Document

Exhibit 4.2


DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


The following is a description of the common stock, $0.00001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of Sio Gene Therapies Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”), which is the only class of securities of the Company registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The following summary description is based on the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). This information may not be complete in all respects and is qualified entirely by reference to the provisions of our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and the DGCL. 


Authorized Share Capital
Our authorized capital stock consists of 1,000,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. 
Common Stock
Voting Rights 
Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock owned of record on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of common stock (as well as holders of any preferred stock entitled to vote with the common stockholders) vote together as a single class on all matters presented to the stockholders for their vote or approval, including the election of directors. There are no cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of directors or any other matters.
Dividend Rights
The holders of our common stock have the right to receive dividends and distributions, whether payable in cash or otherwise, as may be declared from time to time by its board of directors, from legally available funds.
Right to Receive Liquidation Distributions
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share equally in the assets available for distribution after payment of all creditors and the liquidation preferences of its preferred stock (if any).
No Preemption of Similar Rights
Holders of our common stock have no conversion rights, subscription rights, preemptive or other rights to purchase or subscribe for our securities, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our Common Stock.
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Anti-takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and Delaware Law
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that may prevent or discourage a third party from acquiring us, even if the acquisition would be beneficial to its stockholders. Our board of directors also have the authority to fix the rights, powers and preferences of shares of our preferred stock and to issue such shares without a stockholder vote.
We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL (“Section 203”), which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination (as defined in Section 203) with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years subsequent to the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder unless:
•before such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;
•upon completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder 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 stockholder, those shares owned (1) by persons who are directors and also officers and (2) 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 stockholders, 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 stockholder.
In general, Section 203 defines a “business combination” to include the following:
•any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;
•any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder;
•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 stockholder;
•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 stockholder; or
•the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits by or through the corporation.
In general, Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” 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 stockholder status did own, 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation.
A Delaware corporation may “opt out” of these provisions with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or an express provision in its amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws resulting from a stockholders’ amendment approved by at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares. We have not opted out of these provisions. As a result, mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts of us may be discouraged or prevented.
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Such provisions may have the effect of deterring, delaying or prohibiting mergers, takeovers or changes in control.
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Among other things, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws:
•permit our board of directors to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, with any rights, preferences and privileges as they may designate, including the right to approve an acquisition or other change of control;
•provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of our board of directors;
•provide that, subject to the rights of any series of preferred stock to elect directors, directors may only be removed for cause, which removal may be effected, subject to any limitation imposed by law, by the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of our then-outstanding shares of the capital stock entitled to vote generally at an election of directors;
•provide that all vacancies, including newly created directorships, may, except as otherwise required by law, be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum;
•require that any action to be taken by our stockholders may be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders or by written consent or electronic transmission;
•provide that stockholders seeking to present proposals before a meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at a meeting of stockholders must provide advance notice in writing, and also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice;
•provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by the chairperson of our board of directors, our principal executive officer, by our board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors, any two directors or any director and the secretary; and
•do not provide for cumulative voting rights, therefore allowing the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors to elect all of the directors standing for election, if they should so choose.
The amendment of any of these provisions in our certificate of incorporation would require approval by the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of our then-outstanding capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. The amendment of any of these provisions in our bylaws would require approval by either (i) the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of our then-outstanding capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, or (ii) the majority of our directors then in office.
The combination of these provisions make it more difficult for our existing stockholders 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 stockholders 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. The rights, preferences, and privileges of the holders of our common stock will be subject to, and may be negatively impacted by, the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock.
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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 coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to reduce our vulnerability to hostile takeovers 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 delaying changes in our control or management. As a consequence, these provisions may also inhibit fluctuations in the market price of our stock.
Choice of Forum
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws each provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, or other employee of the corporation to the corporation or the corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, or (iv) any action asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. These exclusive-forum provisions will not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the U.S. federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.  Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all such Securities Act actions. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. Our stockholders cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
To prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws further provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, 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 Securities Act.  While the Delaware courts have determined that such choice of forum provisions are facially valid, a stockholder may nevertheless seek to bring a claim in a venue other than those designated in the exclusive forum provisions. In such instance, we would expect to vigorously assert the validity and enforceability of the exclusive forum provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. This may require significant additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions and there can be no assurance that the provisions will be enforced by a court in those other jurisdictions.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The Transfer Agent for our shares of common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.  The transfer agent’s address is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219.


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