CaseMark Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Drafts a filing-ready Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation for a Delaware corporation in connection with a preferred stock financing round. Delaware-specific — do not apply to other states without modification.
Prerequisites
Collect before drafting:
- Term sheet — pricing, liquidation preference multiple, anti-dilution method, protective provisions, board composition
- Prior Certificate — current authorized capital, existing preferred series, unusual provisions
- Cap table — shares outstanding, option pool, warrants, convertible notes
- Transaction documents — SPA, IRA, voting agreement, ROFR/co-sale (for cross-reference)
- Registered agent — name, physical Delaware street address (no P.O. boxes), county
Quick Start
- Gather all prerequisites above
- Run pre-draft verification (cross-check term sheet against cap table and SPA)
- Draft articles I–VII using the document skeleton
- Verify anti-dilution formula and liquidation waterfall with sample numbers
- Cross-check all defined terms against transaction documents
- Confirm filing readiness with Delaware Secretary of State requirements
Pre-Draft Verification
Extract and cross-check — flag discrepancies before drafting:
| Data Point | Source | Verify Against |
|---|---|---|
| Pre/post-money valuation | Term sheet | Cap table |
| Price per share | Term sheet | SPA, cap table math |
| Shares issued this round | Term sheet | SPA |
| Total authorized Common | Cap table | Outstanding + pool + all conversions + cushion |
| Total authorized Preferred (per series) | Term sheet | Shares issued + warrant/note conversions + anti-dilution cushion |
| Option pool size | Term sheet | Board resolutions, cap table |
| Liquidation preference multiple | Term sheet | SPA |
| Dividend rate and type | Term sheet | — |
| Anti-dilution method | Term sheet | — |
| Board composition | Term sheet | Voting agreement |
Document Skeleton
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF [EXACT LEGAL NAME]
[Corporation] hereby certifies:
1. Original Certificate filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on [DATE].
2. This Amended and Restated Certificate has been duly adopted pursuant to
Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL [by board consent under §245 / by board
and stockholder approval under §242].
3. The text of the Certificate is hereby amended and restated in its entirety
as follows:
ARTICLE I — NAME
ARTICLE II — REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT
ARTICLE III — PURPOSE
ARTICLE IV — AUTHORIZED CAPITAL
ARTICLE V — PREFERRED STOCK RIGHTS
ARTICLE VI — DIRECTOR EXCULPATION
ARTICLE VII — [Additional governance as needed]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF...
[Signature block: name, title, date]
Core Articles
Article I — Name. Must include corporate designator (Corp., Inc., etc.) per DGCL §102(a)(1). Must match across all transaction documents exactly.
Article II — Registered Office. Physical street address in Delaware with county. Named registered agent who has consented to serve.
Article III — Purpose. Standard broad clause: "any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL." Narrow only if regulatory/tax reasons require.
Article IV — Authorized Capital.
Total authorized: [X] shares
Common Stock: [X] shares, $[0.0001] par value
Preferred Stock: [X] shares, $[0.0001] par value
Series Seed: [X] shares
Series A: [X] shares
Undesignated: [X] shares (blank check authority)
Common must cover: outstanding + option pool + all preferred as-converted + warrants/notes + cushion.
Article V — Preferred Stock Rights. Draft in this order:
| Section | Key Decisions |
|---|---|
| Dividends | Cumulative vs. non-cumulative; rate; when-as-if-declared vs. auto-accruing; series priority |
| Liquidation Preference | Preference amount (OIP × multiple + accrued dividends); pari passu vs. senior; participating vs. non-participating; cap |
| Optional Conversion | Ratio = OIP ÷ Conversion Price; initial CP = OIP; no fractional shares |
| Mandatory Conversion | Qualified IPO trigger (min proceeds + min price); majority/supermajority Preferred vote |
| Anti-Dilution | Broad-based weighted average; enumerate carve-outs |
| Voting Rights | As-converted with Common; separate class vote for protective provisions |
| Protective Provisions | Majority/supermajority Preferred consent for enumerated actions |
| Board Designation | Seats for Common, each Preferred series, independent/mutual |
See references/DETAILS.md for anti-dilution formula, carve-out checklist, protective provisions checklist, and liquidation waterfalls.
Article VI — Director Exculpation. DGCL §102(b)(7) maximum exculpation with statutory carve-outs (loyalty breach, bad faith, §174, improper personal benefit). Include future-amendment auto-update clause.
Article VII+ — Optional Provisions. Indemnification + mandatory advancement; D&O insurance authority; corporate opportunity waiver; forum selection (Court of Chancery); written consent/special meeting provisions.
Pitfalls and Checks
- Defined terms — define once, use consistently; cross-check against SPA/IRA/voting agreement definitions
- Mathematical verification — test liquidation waterfall at multiple exit values; verify anti-dilution formula with sample down-round
- Cross-references — verify all internal section references and subsection numbering
- DGCL compliance — cite §§242, 245 in recitals; §102(a)(1) for name; §102(b)(7) for exculpation; §151 for stock rights
- Blank check preferred — if authorized, ensure protective provisions cover future series designation
- Par value consistency — match across Common and Preferred unless justified
- Filing readiness — document must be executable and fileable as-is
- Never guess share numbers, valuations, or pricing — flag gaps and request clarification