Exhibit 4.1
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
General
The following description summarizes the most important terms of our capital stock and certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, copies of which have been filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this prospectus is a part, and by the applicable provisions of Delaware law.
Our authorized capital stock consists of 110,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which (i) 100,000,000 shares are Common Stock with a par value $0.0001 per share and (ii) 10,000,000 shares are preferred stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. All of our authorized shares of preferred stock are undesignated.
Common Stock
Voting Rights
Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the shareholders, including the election of directors. Such holders are not entitled to vote cumulatively for the election of directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation establishes a classified board of directors that is divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms. Only the directors in one class will be subject to election by a plurality of the votes cast at each annual meeting of our shareholders, with the directors in the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms. The affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock, voting as a single class, will be required to amend certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, including provisions relating to amending our amended and restated bylaws and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the classified structure of our board of directors, the size of our board of directors, removal of directors, director liability, vacancies on our board of directors, special meetings, shareholder notices, actions by written consent, and exclusive jurisdiction.
Dividends
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock, our common shareholders are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently expect to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the growth and development of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. See the section titled “Dividend Policy” for further information.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, our common shareholders are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of preferred stock, if any, then outstanding.
No Preemptive or Similar Rights
Our common shareholders have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Common Stock.
Preferred Stock
Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors is authorized, without action by the shareholders, to designate and issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to designate the powers, preferences and rights of each series, which may be greater than the rights of the Common Stock. It is not possible to state the actual effect of the issuance of any shares of preferred stock upon the rights of holders of the Common Stock until the board of directors determines the specific rights of the holders of such preferred stock. However, the effects might include, among other things:
| ● | impairing dividend rights of the Common Stock; |
| ● | diluting the voting power of the Common Stock; | |
| ● | impairing the liquidation rights of the Common Stock; and | |
| ● | delaying or preventing a change in control of us without further action by the shareholders |
Convertible Promissory Note
In 2022, NeOnc Technologies, Inc. issued a $50,000 convertible note to a shareholder due August 30, 2023 (“Note”). The Note bears interest at 2% per annum and is convertible. The Note and all accrued interest thereon is convertible, at the option of the noteholder, into the class and series of equity securities (“Conversion Stock”) that is sold by us in its next issuance of equity securities in a Financing Transaction (as defined below), consummated after the issuance date of the note. A Financing Transaction is a sale, other than in an initial public offering, of equity securities by us to investors for cash. The Financing Transaction does not include the issuance of stock, options, or warrants to service providers in connection with the rendition of such services or to third parties in connection with the contribution of non-cash assets to us. The number of shares of Conversion Stock to be issued to the noteholder upon such conversion shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the entire principal amount of the Note plus accrued interest by (ii) the Financing Transaction conversion price, which shall be equal to 75% of the price paid for one share of Conversion Stock by the investors in the Financing Transaction. The entire principal amount of and accrued interest of the Note shall automatically be converted, without further action on the part of the noteholder or us, into the class and series of stock issued by us, at the closing of an initial public offering. The number of shares of stock to be issued to the holder upon such conversion shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the entire principal amount of the Note plus accrued interest by (ii) the initial public offering conversion price, which shall be equal to 75% of the price paid for one share of Conversion Stock by the investors in the initial public offering. On January 31, 2024, the Note was assigned to HCWG LLC (an entity owned by certain shareholders, directors, and officers of the Company). Additionally, as part of the assignment, the Note was amended to increase the principal balance to $62,500, amend the maturity date to the date that the Company completes its initial public offering, and the Note was subordinated to the Bridge Loan (defined herein).
Anti-Takeover Provisions
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws
Because our shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights, our shareholders holding a plurality of the outstanding shares of Common Stock outstanding will be able to elect all of our directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide for shareholder actions at a duly called meeting of shareholders. A special meeting of shareholders may be called by a majority of our board of directors, the chair of our board of directors, or our chief executive officer or president. Our amended and restated bylaws will establish an advance notice procedure for shareholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of our shareholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our board of directors.
In accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors is divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms.
2
The foregoing provisions will make it more difficult for our existing shareholders to replace our Board of Directors as well as for another party to obtain control of us by replacing our Board of Directors. Since our board of directors has the power to retain and discharge our officers, these provisions could also make it more difficult for existing shareholders or another party to effect a change in management. In addition, the authorization of undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for our Board of Directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change our control.
These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continued stability in the composition of our Board of Directors and its policies and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened acquisition of us. These provisions are also designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal and to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights. However, such provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares and may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in our control or management.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested shareholder for a period of three years after the date that such shareholder became an interested shareholder, with the following exceptions:
| ● | before such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder; |
| ● | upon closing of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction began, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested shareholder) those shares owned by (i) persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or |
| ● | on or after such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the shareholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2∕3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested shareholder. |
In general, Section 203 defines business combination to include the following:
| ● | any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested shareholder; |
| ● | any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested shareholder; |
| ● | subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested shareholder; |
| ● | any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock or any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested shareholder; or |
| ● | the receipt by the interested shareholder of the benefit of any loss, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits by or through the corporation. |
In general, Section 203 defines an “interested shareholder” as an entity or person who, together with the person’s affiliates and associates, beneficially owns, or within three years prior to the time of determination of interested shareholder status did own, 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation.
3
Exclusive forum for adjudication of disputes provision which limits the forum to the Delaware Court of Chancery for certain shareholder litigation matters actions against us, which may limit an investor’s ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or shareholders.
Our amended and restated bylaws dictate that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Delaware Court of Chancery (or, if the Delaware Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the State of Delaware) is, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for certain actions including derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; an action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty owed by any current or former officer, director, employee or to the shareholders of our company; any claim arising under Delaware corporate law, our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws, as amended from time to time; and any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. 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 provisions of our amended and restated bylaws.
However, this provision of our amended and restated bylaws will 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. To the extent that any such claims may be based upon federal law claims, 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.
Furthermore, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. We note, however, that Section 22 of 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. There is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce this provision and that investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
A Delaware corporation is allowed to mandate in its corporate governance documents a chosen forum for the resolution of state law-based shareholder actions, derivative suits and other intra-corporate disputes. With respect to such state law claims, our management believes limiting state law based claims to Delaware will provide the most appropriate outcomes as the risk of another forum misapplying Delaware law is avoided, Delaware courts have a well-developed body of case law and limiting the forum will preclude costly and duplicative litigation and avoids the risk of inconsistent outcomes. Additionally, Delaware Chancery Courts can typically resolve disputes on an accelerated schedule when compared to other forums.
The choice of forum provisions contained in our amended and restated bylaws may limit a shareholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company or any of our directors, officers, other employees or shareholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. Alternatively, the enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other issuers’ bylaws and certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that in connection with any applicable action brought against our company, a court could find the choice of forum provisions contained in our bylaws, as amended. to be inapplicable or unenforceable in such action. As a result, we could incur additional costs associated with resolving such actions in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
We have appointed VStock Transfer LLC, 18 Lafayette Pl Woodmere, NY 11598, telephone: (212) 828-8436, as the transfer agent for our Common Stock
Trading Symbol and Market
Our shares of Common Stock are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “NTHI”.
4