UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 28, 2020

Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its Charter)

(214) 612-0000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below):

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws

Amendment and Restatement of Certificate of Incorporation

On September 28, 2020, Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc., or the Company, filed an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or the Restated Certificate, with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in connection with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering of its common stock, or the IPO. The Company’s board of directors and stockholders previously approved the Restated Certificate to be effective upon the closing of the IPO. The Restated Certificate is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Amendment and Restatement of Bylaws

Effective as of September 28, 2020, the Company adopted Amended and Restated Bylaws, or the Restated Bylaws, in connection with the closing of the IPO. The Company’s board of directors and stockholders previously approved the Restated Bylaws to be effective upon the closing of the IPO. The Restated Bylaws are attached hereto as Exhibit 3.2 and are incorporated herein by reference.

Please see the description of the Restated Certificate and the Restated Bylaws in the section titled “Description of Capital Stock” in the final prospectus the Company filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on September 25, 2020 pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-248559).

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Exhibit 3.1

TAYSHA GENE THERAPIES, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), does hereby certify as follows:

FIRST:    That the name of the Company is Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc., and that this corporation was originally incorporated in Texas pursuant to the Texas Business Organizations Code.

SECOND:    That the Company subsequently converted to a corporation incorporated under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) on February 13, 2020 under the name Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc.

THIRD:    That the Board of Directors of the Company, acting in accordance with the provisions of Sections 141 and 242 of the DGCL, duly adopted resolutions proposing to amend and restate the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, declaring said amendment and restatement to be advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and authorizing the appropriate officers of the Company to solicit the consent of the stockholders therefore, and this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was approved by the holders of the requisite number of shares of stock of the Company in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL.

FOURTH:    That this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted and approved by the Board of Directors and the stockholders of the Company in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL.

FIFTH:    That this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation so adopted reads in full as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc. has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by its President and Chief Executive Officer on this 28^th day of September, 2020.

EXHIBIT A

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

TAYSHA GENE THERAPIES, INC.

I.

The name of this corporation is Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc. (the “Company”).

II.

The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware is 1675 South State Street, Suite B, in the City of Dover, County of Kent, Delaware 19901. The name of the registered agent of the Company in the State of Delaware at such address is Capitol Services, Inc.

III.

The purpose of the Company is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”).

IV.

A.    The Company is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock.” The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Company shall have authority to issue is two hundred million (200,000,000) shares shall be Common Stock (the “Common Stock”), each share having a par value of one-hundredth of one cent ($0.00001), and ten million (10,000,000) shares shall be Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”), each share having a par value of one-hundredth of one cent ($0.00001).

B.    The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) is hereby expressly authorized to provide for the issue of the shares of the Preferred Stock in one or more series, and to fix the number of shares and to determine or alter for each such series, such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designation, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, or other rights and such qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board providing for the issuance of such shares and as may be permitted by the DGCL. The Board is also expressly authorized to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series subsequent to the issuance of shares of that series, but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding. In case the number of shares of any series shall be decreased in accordance with the foregoing sentence, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon, without a separate vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof, unless a vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the terms of any certificate of designation filed with respect to any series of Preferred Stock.

C.    Each outstanding share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Company for their vote; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation filed with respect to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon by law or pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation filed with respect to any series of Preferred Stock).

V.

For the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Company, and in further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Company, of its directors and of its stockholders or any class thereof, as the case may be, it is further provided that:

A.    MANAGEMENT OF BUSINESS. The management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Company shall be vested in its Board.

B.    BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

1.    Number. The number of directors that shall constitute the Board shall be fixed exclusively by resolutions adopted by a majority of the authorized number of directors constituting the Board.

2.    Term. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, following the closing of the initial public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) covering the offer and sale of securities to the public (the “Initial Public Offering”), the directors shall be divided into three classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, respectively. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to such classes at the time the classification becomes effective. At the first annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the term of office of the Class I directors shall expire and Class I directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. At the second annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the term of office of the Class II directors shall expire and Class II directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. At the third annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the term of office of the Class III directors shall expire and Class III directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. At each succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, directors shall be elected for a full term of three years to succeed the directors of the class whose terms expire at such annual meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, each director shall serve until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

2.

3.    Removal.

a.    Subject to the rights of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, following the closing of the Initial Public Offering, neither the Board nor any individual director may be removed without cause.

b.    Subject to any limitation imposed by law, any individual director or directors may be removed with cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally at an election of directors.

4.    Vacancies. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes, and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors, shall, unless the Board determines by resolution that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by law, be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of the Board, and not by the stockholders. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the director for which the vacancy was created or occurred and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified.

C.    BYLAW AMENDMENTS. The Board is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Company. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Company by the Board shall require the approval of a majority of the authorized number of directors. The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Company; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Company required by law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, such action by stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

D.    WRITTEN BALLOTS. The directors of the Company need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.

E.    ACTION BY STOCKHOLDERS. No action shall be taken by the stockholders of the Company except at an annual or special meeting of stockholders called in accordance with the Bylaws and no action shall be taken by the stockholders by written consent or electronic transmission.

F.    ADVANCE NOTICE. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Company shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Company.

3.

VI.

A.    The liability of the directors for monetary damages shall be eliminated to the fullest extent under applicable law. If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Company shall be eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.

B.    Any repeal or modification of this Article VI shall be prospective and shall not affect the rights under this Article VI in effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any act or omission to act giving rise to liability or indemnification.

VII.

A.    Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any state court located within the State of Delaware or, if and only if all such state courts lack subject matter jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) and any appellate court therefrom shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the following claims or causes of action under the Delaware statutory or common law: (i) any derivative claim or cause of action brought on behalf of the Company; (ii) any claim or cause of action for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Company, to the Company or the Company’s stockholders; (iii) any claim or cause of action against the Company or any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Company, arising out of or pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Company (as each may be amended from time to time); (iv) any claim or cause of action seeking to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Company (as each may be amended from time to time, including any right, obligation, or remedy thereunder); (v) any claim or cause of action as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; and (vi) any claim or cause of action against the Company or any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Company, governed by the internal-affairs doctrine, in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. This Section A of Article VII shall not apply to claims or causes of action brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.

B.    Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the 1933 Act.

C.    Any person or entity holding, owning or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Company shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

4.

VIII.

A.    The Company reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, except as provided in paragraph B. of this Article VIII, and all rights conferred upon the stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

B.    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the Company required by law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any certificate of designation filed with respect to a series of Preferred Stock that may be designated from time to time, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal Articles V, VI, VII and VIII.

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5.