Exhibit 4.4
DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
The “Company,” “Direct Digital,” “Direct Digital Holdings,” “DDH,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Direct Digital Holdings, Inc. The following description summarizes the material terms and provisions of the registered securities of Direct Digital Holdings, Inc. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all the information that may be important to you. For a complete description of our capital stock, you should refer to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (“certificate of incorporation”) and our Amended and Restated Bylaws (“bylaws”), each as amended from time to time, and to the provisions of applicable Delaware law.
Common Stock
We are authorized to issue 160,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, 20,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.
Class A Common Stock
Voting Rights
Holders of our Class A common stock are be entitled to cast one vote per share. Holders of our Class A common stock are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. Generally, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a majority (or, in the case of election of directors, by a plurality) of the votes entitled to be cast by all holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock present in person or represented by proxy, voting together as a single class. Except as otherwise provided by law, amendments to the certificate of incorporation must be approved by a majority of the combined voting power of all shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class.
Dividend Rights
Any dividend or distribution paid or payable to the holders of shares of Class A common stock shall be paid pro rata, on an equal priority, pari passu basis; provided, however, that if a dividend or distribution is paid in the form of Class A common stock (or rights to acquire shares of Class A common stock), then the holders of the Class A common stock shall receive Class A common stock (or rights to acquire shares of Class A common stock).
Liquidation Rights
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, upon the completion of the distributions required with respect to any series of redeemable convertible preferred stock that may then be outstanding, our remaining assets legally available for distribution to stockholders shall be distributed on an equal priority, pro rata basis to the holders of Class A common stock, unless different treatment is approved by the majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock.
Other Matters
No shares of Class A common stock are subject to redemption or have preemptive rights to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock. Holders of shares of our Class A common stock do not have subscription, redemption or conversion rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class A common stock.
Class B Common Stock
Issuance of Class B Common Stock with LLC Units
Shares of Class B common stock will only be issued in the future to the extent necessary to maintain a one-to-one ratio between the number of economic nonvoting common units of Direct Digital Holdings, LLC (“LLC Units”) held by Direct Digital Management, LLC (“DDM LLC”) and the number of shares of Class B common stock issued to DDM LLC. Shares of Class B common stock are transferable only together with an equal number of LLC Units. Shares of Class B common stock will be cancelled on a one-for-one basis if we, at the election of DDM LLC, redeem or exchange their LLC Units pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement of DDH LLC, dated February 15, 2022, by and between us and DDM (the “DDH LLC Agreement”).
Voting Rights
Holders of Class B common stock are entitled to cast one vote per share, with the number of shares of Class B common stock held by DDM LLC being equivalent to the number of nonvoting LLC Units held by DDM LLC. Holders of our Class B common stock are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. The voting power afforded to DDM LLC by its shares of Class B common stock will be automatically and correspondingly reduced as it redeems its LLC Units because an equal number of their shares of Class B common stock will be cancelled.
Generally, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a majority (or, in the case of election of directors, by a plurality) of the votes entitled to be cast by all Class A and Class B stockholders present in person or represented by proxy, voting together as a single class. Except as otherwise provided by law, amendments to the certificate of incorporation must be approved by a majority of the combined voting power of all shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class. There will be a separate vote of the Class B common stock in the following circumstances:
● | if we amend, alter or repeal any provision of the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws in a manner that modifies the voting, conversion or other powers, preferences, or other special rights or privileges, or restrictions of the Class B common stock; |
● | if we reclassify any outstanding shares of Class A common stock into shares having rights as to dividends or liquidation that are senior to the Class B common stock or, in the case of Class A common stock, the right to more than one vote for each share thereof; or |
● | if we authorize any shares of preferred stock with rights as to dividends or liquidation that are senior to the Class B common stock or the right to more than one vote for each share thereof. |
Dividend Rights
The shares of Class B common stock have no economic rights. Holders of shares of our Class B common stock do not have any rights to receive dividends.
Liquidation Rights
On our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of Class B common stock will not be entitled to receive any distribution of our assets.
Transfers
Pursuant to the DDH LLC Agreement, each holder of Class B common stock agrees that:
● | the holder will not transfer any shares of Class B common stock to any person unless the holder transfers an equal number of LLC Units to the same person; and |
● | in the event the holder transfers any LLC Units to any person, the holder will transfer an equal number of shares of Class B common stock to the same person. |
Other Matters
No shares of Class B common stock have preemptive rights to purchase additional shares of Class B common stock. Holders of shares of our Class B common stock do not have subscription, redemption or conversion rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class B common stock.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors has the authority, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations or restrictions, in each case without further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors can also increase or decrease the number of shares of any series of preferred stock, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding, without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our Class A common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our Company and might adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our Class A common stock. We have no current plan to issue any shares of preferred stock.
Unit Purchase Option
In connection with our initial public offering consummated in February 2022 (the “IPO”), we sold to the representatives of the underwriters a unit purchase option to purchase 5% of the total number of units sold in the IPO (including 5% of any securities sold upon the underwriters’ exercise of the over-allotment option). The unit purchase option has an exercise price equal to 120% of the price per unit in the IPO or, in the event of the purchase of an uneven number of shares of Class A common stock or warrants pursuant to the over-allotment option, at 120% of the IPO price per share or per warrant, as applicable, subject to standard anti-dilution adjustments for share splits and similar transactions. The unit purchase option became exercisable upon issuance at any time, and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the period commencing 180 days from the commencement of sales in the IPO, and expiring five years from the commencement of sales in the IPO. The unit
purchase option is also exercisable on a cashless basis. The unit purchase option has been deemed compensation by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, and is therefore subject to a 180-day lock-up pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1). Except as permitted by Rule 5110(e)(1), the underwriters (or permitted assignees under the Rule) was not permitted to sell, transfer, assign, pledge, or hypothecate the unit purchase option or the securities underlying the unit purchase option, nor will any of them engage in any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the option or the underlying securities for a period of 180 days from the commencement of the IPO.
Warrants Issued in the IPO
Exercisability.
The warrants became exercisable upon issuance at any time following the consummation of the IPO and at any time up to the date that is five years after their original issuance. The warrants became exercisable upon issuance, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice and, at any time a registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants under the Securities Act is effective and available for the issuance of such shares of Class A common stock, or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act is available for the issuance of such shares of Class A common stock, by payment in full in immediately available funds for the number of shares of Class A common stock purchased upon such exercise. If a registration statement registering the issuance of the Class A common stocks underlying the warrants under the Securities Act is not effective or available and an exemption from registration under the Securities Act is not available for the issuance of such Class A common stock, the holder may, in its sole discretion, elect to exercise the warrant through a cashless exercise, in which case the holder would receive upon such exercise the net number of shares of Class A common stock determined according to the formula set forth in the warrant. No fractional shares of Class A common stock will be issued in connection with the exercise of a warrant. In lieu of fractional shares, we will pay the holder an amount in cash equal to the fractional amount multiplied by the exercise price. We will not effect the exercise of any portion of these warrants, and the holder will not have the right to exercise any portion of the warrants, and any such exercise shall be null and void and treated as if never made, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, the holder together with its affiliates and certain other persons specified in these warrants collectively would own beneficially in excess of 4.99% (or, upon election by a holder prior to the issuance of any warrants, 9.99%) of the shares of Class A common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
Exercise Price.
The exercise price per share purchasable upon exercise of the warrants is $5.50 per unit. The exercise price is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our shares of Class A common stock and also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock or other property to our stockholders.
Transferability.
Subject to applicable laws, the warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without our consent.
Exchange Listing.
Our warrants are listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “DRCTW.”
Warrant Agent.
The warrants were issued in registered form under a warrant agent agreement between American Stock Trading & Trust Company, LLC as warrant agent, and us. The warrants were initially represented only by one or more global warrants deposited with the warrant agent, as custodian on behalf of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., a nominee of DTC, or as otherwise directed by DTC.
Fundamental Transactions.
In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the warrants and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our ordinary shares, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our shares of Class A common stock, the holders of the warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction.
Rights as a Stockholder.
Except as otherwise provided in the warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of our shares of Class A common stock, the holder of a warrant does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our Class A common stock, including any voting rights, until the holder exercises the warrant.
Governing Law.
The warrants and the warrant agent agreement are governed by New York law.