KDMN Kadmon Holdings Inc

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following summary describes our capital stock and certain provisions of our restated certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, the registration rights agreements to which we and certain of our stockholders are parties and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Because the following is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a complete description, you should refer to our restated certificate of incorporation, bylaws, and registration rights agreements, copies of which are incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

General

We are a Delaware corporation. We completed transactions on July 26, 2016 pursuant to which we converted into a Delaware corporation and changed our name from Kadmon Holdings, LLC to Kadmon Holdings, Inc. Our authorized share capital consists of 400,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 10,000,000 preferred shares, par value $0.001 per share.

The following descriptions are summaries of important terms contained in our restated certificate of incorporation and our bylaws (our “Certificate of Incorporation” and “Bylaws,” respectively). Reference is made to the more detailed provisions of, and the descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to, our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, copies of which have been incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and to relevant portions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”).

Common Stock

General.  As of March 31, 2020, there were 159,830,774 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. All outstanding shares of common stock are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. 

Voting Rights.  The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors, and do not have cumulative voting rights. Unless otherwise required by law, matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders require the approval of a majority of votes cast by stockholders represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on such matter, except that directors will be elected by a plurality of votes cast. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors are able to elect all of the directors standing for election, if they so choose. 

Dividend Rights.  Holders of shares of common stock are entitled to receive ratably dividends if, as and when dividends are declared from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, subject to any preferential dividend rights of any then outstanding preferred stock. 

Liquidation.  Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of shares of common stock are entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities, subject to any liquidation preference granted to holders of any outstanding preferred stock. 

Rights and Preferences.  Holders of shares of common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights, and no redemption or sinking fund provisions are applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to and may be adversely affected by the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate in the future. 

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

Registration Rights. In connection with a private placement of our securities in March 2017, we entered into a Registration Rights Agreement dated March 8, 2017 with certain investors. Pursuant to the terms of the registration rights agreement, we were obligated to prepare, file and maintain with the SEC a registration statement to register for resale certain shares purchased by investors in the private placement following the closing of the private placement, among other customary obligations for agreements of this type.  

Listing. Our common stock is listed under the symbol “KDMN” on the NYSE.

Transfer Agent and Registrar. The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. 

Preferred Stock

As of March 31, 2020, no shares of our preferred stock were outstanding other than shares of our 5% convertible preferred stock, as described below under “—5% Convertible Preferred Stock.” Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes our board of directors, without further action by our stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof. These rights, preferences and privileges could include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights, terms of sinking funds, liquidation preferences, the number of shares constituting any class or series and the designation of the class or series.  Terms selected by our board of directors in the future could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to holders of shares of common stock or adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of the holders of shares of common stock without any further vote or action by the stockholders. As a result, the rights of holders of our common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of the 5% convertible preferred stock and any other preferred stock that may be issued by us in the future, which could have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company, which could depress the market price of our common stock.

The terms of any particular series of preferred stock will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of shares of such series of preferred stock. If we issue shares of preferred stock under this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement, the shares will be fully paid and nonassessable and will not have, or be subject to, any preemptive or similar rights.

5% Convertible Preferred Stock

As of March 31, 2020, we had 28,708 shares of convertible preferred stock issued and outstanding, designated as the 5% convertible preferred stock pursuant to the certificate of designations filed by us with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, with an aggregate original purchase price and initial liquidation preference of $30.0 million. As of March 31, 2020, the stated liquidation preference of the 5% convertible preferred stock was $33.1 million. Each share of convertible preferred stock was issued for an amount equal to $1,000 per share, which we refer to as the original purchase price.

The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the 5% convertible preferred stock and the certificate of designations and does not purport to be complete. This summary is subject to and is qualified by reference to all the provisions of the convertible preferred stock and certificate of designations, including the definitions of certain terms used in the certificate of designations. We urge you to read this document because it, and not this description, defines the rights of a holder of the 5% convertible preferred stock. A copy of the form of certificate of designations that we filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 26, 2016 has been incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

No Mandatory Redemption Date or Sinking Fund

       The shares of 5% convertible preferred stock do not have a mandatory redemption date and are not subject to any sinking fund. The shares of convertible preferred stock will remain outstanding indefinitely unless we are required to redeem them under the circumstances described below in “—Redemption” or we otherwise repurchase them or they are converted into shares of our common stock as described below under “—Conversion Rights.”

Dividends

The shares of 5% convertible preferred stock are entitled to receive dividends, when and as declared by our board of directors and to the extent of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, at an annual rate of 5% of the sum of the original purchase price per share of 5% convertible preferred stock plus any dividend arrearages. Dividends on the convertible preferred stock shall, at our option, either be paid in cash or added to the stated liquidation preference amount for purposes of calculating dividends at the 5% annual rate (until such time as we declare and pay the missed dividend in full and in cash, at which time that dividend will no longer be part of the stated liquidation preference amount). Dividends shall be payable annually on June 30 of each year and shall be cumulative from the most recent dividend payment date on which dividend has been paid or, if no dividend has ever been paid, from the original date of issuance of the 5% convertible preferred stock and shall accumulate from day to day whether or not declared until paid.

The shares of 5% convertible preferred stock are also entitled to participate in all dividends declared and paid on shares of company common stock on an “as if” converted basis.

Liquidation Preference

In the event of:

(A)  a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, whether voluntary or involuntary;

(B)  certain changes of control;

(C)  a sale or transfer of all, or substantially all, of our consolidated assets other than to a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours;

(D)  any other event of discharge, retirement or cancellation of the 5% convertible preferred stock, in each case in this clause (D), that is not described in the foregoing clauses (A), (B) or (C) or a redemption pursuant to the certificate of designations;

(E)  our company or one of our significant subsidiaries becoming the subject of certain bankruptcy events;

(F)  a material breach of our obligations under the exchange agreement that is not cured within 15 days after we receive notice from a holder of the 5% convertible preferred stock; or

(G)  upon our failure to make any payment of principal, interest, or other amount due and payable of any of our or our subsidiaries’ indebtedness after giving effect to any applicable cure period,

the holders of the 5% convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to receive for each share of 5% convertible preferred stock an amount equal to the greater of (i) (A) (I) the original purchase price per share of 5% convertible preferred stock plus dividend arrearages thereon in cash plus (II) any dividends accrued and unpaid thereon from the last dividend payment date to the date of the final distribution to such holder plus (B) solely in connection with an event specified in clauses (A), (D), (E), (F) or (G) above, a premium equal to 20.2% of the amount described in clause (i)(A) of this sentence at such time or (ii) an amount per share of 5% convertible preferred stock equal to the amount which would have been payable or distributable had each share of 5% convertible preferred stock been converted into shares of our common stock immediately before the event occurred under clause (A), (B), (C) or (D) above.

Subject to the rights of the holders of any parity shares, upon any of the events specified in clauses (A) through (D) above, after payment shall have been made in full to the holders of the convertible preferred stock and any parity securities, any other series or class or classes of junior securities shall be entitled to receive any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the holders of the convertible preferred stock and any parity securities as such shall not be entitled to share in that payment or distribution.

In the event that the event giving rise to the determination of the amount that holders of 5% convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to receive as their liquidation preference is a failure by us to make any payment of principal, interest, or other amount due and payable of any of our or our subsidiaries’ indebtedness after giving effect to any applicable cure period, that event shall be deemed never to have occurred if, subsequent to the expiration of the cure period, (i) that failure to make payment is cured in full, (ii) all other obligations to pay principal, interest or other amounts due and payable of any of our or our subsidiaries’ indebtedness have been paid at that time, and (iii) no bankruptcy event has occurred.

Ranking

The 5% convertible preferred stock ranks, with respect to rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any of the events specified in clauses (A) through (D) under “—Liquidation Preference” above,

(1)  senior to all common stock and to all other equity securities of our company other than equity securities referred to in clauses (2) and (3) of this sentence (“junior securities”); 

(2)  to the extent authorized under the certificate of designations, on a parity with all equity securities of our company the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank on a parity with the 5% convertible preferred stock (“parity securities”); and 

(3)  to the extent authorized under the certificate of designations, junior to all equity securities of our company the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to the 5% convertible preferred stock (“senior securities”).

        See “—Voting Rights—Matters Requiring Approval of Holders of 5% Convertible Preferred Stock” for a description of the types of issuances of equity securities and other securities of our company requiring approval of holders of a majority of shares of 5% convertible preferred stock then outstanding, voting together as a class.

Redemption

If:

each holder of 5% convertible preferred stock shall have the right to cause us to redeem all or part of the shares of 5% convertible preferred stock held by such holder for a redemption price per share equal to (i) the original purchase price plus any dividend arrearages plus any dividends accrued and unpaid thereon from the last dividend payment date to, but excluding, the redemption date plus (ii) a premium equal to 20.2% of the amount described in clause (i) of this sentence at such time.

We are required to mail notice of any redemption event to the holders of 5% convertible preferred stock not later than one business day after we acquire knowledge of that event. That notice must state, among other things, (1) the redemption price and the date of redemption, which shall be no sooner than 30 days and no later than 90 days from the date the notice is mailed and (2) any holder of 5% convertible preferred stock electing to have its shares redeemed shall be required to surrender its shares, with a properly completed redemption request, to us before the close of business on the fifth business day before the redemption date. If we fail to give notice of the redemption event within the time period specified above, then any holder of 5% convertible preferred stock may deliver that notice to us and the other holders, in which case the redemption date shall occur on the 45th day after the date of the notice and any holder electing to have any of its shares of 5% convertible preferred stock redeemed shall be required to surrender its shares, with a properly completed redemption request, to us before the close of business on the fifth business day preceding that redemption date.

Until the holders of the 5% convertible preferred stock who have delivered a notice to us requesting redemption have been paid the redemption price specified in the previous paragraph in full, no payment will be made to any holder of parity securities or junior securities.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event that the event giving rise to the above redemption right is a failure by us to make any payment of principal, interest or other amount due and payable of any of our indebtedness after giving effect to any applicable cure period, that event shall be deemed never to have occurred and any request for redemption delivered by a holder of 5% convertible preferred stock in respect of that event shall be deemed automatically rescinded if, subsequent to the expiration of the cure period, (i) our failure to make payment is cured in full, (ii) all other obligations to pay principal, interest or other amounts due and payable of any of our or our subsidiaries’ indebtedness have been paid at such time and (iii) no bankruptcy event has occurred.

Conversion Rights

Conversion at the Option of the Holder.  The holders of shares of 5% convertible preferred stock will, at any time, be entitled to convert some or all of their 5% convertible preferred stock into the number of shares of our common stock obtained by dividing the aggregate original purchase price of the shares to be converted plus any dividend arrearages plus any dividends accrued and unpaid from the last dividend payment date to but excluding the conversion date by an amount equal to 80% of the initial public offering price per share in our initial public offering, which amount we refer to as the conversion price. The conversion price will be adjustable upon the occurrence of certain events and transactions to prevent dilution as described under “—Adjustments to Conversion Price to Prevent Dilution.” Any shares of our common stock issued upon conversion of the shares of 5% convertible preferred stock shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Cash shall be paid in lieu of fractional shares.

Conversion at our Option.  At any time following the first anniversary of the issuance of the 5% convertible preferred stock, provided that (A) the volume-weighted average price of our common stock for the 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date we elect for conversion is in excess of 150% of the initial public offering price per share in this offering (as adjusted for the events described below under “—Adjustments to Conversion Price to Prevent Dilution” and dividends paid in shares of our common stock) and (B) we have in place an effective resale shelf registration statement permitting the resale of all of the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the 5% convertible preferred stock, we have the right to require the conversion of any number of shares of 5% convertible preferred stock then outstanding into the number of shares of our common stock obtained by dividing the aggregate original purchase price of the shares to be converted plus any dividend arrearages plus any dividends accrued and unpaid from the last dividend payment date to but excluding the conversion date by the then applicable conversion price.

Adjustments to Conversion Price to Prevent Dilution

The 5% convertible preferred stock is subject to provisions that protect the holders against dilution by adjustment of the conversion price and/or number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion in certain events such as a subdivision, combination or reclassification of our outstanding common stock.

Voting Rights—Matters Requiring Approval of Holders of 5% Convertible Preferred Stock

Holders of the 5% convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to vote on any and all matters on which holders of the company common stock are entitled to vote on an “as if” converted basis. Additionally, so long as any 5% convertible preferred stock remains outstanding, without the affirmative approval of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of 5% convertible preferred stock then outstanding, we shall not, directly or indirectly (including through merger or consolidation with any other corporation), and shall not permit any of our subsidiaries to:

(1)  authorize or approve the issuance of any senior securities, 5% convertible preferred stock, or parity securities (or, in each case, any security convertible into, or convertible or exchangeable therefor or linked thereto) or authorize or create or increase the authorized amount of any senior securities, 5% convertible preferred stock or parity securities (or, in each case, any security convertible into, or convertible or exchangeable therefor or linked thereto); 

(2)  authorize or approve the purchase or redemption of any parity securities or junior securities; 

(3)  amend, alter or repeal any of the provisions of the certificate of designations, our Certificate of Incorporation or our Bylaws in a manner that would adversely affect the powers, designations, preferences and rights of the 5% convertible preferred stock; 

(4)  contract, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any indebtedness or guarantee any such indebtedness with an aggregate value of more than $5,000,000 (subject to certain exceptions); or 

(5)  agree to take any of the foregoing actions.

The certificate of designations governing the 5% convertible preferred stock also provides that no amendment or waiver of any provision of the certificate of designations or our Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws shall, without the prior written consent of all holders of the 5% convertible preferred stock who are known to us to hold, together with their affiliates, more than 5% of the 5% convertible preferred stock then outstanding, (i) reduce any amounts payable or that may become payable to holders of the 5% convertible preferred stock, (ii) postpone the payment date of any amount payable to holders of the 5% convertible preferred stock or waive or excuse any payment, (iii) modify or waive the conversion rights of the 5% convertible preferred stock in a manner that would adversely affect any holder of the 5% convertible preferred stock, or (iv) change any of the voting-related provisions or any other provision of the certificate of designations specifying the number or percentage of holders of the 5% convertible preferred stock which are required to waive, amend or modify any rights under the certificate of designations or make any determination or grant any consent under that document.

Registration Rights

The holders of the 5% convertible preferred stock were granted registration rights, subject to customary cutbacks, blackout periods and other exceptions, for all shares of our common stock issued or issuable upon conversion of the 5% convertible preferred stock, including (a) two demand registrations at any time after the expiration of 180 days from the closing of our initial public offering, (b) unlimited piggyback rights and (c) the right to require filing of a resale S-3 registration statement (once we became eligible to file on such form) and maintenance of its effectiveness on an “evergreen” basis until such time as there are no longer any registrable securities.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and Delaware Law

The provisions of the DGCL and our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting an unsolicited offer to acquire our company. Such provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

Election and Removal of Directors.  Our directors are elected until the expiration of the term for which they are elected and until their respective successors are elected. Our directors may be removed only by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the holders of our then outstanding common stock. This system of electing and removing directors generally makes it more difficult for stockholders to replace a majority of our directors. For more information on our board of directors, see the section entitled “Corporate Governance” in our Definitive Proxy Statement dated as of April 2, 2020.

Authorized but Unissued Shares.  The authorized but unissued shares of our common stock and our preferred stock are available for future issuance without any further vote or action by our stockholders. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of our common stock and our preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control over us by means of a proxy contest, changes in our management, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Stockholder Action; Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals.  Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws require that any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by a consent in writing. Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws also require that special meetings of stockholders be called only by our board of directors, the Chairman of our board of directors or our Chief Executive Officer. In addition, our Bylaws provide that candidates for director may be nominated and other business brought before an annual meeting only by the board of directors or by a stockholder who gives written notice to us no later than 90 days prior to nor earlier than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the last annual meeting of stockholders. These provisions may have the effect of deterring unsolicited offers to acquire our company or delaying changes in our management, which could depress the market price of our common stock.

Delaware Anti-Takeover Law.  Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover law, applies to us. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless the “business combination” or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own, 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock.

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that no director will be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of any fiduciary duty as a director, except with respect to liability:



If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of our directors will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended. The modification or repeal of this provision of our Certificate of Incorporation will not adversely affect any right or protection of a director existing at the time of such modification or repeal.

Our Bylaws also provide that we will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify our directors and officers against all liabilities and expenses in any suit or proceeding or arising out of their status as an officer or director or their activities in these capacities. We also indemnify any person who, at our request, is or was serving as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. We may, by action of our board of directors, provide indemnification to our employees and agents within the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.

Exclusive Forum

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any (i) derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our company, (ii) action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer of our company to our company or our company’s stockholders, (iii) action asserting a claim against our company arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our Certificate of Incorporation or our Bylaws or (iv) action asserting a claim against our company governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This exclusive forum provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. In addition, Section 22 of the Securities Act 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. As a result, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce our forum selection clause in connection with claims arising under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of our company shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation. However, the enforceability of similar forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that a court could find these types of provisions to be unenforceable.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The debt securities that we may issue and sell under this prospectus will be our direct general obligations. The debt securities will be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and may be secured or unsecured and may be convertible into other securities, including our common stock. The debt securities will be issued under one or more separate indentures between our company and a financial institution that will act as trustee. Senior debt securities will be issued under a senior indenture. Subordinated debt securities will be issued under a subordinated indenture. Each of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture is referred to individually as an indenture and collectively as the indentures. Each of the senior debt trustee and the subordinated debt trustee is referred to individually as a trustee and collectively as the trustees. The material terms of any indenture will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We have summarized certain terms and provisions of the indentures, copies of which are filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The summary is not complete. The indentures are subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The senior indenture and subordinated indenture are substantially identical, except for the provisions relating to subordination.

Neither indenture will limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. We may issue debt securities up to an aggregate principal amount as we may authorize from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any debt securities being offered.  These terms will include some or all of the following:

Senior Debt

We may issue under the senior indenture the debt securities that will constitute part of our senior debt. These senior debt securities will rank equally and pari passu with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.



Subordinated Debt

We may issue under the subordinated indenture the debt securities that will constitute part of our subordinated debt. These subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the subordinated indenture, to all our “senior indebtedness.” “Senior indebtedness” is defined in the subordinated indenture and generally includes obligations of, or guaranteed by, us for borrowed money, or as evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, or in respect of letters of credit or other similar instruments, or to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, or as a lessee under capital leases, or as secured by a lien on any asset of ours. “Senior indebtedness” does not include the subordinated debt securities or any other obligations specifically designated as being subordinate in right of payment to, or pari passu with, the subordinated debt securities. In general, the holders of all senior indebtedness are first entitled to receive payment in full of such senior indebtedness before the holders of any of the subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive a payment on account of the principal or interest on the indebtedness evidenced by the subordinated debt securities in certain events. These events include:

Authentication and Delivery

We will deliver the debt securities to the trustee for authentication, and the trustee will authenticate and deliver the debt securities upon our written order.

Events of Default

When we use the term “Event of Default” in the indentures with respect to the debt securities, of any series, set forth below are some examples of what we mean:



If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (4) above) with respect to the debt securities of any series then outstanding occurs and is continuing, then either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the securities of all such series then outstanding in respect of which an Event of Default has occurred may, by notice in writing to us, declare the entire principal amount of all debt securities of the affected series, and accrued interest, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable.



If an Event of Default described in clause (4) above occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all the debt securities then outstanding and accrued interest shall be and become due immediately and payable without any declaration, notice or other action by any holder of the debt securities or the trustee.

The trustee will, within 90 days after the occurrence of any default actually known to it, give notice of the default to the holders of the debt securities of that series, unless the default was already cured or waived. Unless there is a default in paying principal or interest when due, the trustee can withhold giving notice to the holders if it determines in good faith that the withholding of notice is in the interest of the holders.

Satisfaction, Discharge and Defeasance

We may discharge our obligations under each indenture, except as to:

when:

In addition, unless the applicable prospectus supplement and supplemental indenture otherwise provide, we may elect either (i) to have our obligations under each indenture discharged with respect to the outstanding debt securities of any series (“legal defeasance”) or (ii) to be released from our obligations under each indenture with respect to certain covenants applicable to the outstanding debt securities of any series (“covenant defeasance”). Legal defeasance means that we will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the outstanding debt securities of such series under such indenture and covenant defeasance means that we will no longer be required to comply with the obligations with respect to such covenants (and an omission to comply with such obligations will not constitute a default or event of default).

In order to exercise legal defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to outstanding debt securities of any series:

We are required to furnish to each trustee an annual statement as to compliance with all conditions and

covenants under the indenture

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities, including any claim or controversy arising out of or relating to the indenture or the securities, will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of shares of our common stock or preferred stock or of debt securities. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and the investors purchasing the warrants or a warrant agent. The following summary of material provisions of the warrants and warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement and warrant certificate applicable to a particular series of warrants. The terms of any warrants offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants.

The particular terms of any issue of warrants will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the issue. Those terms may include:

 Holders of equity warrants will not be entitled to:

 Each warrant will entitle its holder to purchase the principal amount of debt securities or the number of shares of preferred stock or common stock at the exercise price set forth in, or calculable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

A holder of warrant certificates may exchange them for new warrant certificates of different denominations, present them for registration of transfer and exercise them at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Until any warrants to purchase debt securities are exercised, the holder of the warrants will not have any rights of holders of the debt securities that can be purchased upon exercise, including any rights to receive payments of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the underlying debt securities or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture. Until any warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock are exercised, the holders of the warrants will not have any rights of holders of the underlying common stock or preferred stock, including any rights to receive dividends or payments upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up on the common stock or preferred stock, if any.

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of:

Each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, such securities, currencies or commodities at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may, however, satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by delivering the cash value of such purchase contract or the cash value of the property otherwise deliverable or, in the case of purchase contracts on underlying currencies, by delivering the underlying currencies, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such securities, currencies or commodities and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract.

The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders thereof or vice versa, which payments may be deferred to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and those payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require the holders thereof to secure their obligations in a specified manner to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Alternatively, purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations thereunder when the purchase contracts are issued. Our obligation to settle such pre-paid purchase contracts on the relevant settlement date may constitute indebtedness. Accordingly, pre-paid purchase contracts will be issued under an indenture.



DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue units consisting of any combination of the other types of securities offered under this prospectus in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units.

The following description, together with the additional information included in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general features of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. You should read any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of units being offered, as well as the complete unit agreements that contain the terms of the units. Specific unit agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and we will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or will incorporate by reference from another report that we file with the SEC, the form of each unit agreement relating to units offered under this prospectus.

If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable:

FORM OF SECURITIES

Each debt security, warrant and unit will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, certificated securities in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities, warrants or units represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor’s beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below. 

Global Securities

We may issue the debt securities, warrants and units in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.

If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in global securities.

So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement, unit agreement or other applicable agreement. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement, unit agreement or other applicable agreement. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement, or unit agreement or other applicable agreement. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement, unit agreement or other applicable agreement, the depositary for the global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities, and any payments to holders with respect to warrants or units, represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global security. None of Kadmon, any trustee, any warrant agent, any unit agent or any other agent of Kadmon, agent of the trustees or agent

of the warrant agents or unit agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest to holders or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on that global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.

If the depositary for any of the securities represented by a global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee, warrant agent, unit agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global security that had been held by the depositary.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers. The securities may be distributed from time to time in one or more transactions:

We may also sell equity securities covered by this registration statement in an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. Such offering may be made into an existing trading market for such securities in transactions at other than a fixed price on or through the facilities of the NYSE or any other securities exchange or quotation or trading service on which such securities may be listed, quoted or traded at the time of sale.

Such at the market offerings, if any, may be conducted by underwriters or placement agents acting as principal or agent.

A prospectus supplement or supplements (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:



Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.

If underwriters are used in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, they will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe any such arrangement in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter and the nature of any such relationship.

We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities, and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, the securities will be sold to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.

We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.

We may provide agents and underwriters with indemnification against civil liabilities related to offerings pursuant to this prospectus, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities. Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

All securities we offer, other than common shares, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.

In order to facilitate the offering of the securities, any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions include purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a stabilizing or covering transaction to cover short positions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market.  If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time.

Any underwriters who are qualified market makers on the NYSE may engage in passive market making transactions in the securities on the NYSE in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of the securities. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded. Passive market making may stabilize the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise or the securities are sold by us to an underwriter in a firm commitment underwritten offering. The applicable prospectus supplement may provide that the original issue date for your securities may be more than two scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities. Accordingly, in such a case, if you wish to trade securities on any date prior to the second business day before the original issue date for your securities, you will be required, by virtue of the fact that your securities initially are expected to settle in more than two scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities, to make alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.

The securities may be new issues of securities and may have no established trading market. The securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. We can make no assurance as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any of the securities.

LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the issuance of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Cooley LLP, New York, New York. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Kadmon Holdings, Inc. as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2019 incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in the registration statement have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm (the report on the consolidated financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern) incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. This prospectus, which forms a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. For further information about us and the securities offered hereby, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed thereto. Statements contained in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act. Our filings with the SEC, including the filings that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, are available to the public on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Those filings are also available to the public on, or accessible through, our website at www.kadmon.com. The information on, or that can be accessed through, our website or any other website that we may maintain is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any other filings we make with the SEC.

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information contained in documents that we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we subsequently file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. The following documents that we previously filed with the SEC (File No. 001-37841) are incorporated by reference herein:

All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the completion of the sales of the securities offered hereby, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents. The most recent information that we file with the SEC automatically updates and supersedes older information. The information contained in any such filing will be deemed to be a part of this prospectus commencing on the date on which the document is filed.

You can obtain any of the filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus through us or from the SEC through the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov. We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should direct requests for those documents to the Corporate Secretary, Kadmon Holdings, Inc., 450 East 29th Street, New York, NY 10016 (telephone: (833) 900-5366). Our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q may also be found on the Investor Relations portion of our website at investors.kadmon.com. The information on, or that can be accessed through, our website or any other website that we may maintain is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any other filings we make with the SEC.