EX-4.1 3 cydy-20240130xex4d1.htm EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S CAPITAL STOCK

General

CytoDyn, Inc. (the “Company” or “we”) is authorized to issue up to 1,755,000,000 shares of capital stock, including 1,750,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of February 1, 2024, we had 986,058,436 shares of common stock, 19,000 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”), 6,335 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred Stock”) and 8,452 shares of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series D Preferred Stock”) issued and outstanding.

The additional shares of our authorized stock available for issuance may be issued at times and under circumstances so as to have a dilutive effect on earnings per share and on the equity ownership of the holders of our common stock. The ability of our Board of Directors to issue additional shares of stock could enhance the Board’s ability to negotiate on behalf of the stockholders in a takeover situation but could also be used by the Board to make a change-in-control more difficult, thereby denying stockholders the potential to sell their shares at a premium and entrenching current management. The following description is a summary of the material provisions of our capital stock, and is qualified by reference to our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and bylaws, both of which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as exhibits to previous SEC filings, for additional information. The summary below is qualified by provisions of applicable law.

Common Stock

Each outstanding share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote, either in person or by proxy, on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors. All actions required or permitted to be taken by stockholders at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders must be effected at a duly called meeting, with a quorum present of a majority in voting power of the shares entitled to vote thereon. Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called by our Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution approved by the affirmative majority of the entire Board of Directors. Subject to the rights, if any, of any series of preferred stock to elect directors and to remove any director whom the holders of any such stock have the right to elect, any director (including persons elected by directors to fill vacancies in the Board of Directors) may be removed from office, with or without cause, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. Other than with respect to actions permitted to be voted on by holders of preferred stock voting separately as a class or series, stockholders may not take action by written consent.

Subject to preferences which may be applicable to any outstanding shares of preferred stock from time to time, holders of our common stock have equal ratable rights to such dividends as may be declared from time to time by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs, holders of common stock will be entitled to share ratably in our remaining assets after provision for payment of amounts owed to creditors and preferences applicable to any outstanding shares of preferred stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. Holders of common stock do not have preemptive rights.

The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock. As more fully described in our Certificate of Incorporation, holders of our

common stock are not entitled to vote on certain amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation related solely to our preferred stock.

Our common stock is presently quoted on the OTCQB of the OTC Markets marketplace under the trading symbol CYDY. Our transfer agent and registrar is Computershare Shareholder Services.

Preferred Stock

Our Board of Directors is authorized to issue up to 5 million shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, in one or more series, approximately 4.6 million of which shares are undesignated. Our Board of Directors has the authority, within the limitations and restrictions prescribed by law and without stockholder approval, to provide by resolution for the issuance of shares of preferred stock, and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preference and the number of shares constituting any series of the designation of such series, by delivering an appropriate certificate of amendment to our certificate of incorporation to the Delaware Secretary of State pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). The issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of decreasing the market price of the common stock, impeding or delaying a possible takeover and adversely affecting the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock.

If we offer a specific series of preferred stock under this prospectus, we will describe the terms of the preferred stock in the prospectus supplement for such offering and will file a copy of the certificate establishing the terms of the preferred stock with the SEC. To the extent required, this description will include:

•

the title and stated value;

•

the number of shares offered, the liquidation preference per share and the purchase price;

•

the dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s), or method(s) of calculation for such dividends;  

•

whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate;

•

the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any;

•

the provisions for a sinking fund, if any;

•

the provisions for redemption, if applicable;

•

any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market;

•

whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, and, if applicable, the conversion price (or how it will be calculated) and conversion period;

•

whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange price (or how it will be calculated) and exchange period;

•

voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock;

•

a discussion of any material and/or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock;

•

the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company; and

•

any material limitations on issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

Each share of the Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into ten (10) shares of the Company’s common stock. Dividends are payable to the Series B Preferred stockholders when and as declared by the Board of Directors at the rate of $0.25 per share per annum. Such dividends are cumulative and accrue whether or not declared and whether or not there are any profits, surplus or other funds or assets of the Company legally available therefor. At the option of the Company, dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock may be paid in cash or shares of common stock, valued at $0.50 per share. The holders of the Series B Preferred Stock can only convert their shares to shares of common stock if the Company has sufficient shares of common stock authorized and available for issuance at the time of conversion. The Series B Preferred Stock has liquidation preferences over the common shares at $5.00 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Series B holders have no voting rights.

Series C Convertible Preferred Stock

The Series C Certificate of Designation provides, among other things, that holders of Series C Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors and out of any assets at the time legally available therefor, cumulative dividends at the rate of ten percent (10%) per share per annum of the stated value of the Series C Preferred Stock, which is $1,000 per share (the “Series C Stated Value”). Any dividends paid by the Company will be paid to the holders of Series C Preferred Stock, prior and in preference to any payment or distribution to holders of common stock. Dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock are cumulative, and will accrue and be compounded annually, whether or not declared and whether or not there are any profits, surplus or other funds or assets of the Company legally available therefor. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the Series C Preferred Stock. The Series C Preferred Stock does not have redemption rights. Dividends, if declared by the Board of Directors, are payable to holders in arrears on December 31 of each year. Subject to the provisions of applicable Delaware law, the holder may elect to be paid in cash or in restricted shares of common stock at the rate of $0.50 per share.

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of Series C Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, on a pari passu basis with the holders of the Series D Preferred Stock and in preference to any payment or distribution to any holders of the Series B Preferred Stock or common stock, an amount per share equal to the Series C Stated Value plus the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends. If, at any time while the Series C Preferred Stock is outstanding, the Company effects a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company, sale of substantially all of its assets, or other specified transaction (each, as defined in the Series C Certificate of Designation, a “Fundamental Transaction”), a holder of the Series C Preferred Stock will have the right to receive any shares of the acquiring corporation or other consideration it would have been entitled to receive if it had been a holder of the number of shares of common stock then issuable upon conversion in full of the Series C Preferred Stock immediately prior to the Fundamental Transaction. Each share of Series C Preferred Stock is convertible at any time at the holder’s option into that number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of common stock determined by dividing the Series C Stated Value by the conversion price of $0.50 (subject to adjustment as set forth in the Series C Certificate of Designation). No fractional shares will be issued upon the conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock. Except as otherwise provided in the Series C Certificate of Designation or as otherwise required by law, the Series C Preferred Stock has no voting rights.

Series D Convertible Preferred Stock

The Series D Certificate of Designation provides, among other things, that holders of Series D Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors and out of any assets at the time legally available therefor, cumulative dividends at the rate of ten percent (10%) per share per annum of the stated value of the Series D Preferred Stock, which is $1,000 per share (the “Series D Stated Value”). Any dividends paid by the Company will be paid to the holders of Series D Preferred Stock, prior and in preference to any payment or distribution to holders of common stock. Dividends on the Series D Preferred Stock are cumulative, and will accrue and be compounded annually, whether or not declared and whether or not there are any profits, surplus or other funds or assets of the Company legally available therefor. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the

Series D Preferred Stock. The Series D Preferred Stock does not have redemption rights. Dividends, if declared by the Board, are payable to holders in arrears on December 31 of each year. Subject to the provisions of applicable Delaware law, the holder may elect to be paid in cash or in restricted shares of common stock at the rate of $0.50 per share.

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of Series D Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, on a pari passu basis with the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock, and in preference to any payment or distribution to any holders of the Series B Preferred Stock or common stock, an amount per share equal to the Series D Stated Value plus the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends. If, at any time while the Series D Preferred Stock is outstanding, the Company effects a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company, sale of substantially all of its assets, or other specified transaction (each, as defined in the Series D Certificate of Designation, a “Fundamental Transaction”), a holder of the Series D Preferred Stock will have the right to receive any shares of the acquiring corporation or other consideration it would have been entitled to receive if it had been a holder of the number of shares of common stock then issuable upon conversion in full of the Series D Preferred Stock immediately prior to the Fundamental Transaction. Each share of Series D Preferred Stock is convertible at any time at the holder’s option into that number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of common stock determined by dividing the Series D Stated Value by the conversion price of $0.80 (subject to adjustment as set forth in the Series D Certificate of Designation). No fractional shares will be issued upon the conversion of the Series D Preferred Stock. Except as otherwise provided in the Series D Certificate of Designation or as otherwise required by law, the Series D Preferred Stock has no voting rights.

Anti-takeover Effects of Delaware Law and our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended

As described above, our Board of Directors is authorized to designate and issue shares of preferred stock in series and define all rights, preferences and privileges applicable to such series. This authority may be used to make it more difficult or less economically beneficial to acquire or seek to acquire us.

Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called by our Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution approved by the affirmative majority of the entire Board of Directors.