3. Method of Notice. Whenever notice is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws to be given by the Corporation to any director, committee member or stockholder, personal notice shall not be required and any such notice may be given in writing (a) by mail, addressed to such director, committee member or stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the books of the Corporation, or (b) by any other method permitted by law (including, but not limited to, overnight courier service, facsimile, electronic mail or other means of electronic transmission) directed to the addressee at his, her or its address most recently provided to the Corporation. Any notice given by the Corporation by mail shall be deemed to have been given at the time when deposited in the United States mail. Any notice given by the Corporation by overnight courier service shall be deemed to have been given when delivered to such service. Any notice given by the Corporation by facsimile, electronic mail or other means of electronic transmission that generally can be accessed by or on behalf of the receiving party at substantially the same time as it is transmitted shall be deemed to have been given when transmitted, unless the Corporation receives a prompt reply that such transmission is undeliverable to the address to which it was directed.
Section 7.4. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the statutes or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
Section 7.5. Form of Records. Any records maintained by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device or method, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time.
Section 7.6. Amendment of Bylaws. Subject to any additional votes set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by the stockholders or by the Board of Directors.
Section 7.7. Registered Stockholders. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.
Section 7.8. Facsimile Signature. In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.
Section 7.9. ASX Listing. If the Corporation is admitted to the official list of ASX, the following clauses apply:
(A) Notwithstanding anything contained in these Bylaws, if the Listing Rules of ASX and any other rules of ASX which are applicable while the Corporation is admitted to the official list of ASX, each as amended or replaced from time to time, except to the extent of any express waiver by ASX (Listing Rules), prohibit an act being done, the act shall not be done.
(B) Nothing contained in these Bylaws prevents an act being done that the Listing Rules require to be done.
(C) If the Listing Rules require an act to be done or not to be done, authority is given for that act to be done or not to be done (as the case may be).
(D) If the Listing Rules require these Bylaws to contain a provision and they do not contain such a provision, these Bylaws are deemed to contain that provision.
(E) If the Listing Rules require these Bylaws not to contain a provision and they contain such a provision, these Bylaws are deemed not to contain that provision.
(F) If any provision of these Bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with the Listing Rules, these Bylaws are deemed not to contain that provision to the extent of the inconsistency.
Exhibit 4.1 |
ZQ|CERT#|COY|CLS|RGSTRY|ACCT#|TRANSTYPE|RUN#|TRANS# COMMON STOCK COMMON STOCK PO PAR VALUE $0.0001 MR ADD ADD ADD ADD 432 1 A BOX DESIGNATION SAMPLE Certificate Shares 505006, Number * * 000000 ****************** (IF * * * 000000 ***************** ANY) ZQ00000000 **** 000000 **************** Louisville, AVITA THERAPEUTICS, INC. ***** 000000 *************** KY ****** 000000 ************** INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE ** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS 40233 **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David - THIS CERTIFIES THAT Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr MR . Alexander.David SAMPLE Sample **** Mr. Alexander David &Sample MRS **** Mr. Alexander . SAMPLE David Sample **** Mr. Alexander & David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** CUSIP 05380C 10 2 5006 Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander MR David Sample . SAMPLE **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** &Mr . Alexander MRS David Sample . SAMPLE **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Sample **** Mr. Sample is the owner of **000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares*** *000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares**** 000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****0 THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE IN 00000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****00 ***ZERO HUNDRED THOUSAND 0000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000 CITIES DESIGNATED BY THE TRANSFER 000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****0000 AGENT, AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 00**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****00000 0**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000 ZERO HUNDRED AND ZERO*** www.computershare.com **Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000* *Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000** Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**S FULLY-PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF Avita Therapeutics, Inc. (hereinafter called the Company), transferable on the books of the Company in Total DTC person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate and Holder the shares represented hereby, are issued and shall be held subject to all of the provisions of the Certificate of Number Certificateof Insurance ID Incorporation, as amended, and the By-Laws, as amended, of the Company (copies of which are on file with the Value Company and with the Transfer Agent), to all of which each holder, by acceptance hereof, assents. This Transaction Shares CUSIP/IDENTIFIER Certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. Numbers 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 Witness the facsimile seal of the Company and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers. DATED DD-MMM-YYYY RAPEU 6 5 4 3 2 1 E T COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED: 12345678 H I POR C T R A COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A. CO TE S Num/No . A ,I I T N TRANSFERAGENT AND REGISTRAR, V C CFO A . 6 5 4 3 2 1 Denom 4/17/2020 . XXXXXX DEL RE 1,000,000 AWA 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 . XX Total 123456789012345 123456 00 XXXXXXXXXX X By General Counsel and Secretary AUTHORIZE DSIGNATURE SEAL
AVITA THERAPEUTICS, INC. THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS, A SUMMARY OF THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OF THE COMPANY AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS, AND THE VARIATIONS IN RIGHTS, PREFERENCES AND LIMITATIONS DETERMINED FOR EACH SERIES, WHICH ARE FIXED BY THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE COMPANY, AS AMENDED, AND THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY, AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO DETERMINE VARIATIONS FOR FUTURE SERIES. SUCH REQUEST MAY BE MADE TO THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY OR TO THE TRANSFER AGENT. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY REQUIRE THE OWNER OF A LOST OR DESTROYED STOCK CERTIFICATE, OR HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES, TO GIVE THE COMPANY A BOND TO INDEMNIFY IT AND ITS TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS AGAINST ANY CLAIM THAT MAY BE MADE AGAINST THEM ON ACCOUNT OF THE ALLEGED LOSS OR DESTRUCTION OF ANY SUCH CERTIFICATE. The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COMas tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -.Custodian (Cust) (Minor) TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (State) JT TEN as joint tenants with right of survivorship UNIFTRF MIN ACT -Custodian (until age)(Minor) (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE For value received, hereby sell, assign and transfer unto (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE) Shares of the Common Stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within-named Company with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated: 20 Signature(s) Guaranteed: Medallion Guarantee Stamp THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (Banks, Stockbrokers, Savings and Loan Associations and Credit Unions) WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15. Signature: Signature: Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate,in every particular, without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever. The IRS requires that the named transfer agent (we) report the cost basis of certain shares or units acquired after January 1, 2011. If your shares or units are covered by the legislation, and you requested to sell or transfer the shares or units using a specific cost basis calculation method, then we have processed as you requested. If you did not specify a cost basis calculation method, then we have defaulted to the first in, first out (FIFO) method. Please consult your tax advisor if you need additional information about cost basis. If you do not keep in contact with the issuer or do not have any activity in your account for the time period specified by state law, your property may become subject to state unclaimed property laws and transferred to the appropriate state.
Exhibit 10.1
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made and entered into as of [], 20__ by and between Avita Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and [](the Indemnitee).
WHEREAS, the Company believes it is essential to retain and attract qualified directors and officers;
WHEREAS, the Indemnitee is a director and/or officer of the Company;
WHEREAS, both the Company and the Indemnitee recognize the increased risk of litigation and other claims being asserted against directors and officers of public and private companies;
WHEREAS, the Companys Certificate of Incorporation (the Certificate of Incorporation) and Amended and Restated Bylaws (the Bylaws) permit the Company to indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers to the extent permitted by the DGCL (as hereinafter defined);
WHEREAS, the Indemnitee intends to serve as a director and/or officer of the Company in part in reliance on the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the Indemnitees need for (i) substantial protection against personal liability based on the Indemnitees reliance on the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, (ii) specific contractual assurance that the protection afforded by the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws will be available to the Indemnitee, regardless of, among other things, any amendment to or revocation of the Bylaws or any change in the composition of the Companys Board of Directors (the Board) or acquisition transaction relating to the Company, and (iii) an inducement to provide effective services to the Company as a director and/or officer thereof, the Company wishes to provide for the indemnification of the Indemnitee and to advance expenses to the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law and as set forth in this Agreement, and, to the extent insurance is maintained by the Company, to provide for the continued coverage of the Indemnitee under the Companys directors and officers liability insurance policies.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions.
(a) A Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if:
(i) any person, as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the Exchange Act), other than (a) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company; (b) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company; or (c) any current beneficial stockholder or group, as defined by Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, including the heirs, assigns and successors thereof, of beneficial ownership, within the meaning of
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Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, of securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Companys outstanding securities; hereafter becomes the beneficial owner, as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the total combined voting power represented by the Companys then outstanding Voting Securities;
(ii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Companys stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or
(iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the Voting Securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% of the total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of all or substantially all of the Companys assets.
(b) DGCL shall mean the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended or interpreted; provided, however, that in the case of any such amendment or interpretation, only to the extent that such amendment or interpretation permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than were permitted prior thereto.
(c) Disinterested Directors shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(d) Expense shall mean attorneys fees and all other costs, expenses and obligations paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing for any of the foregoing, any Proceeding relating to any Indemnifiable Event.
(e) Indemnifiable Event shall mean any event or occurrence that takes place after the execution of this Agreement, related to the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, or by reason of anything done or not done by the Indemnitee in any such capacity.
(f) Independent Counsel means a law firm, or a partner or member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five (5) years has been, retained to represent (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than as Independent Counsel with respect to matters concerning
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Indemnitee under this Agreement, or other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Independent Counsel shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitees rights under this Agreement.
(g) Proceeding shall mean any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, investigation or proceeding, and any appeal thereof, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and/or any inquiry or investigation, whether conducted by the Company or any other party, arising from an Indemnifiable Event.
(h) Reviewing Party shall mean (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company.
(i) Voting Securities shall mean any securities of the Company which vote generally in the election of directors.
2. Indemnification. In the event the Indemnitee was or is a party to or is involved (as a party, witness, or otherwise) in any Proceeding by reason of (or arising in part out of) an Indemnifiable Event, whether the basis of the Proceeding is the Indemnitees alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL against any and all Expenses, liability, and loss (including judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, and any interest, assessments, or other charges imposed thereon, and any federal, state, local, or foreign taxes imposed on any director or officer as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement) (collectively, Liabilities) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection with such Proceeding. A Reviewing Party shall make a determination as to Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification as soon as practical in accordance with Section 4, but in no event later than 90 calendar days after it receives a written demand for indemnification from Indemnitee and, if the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, payment shall be made by the Company within ten calendar days after a determination is made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary and except as provided in Section 5 below, the Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement (i) in connection with any Proceeding initiated by the Indemnitee against the Company or any director or officer of the Company unless the Company has joined in or consented to the initiation of such Proceeding or (ii) on account of any suit in which judgment is rendered against the Indemnitee pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act for an accounting of profits made from the purchase or sale by the Indemnitee of securities of the Company.
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3. Advancement of Expenses. The Company shall advance Expenses (an Expense Advance) incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such Expense Advance shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than thirty (30) days, after the receipt by the Company of a written statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time (which shall include invoices received by Indemnitee in connection with such Expense Advance but, in the case of invoices in connection with legal services, any references to legal work performed or to expenditure made that would cause Indemnitee to waive any privilege accorded by applicable law shall not be included with the invoice); provided, however, that if required by applicable corporate laws such Expenses shall be advanced only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company; and provided further, that the Company shall make such advances only to the extent permitted by law. Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee while not acting in his/her capacity as a director or officer, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, may be advanced upon such terms and conditions as the Board, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
4. Review Procedure for Indemnification. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the obligations of the Company under Section 2 above shall be subject to the condition that the Reviewing Party shall not have determined (in a written opinion, in any case in which Independent Counsel referred to in Section 6 hereof is the Reviewing Party) that the Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law, and (ii) the obligation of the Company to make an Expense Advance pursuant to Section 3 above shall be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that the Reviewing Party determines that the Indemnitee would not be permitted to be so indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for all such amounts theretofore paid; provided, however, that if the Indemnitee has commenced legal proceedings in the Delaware Court of Chancery pursuant to Section 5 below to secure a determination that the Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law, and determination made by the Reviewing Party that the Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law shall not be binding and the Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for an Expense Advance until a final judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or have lapsed). The Indemnitees obligation to reimburse the Company for Expense Advances pursuant to this Section 4 shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon. If there has not been a Change in Control, the Reviewing Party shall be selected by the Board, and if there has been such a Change in Control, other than a Change in Control which has been approved by a majority of the Companys Board who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control, the Reviewing Party shall be Independent Counsel referred to in Section 6 hereof.
5. Enforcement of Indemnification Rights. In the event that (i) the Reviewing Party determines that the Indemnitee substantively would not be permitted to be indemnified in whole or in part under applicable law, (ii) an Expense Advance is not made within 30 days of a request therefore pursuant to this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made within 90 calendar days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to the second to last sentence of this Section 5 within ten calendar days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement is not
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made within ten calendar days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, Indemnitee shall have the right to commence litigation in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (an Enforcement Proceeding). The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses incurred in connection with an Enforcement Proceeding and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten calendar days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, if, in the case of indemnification, Indemnitee is wholly successful on the underlying claims; if Indemnitee is not wholly successful on the underlying claims, then such indemnification shall be only to the extent Indemnitee is successful on such underlying claims. The Company hereby consents to service of process for such Enforcement Proceeding and to appear in any such Enforcement Proceeding. Any determination by the Reviewing Party otherwise shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and the Indemnitee.
6. Change in Control. The Company agrees that if there is a Change in Control of the Company, other than a Change in Control which has been approved by a majority of the Companys Board who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control, then with respect to all matters thereafter arising concerning the rights of the Indemnitee to indemnity payments and Expense Advances under this Agreement or any other agreement or under applicable law or the Companys Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws now or hereafter in effect relating to indemnification for Indemnifiable Events, the Company shall seek legal advice only from Independent Counsel selected by the Indemnitee and approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. Such Independent Counsel shall not have otherwise performed services for the Company or the Indemnitee, other than in connection with such matters, within the last five years. Such Independent Counsel shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitees rights under this Agreement. Such counsel, among other things, shall render its written opinion to the Company and the Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent the Indemnitee would be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to indemnify fully such counsel against any and all expenses (including attorneys fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the engagement of Independent Counsel pursuant to this Agreement.
7. Partial Indemnity. If the Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of the Expenses and Liabilities, but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which the Indemnitee is entitled. Moreover, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that the Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any or all Proceedings relating in whole or in part to an Indemnifiable Event or in defense of any issue or matter therein, including dismissal without prejudice, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law. In connection with any determination by the Reviewing Party or otherwise as to whether the Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder, the burden of proof shall be on the Company to establish that the Indemnitee is not so entitled.
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8. Non-exclusivity. The rights of the Indemnitee hereunder shall be in addition to any other rights the Indemnitee may have under any statute, provision of the Companys Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in an official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. To the extent that a change in the DGCL permits greater indemnification by agreement than would be afforded currently under the Companys Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that the Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.
9. Liability Insurance. To the extent the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing directors and officers liability insurance, the Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any director or officer of the Company.
10. Settlement of Claims. The Company shall not be liable to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement (a) for any amounts paid in settlement of any action or claim effected without the Companys written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; or (b) for any judicial award if the Company was not given a reasonable and timely opportunity, at its expense, to participate in the defense of such action.
11. No Presumption. For purposes of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the termination of any Proceeding, action, suit or claim, by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted by applicable law.
12. Period of Limitations. No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or on behalf of the Company or any affiliate of the Company against the Indemnitee, the Indemnitees spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of three years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, or such longer period as may be required by state law under the circumstances, and any claim or cause of action of the Company or its affiliate shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action, such shorter period shall govern.
13. Amendment of this Agreement. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver. Except as specifically provided herein, no failure to exercise or any delay in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall constitute a waiver thereof.
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14. Primacy of Indemnification. Notwithstanding that the Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by other persons (collectively, the Other Indemnitors), the Company: (i) shall be the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to the Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of the Other Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by the Indemnitee are secondary); (ii) shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by the Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all Expenses, without regard to any rights the Indemnitee may have against any of the Other Indemnitors; and (iii) irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Other Indemnitors for any and all claims against the Other Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. No advancement or payment by the Other Indemnitors on behalf of the Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which the Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the immediately preceding sentence, and the Other Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee against the Company. The Company and the Indemnitee agree that the Other Indemnitors are express third party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 14. Furthermore, the Company agrees that if an Other Indemnitor is a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, and if the Other Indemnitors involvement in such Proceeding arises solely as a result of Indemnitees service to the Company as a director of the Company, then the Other Indemnitor shall be entitled to all of the indemnification rights and remedies under this Agreement to the same extent as Indemnitee.
15. Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee (other than against the Other Indemnitors), who shall execute all papers required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.
16. No Duplication of Payments. Except as otherwise set forth in Section 14 above, the Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee to the extent the Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment (under any insurance policy, Bylaw, vote, agreement or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.
17. Duration. This Agreement shall continue until and terminate ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director of the Company unless a Proceeding is then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder, in which case, this Agreement shall not terminate until the conclusion of any such Proceeding and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement relating thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnitee agrees to consider in good faith the terms of any form of indemnification agreement approved by a majority of the members of the Board as a form of indemnification agreement for all of the members of the Board and to consent to the termination of this Agreement if the terms of such form of agreement are no less favorable in the aggregate than the terms of this Agreement and are otherwise acceptable to Indemnitee when considered in good faith by Indemnitee.
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18. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, spouses, heirs, and personal and legal representatives. The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all, or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether the Indemnitee continues to serve as a director or officer of the Company or of any other enterprise at the Companys request.
19. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within a single section, paragraph or sentence) is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, and the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Furthermore, to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of this Agreement containing any provision held to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, void or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
20. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed in such State without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws.
21. Consent to Jurisdiction. The Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (the Delaware Court), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (c) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court and (d) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.
22. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
23. Notices. All notices, demands, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand, against receipt, or mailed, postage prepaid, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, and addressed to the Company at:
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and to the Indemnitee at:
Notice of change of address shall be effective only when done in accordance with this Section. All notices complying with this Section shall be deemed to have been received on the date of delivery or on the third business day after mailing.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed and delivered this Agreement as of the day first set forth above.
THE COMPANY: | ||
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: |
INDEMNITEE: | ||
Signature |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT]
Exhibit 14.1
CODE OF ETHICS AND BUSINESS CONDUCT
AVITA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Adopted June ____, 2020
Commitment to Compliance
This Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (this Code) applies to all directors, officers and employees of Avita Therapeutics, Inc., and its subsidiaries and affiliates (AVITA, or the Company) (who unless otherwise specified, will be referred to jointly as employees). The purpose of this Code is to set forth AVITAs commitment to high moral and ethical standards of business conduct. Each employee is expected to know and follow the principles set forth in this Code to help ensure the business of AVITA is conducted with integrity and in compliance with the law. Several provisions in this Code refer to more detailed policies that either (1) concern more complex Company policies or legal provisions or (2) apply to select groups of individuals within the Company. If these detailed policies are applicable to you, it is important that you read, understand, and be able to comply with them. If you have questions as to whether any detailed policies apply to you, contact your immediate supervisor or our General Counsel.
This Code has been prepared so that employees will have available a clear statement of the Companys general policies and principles concerning business conduct and ethics. However, no code or set of values can address every ethical choice faced in business, and no oversight group can ensure complete compliance. Therefore, employees are expected to use good common sense and judgment in your personal conduct. When you are uncertain about any situation, are confused as to what actions you should take in a given situation, or wish to report a violation of the law or this Code, you must ask for guidance and you must do so in a timely manner. This Code provides you with several options for seeking guidance, which are explained in the Obtaining Help and Violations Reporting section of this Code.
At commencement of employment, and annually thereafter, each employee shall sign the Personal Commitment, Acknowledgement and Disclosure Form (see Appendix A), to indicate they have received, read, understand and agree to comply with the Code.
Corporate Governance and Internal Controls
The Company believes that effective corporate governance begins with a strong Board of Directors and a management team committed to living up to high standards of ethical behavior. These principles set the tone and create the environment to help assure that management and all employees of the Company do the right things for the right reasons. In addition, the Company must maintain an effective system of internal controls. We have developed a system of internal controls and reporting mechanisms designed to protect the assets and operations of the Company and to provide management and the Board with accurate, honest and timely information. Employees are required to live up to the letter and spirit of our system of internal controls, and to cooperate fully with any audit or investigation.
Responsibility to the Company and its Stockholders
Protecting Company Assets
The Companys assets are meant for Company, not personal, use. Company assets include your time at work and work product, as well as the Companys equipment and vehicles, computers and software, company provided cell phones, company information, trademarks and names. You must protect the Companys assets from loss, damage, misuse, theft and waste and ensure their efficient use. If you become aware of theft, waste or misuse of our assets or funds or have any questions about your proper use of them, you should promptly report that concern as set forth in the Obtaining Help and Reporting Illegal or Unethical Behavior section of this Code. You must have permission from your supervisor before you use any Company asset outside of your job responsibilities.
Business and Financial Records
It is the policy of the Company to maintain books, records and accounts that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the authorized transactions of the Company. To that end, no undisclosed or unrecorded fund or asset shall be established for any purpose. No false or artificial entries shall be made in the books and records of the Company for any reason, and no employee shall engage in any arrangement that results in any such entry. The policy of accurate and fair recording also applies to an employees maintenance of time reports, expense accounts and other personal Company records. In addition, all sales reports, production records, sales orders and similar business records must be valid, accurate and complete.
Integrity in every aspect of the way the Company is managed is a key element in the Companys corporate culture. No employee may compromise the integrity of the Companys records, even if such action is based upon a sincere belief that such action might actually help the Company improve its financial performance. Falsifying records or keeping unrecorded funds and assets is a severe offense and may result in prosecution or loss of employment. If you have a concern regarding the Companys accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, you should promptly report that concern as set forth in the Obtaining Help and Reporting Illegal or Unethical Behavior section of this Code.
The Companys Records Management Policy establishes what records will be maintained and the length of time such records shall be maintained. You must not destroy or alter any documents or records (including informal data such as e-mail, expense reports and internal memos) in response to any investigation, suspected investigation or lawful request.
Full, Fair and Accurate Disclosure
Information derived from our records is provided to our stockholders and investors as well as government agencies. Thus, our accounting records must conform not only to our internal control and disclosure procedures but also to generally accepted accounting principles and other laws and regulations, such as those of the Internal Revenue Service. It is the Companys policy that all public communications made by the Company, be full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable.
Confidential and Proprietary Information
The Companys success is largely dependent upon the strict adherence by employees to the Companys policy regarding confidential and proprietary information. Confidential or proprietary information includes all non-public information about the Company and its operations that might be of use to competitors or harmful to the Company. It may include, for example, the Companys proprietary technical information, strategic business plans (including proposed acquisitions or divestitures), customers, suppliers, financial information, capitalization or contracts.
You must maintain the confidentiality of this information, except where disclosure is authorized or legally mandated. Proprietary information should be marked accordingly and kept secure. Employees must not, without proper authority, give or release to anyone not employed by the Company or to another employee who has no need for the information, data or information of a confidential or proprietary nature concerning the Company. When an appropriately authorized employee provides confidential or proprietary information to a third party, the employee must ensure that confidentiality terms are included in a confidentiality agreement between the Company and that third party. If you have questions about the confidentiality of information or the need for a confidentiality agreement, seek advice from our General Counsel.
Protecting the confidential and personal information of our employees and our customers is also of great importance. Anyone who handles such information should take great care in doing so. Additionally, you should never try to persuade others to violate the confidentiality of other companies. Your responsibility to preserve confidential information continues even after your employment with the Company ends. Any employee who suspects that the Companys confidential or proprietary information is being disclosed must immediately report this suspicion. See the Obtaining Help and Reporting Illegal or Unethical Behavior section of this Code for further guidance.
Public Communications
The Company has specific policies regarding who can communicate information to the press and the financial analyst community. All inquiries or calls from the press should be referred to our Chief Financial Officer. If you receive any calls from financial analysts, the financial press or others in the financial community, you should refer the inquiries to our Chief Financial Officer. Unless you are expressly authorized otherwise by our Chief Financial Officer or Chief Executive Officer, these designees are the only individuals who may communicate with the press and the financial analyst community.
We must all be sensitive to the impact of comments made over the Internet through social media platforms and other public forums such as chat rooms and bulletin boards. Additionally, you should not make any public comments, including on the Internet, electronic bulletin boards, social networking sites, or otherwise, regarding the Company, including comments about our products, stock performance, operational strategies, financial results, customers or competitors, even in response to a false statement or question. Under no circumstances will comments of a critical or defamatory nature regarding the Company, its employees, customers or vendors be posted on the Internet or social media platforms or made in an otherwise public manner. This applies whether you are at work or away from the office. The Company owns all e-mail messages that are sent from or received through the Companys systems. We may monitor your messages and may be required to disclose them in the case of litigation or governmental inquiry.
Insider Trading and Securities Dealing Policy
Buying or selling securities while possessing material nonpublic information or disclosing such information to others who may trade on the basis of that information is prohibited by federal, state and foreign laws. You must comply with the Companys Insider Trading and Securities Dealing Policy, which has been separately provided to you. You may obtain another copy of, and ask questions regarding, the Insider Trading and Securities Dealing policy by contacting our General Counsel.
Conflicts of Interest
A conflict of interest occurs when a persons private interests conflict, or appear to conflict, with the interests of the Company. Each employee must avoid any investment, interest or association that interferes with the independent exercise of judgment in the Companys best interest.
A conflict situation can arise when a person takes actions or has interests that make it difficult to perform his or her Company work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise when an employee or a member of an employees family receives improper personal benefits as a result of that employees position with the Company. Put more simply, when our loyalty to the Company is affected by actual or potential benefit or influence from an outside source, a conflict of interest exists.
Prompt and full disclosure is always the correct first step towards solving any potential conflict of interest problem. If a person perceives even the potential for a conflict of interest, the personal interests or other circumstances that might constitute such a conflict of interest are to be reported promptly to our Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel and that person must excuse himself or herself from participating in decisions or negotiations involving the possible conflict. Our Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel will arrange for resolution that respects the persons private life and protects the Companys own interests in an effective manner when an employee confronts a possible conflict of interest. Any activity that is approved, despite the actual or apparent conflict, must be documented. A potential conflict of interest involving a related-person transaction must be submitted to and pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
Gifts and Entertainment
The exchange of gifts and entertainment is a common practice in business and can help the Company build better relationships with customers, vendors and others. However, giving or accepting valuable gifts or entertainment might be construed as an improper attempt to influence the relationship. It is permissible to provide and receive gifts of nominal value and reasonable business entertainment (including traditional promotional events), in each case so long as what is provided or received is consistent with customary business practice, cannot be construed as a bribe or payoff and is not in violation of applicable law. Gifts and entertainment should support the legitimate business interests of the Company and should be appropriate under the circumstances. You should never encourage or solicit gifts, meals, hospitality or entertainment from anyone with
whom the Company does business or from anyone who desires to do business with the Company. A gift or favor should not be accepted or given if it might create a sense of obligation, compromise your professional judgment, could influence or be perceived to influence business decisions or would embarrass the Company or the people involved if publicly disclosed. Misunderstandings can usually be avoided by conduct that makes clear that the Company conducts business on an ethical basis and will not seek or grant special considerations.
Gifts, entertainment, hospitality and the like can amount to bribes depending on the specific facts and circumstances involved. Also, special rules apply when dealing with government employees and officials. Therefore, the prohibitions described in the section of this Code entitled Responsibility to Government and the LawAnticorruption Laws applies to gifts, entertainment and provisions of hospitality.
If you are not sure whether a specific gift, entertainment or hospitality is permissible, or if the proposed recipient is a public official, before doing anything contact our General Counsel.
Corporate Opportunities
Employees owe a duty to the Company to advance its legitimate interests when the opportunity to do so arises. Therefore, employees are prohibited from taking for themselves personally opportunities that properly belong to the Company or from using Company property for personal gain.
For example:
1) | You learn about an opportunity for AVITA, you are expected to share it with AVITA, rather than taking personal advantage of the opportunity for yourself. |
2) | You should not use Company property, information, or your position with the Company to benefit yourself, financially or in any other way. |
3) | Do not get involved with or start an outside business that competes with AVITA while you are still an employee of AVITA. |
If an employee would like to pursue an opportunity that they learned about while working at AVITA, the employee must first bring that opportunity to the Company for consideration. The employee may proceed only after receiving written approval from the General Counsel.
Responsibility to Others
Customers
Each employee has important responsibilities to the Companys customers. While some employees are closer to customers than others, every employee should think in terms of how the Companys customers feel about how it conducts business, and you should act accordingly. Customers depend on you to be true to your word. Nothing undermines the Companys reputation faster than misrepresenting itself. Simply put, those who do business with the Company deserve honest, accurate and clear communication. They also deserve and need to know that the Company keeps its promises. Equally, customers and suppliers need to be aware of the Companys standards and expectations regarding ethics and business integrity, and should be encouraged to help uphold them.
Communities
The Company is privileged to do business in many communities around the country, and must act responsibly in those communities. This means conducting operations with professional care.
Fair Dealing
The Company is committed to dealing fairly with its customers, suppliers, competitors and employees. No employee may take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of confidential information, misrepresentation of material facts, fraud or other unfair dealing practice. The Company will compete for business aggressively and honestly. You must not make false or misleading claims about the Companys products or services, nor should you do so about the products and services of the Companys competitors.
The Company believes in doing business with those who embrace and demonstrate high standards of business conduct. The Company will not look favorably on customers or suppliers that have a history of violating the law, including environmental, employment or safety laws. Those that knowingly seek to have Company employees violate this Code will be subject to appropriate sanctions, including the possible cancellation of all current and future business.
Purchasing Practices
The Companys policy is to purchase all goods and services on the basis of price, quality, availability, terms and service, and in accordance with managements authorization. All purchasing decisions will be based on the value realized by the Company and in alignment with its business standards and goals. Agreements should be written and set forth expectations for all parties.
Responsibility to Government and the Law
Compliance with Applicable Laws and Regulations
While the Company is involved in highly competitive business activities and hence must compete vigorously for market share and the maximization of profits, the Company must also do so in compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to its activities. No employee may at any time take any action on behalf of the Company that he or she knows, or has reason to suspect, violates any applicable law or regulation. Although this Code and other Company policies and procedures may not address a specific law, regulation or compliance situation, ignorance is not an acceptable excuse for non-compliance. The Companys strict compliance policy extends, therefore, not just to those areas set forth below and elsewhere in this Code, but also to all other applicable laws and regulations. It is your responsibility to know and follow the law and conduct yourself in an ethical manner. It is also your responsibility to report any violations of the law or this Code. You may report such violations by following the compliance procedures contained in the section of this Code entitled Obtaining Help and Reporting Illegal or Unethical Behavior. If you have any hesitation or question about the legality of a situation, you must contact our General Counsel immediately for further guidance.
Antitrust and Fair Competition
Antitrust laws are designed to ensure a fair and competitive marketplace by prohibiting various types of anticompetitive behavior. It is the Companys policy and the responsibility of each employee to comply with the federal and state antitrust laws. Employees must avoid price fixing, customer and market allocations, bid rigging and other arrangements with competitors that are unlawful per se, and they may never exchange sensitive business information with competitors. Unless the information is publicly available, employees should avoid discussing the following subjects with any competitor: prices, terms or conditions of sale; credit terms, discounts, profits, profit margins or costs; shares of the market; distribution practices; bids on contracts or jobs; sales territories; selections, rejections or terminations of customers; or any other matters where an agreement with a competitor would be inconsistent with the complete freedom of action of the Company in the conduct of its business. Representatives of the Company must never engage in competitive conduct that cannot be justified by sound business considerations wholly apart from its effect on any injured competitor. If you are unsure whether a contemplated action might violate any of the antitrust laws, you must review it with our General Counsel prior to implementation.
Tax Laws
It is the policy of the Company to obey local, state and federal tax laws. No employee should on behalf of the Company enter into any transaction that the employee knows or has reason to suspect would violate such laws.
Anti-Corruption Laws and Bribery
No employee may make any bribe, kickback or other improper payment on his or her own behalf or on behalf of the Company in connection with any of its business. This includes secret commissions (i.e. payments to influence a third party) and facilitation payments (i.e. payments to expedite or secure performance of a routine government action which a government official is already bound to perform).
Conducting business with governments is not the same as conducting business with private parties. What may be considered an acceptable practice in the private business sector may be improper or illegal when dealing with government officials. Improper or illegal payments to government officials are prohibited. Government officials includes employees of any government anywhere in the world, even low-ranking employees or employees of government-controlled entities, as well as political parties and candidates for political office. If you deal with such persons or entities, you should consult with our Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel to be sure that you understand these laws before providing anything of value to a government official.
If you are involved in transactions with foreign government officials, you must comply not only with the laws of the country with which you are involved but also with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. This act makes it illegal to pay, or promise to pay money or anything of value to any non-U.S. government official for the purpose of directly or indirectly obtaining or retaining business. This ban on illegal payments and bribes also applies to agents or intermediaries who use funds for purposes prohibited by the statute.
Acts of bribery and corruption may well result in persons being personally liable and exposed to criminal and civil liability.
This covers not only cash payments, but also provisions of anything else of value. See the section of this Code entitled Gifts and Entertainment.
Economic Sanctions and Boycotts
The United States, European Union member states and many other jurisdictions implement economic sanctions measures against foreign countries, individuals and entities for a variety of foreign policy and national security objectives. Some of these sanctions measures are comprehensive banning all trade with a country. Other sanctions programs are selective, prohibiting some, but not all activity with a particular country, such as import/export bans, restrictions on financial transactions, asset blocks, and sector-specific trade restrictions. Finally, some sanctions programs target persons or entities who have been designated as fronts for embargoed countries or who are believed to be engaged in activities of security or foreign policy concern, including terrorism, narcotics trafficking, weapons proliferation and destabilization activities.
Many countries and jurisdictions have also enacted countermeasures to block the application of unsanctioned foreign boycotts within their own jurisdictions or by their nationals. These measures generally prohibit nationals from refusing to do business with another country in furtherance of an unsanctioned foreign extraterritorial boycott program and may impose reporting requirements on certain demands and activities relating to the attempts to implement unsanctioned foreign extraterritorial boycotts.
All employees are expected to follow internal procedures applicable to economic sanctions and boycott-related matters.
Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing
Money laundering is the process by which criminal funds are moved through the financial system in order to hide all traces of their criminal origins such that the funds appear legitimate. Terrorist financing refers to the destination and use of funds that may come from legitimate or criminal sources, or a combination of the two. Laws in the United States and other jurisdictions criminalize money laundering and certain failures to report and detect financial crimes. In general, U.S. law and the laws of other jurisdictions prohibit knowing participation in any transaction involving the proceeds of illegal activity. All employees must fully comply with all applicable anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism laws.
Employees should be vigilant and exercise good judgment when dealing with unusual customer transactions. Alert your supervisor or our General Counsel to any situation that seems to you to be inappropriate or suspicious. Do not alert the customer to your suspicions, but ask whatever questions are necessary to understand the customers identity, source of funds and reasons for the transaction. Do not discuss your suspicions with third parties unless directed to do so by your supervisor after consultation with our General Counsel. If you have questions or concerns, contact your supervisor or our General Counsel.
Political and Charitable Activities
Political activities must be conducted on your own time and using your own resources. Political contributions by corporations in federal elections, whether by direct or indirect use of corporate funds or resources, are unlawful. While the limitations on political contributions by corporations in state elections vary from state to state, it is the Companys policy not to make any political contributions in such elections except with the prior approval of our Chief Financial Officer. While individual participation in the political process and in campaign contributions is proper and is encouraged by the Company, an employees participation and involvement must be at their own time and expense unless state law requires otherwise. Similarly, an employees contribution must not be made, or even appear to be made, with the Companys funds, or be reimbursed from the Companys funds, nor should the selection of a candidate or of a party be, or seem to be, coerced by the Company. Company employees are prohibited from using their positions to induce, coerce or in any way influence any person (including subordinates) to contribute time or money to any political party, to the campaign of any candidate for office or to any charitable activity.
We realize how important it is to contribute to the communities in which we operate. We support many initiatives and programs that benefit our communities and encourage you to be charitable and volunteer your time to worthwhile endeavors. However, you should not engage in any charitable activities as a representative of the Company unless previously approved by our General Counsel.
Equal Employment Opportunity and Anti-Harassment
We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all our employees and will not tolerate any speech or conduct that is intended to, or has the effect of, discriminating against or harassing any qualified applicant or employee because of his or her race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment by anyone managers, supervisors, co-workers, vendors or our customers. This policy extends to every phase of the employment process, including: recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline and termination, layoffs, recalls, and Company-sponsored educational, social and recreational programs, as applicable. If you observe conduct that you believe is discriminatory or harassing, or if you feel you have been the victim of discrimination or harassment, you should notify the Vice President of Human Resources or our General Counsel immediately.
Not only do we forbid unlawful discrimination, we take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.
The Human Resources Department has been assigned specific responsibilities for implementing and monitoring affirmative action and other equal opportunity programs. One of the tenants of this Code, however, is that all employees are accountable for promoting equal opportunity practices within the Company. We must do this not just because it is the law, but because it is the right thing to do.
We will not retaliate against any employee for filing a good faith complaint under our anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies or for cooperating in an investigation and will not tolerate or permit retaliation by management, employees or co-workers. To the fullest extent possible, the Company will keep complaints and the terms of their resolution confidential. If an investigation confirms harassment or discrimination has occurred, the Company will take corrective action against the offending individual, including such discipline up to and including immediate termination of employment, as appropriate.
Diversity
The Company is committed to establishing measurable objectives for achieving gender diversity and to reviewing, at least annually, the measurable objectives for achieving gender diversity in the composition of its Board, senior executives and workforce generally, and the Companys progress in achieving them.
Where any such measurable objectives have been established by the Board, then the Board will disclose these measurable objectives and the Companys progress towards achieving those objectives in its annual reporting.
The Company currently has several different policies in place to recognize and support gender diversity. This Code of Ethics and Business Conduct sets out the Companys commitment to equal employment opportunities and anti-harassment in the workplace. The Companys Equal Employment Opportunity Policy, which forms part of the Companys Employee Handbook, also sets out the Companys formal policies against unlawful discrimination and how grievances may be escalated and addressed.
The Company has established a Nominating and Governance Committee which is responsible for making recommendations to the Board relating to the appointment of Directors and the evaluation of the size, composition, function and duties of the Board (amongst other things). The Nominating and Governance Committees full responsibilities are set out in its Charter (which is available on the Companys website), and include (i) reviewing candidates qualifications for membership on the Board or a committee of the Board (including making a specific determination as to the independence of each candidate) based on the criteria approved by the Board); (ii) evaluating current Directors for re-nomination to the Board or re-appointment to any Board committee; (iii) periodically reviewing the composition of the Board and its committees in light of current challenges and the needs of the Board, the Company and each committee, and determining whether it may be appropriate to add or remove individuals after considering issues of judgment, diversity, age, skills, background and experience; and (iv) considering any other factors that are set forth in applicable corporate governance guidelines or are deemed appropriate by the Nominating and Governance Committee or the Board.
Every employee within the Companys corporate group is responsible for supporting employee diversity as well as supporting and maintaining the corporate culture, including the Companys commitment to diversity in the workplace.
Health, Safety and the Environment
The Company is committed to providing safe and healthy working conditions by following all occupational health and safety laws governing our activities.
We believe that management and each and every employee have a shared responsibility in the promotion of health and safety in the workplace. You should follow all safety laws and regulations, as well as Company safety policies and procedures. You should immediately report any accident, injury or unsafe equipment, practices or conditions.
You also have an obligation to carry out Company activities in ways that preserve and promote a clean, safe, and healthy environment. You must strictly comply with the letter and spirit of applicable environmental laws and the public policies they represent.
The consequences of failing to adhere to environmental laws and policies can be serious. The Company, as well as individuals, may be liable not only for the costs of cleaning up pollution, but also for significant civil and criminal penalties. You should make every effort to prevent violations from occurring and report any violations to your immediate supervisor or our General Counsel.
Obtaining Help and Reporting Illegal or Unethical Behavior
Questions
If you have questions about this Code or other Company policies, procedures or practices not specifically covered by this Code, you should talk to your immediate supervisor. If for any reason you are uncomfortable speaking with your immediate supervisor, please talk to another member of management. Dont put it off. Time may be of the essence in avoiding a bigger problem. You can also seek advice and counsel from the General Counsel or other members of senior management of the Company. In addition, you may confidentially and anonymously report illegal or unethical behavior as set out below.
The Companys General Counsel is Donna Shiroma and her e-mail address is dshiroma@avitamedical.com.
Reporting Illegal or Unethical Behavior
You should promptly report all actual or potential violations of this Code or other illegal or unethical behavior you observe related to the Companys business to the Companys General Counsel (c/o Avita Therapeutics, Inc., 28159 Avenue Stanford, Suite 220 Valencia, CA, 91355).
Employees should also review the Companys Whistleblower Policy which provides additional guidance and contact information for reporting illegal or unethical behavior. You must comply with the Whistleblower Policy, which has been separately provided to you. You may obtain another copy of, and ask questions regarding, the Whistleblower Policy by contacting our General Counsel.
The Company encourages employees to work with their supervisors and other appropriate personnel when in doubt about the best course of action in a particular situation, and in reporting actual or potential illegal or unethical behavior. However, the Company recognizes that circumstances may arise in which employees would not feel comfortable bringing such concerns to the attention of their supervisors. Accordingly, you have the alternative means listed above for reporting your concerns.
Any employee who in good faith reports what he or she believes to be an actual or potential violation of this Code or other illegal or unethical behavior will not be subject to reprisal or retaliation as a result of making such a report. Even where reports are not made on an anonymous or confidential basis, the Company will endeavor to protect the confidentiality of the person making a report to the extent possible, consistent with law and Company policy and the requirements necessary to conduct an effective investigation. Allegations will be investigated by proper personnel and appropriate action taken. In order to facilitate implementation of this Code, employees have a duty to cooperate fully with the investigation process and to maintain the confidentiality of investigative information unless specifically authorized to disclose such information.
Supervisory Personnel
Supervisors have key roles in the administration of this Code and are expected to demonstrate their personal commitment to the Companys standards of conduct and to manage their employees accordingly. Supervisors must immediately report to our General Counsel or Senior Internal Audit Executive any concerns reported by their employees to them regarding actual or potential violations of this Code or other illegal or unethical behavior.
Consequences of Violations
Employees will be held accountable for adherence to this Code. Failure to comply with any responsibilities established by this Code may result in disciplinary action and may also require restitution or reimbursement from the employee and referral of the matter to government authorities. Discipline may also be imposed for conduct that is considered unethical or improper even if the conduct is not specifically covered by this Code. The Company strives to impose discipline for each Code violation that fits the nature and particular facts of the violation. Discipline will vary depending on the circumstances and may include, alone or in combination, a letter of reprimand, demotion, suspension or even termination. Violations of this Code are not the only basis for disciplinary action. The Company has additional policies and procedures governing conduct.
As with all matters involving investigations of violations and discipline, principles of fairness and dignity will be applied. Any person charged with a violation of this Code will be given an opportunity to explain his or her actions before disciplinary action is taken.
Other Matters
Waivers for Officers and Directors
A waiver of any provision of this Code for the Companys officers and directors must be approved by the Board of Directors and promptly will be disclosed as required by applicable law or regulation.
Periodic Review and Supplements
Change in laws and regulations that apply to the Company may require changes to this Code from time to time. Accordingly, the Company may adopt supplements and revisions to this Code from time to time without advance notice. These changes will become effective when they are adopted by the Board of Directors, and copies of them will be circulated as promptly as practicable to all recipients of this Code. Because all recipients must observe all requirements of applicable laws and regulations, failure to receive or review a copy of any supplement or revision will not be an acceptable excuse for a failure to comply with any applicable law or regulation.
The policies set forth in this Code supersede and replace any and all prior versions thereof.
Appendix A
Avita Therapeutics, Inc.
Personal Commitment, Acknowledgement and Disclosure Form
Business Relationship Disclosure
Do you or any member of your family have a business relationship with the Company either as a potential competitor, supplier or customer?
Yes ___ / No ___
If Yes, please describe the relationship.
Personal Commitment and Acknowledgement
I acknowledge that I have received and read the Companys Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (the Code) and understand my obligations to comply with the Code. I understand that my agreement to comply with the Code does not constitute a contract of employment.
_________________________________.
Signature
_________________________________.
Printed Name
_________________________________.
Position
_________________________________.
Location
_________________________________.
Date
This signed and completed form must be returned to your supervisor within 30 days of receiving the Code.
Exhibit 99.1
AVITA Medical Limited
Implementation of the scheme of arrangement to redomicile from Australia to the United States of America
Valencia, Calif., USA, and Melbourne, Australia, 29 June 2020: AVITA Medical Limited ACN 058 466 523 (Company) is pleased to announce that the scheme of arrangement to effect the redomiciliation of the Company and its subsidiaries (Avita Group) from Australia to the United States of America (Scheme) has today been implemented. As previously announced, the Scheme was approved by the Companys shareholders at the Scheme meeting held via live webcast on 15 June 2020 and approved by the Federal Court of Australia on 22 June 2020.
In accordance with the Scheme, all ordinary shares in the Company have today been transferred to AVITA Therapeutics, Inc. (Avita US), a company incorporated in the State of Delaware in the United States of America. Avita US is now the sole shareholder in the Company and the ultimate parent company of the Avita Group.
As contemplated by the Scheme, the Scheme consideration was today issued to eligible shareholders of the Company in the form of:
| Avita US CHESS Depositary Interests (CDIs), which commenced trading on a deferred settlement basis on ASX on 24 June 2020 and will commence trading on a normal settlement basis on 30 June 2020 (under the Companys existing ticker code, AVH); or |
| shares of common stock in Avita US, trading in respect of which is currently anticipated to commence on the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (NASDAQ) on 1 July 2020 (under the Companys existing ticker code, RCEL). |
In relation to Avita US CDIs issued under the Scheme, holding statements (to issuer sponsored holders) and confirmation advices (to CHESS holders) will be despatched to eligible shareholders on 30 June 2020.
Avita US, as the successor to the Company, will be subject to the reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and applicable corporate governance rules of NASDAQ in addition to the ASX Listing Rules.
Further Information
Further details in relation to the Scheme and its implementation (including Scheme consideration) are set out in the Scheme Booklet dated 11 May 2020. A copy of the Scheme Booklet was attached to the Companys ASX announcement of 12 May 2020, and is also available on the Companys website (https://www.avitamedical.com/).
Authorised for release by the Chief Financial Officer of AVITA Medical Limited.
# # #
ABOUT AVITA MEDICAL LIMITED
AVITA Medical is a regenerative medicine company with a technology platform positioned to address unmet medical needs in burns, chronic wounds, and aesthetics indications. AVITA Medicals patented and proprietary collection and application technology provides innovative treatment solutions derived from the regenerative properties of a patients own skin. The medical devices work by preparing a RES® REGENERATIVE EPIDERMAL SUSPENSION, an autologous suspension comprised of the patients skin cells necessary to regenerate natural healthy epidermis. This autologous suspension is then sprayed onto the areas of the patient requiring treatment.
AVITA Medicals first U.S. product, the RECELL® System, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2018. The RECELL System is indicated for use in the treatment of acute thermal burns in patients 18 years and older. The RECELL System is used to prepare Spray-On Skin Cells using a small amount of a patients own skin, providing a new way to treat severe burns, while significantly reducing the amount of donor skin required. The RECELL System is designed to be used at the point of care alone or in combination with autografts depending on the depth of the burn injury. Compelling data from randomized, controlled clinical trials conducted at major U.S. burn centers and real-world use in more than 8,000 patients globally, reinforce that the RECELL System is a significant advancement over the current standard of care for burn patients and offers benefits in clinical outcomes and cost savings. Healthcare professionals should read the
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USERECELL® Autologous Cell Harvesting Device (https://recellsystem.com/) for a full description of indications for use and important safety information including contraindications, warnings and precautions.
In international markets, our products are marketed under the RECELL System brand to promote skin healing in a wide range of applications including burns, chronic wounds and aesthetics. The RECELL System is TGA-registered in Australia and received CE-mark approval in Europe.
To learn more, visit www.avitamedical.com.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This announcement includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as anticipate, expect, intend, could, may, will, believe, estimate, look forward, forecast, goal, target, project, continue, outlook, guidance, future, other words of similar meaning and the use of future dates. Forward-looking statements in this announcement include, but are not limited to, statements concerning, among other things, our ongoing clinical trials and product development activities, regulatory approval of our products, the potential for future growth in our business, and our ability to achieve our key strategic, operational and financial goal. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Each forward- looking statement contained in this announcement is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statement. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, among others, the timing of regulatory approvals of our products; physician acceptance, endorsement, and use of our products; failure to achieve the anticipated benefits from approval of our products; the effect of regulatory actions; product liability claims; risks associated with international operations and expansion; and other business effects, including the effects of industry, economic or political conditions outside of the companys control. Investors should not place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement. Investors are encouraged to read our publicly available filings for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this announcement speak only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of these statements.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
U.S. Media
Sam Brown, Inc.
Christy Curran
Phone +1 615 414 8668
christycurran@sambrown.com
O.U.S Media
Monsoon Communications
Rudi Michelson
Phone +61 (0)3 9620 3333
Mobile +61 (0)411 402 737
rudim@monsoon.com.au |
Investors:
Westwicke Partners
Caroline Corner
Phone +1 415 202 5678
caroline.corner@westwicke.com
AVITA Medical Ltd
David McIntyre
Chief Financial Officer
Phone +1 661 367 9178
dmcintyre@avitamedical.com |
PR20200629