Description of Motorsport Games Inc.s Securities Registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act
Exhibit 4.2
DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES
REGISTERED UNDER SECTION 12 OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
As of December 31, 2021, Motorsport Games Inc. (“we,” “us,” “Motorsport Games” or the “Company”) had one class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”): Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value $0.0001 per share.
Our authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 7,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. As of December 31, 2021, we had 11,635,897 shares of Class A common stock and 7,000,000 shares of Class B common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
The following summary description is based on the provisions of our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). This description is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws, each of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this Exhibit 4.2 is a part, and the DGCL. You should read our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and the applicable provisions of the DGCL for a complete statement of the provisions described below and for other provisions that may be important to you.
Common Stock
Prior to January 8, 2021, we operated as a Florida limited liability company under the name Motorsport Gaming US LLC. On January 8, 2021, Motorsport Gaming US LLC converted into a Delaware corporation pursuant to a statutory conversion and changed its name to Motorsport Games Inc.
Effective as of January 8, 2021, 100% of the membership interests held by the sole member of Motorsport Gaming US LLC, Motorsport Network, LLC (“Motorsport Network”), converted into an aggregate of (i) 7,000,000 shares of Class A common stock of Motorsport Games Inc. (the “MSN Initial Class A Shares”) and (ii) 7,000,000 shares of Class B common stock of Motorsport Games Inc., representing all of the outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock immediately following the corporate conversion. Motorsport Network is the only holder of shares of our Class B common stock and does not have any transfer, conversion, registration or economic rights with respect to such shares of Class B common stock. In the event Motorsport Network or its affiliates relinquish beneficial ownership of any of the MSN Initial Class A Shares at any time, one share of Class B common stock held by Motorsport Network will be cancelled for each such MSN Initial Class A Share no longer beneficially owned by Motorsport Network or its affiliates. Any pledge of MSN Initial Class A Shares by Motorsport Network or its affiliates will not constitute a relinquishment of such beneficial ownership. The MSN Initial Class A Shares and shares of Class B common stock held by Motorsport Network will be adjusted in equal proportions for any stock dividend, stock split or similar transaction undertaken by the Company.
Voting Rights
Holders of our Class A common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and holders of our Class B common stock are entitled to 10 votes for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. The holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock will vote together as a single class, unless otherwise required by law. Under our certificate of incorporation, approval of the holders of a majority of the Class B common stock will be required to increase or decrease the number of authorized shares of our Class B common stock, and the approval of two-thirds of the Class B common stock will be required to amend or repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent with, or otherwise alter, any provision of our certificate of incorporation that modifies the voting, par value, conversion or other rights, powers, preferences, special rights, privileges or restrictions of the Class B common stock. In addition, Delaware law could require either holders of our Class A common stock or our Class B common stock to vote separately as a single class in the following circumstances:
● | if we were to seek to amend our certificate of incorporation to increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares or par value of a class of stock, then that class would be required to vote separately to approve the proposed amendment; and | |
● | if we were to seek to amend our certificate of incorporation in a manner that alters or changes the powers, preferences or special rights of a class of stock in a manner that affected its holders adversely, then that class would be required to vote separately to approve the proposed amendment. |
Dividends
Subject to preferences that may apply to any shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of shares of Class A common stock are entitled to dividends when and as declared by our board of directors from funds legally available therefor if, as and when determined by our board of directors in its sole discretion, subject to provisions of law and any provision of our certificate of incorporation, as amended from time to time. The holder of Class B common stock will not be entitled to receive any dividends with respect to the shares of Class B common stock, except dividends payable in shares of Class B common stock or rights to acquire shares of Class B common stock that may be declared and paid to the holder of Class B common stock to proportionally adjust for dividends payable in shares of Class A common stock or rights to acquire shares of Class A common stock that are declared and paid to the holders of Class A common stock.
Liquidation
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, the holders of our Class A common stock and any participating preferred stock outstanding at that time will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of or provision for all of our debts and other liabilities, and the preferential rights of and the payment of liquidation preferences, if any, on any outstanding shares of preferred stock. The holder of Class B common stock will not be entitled to receive any liquidation distributions with respect to the shares of Class B common stock.
Fully Paid and Non-Assessable
All outstanding shares of common stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Other Matters
There are no preemptive, conversion or redemption privileges, nor sinking fund provisions with respect to our common stock.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors has the authority, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations or restrictions, in each case without further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors can also increase or decrease the number of shares of any series of preferred stock, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding, without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our Company and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock. We have no current plan to issue any shares of preferred stock.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
Certain provisions of Delaware law, as well as our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws, may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another person from acquiring control of us. These provisions include the items described below. They are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging a proposal to acquire us because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Delaware Law
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL, which generally prohibits a public Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless:
● | the business combination or transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder was approved by the board of directors prior to the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder; | |
● | upon consummation of the transaction which 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 commenced, excluding shares owned by directors who are also officers of the corporation and shares owned by 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 | |
● | at or subsequent to the time the stockholder became an interested stockholder, the business combination was 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 two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
In general, Section 203 of the DGCL defines a “business combination” to include mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in financial benefit to a stockholder and an “interested stockholder” as a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years did own, 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock.
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 certificate of incorporation or bylaws resulting from an 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. These provisions may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing changes in control of our Company.
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaw Provisions
Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws include a number of provisions that could deter hostile takeovers or delay or prevent changes in control of our board of directors or management team, including the following:
Dual Class Stock
As described above in “—Common Stock—Voting,” our certificate of incorporation provides for a dual class common stock structure, which will provide the holder of Class B common stock with significant influence over matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and significant corporate transactions, such as a merger or other sale of our Company or its assets.
Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote, while each share of Class B common stock is entitled to ten votes. Motorsport Network is the only holder of shares of our Class B common stock and does not have any transfer, conversion, registration or economic rights with respect to such shares of Class B common stock. In the event Motorsport Network or its affiliates relinquish beneficial ownership of any of the MSN Initial Class A Shares at any time, one share of Class B common stock held by Motorsport Network will be cancelled for each such MSN Initial Class A Share no longer beneficially owned by Motorsport Network or its affiliates. Any pledge of MSN Initial Class A Shares by Motorsport Network or its affiliates will not constitute a relinquishment of such beneficial ownership. The MSN Initial Class A Shares and shares of Class B common stock held by Motorsport Network will be adjusted in equal proportions for any stock dividend, stock split or similar transaction undertaken by the Company.
Board of Directors Vacancies
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws authorize only our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, including newly created seats. In addition, the number of directors constituting our board of directors will be permitted to be set only by a resolution adopted by a majority vote of our entire board of directors. These provisions would prevent a stockholder from increasing the size of our board of directors and then gaining control of our board of directors by filling the resulting vacancies with its own nominees. This makes it more difficult to change the composition of our board of directors and promotes continuity of management.
Stockholder Action; Special Meeting of Stockholders
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority of our board of directors, the chairperson of our board of directors, our Chief Executive Officer or our President, thus prohibiting a stockholder from calling a special meeting. These provisions might delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or for stockholders controlling a majority of our capital stock to take any action, including the removal of directors.
Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations
Our bylaws provide advance notice procedures for stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders. Our bylaws also specify certain requirements regarding the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions might preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of stockholders if the proper procedures are not followed. We expect that these provisions may also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect any potential acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our Company.
Removal of Directors
Our certificate of incorporation provides that directors may only be removed for cause and upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting power of our capital stock voting together as a single class.
No Cumulative Voting
The DGCL provides that stockholders are not entitled to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting.
Amendment of Charter and Bylaw Provisions
Amendments to our certificate of incorporation will require the approval of two-thirds of the outstanding voting power of our common stock. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that approval of stockholders holding two-thirds of our outstanding voting power voting as a single class is required for stockholders to amend or adopt any provision of our bylaws.
Issuance of Undesignated Preferred Stock
Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue shares of undesignated preferred stock with rights and preferences, including voting rights, designated from time to time by our board of directors. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock would enable our board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or other means.
Limits on Ability of Stockholders to Act by Written Consent
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that our stockholders may not act by written consent. This limit on the ability of our stockholders to act by written consent may lengthen the amount of time required to take stockholder actions. As a result, no stockholder, regardless of how large its holdings of our stock are, would be able to amend our bylaws or remove directors without holding a stockholders’ meeting.
Board Classification
Our board of directors is divided into two classes, with an alternating class being elected each year by our stockholders. The directors in each class will serve for a two-year term. A third party may be discouraged from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us because it is more difficult and time-consuming for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors on a classified board.
Exclusive Forum
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors or officers to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our certificate of incorporation or bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine, shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; provided that the exclusive forum provision 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; and provided further that, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws also provide that 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 against us or any of our directors, officers, employees or agents arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in our securities shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this provision. Although we believe these provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law for the specified types of actions and proceedings, these provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against us or our directors and officers. There is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provisions, and the enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ charter documents has been successfully challenged in legal proceedings. 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, and there can be no assurance that such provisions will be enforced by a court in those other jurisdictions. We note that investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our Class A common stock is Worldwide Stock Transfer, LLC. The transfer agent’s address is One University Plaza, Suite 505, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601 and its telephone number is ###-###-####.
Listing
Our Class A common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the trading symbol “MSGM.”