Exhibit 3.4
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
of
UNICYCIVE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
ARTICLE I
The name of the corporation is Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE II
The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE III
The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.
ARTICLE IV
A. The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is (i) 200,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”).
B. The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) is hereby expressly authorized, by filing a certificate (“Certificate of Designation”) pursuant to the DGCL, to provide for the issue of any or all of the unissued and undesignated shares of the Preferred Stock in one or more series, and to fix the number of shares and to determine or alter for each such series, such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designation, preferences and relative, participating, optional, or other rights and such qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board providing for the issuance of such shares and as may be permitted by the DGCL. The Board of Directors is also expressly authorized to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series subsequent to the issuance of shares of that series, but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding. In case the number of shares of any series shall be decreased in accordance with the foregoing sentence, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series. 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 Company 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 certificate of designation filed with respect to any series of Preferred Stock.
Each outstanding share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Company for their vote; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “Certificate of Incorporation”) (including any Certificate of Designation filed with respect to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more other series of Preferred Stock, to vote thereon by law or pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation filed with respect to any series of Preferred Stock).
C. Upon the filing (the “Effective Time”) of this Certificate of Incorporation, each four and three-tenths (4.3) shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (the “Old Common Stock”) shall automatically without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of Old Common Stock, be reclassified, combined, converted and changed into one (1) fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value of $0.001 per share (the “New Common Stock”), subject to the treatment of fractional share interests as described below (the “reverse stock split”). The conversion of the Old Common Stock into New Common Stock will be deemed to occur at the Effective Time. From and after the Effective Time, certificates representing the Old Common Stock shall represent the number of shares of New Common Stock into which such Old Common Stock shall have been converted pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation. Holders who otherwise would be entitled to receive fractional share interests of New Common Stock upon the effectiveness of the reverse stock split shall be entitled to receive a whole share of New Common Stock in lieu of any fractional share created as a result of such reverse stock split and shall be rounded up to the nearest whole share.
ARTICLE V
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the DGCL, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock that may be designated from time to time, the Board is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”), subject to the power of the stockholders of the Corporation to alter or repeal any Bylaws whether adopted by them or otherwise; 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 (including any Certificate of Designation that may be filed from time to time), the affirmative vote of holders of not less than sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the votes of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, considered for purposes hereof as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt new Bylaws or to alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VI
A. The management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation shall be vested in the Board. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the majority of incumbent directors, provided the Board shall consist of at least one (1) member.
B. The Board or any individual director may be removed from office only for cause at a meeting of stockholders called for that purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors, voting together as a single class.
C. Any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall, unless the Board determines by resolution that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by law and or by this Certificate of Incorporation or any Certificate of Designation that may be filed with respect to a series of Preferred Stock, be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of the Board, and not by the stockholders. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the director for which the vacancy was created or occurred and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified.
D. The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.
E. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of directors.
ARTICLE VII
A. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock or any other class of stock or series thereof having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation. The taking of any action by written consent of the stockholders in lieu of a meeting of the stockholders is specifically denied.
B. Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called, for any purpose or purposes, by a majority of the entire Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Chairman of the Board, but such special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons.
C. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VIII
A. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. If the DGCL is amended after approval by the stockholders of this Article VIII to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as so amended.
B. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article VIII shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of, or increase the liability of any director of the Corporation with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to, such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE IX
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or (d) any action asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to the Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein and the claim not being one 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. Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of the Corporation’s capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of, and to have consented to the provisions of this Article IX.
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, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 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 Article IX.
ARTICLE X
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 current or former director or officer of the Corporation (an “Indemnified 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 such person, or a person for whom such person 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, limited liability company, 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 Indemnified Person in such Proceeding. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided herein, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify an Indemnified Person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Indemnified Person only if the commencement of such Proceeding (or part thereof) by the Indemnified Person was authorized in advance by the Board.
The Corporation shall pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an Indemnified 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 Indemnified Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article X or otherwise. The Corporation may secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of his or her actions in that capacity regardless of whether we would otherwise be permitted to indemnify him or her under the provisions of Delaware law.
If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article X is not paid in full within sixty (60) days after a written claim therefor by the Indemnified Person has been received by the Corporation, the Indemnified 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. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Indemnified Person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.
The Corporation may indemnity and advance expenses to any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding by reason of the fact that such person, or a person for whom such person is the legal representative, is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or, while an employee or agent 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, limited liability company, 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 person in connection with such Proceeding. The ultimate determination of entitlement to indemnification of our other officers and employees shall be made in such manner as is determined by the Board.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been executed by a duly authorized officer of the Corporation on this 21st day of June, 2021.
By: | /s/ Shalabh Gupta | |
Name: | Shalabh Gupta, M.D. | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer, | |
President and Chairman | ||
* * *