Description of Common Shares

EX-4.1 2 myovantex413312020.htm EXHIBIT 4.1 Exhibit


Exhibit 4.1

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES
The following description of our share capital and provisions of our memorandum of association and amended and restated bye-laws is a summary and is qualified entirely by reference to the applicable provisions of our memorandum of association, amended and restated bye-laws and the Bermuda Companies Act 1981, as amended, or the Companies Act. Our memorandum of association and amended and restated bye-laws are exhibits to the Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings we make with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission which are available at www.sec.gov.
General
We are an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of Bermuda on February 2, 2016, under the name Roivant Endocrinology Ltd. We changed our name to Myovant Sciences Ltd. in May 2016. The objects of our business are unrestricted, and Myovant Sciences Ltd. has the capacity of a natural person. We can therefore undertake activities without restriction on our capacity.
Since our incorporation, other than a subdivision of our authorized and issued share capital and our initial public offering of common shares in November 2016, there have been no material changes to our share capital, mergers, amalgamations or consolidations of us or any of our subsidiaries, no material changes in the mode of conducting our business, and no material changes in the types of products produced or services rendered. There have been no bankruptcy, receivership or similar proceedings with respect to us or our subsidiaries. There have been no public takeover offers by third parties for our shares nor any public takeover offers by us for the shares of another company that have occurred during the last or current financial years.
Share Capital
Our authorized share capital consists of 564,111,242 common shares, $0.000017727 par value per common share. All of our issued and outstanding common shares are fully paid. Pursuant to our amended and restated bye-laws, subject to the requirements of the NYSE and to any resolution of the shareholders to the contrary, our board of directors is authorized to issue any of our authorized but unissued shares on such terms and conditions as it may determine. There are no limitations on the right of non-Bermudians or non-residents of Bermuda to hold or vote our shares provided our common shares remain listed on an appointed stock exchange (as defined in the Companies Act), which includes the NYSE.
Common Shares
Holders of common shares have no pre-emptive, redemption, conversion or sinking fund rights. Holders of common shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of holders of common shares. Unless a different majority is required by law or by our amended and restated bye-laws, resolutions to be approved by holders of common shares require approval by a majority of votes cast at a general meeting at which a quorum is present.
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common shares are entitled to share equally and ratably in our assets, if any, remaining after the payment of all of our debts and liabilities, subject to any liquidation preference on any issued and outstanding preference shares.
Preference Shares
Pursuant to Bermuda law and our amended and restated bye-laws, our board of directors may, by resolution, establish one or more series of preference shares having such number of shares, designations, dividend rates, relative voting rights, conversion or exchange rights, redemption rights, liquidation rights, rights to elect or appoint directors and other relative participation, optional or other special rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions as may be fixed by the board of directors without any further shareholder approval. Such rights, preferences, powers and limitations, as may be established, could have the effect of discouraging an attempt to obtain control of our company. Additionally, the issuance of preference shares may have the effect of decreasing the market price of the common shares and may adversely affect the voting power of holders of common shares and reduce the likelihood that common shareholders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation.





Dividend Rights
Under Bermuda law, a company may not declare or pay dividends if there are reasonable grounds for believing that (1) the company is, or would after the payment be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due; or (2) that the realizable value of its assets would thereby be less than its liabilities. Under our amended and restated bye-laws, each common share is entitled to dividends if, as and when dividends are declared by our board of directors, subject to any preferred dividend right of the holders of any preference shares.
Variation of Rights
If at any time we have more than one class of shares, the rights attaching to any class, unless otherwise provided for by the terms of issue of the relevant class, may be varied either: (1) with the consent in writing of the holders of 75% of the issued shares of that class; or (2) with the sanction of a resolution passed by a majority of the votes cast at a general meeting of the relevant class of shareholders at which a quorum consisting of at least two persons holding or representing one-third or more of the issued shares of the relevant class is present. Our amended and restated bye-laws specify that the creation or issue of shares ranking equally with existing shares will not, unless expressly provided by the terms of issue of existing shares, vary the rights attached to existing shares. In addition, the creation or issue of preference shares ranking prior to common shares will not vary the rights attached to common shares or, subject to the terms of any other class or series of preference shares, to vary the rights attached to any other class or series of preference shares. We shall not vary or alter the rights attaching to any class of shares if our board of directors determines in its sole discretion that any non de minimis adverse tax, regulatory or legal consequences to our company, any subsidiary of our company, or any direct or indirect holders of shares or our affiliates (as defined in our amended and restated bye-laws) may result from such variation.
Transfer of Shares
Our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion and without assigning any reason, refuse to register the transfer of a share on the basis that it is not fully paid. Our board of directors may also refuse to recognize an instrument of transfer of a share unless it is accompanied by the relevant share certificate and such other evidence of the transferor’s right to make the transfer as our board of directors shall reasonably require or unless all applicable consents, authorizations and permissions of any governmental agency or body in Bermuda have been obtained or if it appears to our board of directors that any non-de minimis adverse tax, regulatory or legal consequences for us, any subsidiary of ours, holders of our common shares or our affiliates (as defined in our amended and restated bye-laws) would result from the transfer. Subject to these restrictions, a holder of common shares may transfer the title to all or any of his common shares by completing a form of transfer in the form set out in our amended and restated bye-laws (or as near thereto as circumstances admit) or in such other common form as our board of directors may accept. The instrument of transfer must be signed by the transferor and transferee, although in the case of a fully paid share our board of directors may accept the instrument signed only by the transferor. Any class of our shares that are listed or admitted to trading on an appointed stock exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange) may be transferred in accordance with the rules and regulations of such exchange.
Meetings of Shareholders
Under Bermuda law, a company is required to convene at least one general meeting of shareholders each calendar year, which we refer to as the annual general meeting. While Bermuda law permits the shareholders to waive the requirement to hold an annual general meeting by resolution (either for a specific year or a period of time or indefinitely), our amended and restated bye-laws provide that, notwithstanding, an annual general meeting shall be held in each year.
Bermuda law provides that a special general meeting of shareholders may be called by the board of directors of a company and must be called upon the request of shareholders holding not less than 10% of the paid-up capital of the company carrying the right to vote at general meetings. Bermuda law also requires that shareholders be given at least five days’ advance notice of a general meeting, but the accidental omission to give notice to any person does not invalidate the proceedings at a meeting. Our amended and restated bye-laws provide that our principal executive officer or the chairman or any two directors or any director and the secretary or our board of directors may convene an annual general meeting and our principal executive officer or the chairman or any two directors or any director and the secretary or our board of directors may convene a special general meeting. Under our amended and restated bye-laws, at least 14 days’ notice of an annual general meeting or ten days’ notice of a special general meeting must be given to each shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting. This notice requirement is subject to the ability to hold such meetings on shorter notice if such notice is agreed: (1) in the case of an annual general meeting by all of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at such meeting; or (2) in the case of a special general meeting by a majority in number of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at the meeting holding not less than 95% in nominal value of the shares entitled to vote at such meeting. Subject to the rules of the NYSE, the quorum required for a general meeting of shareholders is





two or more persons present in person at the start of the meeting and representing in person or by proxy in excess of 50% of the total voting shares in our company.
Access to Books and Records and Dissemination of Information
Members of the general public have a right to inspect the public documents of a company available at the office of the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda. These documents include a company’s memorandum of association, including its objects and powers, and certain alterations to the amended and restated memorandum of association. The shareholders have the additional right to inspect the bye-laws of the company, minutes of general meetings and the company’s audited financial statements, which must be presented in the annual general meeting. The register of members of a company is also open to inspection by shareholders and by members of the general public without charge. The register of members is required to be open for inspection for not less than two hours in any business day (subject to the ability of a company to close the register of members for not more than thirty days in a year). A company is required to maintain its share register in Bermuda but may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act establish a branch register outside of Bermuda. A company is required to keep at its registered office a register of directors and officers that is open for inspection for not less than two hours in any business day by members of the public without charge. Bermuda law does not, however, provide a general right for shareholders to inspect or obtain copies of any other corporate records.
Election and Removal of Directors
Our amended and restated bye-laws provide that our board of directors shall consist of a single class of directors of such number of directors as the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the board of directors may determine. Each director shall hold office until the next annual general meeting at which his or her successor is elected or appointed or if earlier, the next special general meeting called for the purpose of ending the term of such director and replacing that director, in each case, subject to his or her office being vacated sooner.
Nominations of persons for election as a director or the proposal of other business to be transacted by the shareholders may be made at an annual general meeting or special meeting only (1) by or at the direction of the board of directors, or (2) subject to any applicable law, by any Eligible Member of record at the time of giving of notice who complies with the notice procedures set forth in our amended and restated bye-laws. In the case of a special meeting, nominations may also be made pursuant to our notice of meeting or any supplement thereto. An “Eligible Member” is a shareholder that, together with the common shares held by its affiliates (as defined in our amended and restated bye-laws), owns of record shares that constitute five percent or more of the voting power of all issued shares that are eligible to vote at a general meeting and who has held such shares for at least three years.
Where a director is to be elected at an annual general meeting, notice of any such proposal for election must be given not less than 90 days (or 60 days in the case of our Audit Committee’s proposal of a director) nor more than 120 days before the anniversary of the last annual general meeting prior to the giving of the notice or, in the event the annual general meeting is called for a date that is not less than 30 days before or after such anniversary the notice must be given not later than ten days following the earlier of the date on which notice of the annual general meeting was posted to shareholders or the date on which public disclosure of the date of the annual general meeting was made. Where a director is to be elected at a special general meeting, notice must be given not later than seven days following the earlier of the date on which notice of the special general meeting was posted to shareholders or the date on which public disclosure of the date of the special general meeting was made.
A director may be removed, only with cause, by the shareholders, provided notice of the shareholders meeting convened to remove the director is given to the director. The notice must contain a statement of the intention to remove the director and must be served on the director not less than 14 days before the meeting. The director is entitled to attend the meeting and be heard on the motion for his removal. The term of a director may also be ended by an annual general meeting, or by a special general meeting called for the purpose of ending the term of such director and replacing that director, and the director’s office is deemed vacated if the director is not re-elected.
Proceedings of Board of Directors
Our amended and restated bye-laws provide that our business is to be managed and conducted by our board of directors. Bermuda law permits individual and corporate directors and there is no requirement in our amended and restated bye-laws or Bermuda law that directors hold any of our shares. There is also no requirement in our amended and restated bye-laws or Bermuda law that our directors must retire at a certain age.





The compensation of our directors will be determined by the board of directors, and there is no requirement that a specified number or percentage of “independent” directors must approve any such determination. Our directors may also be paid all travel, hotel and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses properly incurred by them in connection with our business or their duties as directors.
A director who discloses a direct or indirect interest in any contract or arrangement with us as required by Bermuda law will not be entitled to vote in respect of any such contract or arrangement in which he or she is interested unless the chairman of the relevant meeting of our board of directors determines that such director is not disqualified from voting.
Contractual Limitations on Board Actions and Matters
We have entered into an the Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of December 27, 2019, with Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. and Sumitovant Biopharma Ltd. (collectively “Sumitomo”) pursuant to which, among other things, we have agreed as to certain limitations on actions that our board of directors and various committees of the board of directors may take, as well as the composition of our board of directors and various committees of the board of directors, for so long as Sumitomo continues to hold more than 50% of the total voting power of our equity securities.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 98 of the Companies Act provides generally that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors, officers and auditors against any liability which by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise be imposed on them in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, except in cases where such liability arises from fraud or dishonesty of which such director, officer or auditor may be guilty in relation to the company. Section 98 further provides that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors, officers and auditors against any liability incurred by them in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is awarded in their favor or in which they are acquitted or granted relief by the Supreme Court of Bermuda pursuant to Section 281 of the Companies Act.
Our amended and restated bye-laws provide that we shall indemnify our officers and directors in respect of their actions and omissions, except in respect of their fraud or dishonesty, and that we may advance funds to our officers and directors for expenses incurred in their defense upon receipt of an undertaking to repay the funds if any allegation of fraud or dishonesty is proved. Our amended and restated bye-laws provide that the shareholders waive all claims or rights of action that they might have, individually or in right of the company, against any of the company’s directors or officers for any act or failure to act in the performance of such director’s or officer’s duties, except in respect of any fraud or dishonesty of such director or officer. Section 98A of the Companies Act permits us to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any officer or director in respect of any loss or liability attaching to him in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, whether or not we may otherwise indemnify such officer or director. We have purchased and maintain a directors’ and officers’ liability policy for such purpose.
Amendment of Memorandum of Association and Bye-laws
Bermuda law provides that the memorandum of association of a company may be amended by a resolution passed at a general meeting of shareholders. Our amended and restated bye-laws provide that no bye-law shall be rescinded, altered or amended, and no new bye-law shall be made, unless it shall have been approved by a resolution of our board of directors and by a resolution of our shareholders.
Under Bermuda law, the holders of an aggregate of not less than 20% in par value of a company’s issued share capital or any class thereof have the right to apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda for an annulment of any amendment of the memorandum of association adopted by shareholders at any general meeting, other than an amendment that alters or reduces a company’s share capital as provided in the Companies Act. Where such an application is made, the amendment becomes effective only to the extent that it is confirmed by the Supreme Court of Bermuda. An application for an annulment of an amendment of the memorandum of association must be made within 21 days after the date on which the resolution altering the company’s memorandum of association is passed and may be made on behalf of persons entitled to make the application by one or more of their number as they may appoint in writing for the purpose. No application may be made by shareholders voting in favor of the amendment.
Amalgamations and Mergers
The amalgamation or merger of a Bermuda company with another company or corporation (other than certain affiliated companies) requires the amalgamation or merger agreement to be approved by the company’s board of directors and by its





shareholders. Unless the company’s bye-laws provide otherwise, the approval of 75% of the shareholders voting at such meeting is required to approve the amalgamation or merger agreement, and the quorum for such meeting must be two or more persons holding or representing more than one-third of the issued shares of the company. Our amended and restated bye-laws provide that the approval of a simple majority of shareholders voting at a meeting to approve the amalgamation or merger agreement shall be sufficient (except for an amalgamation or merger that is a “business combination”), and the quorum for such meeting shall be two or more persons holding or representing more than 50% of the total voting shares in the company.
Under Bermuda law, in the event of an amalgamation or merger of a Bermuda company with another company or corporation, a shareholder of the Bermuda company who did not vote in favor of the amalgamation or merger and who is not satisfied that fair value has been offered for such shareholder’s shares may, within one month of notice of the shareholders meeting, apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda to appraise the fair value of those shares.
Business Combinations
Although the Companies Act does not contain specific provisions regarding “business combinations” between companies organized under the laws of Bermuda and “interested shareholders,” we have included these provisions in our bye-laws. Specifically, our bye-laws contain provisions which prohibit us from engaging in a business combination with an interested shareholder for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested shareholder, unless, in addition to any other approval that may be required by applicable law:
prior to the date of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, our board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder;
upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder owned at least 85% of our issued and voting shares outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for the purposes of determining the number of shares issued and outstanding those shares owned (1) by persons who are directors and also officers and (2) employee share plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or
after the date of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and authorized at an annual or special general meeting of shareholders by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of our issued and outstanding voting shares that are not owned by the interested shareholder.
For purposes of these provisions, a “business combination” includes recapitalizations, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, exchanges, asset sales, leases, certain issues or transfers of shares or other securities and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested shareholder. An “interested shareholder” is any person or entity that beneficially owns 15% or more of our issued and outstanding voting shares and any person or entity affiliated with or controlling or controlled by that person or entity.
Shareholder Suits
Class actions and derivative actions are generally not available to shareholders under Bermuda law. The Bermuda courts, however, would ordinarily be expected to permit a shareholder to commence an action in the name of a company to remedy a wrong to the company where the act complained of is alleged to be beyond the corporate power of the company or illegal, or would result in the violation of the company’s memorandum of association or bye-laws. Furthermore, consideration would be given by a Bermuda court to acts that are alleged to constitute a fraud against the minority shareholders or, for instance, where an act requires the approval of a greater percentage of the company’s shareholders than that which actually approved it.
When the affairs of a company are being conducted in a manner that is oppressive or prejudicial to the interests of some part of the shareholders, one or more shareholders may apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda, which may make such order as it sees fit, including an order regulating the conduct of the company’s affairs in the future or ordering the purchase of the shares of any shareholders by other shareholders or by the company.
Our amended and restated bye-laws contain a provision by virtue of which our shareholders waive any claim or right of action that they have, both individually and on our behalf, against any director or officer in relation to any action or failure to take action by such director or officer, except in respect of any fraud or dishonesty of such director or officer. We have been advised





by the SEC that in the opinion of the SEC, the operation of this provision as a waiver of the right to sue for violations of federal securities laws would likely be unenforceable in U.S. courts.
Capitalization of Profits and Reserves
Pursuant to our amended and restated bye-laws, our board of directors may (1) capitalize any part of the amount of our share premium or other reserve accounts or any amount credited to our profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution by applying such sum in paying up unissued shares to be allotted as fully paid bonus shares pro rata (except in connection with the conversion of shares) to the shareholders; or (2) capitalize any sum standing to the credit of a reserve account or sums otherwise available for dividend or distribution by paying up in full, partly paid or nil paid shares of those shareholders who would have been entitled to such sums if they were distributed by way of dividend or distribution.
Untraced Shareholders
Our amended and restated bye-laws provide that our board of directors may forfeit any dividend or other monies payable in respect of any shares that remain unclaimed for six years from the date when such monies became due for payment. In addition, we are entitled to cease sending dividend warrants and checks by post or otherwise to a shareholder if such instruments have been returned undelivered to, or left uncashed by, such shareholder on at least two consecutive occasions or, following one such occasion, reasonable enquires have failed to establish the shareholder’s new address. This entitlement conferred on the company in respect of the foregoing, ceases if the shareholder claims a dividend or cashes a dividend check or a warrant.
Certain Provisions of Bermuda Law
We have been designated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority as a non-resident for Bermuda exchange control purposes. This designation allows us to engage in transactions in currencies other than the Bermudan dollar, and there are no restrictions on our ability to transfer funds (other than funds denominated in Bermudan dollars) in and out of Bermuda or to pay dividends to U.S. residents who are holders of our common shares.
The Bermuda Monetary Authority has given its consent for the issue and free transferability of any of our shares, warrants and other securities to and between residents and non-residents of Bermuda for exchange control purposes, provided our shares remain listed on an appointed stock exchange, which includes the NYSE. Approvals or permissions given by the Bermuda Monetary Authority do not constitute a guarantee by the Bermuda Monetary Authority as to our performance or our creditworthiness. Accordingly, in giving such consent or permissions, neither the Bermuda Monetary Authority nor the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda shall be liable for the financial soundness, performance or default of our business or for the correctness of any opinions or statements expressed in this prospectus. Certain issues and transfers of common shares involving persons deemed resident in Bermuda for exchange control purposes require the specific consent of the Bermuda Monetary Authority. We have sought and have obtained a specific permission from the Bermuda Monetary Authority for the issue and transfer of our common shares up to the amount of our authorized capital from time to time, and options, warrants, depository receipts, rights, loan notes, debt instruments and our other securities to persons resident and non-resident for exchange control purposes with the need for prior approval of such issue or transfer.
In accordance with Bermuda law, share certificates are only issued in the names of companies, partnerships or individuals. In the case of a shareholder acting in a special capacity (for example as a trustee), certificates may, at the request of the shareholder, record the capacity in which the shareholder is acting. Notwithstanding such recording of any special capacity, we are not bound to investigate or see to the execution of any such trust.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
A register of holders of the common shares will be maintained by Conyers Corporate Services (Bermuda) Limited in Bermuda, and a branch register will be maintained in the United States by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, which also serves as transfer agent. The transfer agent’s address is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219.
The transfer agent for any series of preference shares that we may offer under this prospectus will be named and described in the prospectus supplement for that series.
Listing
Our common shares are listed on the NYSE under the trading symbol “MYOV.”





Bermuda Taxation Impacts on U.S. Holders of our Common Shares
At the present time, there is no Bermuda income or profits tax, withholding tax, capital gains tax, capital transfer tax, estate duty or inheritance tax payable by us or by our shareholders in respect of our shares. We have obtained an assurance from the Minister of Finance of Bermuda under the Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act 1966 that, in the event that any legislation is enacted in Bermuda imposing any tax computed on profits or income, or computed on any capital asset, gain or appreciation or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, such tax shall not, until March 31,2035, be applicable to us or to any of our operations or to our shares, debentures or other obligations except insofar as such tax applies to persons ordinarily resident in Bermuda or is payable by us in respect of real property owned or leased by us in Bermuda.
U.K. Taxation Impacts on U.S. Holders of our Common Shares
The discussion below is intended as a general guide to certain aspects of U.K. tax law and HM Revenue & Customs, or HMRC, published practice applying as at the date of this filing (both of which are subject to change at any time, possibly with retrospective effect) which relate to our common shares. It does not constitute legal or tax advice and does not purport to be a complete analysis of all U.K. tax considerations relating to the holding of our common shares. In particular it should be noted that special rules may apply to certain persons such as market makers, brokers, dealers or intermediaries.
Dividends
Withholding Tax
Dividends paid by the company are not subject to any withholding or deduction for or on account of U.K. tax.
Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax
No UK stamp duty or UK stamp duty reserve tax, or SDRT, will be payable on the issue or transfer of, or agreement to transfer, our common shares, subject to the comments below.
UK stamp duty will in principle be payable on any instrument of transfer of our common shares (where the amount or value of the consideration is more than £1,000) that is executed in the United Kingdom or that relates to any property situated, or to any matter or thing done or to be done, in the United Kingdom. No UK stamp duty should be payable on the transfer of our common shares, provided that any transfer documents are executed and retained outside the United Kingdom. Holders of common shares should be aware that, even where an instrument of transfer is in principle subject to UK stamp duty, UK stamp duty is not required to be paid unless it is necessary to rely on the instrument for legal purposes, for example to register a change of ownership by updating a share register held in the United Kingdom or in litigation in a UK court.
Provided that our common shares are not registered in any register maintained in the United Kingdom by us or on our behalf and are not paired with any shares or securities issued by a UK incorporated company, any agreement to transfer common shares will not be subject to SDRT.
Our common shares are not paired with any shares or securities issued by a UK incorporated company and we do not intend that any register of common shares will be maintained in the United Kingdom by us or on our behalf.