EX-4.3 2 ea020296601ex4-3_envoy.htm DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

Exhibit 4.3

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES

REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

As of December 31, 2023, Envoy Medical, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) had two classes of securities, our Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), and our redeemable warrants, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share (“Public Warrants”), registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The following is a description of the rights and privileges of our Class A Common Stock and of our Public Warrants and related provisions of second amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), our amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws” and, together with the Certificate of Incorporation, the “Governing Documents”), the warrant agreement, dated as of March 1, 2021, between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “Warrant Agreement”) and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). This description is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, the Warrant Agreement and the applicable provisions of the DGCL. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC), of which this Exhibit 4.3 is a part.

 

Authorized and Outstanding Stock

 

Pursuant to our Certificate of Incorporation, we are authorized to issue 500,000,000 shares of the Company, consisting of 400,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share. As of December 31, 2023, there were 19,549,982 shares of Class A Common Stock and 4,500,000 shares of the Company’s Series A convertible preferred stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”) outstanding. The outstanding shares of Common Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Description of Class A Common Stock

 

Holders of our Class A Common Stock will be entitled to one vote for each share held as of the applicable record date on all matters properly submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election or removal of directors. Unless specified in our governing documents, or as required by applicable provisions of the DGCL or applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of the stockholders at which there is a quorum by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon will be required to approve any such matter voted on by stockholders. Our board of directors (the “Board”) is divided into three (3) classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of three (3) years with only one (1) class of directors being elected each year. Our stockholders will not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.

 

Authorized Common Stock. The Company is authorized under the Certificate of Incorporation to issue 400,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. The outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock are fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Voting Rights. Holders of our Class A Common Stock will be entitled to one vote for each share held as of the applicable record date on all matters properly submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election or removal of directors. Unless specified in our governing documents, or as required by applicable provisions of the DGCL or applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of the stockholders at which there is a quorum by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon will be required to approve any such matter voted on by stockholders. The Board is divided into three (3) classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of three (3) years with only one (1) class of directors being elected each year. Our stockholders will not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.

 

Dividend Rights. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably those dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors, in its discretion, out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any preferential dividend rights of outstanding preferred stock.

 

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Liquidation Rights. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after the payment of all of the Company’s liabilities and subject to the liquidation preferences of any outstanding preferred stock.

 

Other Rights and Preferences. The Class A Common Stock does not carry preemptive rights, is not redeemable, does not have any conversion rights, is not subject to further calls and is not subject to any sinking fund provisions. The rights and preferences of holders of the Class A Common Stock are subject to the rights of any series of preferred stock that the Company may issue.

 

Listing. The Class A Common Stock is listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the trading symbol “COCH”.

 

Warrants

 

Public Warrants

 

Each whole Public Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one whole share of Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing on October 29, 2023. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, dated as of March 1, 2021, between Equiniti Trust Company, LLC as Warrant Agent, and us (the “Warrant Agreement”), a holder of Public Warrants may exercise its Public Warrants only for a whole number of shares of Class A Common Stock. This means that only a whole Public Warrant may be exercised at any given time by a Public Warrant holder. The Public Warrants will expire on September 29, 2028, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. As of December 31, 2023, there were 14,166,666 Public Warrants outstanding.

 

The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Public Warrant and will have no obligation to settle such Public Warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Public Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company satisfying its obligations described below with respect to registration. No Public Warrant will be exercisable and the Company will not be obligated to issue shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of a Public Warrant unless Class A Common Stock issuable upon such Public Warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the Public Warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a Public Warrant, the holder of such Public Warrant will not be entitled to exercise such Public Warrant and such Public Warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle any Public Warrant. The Company will be obligated to file as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the Closing, and to use its best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants, to cause such registration statement to become effective and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A Common Stock until the Public Warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the Warrant Agreement. If a registration statement covering the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the Closing, Public Warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise Public Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. If that exemption, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their Public Warrants on a cashless basis. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle any Public Warrant.

 

Once this registration statement is declared effective by the SEC, the Public Warrants will become exercisable and Public Warrant holders will be able to provide their instructions to their broker-dealers (DTC participants) to exercise such Public Warrants as provided in the Warrant Agreement.

 

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Redemption of Public Warrants When the Price Per Share of Class A Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $18.00

 

Once the Public Warrants become exercisable, under certain conditions, the Company may call the Public Warrants for redemption:

 

●In whole and not in part;

 

●At a price of $0.01 per Public Warrant;

 

●Upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each Public Warrant holder; and

 

●If, and only if, the last reported sale price of the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three trading days before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the Public Warrant holders.

 

We will not redeem the warrants as described above unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A Common Stock is available throughout the 30 consecutive day redemption period. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.

 

Redemption of Public Warrants When the Price Per Share of Class A Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $10.00

 

Once the Public Warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding Public Warrants:

 

●in whole and not in part;

 

●at $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares determined by reference to the table below, based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of the Class A Common Stock (as defined below) except as otherwise described below;

 

●if, and only if, the closing price of the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any period of 30 consecutive trading days ending three trading days before we send the notice of redemption to the Public Warrant holders; and

 

●if the closing price of the Class A Common Stock for any 20 trading days within any period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the Public Warrant holders is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like).

 

Beginning on the date the notice of redemption is given until the warrants are redeemed or exercised, holders may elect to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. The numbers in the table below represent the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that a warrant holder will receive upon such cashless exercise in connection with a redemption by the Company pursuant to this redemption feature, based on the “fair market value” of Class A Common Stock on the corresponding redemption date (assuming holders elect to exercise their warrants and such warrants are not redeemed for $0.10 per warrant), determined for these purposes based on volume weighted average price of Class A Common Stock during the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants, and the number of months that the corresponding redemption date precedes the expiration date of the warrants, each as set forth in the table below. The Company will provide its warrant holders with the final fair market value no later than one business day after the 10-trading day period described above ends. The share prices set forth in the column headings of the table below will be adjusted as of any date on which the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant or the exercise price of a warrant is adjusted as set forth under the heading “Anti-dilution Adjustments” below.

 

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Redemption Date
(period to expiration of Public Warrants)		  Fair Market Value of Class A Common Stock 
   <$10.00   $11.00   $12.00   $13.00   $14.00   $15.00   $16.00   $17.00   >$18.00 
60 months   0.261    0.281    0.297    0.311    0.324    0.337    0.348    0.358    0.361 
57 months   0.257    0.277    0.294    0.310    0.324    0.337    0.348    0.358    0.361 
54 months   0.252    0.272    0.291    0.307    0.322    0.335    0.347    0.357    0.361 
51 months   0.246    0.268    0.287    0.304    0.320    0.333    0.346    0.357    0.361 
48 months   0.241    0.263    0.283    0.301    0.317    0.332    0.344    0.356    0.361 
45 months   0.235    0.258    0.279    0.298    0.315    0.330    0.343    0.356    0.361 
42 months   0.228    0.252    0.274    0.294    0.312    0.328    0.342    0.355    0.361 
39 months   0.221    0.246    0.269    0.290    0.309    0.325    0.340    0.354    0.361 
36 months   0.213    0.239    0.263    0.285    0.305    0.323    0.339    0.353    0.361 
33 months   0.205    0.232    0.257    0.280    0.301    0.320    0.337    0.352    0.361 
30 months   0.196    0.224    0.250    0.274    0.297    0.316    0.335    0.351    0.361 
27 months   0.185    0.214    0.242    0.268    0.291    0.313    0.332    0.350    0.361 
24 months   0.173    0.204    0.233    0.260    0.285    0.308    0.329    0.348    0.361 
21 months   0.161    0.193    0.223    0.252    0.279    0.304    0.326    0.347    0.361 
18 months   0.146    0.179    0.211    0.242    0.271    0.298    0.322    0.345    0.361 
15 months   0.130    0.164    0.197    0.230    0.262    0.291    0.317    0.342    0.361 
12 months   0.111    0.146    0.181    0.216    0.250    0.282    0.312    0.339    0.361 
9 months   0.090    0.125    0.162    0.199    0.237    0.272    0.305    0.336    0.361 
6 months   0.065    0.099    0.137    0.178    0.219    0.259    0.296    0.331    0.361 
3 months   0.034    0.065    0.104    0.150    0.197    0.243    0.286    0.326    0.361 
0 months   -    -    0.042                               

 

The “fair market value” of our Class A Common Stock shall mean the average last reported sale price of our Class A Common Stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of Public Warrants.

 

The exact fair market value and redemption date may not be set forth in the table above, in which case, if the fair market value is between two values in the table or the redemption date is between two redemption dates in the table, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued for each Public Warrant redeemed will be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of shares set forth for the higher and lower fair market values and the earlier and later redemption dates, as applicable, based on a 365- or 366-day year, as applicable. In no event will the warrants be exercisable on a cashless basis in connection with this redemption feature for more than 0.361 shares of Class A Common Stock per Public Warrant (subject to adjustment). Finally, as reflected in the table above, if the Public Warrants are out of the money and about to expire, they cannot be exercised on a cashless basis in connection with a redemption by us pursuant to this redemption feature, since they will not be exercisable for any shares of Class A Common Stock. At such time as the warrants become exercisable for Class A Common Stock, we will use commercially reasonable efforts to register under the Securities Act the security issuable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants.

 

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Redemption Procedures

 

A holder of a Public Warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such Public Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the Warrant Agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.

 

Anti-Dilution Adjustments

 

If the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Class A Common Stock, or by a split-up of shares of Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Public Warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. A rights offering to holders of Class A Common Stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock at a price less than the fair market value will be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for Class A Common Stock) and (ii) one minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Class A Common Stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the fair market value. For these purposes (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Class A Common Stock, in determining the price payable for Class A Common Stock, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) fair market value means the volume weighted average price of Class A Common Stock as reported during the 10 trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Class A Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.

 

In addition, if the Company, at any time while the Public Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pays a dividend or makes a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of Class A Common Stock on account of such shares of Class A Common Stock (or other shares of our capital stock into which the Public Warrants are convertible), other than (i) as described above, (ii) certain ordinary cash dividends (initially defined as up to $0.50 per share in a 365 day period), (iii) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Class A Common Stock in connection with the Closing, or (iv) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Class A Common Stock in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Certificate of Incorporation with respect to any provision relating to stockholders’ rights, then the Public Warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Class A Common Stock in respect of such event.

 

If the number of outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Public Warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

Whenever the number of shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants is adjusted, as described above, the Public Warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the Public Warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.

 

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In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the holders of the Public Warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Public Warrants and in lieu of the shares of Class A Common Stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Public Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their Public Warrants immediately prior to such event. If less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of Class A Common Stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of Class A Common Stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the Public Warrant properly exercises the Public Warrant within 30 days following public disclosure of such transaction, the Public Warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the Warrant Agreement based on the Black-Scholes value (as defined in the Warrant Agreement) of the Public Warrant. The purpose of such exercise price reduction is to provide additional value to holders of the Public Warrants when an extraordinary transaction occurs during the exercise period of the Public Warrants pursuant to which the holders of the Public Warrants otherwise do not receive the full potential value of the Public Warrants in order to determine and realize the option value component of the Public Warrant. This formula is to compensate the Public Warrant holder for the loss of the option value portion of the Public Warrant due to the requirement that the Public Warrant holder exercise the Public Warrant within 30 days of the event. The Black-Scholes model is an accepted pricing model for estimating fair market value where no quoted market price for an instrument is available.

 

The Public Warrants have been issued in registered form under the Warrant Agreement. The Warrant Agreement provides that the terms of the Public Warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding Public Warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of Public Warrants.

 

The Public Warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the Warrant Agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), by certified or official bank check payable to the Company, for the number of Public Warrants being exercised. The Public Warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of Class A Common Stock and any voting rights until they exercise their Public Warrants and receive shares of Class A Common Stock. After the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of the Public Warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.

 

No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Public Warrants. If, upon exercise of the Public Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to the Public Warrant holder.

 

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Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of the Charter and Bylaws

 

The Charter, Bylaws and the DGCL contain provisions as summarized in the following paragraphs that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the Board. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, reduce our vulnerability to a hostile change of control and enhance the ability of the Board to maximize stockholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire the Company. However, these provisions may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter, or prevent a merger or acquisition of the Company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or other takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the prevailing market price for the shares of Class A Common Stock held by stockholders.

 

Issuance of undesignated preferred stock: Under the Charter, the Board has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, of which 10,000,000 shares were, in connection with the Closing, designated as Series A Preferred Stock, with rights and preferences, including voting rights, designated in the Certificate of Designation. When shares of Series A Preferred Stock are converted or otherwise reacquired by the Company, they will be promptly retired and not be reissued as shares of such series, but rather will become authorized but unissued shares of undesignated preferred stock. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock would enable the Board to make it more difficult to attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise.

 

Classified board: Our Charter provides for a classified board consisting of three classes of directors, with staggered three-year terms. Only one class of directors will be elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms. This provision may have the effect of delaying a change in control of the Board.

 

Election and removal of directors and board vacancies: Our Bylaws provide that directors are elected by a plurality vote. The Charter provides that, subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock, unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board approved by at least a majority of the total authorized directorships, only the Board may fill vacancies and newly created directorships on the Board. Directors may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors. In addition, the number of directors constituting the Board may be set only by resolution adopted by a majority vote of the total authorized directorships. These provisions prevent stockholders from increasing the size of the Board and gaining control of the Board by filling the resulting directorships with their own nominees.

 

Requirements for advance notification of stockholder nominations and proposals: Our Bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors that specify certain requirements as to the timing, form and content of a stockholder’s notice. Business that may be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders will be limited to those matters properly brought before the meeting. These provisions may make it more difficult for our stockholders to bring matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate directors at annual meetings of stockholders.

 

No written consent of stockholders: Our Charter provides that, subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock, all stockholder actions be taken by a vote of the stockholders at an annual or special meeting, and that stockholders may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting. This limit may lengthen the amount of time required to take stockholder actions and would prevent the amendment of the Bylaws or removal of directors by our stockholders without holding a meeting of stockholders.

 

No stockholder ability to call special meetings: Our Charter provides that, subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock, only the chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer, the president or the Board, acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total authorized directorships on the Board, may be able to call special meetings of stockholders and only those matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered or acted upon at a special meeting of stockholders.

 

Amendments to certificate of incorporation and bylaws: Any amendment to our Charter must be approved by the Board, acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total authorized directorships on the Board, as well as, if required by law or the Charter, a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the amendment and a majority of the outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote thereon as a class, except that the amendment of Section 3 of Article IV, Section 2 of Article V, Section 1 of Article VI, Section 2 of Article VI, Section 5 of Article VII, Section 1 of Article VIII, Section 2 of Article VIII, Section 3 of Article VIII or Article XI of the Charter must be approved by not less than the affirmative vote of 66 2/3% of the total voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Board or the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then-outstanding capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, is required to amend the Bylaws, except that the amendment of Article VIII of the Bylaws must be approved by not less than the affirmative vote of 66.7% of the total voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock.

 

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These provisions are designed to enhance the likelihood of continued stability in the composition of the Board and its policies, to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened acquisition of our company and to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal. We also designed these provisions to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights. However, these provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares and, as a consequence, they may also reduce fluctuations in the market price of our shares that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts.

 

Delaware General Corporation Law Section 203

 

As a Delaware corporation, we are also subject to the anti-takeover provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL, which generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” (as defined in the statute) with an “interested stockholder” (as defined in the statute) for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person first becomes an interested stockholder, unless the business combination or the transaction by which the applicable stockholder became an interested stockholder is approved in advance by a majority of the independent directors or by the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of the outstanding disinterested shares. The application of Section 203 of the DGCL could also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us.

 

Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal and Payment

 

Under the DGCL, with certain exceptions, the Company’s stockholders have appraisal rights in connection with certain mergers, consolidations or conversions of the Company. Pursuant to the DGCL, stockholders who properly request and perfect appraisal rights in connection with such merger, consolidation or conversion will have the right to receive payment of the fair value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery.

 

Stockholders’ Derivative Actions

 

Under the DGCL, any of the Company’s stockholders may bring an action in the Company’s name to procure a judgment in the Company’s favor, also known as a derivative action, if certain conditions are met, provided that the stockholder bringing the action is a holder of the Company’s shares at the time of the transaction to which the action relates or such stockholder’s stock thereafter devolved by operation of law.

 

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

 

The DGCL authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors and certain officers to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ and officers’ fiduciary duties, subject to certain exceptions. The Company’s governing documents include a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors and officers for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of these provisions is to eliminate the rights of the Company and its stockholders, through stockholders’ derivative suits on the Company’s behalf, to recover monetary damages from a director or officer for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer in certain circumstances, including breaches resulting from grossly negligent behavior. However, exculpation does not apply to any director if the director has acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized illegal dividends or redemptions or derived an improper benefit from his or her actions as a director and does not apply to officers if the officer has acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law or derived an improper benefit from his or her actions as a director or in the context of an action by or in the right of the Company.

 

The Charter provides that the Company must indemnify its directors, and the Bylaws provide that the Company must indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers, to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. The Company is also expressly authorized to carry directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing indemnification for its directors, officers, employees and agents for some liabilities. The Company believes that these indemnification and advancement provisions and the authority to carry insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and executive officers.

 

The limitation of liability, advancement and indemnification provisions in our governing documents may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty.

 

These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit the Company and its stockholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent the Company pays the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

 

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Rule 144

 

Rule 144 is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies) or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company, such as the Company. However, Rule 144 also includes an important exception to this prohibition if the following conditions are met:

 

●the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company;

 

●the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

 

●the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and material required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Form 8-K reports; and

 

●at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.

 

Upon the Closing, the Company ceased to be a shell company.

 

When and if Rule 144 becomes available for the resale of our securities, a person who has beneficially owned restricted shares of our common stock for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities, provided that (i) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale and (ii) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least three months before the sale and have filed all required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the 12 months (or such shorter period as we were required to file reports) preceding the sale.

 

Persons who have beneficially owned restricted shares of our common stock for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of:

 

●one percent (1%) of the total number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding; or

 

●the average weekly reported trading volume of the Common Stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.

 

Sales by our affiliates under Rule 144 will also be limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.

 

Transfer Agent, Warrant Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent, Warrant Agent and registrar for our Class A Common Stock and Public Warrants is Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (formerly known as American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC).

 

Equiniti Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, New York 11219

 

Listing of Securities

 

Our Class A Common Stock and Public Warrants are listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “COCH” and “COCHW,” respectively.

 

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