UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-A

 

FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES

PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

MIDSTATES PETROLEUM COMPANY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

45-3691816
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

321 South Boston Avenue, Suite 1000
Tulsa, Oklahoma
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

74103
(Zip Code)

 

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class
to be so registered

 

Name of each exchange on which
each class is to be registered

 

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

 

NYSE MKT

 

 

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(c) or (e), check the following box. x

 

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(d) or (e), check the following box. o

 

Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:

Not applicable

 

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

 

 



 

Item 1.          Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered.

 

General

 

As previously disclosed, on April 30, 2016 (the “Petition Date”), Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. (the “Company”) and Midstates Petroleum Company LLC (the “Debtor Affiliate” and, together with the Company, the “Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions (the “Bankruptcy Petitions”) for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the “Bankruptcy Court”) in order to effectuate the First Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. and its Debtor Affiliate (the “Plan”). On September 28, 2016, the Bankruptcy Court entered the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order Confirming Debtors’ First Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. and its Debtor Affiliate (the “Confirmation Order”), which confirmed the Plan. On the date hereof (the “Effective Date”), the Company satisfied the conditions of the Confirmation Order and the Plan became effective.

 

Pursuant to the Plan, on the Effective Date, the Company created new common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”). On the Effective Date, pursuant to the Plan, the Company issued 25,000,000 shares of Common Stock. This registration statement registers under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan. The Company has applied to list the Common Stock on the NYSE MKT under the symbol of “MPO.”

 

Also on the Effective Date, the Company filed its Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and adopted its Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”). The following description of the Common Stock does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified by the full terms of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, copies of which are attached to this registration statement as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) may contain provisions which affect the capital stock of the Company.

 

Authorized Capitalization

 

The Company’s authorized capital stock consists of 300,000,000 shares, which include 250,000,000 shares of the Common Stock and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

 

Common Stock

 

Except as provided by law or in a preferred stock designation, holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, will have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and do not have cumulative voting rights. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock are not entitled to vote on any amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of preferred stock) that relates solely to the terms of any outstanding series of preferred stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of preferred stock) or pursuant to the DGCL. Subject to prior rights and preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares or series of preferred stock, holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably in proportion to the shares of Common Stock held by them such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise), if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Company’s board of directors out of funds legally available for dividend payments. All outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and non-assessable, and the shares of Common Stock that will be issued will be fully paid and non-assessable. The holders of Common Stock have no preferences or rights of conversion, exchange, pre-emption or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Common Stock. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company’s affairs, holders of Common Stock will be entitled to share ratably in the Company’s assets in proportion to the shares of Common Stock held by them that are remaining after payment or provision for payment of all of the Company’s debts and obligations and after distribution in full of preferential amounts to be distributed to holders of outstanding shares of preferred stock, if any.

 

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Preferred Stock

 

The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the Company’s board of directors, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, without further stockholder approval, to establish and to issue from time to time one or more classes or series of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, covering up to an aggregate of 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Each class or series of preferred stock will cover the number of shares and will have the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions determined by the board of directors, which may include, among others, dividend rights, liquidation preferences, voting rights, conversion rights, preemptive rights and redemption rights. Except as provided by law or in a preferred stock designation, the holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to vote at or receive notice of any meeting of stockholders.

 

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s Bylaws and Delaware Law

 

Some provisions of Delaware law, and the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws described below, will contain provisions that could make the following transactions more difficult: acquisitions of the Company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise; or removal of the Company’s incumbent officers and directors. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in the Company’s management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish or could deter transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interest or in the Company’s best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium over the market price for the Company’s shares.

 

These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of the Company to first negotiate with us. The Company believes that the benefits of increased protection and the Company’s potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure the Company outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging these proposals because, among other things, negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

 

Delaware Law

 

The Company is not subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL, regulating corporate takeovers. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that such stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes, among other things, a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or did own within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock. Under Section 203, a business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder is prohibited unless it satisfies one of the following conditions:

 

·                   the transaction is approved by the board of directors before the date the interested stockholder attained that status;

 

·                   upon consummation 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 commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans, in some instances; or

 

·                   on or after such time, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

A Delaware corporation may “opt out” of Section 203 with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or an express provision in its certificate of incorporation or bylaws resulting from amendments

 

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approved by the holders of at least a majority of the corporation’s outstanding voting shares. The Company elected to “opt out” of the provisions of Section 203.

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws

 

Provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws may delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in control or change in the Company’s management, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares, or transactions that the Company’s stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. Therefore, these provisions could adversely affect the price of the Company’s Common Stock.

 

Among other things, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws:

 

·                   provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board 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 (prior to such time, vacancies may also be filled by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Company’s then outstanding Common Stock);

 

·                   provide that the Company’s Bylaws may only be amended by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Company’s then outstanding Common Stock or by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors;

 

·                   provide that special meetings of the Company’s stockholders may only be called by the board of directors, the chief executive officer or the chairman of the board or the board of directors;

 

·                   eliminate the personal liability of the Company’s directors for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty to the extent permitted by the DGCL and indemnify the Company’s directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL;

 

·                   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 notice in writing in a timely manner and also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice; and

 

·                   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.

 

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters

 

The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation limits the liability of the Company’s directors for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except for liability that cannot be eliminated under the DGCL. Delaware law provides that directors of a company will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except for liabilities:

 

·                   for any breach of their duty of loyalty to the Company or the Company’s stockholders;

 

·                   for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

·                   for unlawful payment of dividend or unlawful stock repurchase or redemption, as provided under Section 174 of the DGCL; or

 

·                   for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

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Any amendment, repeal or modification of these provisions will be prospective only and would not affect any limitation on liability of a director for acts or omissions that occurred prior to any such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws also provide that the Company will indemnify the Company’s directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws also permit the Company to purchase insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of that person’s actions as the Company’s officer, director, employee or agent, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit indemnification. The Company intends to enter into indemnification agreements with each of the Company’s current and future directors and officers. These agreements will require the Company to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liability that may arise by reason of their service to us and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. The Company believes that the limitation of liability provision in the Certificate of Incorporation and the indemnification agreements will facilitate the Company’s ability to continue to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and officers.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

On the Effective Date, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with certain of the pre-emergence creditors that received shares of common stock of the Company (the “Common Stock”) on the Effective Date (the “Holders”). The Registration Rights Agreement provides resale registration rights for the Holders’ Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

 

Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) with respect to the Registrable Securities within 90 days of emergence. The Company is required to maintain the effectiveness of any such registration statement until the Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement are no longer Registrable Securities.

 

Additionally, holders have customary demand, underwritten offering and piggyback registration rights, subject to the limitations set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. Under their demand registration rights, Qualified Holders (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) may request the Company to register all or a portion of their Registrable Securities, including on a delayed or continuous basis under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, provided that such offering is expected to yield aggregate gross proceeds of at least $25 million and the Company is not otherwise in violation of its obligation to file a Shelf Registration Statement. Under their underwritten offering registration rights, Holders also have certain rights to demand the Company to effectuate the distribution of any or all of their Registrable Securities by means of an underwritten offering pursuant to an effective registration statement. The Company shall not be obligated to effect more than four underwritten offerings in any twelve-month period and the aggregate proceeds expected to be received from the sale of the Registrable Securities requested to be sold in such underwritten offering, in the good faith judgment of the managing underwriters, must be at least $25 million. The Company is not obligated to file a registration statement pursuant to a demand notice or conduct an underwritten offering pursuant to a demand notice within 90 days of either a demand registration or an underwritten offering. The Registration Rights Agreement also provides customary piggyback registration rights.

 

These registration rights are subject to certain conditions and limitations, including the right of the underwriters to limit the number of shares to be included in a registration statement and the Company’s right to delay or withdraw a registration statement under certain circumstances. The Company will generally pay all registration expenses in connection with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, regardless of whether a registration statement is filed or becomes effective. The registration rights granted in the Registration Rights Agreement are subject to customary indemnification and contribution provisions, as well as customary restrictions such as blackout periods and, if an underwritten offering is contemplated, limitations on the number of shares to be included in the underwritten offering that may be imposed by the managing underwriter.

 

The obligations to register shares under the Registration Rights Agreement will terminate with respect to the Company and each Holder on the first date upon which the Holder no longer owns any Registrable Securities.

 

This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Registration Rights Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

 

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Other Rights

 

Under the terms of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, the Company is prohibited from issuing any non-voting equity securities to the extent required under Section 1123(a)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code and only for so long as Section 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code is in effect and applicable to the Company.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

 

Item 2.          Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Name of Exhibit

2.1

 

First Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. and its Debtor Affiliate, dated September 28, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 4, 2016)

3.1*

 

Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc.

3.2*

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc.

10.1*

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 21, 2016, between Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. and certain holders party thereto

99.1

 

Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order Confirming the First Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. and its Debtor Affiliate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 4, 2016)

 


*Filed herewith.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

MIDSTATES PETROLEUM COMPANY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: October 21, 2016

By:

/s/ Scott C. Weatherholt

 

Name:

Scott C. Weatherholt

 

Title:

Vice President - General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Vice President - Land

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Name of Exhibit

2.1

 

First Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. and its Debtor Affiliate, dated September 28, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 4, 2016)

3.1*

 

Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc.

3.2*

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc.

10.1*

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 21, 2016, between Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. and certain holders party thereto

99.1

 

Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order Confirming the First Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. and its Debtor Affiliate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 4, 2016)

 


*Filed herewith.

 

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Exhibit 3.1

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

MIDSTATES PETROLEUM COMPANY, INC.

 

Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc., (the “ Corporation ”) a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as set forth in Title 8 of the Delaware Code (the “ DGCL ”), hereby certifies as follows:

 

1.                                       The name of the Corporation is Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. The Corporation was originally incorporated pursuant to the DGCL on October 25, 2011 when the original Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

2.                                       This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “ Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”), which restates and amends the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, effective April 24, 2012, as amended by the Certificate of Amendment executed on June 12, 2014 and the Certificate of Amendment executed on August 3, 2015, was duly adopted, without the need for approval by the board of directors (the “ Board of Directors ”) or the stockholders of the Corporation, in accordance with §§ 242, 245 and 303 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”) and in accordance with that certain First Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. and Its Debtor Affiliate (the “ Plan ”) approved by order of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the “ Court ”) in In re: Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc., under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. §§ 101- 1330), as amended (the “ Bankruptcy Code ”).

 

3.                                       The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

FIRST:  The name of the corporation is Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).

 

SECOND: The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 in New Castle County, Delaware. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

THIRD: The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law as it currently exists or may hereafter be amended.

 

FOURTH: The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 300,000,000 shares of capital stock, classified as (i) 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Preferred Stock ”), and (ii) 250,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Common Stock ”).

 



 

The designations and the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the Preferred Stock and Common Stock are as follows:

 

1.                                       Provisions Relating to the Preferred Stock.

 

(a)                                  The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more classes or series, the shares of each class or series to have such designations and powers, preferences, and rights, and qualifications, limitations, and restrictions thereof, as are stated and expressed herein and in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such class or series adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation as hereafter prescribed (a “ Preferred Stock Designation ”).

 

(b)                                  Authority is hereby expressly granted to and vested in the Board of Directors to authorize the issuance of the Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more classes or series, and with respect to each class or series of the Preferred Stock, to fix and state by the resolution or resolutions from time to time adopted providing for the issuance thereof the designation and the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions relating to each class or series of the Preferred Stock, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

(i)                                      whether or not the class or series is to have voting rights, full, special or limited, or is to be without voting rights, and whether or not such class or series is to be entitled to vote as a separate class either alone or together with the holders of one or more other classes or series of stock;

 

(ii)                                   the number of shares to constitute the class or series and the designations thereof;

 

(iii)                                the preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, with respect to any class or series;

 

(iv)                               whether or not the shares of any class or series shall be redeemable at the option of the Corporation or the holders thereof or upon the happening of any specified event, and, if redeemable, the redemption price or prices (which may be payable in the form of cash, notes, securities or other property), and the time or times at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such shares shall be redeemable and the manner of redemption;

 

(v)                                  whether or not the shares of a class or series shall be subject to the operation of retirement or sinking funds to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares for retirement, and, if such retirement or sinking fund or funds are to be established, the annual amount thereof, and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;

 

(vi)                               the dividend rate, whether dividends are payable in cash, stock of the Corporation or other property, the conditions upon which and the times when such dividends are payable, the preference to or the relation to the payment of dividends payable on any other class or classes or series of stock, whether or not such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative, and if cumulative, the date or dates from which such dividends shall accumulate;

 

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(vii)                            the preferences, if any, and the amounts thereof which the holders of any class or series thereof shall be entitled to receive upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation;

 

(viii)                         whether or not the shares of any class or series, at the option of the Corporation or the holder thereof or upon the happening of any specified event, shall be convertible into or exchangeable for, the shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock, securities or other property of the Corporation and the conversion price or prices or ratio or ratios or the rate or rates at which such exchange may be made, with such adjustments, if any, as shall be stated and expressed or provided for in such resolution or resolutions; and

 

(ix)                               such other powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions with respect to any class or series as may to the Board of Directors seem advisable.

 

(c)                                   The shares of each class or series of the Preferred Stock may vary from the shares of any other class or series thereof in any or all of the foregoing respects. The Board of Directors may increase the number of shares of the Preferred Stock designated for any existing class or series by a resolution adding to such class or series authorized and unissued shares of the Preferred Stock not designated for any other class or series. The Board of Directors may decrease the number of shares of the Preferred Stock designated for any existing class or series by a resolution subtracting from such class or series authorized and unissued shares of the Preferred Stock designated for such existing class or series, and the shares so subtracted shall become authorized, unissued, and undesignated shares of the Preferred Stock.

 

2.                                       Provisions Relating to Common Stock.

 

(a)                                  Each share of Common Stock of the Corporation shall have identical rights and privileges in every respect. Common Stock shall be subject to the express terms of the Preferred Stock and any series thereof. Except as may otherwise be provided in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in a Preferred Stock Designation or by applicable law, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share upon all questions presented to the stockholders, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other purposes, and the holders of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote at or receive notice of any meeting of stockholders. Each holder of Common Stock shall be entitled to notice of any stockholders’ meeting in accordance with the bylaws of the Corporation (as in effect at the time in question) and applicable law on all matters put to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon

 

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pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

(c)                                   Subject to the prior rights and preferences, if any, applicable to shares of the Preferred Stock or any series thereof, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them such dividends and distributions (payable in cash, stock or otherwise), if any, as may be declared thereon by the Board of Directors at any time and from time to time out of any funds of the Corporation legally available therefor.

 

(d)                                  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, after distribution in full of the preferential amounts, if any, to be distributed to the holders of shares of the Preferred Stock or any class or series thereof, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them. A liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, as such terms are used in this Paragraph (d), shall not be deemed to be occasioned by or to include any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or corporations or other entity or a sale, lease, exchange or conveyance of all or a part of the assets of the Corporation.

 

(e)                                   The number of authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of either the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.

 

3.                                       General.

 

(a)                                  Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and any then-existing Preferred Stock Designation, the Corporation may issue shares of its Preferred Stock and Common Stock from time to time for such consideration (not less than the par value thereof) as may be fixed by the Board of Directors, which is expressly authorized to fix the same in its absolute and uncontrolled discretion subject to the foregoing conditions. Shares so issued for which the consideration shall have been paid or delivered to the Corporation shall be deemed fully paid stock and shall not be liable to any further call or assessment thereon, and the holders of such shares shall not be liable for any further payments in respect of such shares.

 

(b)                                  The Corporation shall have authority to create and issue rights and options entitling their holders to purchase shares of the Corporation’s capital stock of any class or series or other securities of the Corporation, and such rights and options shall be evidenced by instrument(s) approved by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall be empowered to set the exercise price, duration, times for exercise, and other terms of such options or rights;

 

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provided , however , that the consideration to be received for any shares of capital stock subject thereto shall not be less than the par value thereof.

 

(c)                                   The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the person in whose name any share of its stock is registered as the owner thereof for all purposes and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such share on the part of any other person, whether or not the Corporation shall have notice thereof, except as expressly provided by applicable law.

 

(d)                                  The Corporation shall not issue nonvoting equity securities; provided, however the foregoing restriction shall (i) have no further force and effect beyond that required under Section 1123(a)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code, (ii) only have such force and effect for so long as Section 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code is in effect and applicable to the Corporation, and (iii) in all events may be amended or eliminated in accordance with applicable law as from time to time may be in effect. The prohibition on the issuance of nonvoting equity securities is included in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in compliance with Section 1123(a)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

FIFTH: At each annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, all directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock specified in any then-existing Preferred Stock Designation, shall be elected for a term expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders. Each director shall hold office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office.

 

At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors may be elected to fill any vacancy on the Board, regardless of how such vacancy shall have been created. Subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional directors pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation thereunder), any director may be removed at any time, either for or without cause, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election of directors, acting at a meeting of the stockholders or by written consent (if permitted) in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the bylaws of the Corporation.

 

The number of directors of the Corporation shall be specified in, or determined in the manner provided in, the bylaws of the Corporation. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. Unless and except to the extent that the bylaws of the Corporation so provide, the election of directors need not be by written ballot.

 

SIXTH: Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual meeting or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote of stockholders, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is or are signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.

 

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SEVENTH: Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board, the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies or the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of the holders of record of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

EIGHTH: In furtherance of, and not in limitation of, the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation subject to any limitations contained therein and the power of the stockholders of the Corporation to alter or repeal any bylaw whether adopted by them or otherwise; provided , however , that, the provisions of this Article Eighth notwithstanding, bylaws shall not be adopted, altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation except by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (considered for this purpose as one class).

 

NINTH:  Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between the Corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between the Corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary way of the Corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for the Corporation under the provisions of Section 291 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for the Corporation under the provisions of Section 279 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of the Corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs. If a majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of the Corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of the Corporation as a consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application has been made, be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of the Corporation, as the case may be, and also on the Corporation.

 

TENTH: No director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law as it now exists. In addition to the circumstances in which a director of the Corporation is not personally liable as set forth in the preceding sentence, a director of the Corporation shall not be liable to the fullest extent permitted by any amendment to the Delaware General Corporation Law hereafter enacted that further limits the liability of a director.

 

The Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to each director or officer to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.

 

Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article Tenth shall be prospective only and shall not affect any limitation on liability of a director for acts or omissions occurring prior to the date of such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

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ELEVENTH: The Corporation elects not to be governed by, and shall not be subject to the provisions of, 8 Del. C. § 203, as now in effect or hereafter amended, or any successor statute thereto, as permitted under and pursuant to subsection (b)(3) thereof.

 

TWELFTH: The Corporation shall have the right, subject to any express provisions or restrictions contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws of the Corporation, from time to time, to amend this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any provision hereof in any manner now or hereafter provided by law, and all rights and powers of any kind conferred upon a director or stockholder of the Corporation by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment hereof are subject to such right of the Corporation.

 

THIRTEENTH: Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall 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, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Corporation’s bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article Thirteenth.

 

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as of this 21st day of October, 2016.

 

 

MIDSTATES PETROLEUM COMPANY, INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott C. Weatherholt

 

Name:

Scott C. Weatherholt

 

Title:

Vice President - General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Vice President - Land

 

[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]

 


Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

OF

 

MIDSTATES PETROLEUM COMPANY, INC.

 

Incorporated under the Laws of the State of Delaware

 

ARTICLE I

OFFICES AND RECORDS

 

Section 1.1                                     Registered Office . The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company. The registered office and registered agent of the Corporation may be changed from time to time by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) in the manner provided by law.

 

Section 1.2                                     Other Offices . The Corporation may have such other offices, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board may designate or as the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.

 

Section 1.3                                     Books and Records . The books and records of the Corporation may be kept outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may from time to time be designated by the Board.

 

ARTICLE II

STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 2.1                                     Annual Meeting . The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be held on such date and at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and time as may be fixed by resolution of the Board, unless, subject to the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation as it may be amended and restated from time to time (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), the stockholders have acted by written consent as permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

Section 2.2                                     Special Meeting . Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board, the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies or the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of the holders of record of 20% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of the stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.

 

Section 2.3                                     Record Date . For the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board

 



 

of Directors of the Corporation may fix, in advance, a date as the record date for any such determination of stockholders, which date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (l0) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action.

 

Section 2.4                                     Stock List . A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of such stockholder, shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to the list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. The stock list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled by this section to examine the list required by this section or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders.

 

Section 2.5                                     Place of Meeting . The Board or the Chairman of the Board, as the case may be, may designate the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting of the stockholders called by the Board or the Chairman of the Board. If no designation is so made, the place of meeting shall be the principal executive offices of the Corporation. The Board, acting in its sole discretion, may establish guidelines and procedures in accordance with applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law and any other applicable law for the participation by stockholders and proxyholders in a meeting of stockholders by means of remote communications, and may determine that any meeting of stockholders will not be held at any place but will be held solely by means of remote communication. Stockholders and proxyholders complying with such procedures and guidelines and otherwise entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be deemed present in person and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication.

 

Section 2.6                                     Notice of Meeting . Written or printed notice, stating the place, day and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, in a manner pursuant to Section 7.8 hereof, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify (i) the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting), (ii) the place, if any, date and time of such meeting, (iii) the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, (iv) in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is called and (v) such other information as may be required by law or as may be deemed appropriate by the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive

 

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Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation. If the stockholder list referred to in Section 2.4 of these Bylaws is made accessible on an electronic network, the notice of meeting must indicate how the stockholder list can be accessed. If the meeting of stockholders is to be held solely by means of electronic communications, the notice of meeting must provide the information required to access such stockholder list during the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation. The Corporation may provide stockholders with notice of a meeting by electronic transmission provided such stockholders have consented to receiving electronic notice. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by law. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the notice of meeting. Meetings may be held without notice if all stockholders entitled to vote are present, or if notice is waived by those not present in accordance with Section 7.4 of these Bylaws. Any previously scheduled meeting of the stockholders may be postponed, and any special meeting of the stockholders may be cancelled, by resolution of the Board, upon public notice given prior to the date previously scheduled for such meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 2.7                                     Quorum and Adjournment of Meetings . Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “ Voting Stock ”), represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders, except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series of stock voting as a class, the holders of a majority of the shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum of such class or series for the transaction of such business. Shares of its own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if such shares of stock represent a majority of the voting power entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation are held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted by quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to vote stock, including but not limited to its own stock, held by it in fiduciary capacity. The chairman of the meeting or a majority of the shares so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time, whether or not there is such a quorum. Except as required by law, no notice of the time and place of adjourned meetings need be given if the time, place if any, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days or a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting after the adjournment, in which case notice of the adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 2.6 of these Bylaws shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. At the adjournment meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting. The stockholders present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

 

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Section 2.8                                     Proxies . At all meetings of stockholders, a stockholder may vote by proxy executed in writing (or in such other manner prescribed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware) by the stockholder, or by his duly authorized attorney in fact. Any copy, facsimile transmission or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this section may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile transmission or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission. No proxy may be voted or acted upon after the expiration of three (3) years from the date of such proxy, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. Every proxy is revocable at the pleasure of the stockholder executing it unless the proxy states that it is irrevocable and applicable law makes it irrevocable. A stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or by filing another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary of the Corporation.

 

Section 2.9                                     Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations .

 

(A)                                Annual Meetings of Stockholders .

 

(1)                                  Nominations of persons for election to the Board and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (a) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) or  (b) by or at the direction of the Board, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (i) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in these Bylaws and at the time of the annual meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (iii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in these Bylaws as to such business or nomination; clause 1(c) of this Section 2.9(A)  shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting) before an annual meeting of the stockholders.

 

(2)                                  Without qualification, for any nominations or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 2.9(A)(1)(c)  of these Bylaws, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action under the Delaware General Corporation Law. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120 th  day and not later than the close of business on the 90 th  day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided , however , that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120 th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90 th  day prior to such annual meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than one hundred (100) days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10 th  day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period

 

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for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice (whether given pursuant to this Section 2.9(A)(2)  or Section 2.9(B) ) to the Secretary must:

 

(a)                                  set forth, as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, if any, (ii) (A) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (B) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a “ Derivative Instrument ”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation, (C) a description of any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Company, (D) any short interest in any security of the Company (for purposes of these Bylaws a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security), (E) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information shall be supplemented by such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date), (iii) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (iv) a representation that the stockholder was a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to bring such nomination or other business before the meeting, and (v) a representation as to whether such stockholder or any such beneficial owner intends or is part of a group that intends to (x) deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or to elect each such nominee and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination. If requested by the Corporation, the information required under clauses (a)(i) and (ii) of the preceding sentence of this Section 2.9 shall be supplemented by such stockholder and any such beneficial owner not later than ten (10) days after the record date for

 

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notice of the meeting to disclose such information as of such record date;

 

(b)                                  if the notice relates to any business other than a nomination of a director or directors that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, set forth (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, in such business and (ii) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder;

 

(c)                                   set forth, as to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board (i) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected) and (ii) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant; and

 

(d)                                  with respect to each nominee for election or reelection to the Board, include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 2.9 of these Bylaws. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

 

(3)                                  Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of Section 2.9(A)(2)  of these Bylaws to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by these Bylaws shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10 th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(4)                                  The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 2.9(A)  shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business or a nomination if such stockholder has

 

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notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present a proposal or make a nomination at an annual meeting in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal or nomination has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.

 

(B)                                Special Meetings of Stockholders .

 

Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to a notice of meeting (a) by or at the direction of the Board or (b) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (i) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in these Bylaws and at the time of the special meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (iii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in these Bylaws. In the event a special meeting of stockholders is called for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by Section 2.9(A)(2)  of these Bylaws with respect to any nomination (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 2.9 of these Bylaws) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120 th  day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90 th  day prior to such special meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such special meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such special meeting, the 10 th  day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(C)                                General .

 

(1)                                  Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible to serve as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.

 

(2)                                  For purposes of these Bylaws, “ public announcement ” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by Dow Jones News Service, the Associated Press, or any other national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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(3)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of these Bylaws, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in these Bylaws; provided , however , that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to Section 2.9(A)(1)(c)  or Section 2.9(B)  of these Bylaws. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (ii) of the holders of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation (“ Preferred Stock ”) if and to the extent provided for under law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

 

(4)                                  The Corporation may require any proposed stockholder nominee for director to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation. Unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) making a nomination or proposal under this Section 2.9 does not appear at a meeting of stockholders to present such nomination or proposal, the nomination shall be disregarded and/or the proposed business shall not be transacted, as the case may be, notwithstanding that proxies in favor thereof may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 2.9 , to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 2.10                              Conduct of Business . The Chairman, or if he or she is not present, the Chief Executive Officer, shall conduct the meeting in an orderly manner, rule on the precedence of, and procedure on, motions and other procedural matters, and exercise discretion with respect to such procedural matters. The Secretary of the Corporation, if present, shall as act secretary of such meetings, or if he or she is not present, then a secretary shall be appointed by the chairman of the meeting. Without limiting the foregoing, the Chairman may (a) restrict attendance at any time to bona fide stockholders of record and their proxies and other persons in attendance at the invitation of the presiding officer or Board, (b) restrict use of audio or video recording devices at the meeting, and (c) impose reasonable limits on the amount of time taken up at the meeting on discussion in general or on remarks by any one stockholder. Should any person in attendance become unruly or obstruct the meeting proceedings, the Chairman shall have the power to have such person removed from the meeting. Notwithstanding anything in the Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at a meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this ARTICLE II. The Chairman of a meeting may determine and declare to the meeting that any proposed item of business was not brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this ARTICLE II, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

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Section 2.11                              Procedure for Election of Directors; Required Vote . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, at any meeting at which directors are to be elected, the directors shall be elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote therefor. Except as otherwise provided by law, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, in all matters other than certain non-binding advisory votes described below, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter shall be the act of the stockholders. In non-binding advisory matters with more than two possible vote choices, the affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter shall be the recommendation of the stockholders.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, cumulative voting for the election of directors shall be prohibited.

 

Section 2.12                              Treasury Stock . The Corporation shall not vote, directly or indirectly, shares of its own stock owned by it or any other corporation, if a majority of shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such corporation is held, directly or indirectly by the Corporation, and such shares will not be counted for quorum purposes.

 

Section 2.13                              Inspectors of Elections; Opening and Closing the Polls . At any meeting at which a vote is taken by ballots, the Board by resolution may, and when required by law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors, which inspector or inspectors may include individuals who serve the Corporation in other capacities, including, without limitation, as officers, employees, agents or representatives, to act at the meetings of stockholders and make a written report thereof. One or more persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate has been appointed to act or is able to act at a meeting of stockholders and the appointment of an inspector is required by law, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by law.

 

The chairman of the meeting shall fix and announce at the meeting the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting.

 

Section 2.14                              Stockholder Action by Written Consent . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual meeting or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote of stockholders, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is or are signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.

 

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ARTICLE III

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 3.1                                     General Powers . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board elected in accordance with these Bylaws. In addition to the powers and authorities by these Bylaws expressly conferred upon them, the Board may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders. The directors shall act only as a Board, and the individual directors shall have no power as such.

 

Section 3.2                                     Number, Tenure and Qualifications . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors shall be no less than one and no more than nine (9), provided that the Board may, pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, fix a greater number of directors from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board. The election and term of director shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 3.3                                     Regular Meetings . Subject to Section 3.5 , regular meetings of the Board shall be held on such dates, and at such times and places, as are determined from time to time by resolution of the Board.

 

Section 3.4                                     Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board shall be called at the request of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or a majority of the Board then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board may fix the place and time of the meetings. Any business may be conducted at a special meeting of the Board.

 

Section 3.5                                     Notice . Notice of any meeting of directors shall be given to each director at his business or residence in writing by hand delivery, first-class or overnight mail or courier service, telegram or facsimile transmission, electronic transmission or orally by telephone. If mailed by first-class mail, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when deposited in the United States mails so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid, at least five days before such meeting. If by telegram, overnight mail or courier service, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the telegram is delivered to the telegraph company or the notice is delivered to the overnight mail or courier service company at least twenty-four (24) hours before such meeting. If by facsimile or electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the notice is transmitted at least twenty-four (24) hours before such meeting. If by telephone or by hand delivery, the notice shall be given at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the time set for the meeting and shall be confirmed by facsimile or electronic transmission that is sent promptly thereafter. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board need be specified in the notice of such meeting, except for amendments to these Bylaws, as provided under Section 8.1 . A meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the directors are present or if those not present waive notice of the meeting in accordance with Section 7.4 of these Bylaws.

 

Section 3.6                                     Action by Consent of Board of Directors . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, including

 

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by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote at a meeting, and may be stated as such in any document or instrument filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware.

 

Section 3.7                                     Conference Telephone Meetings . Members of the Board, or any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting, except where such person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

Section 3.8                                     Quorum . Subject to Section 3.9 , a whole number of directors equal to at least a majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice unless (i) the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting are not announced at the time of adjournment, in which case notice conforming to the requirements of Section 3.5 of these Bylaws shall be given to each director, or (ii) the meeting is adjourned for more than twenty-four (24) hours, in which case the notice referred to in clause (i) shall be given to those directors not present at the announcement of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting. The act of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board. The directors present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough directors to leave less than a quorum.

 

Section 3.9                                     Vacancies . Subject to applicable law, the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, vacancies resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors, may be filled by either (a) holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election of directors, acting at a meeting of the stockholders or by written consent in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws or (b) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, though less than a quorum of the Board, or a sole remaining director, and directors chosen in accordance with subclause (b) shall hold office for a term expiring on the sooner of the next annual meeting of stockholders or the next special meeting of stockholders called for purposes of voting on such directors. No decrease in the number of authorized directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

Section 3.10                              Removal . Subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional directors pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation thereunder), any director may be removed at any time, either for or without cause, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election of directors, acting at a meeting of the stockholders or by written consent (if permitted) in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws.  IF the removal

 

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occurs at a meeting of the stockholders and the notice so provides, the vacancy caused by such removal may be filled at such meeting by a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote therefor.

 

Section 3.11                              Records . The Board shall cause to be kept a record containing the minutes of the proceedings of the meetings of the Board and of the stockholders, appropriate stock books and registers and such books of records and accounts as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the Corporation.

 

Section 3.12                              Compensation . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board shall have authority to fix the compensation of directors, including fees and reimbursement of expenses. The Corporation will cause each non-employee director serving on the Board to be reimbursed for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by him or her in connection with such service.

 

Section 3.13                              Regulations . To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws, the Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings of the Board and for the management of the affairs and business of the Corporation as the Board may deem appropriate.

 

ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

 

Section 4.1                                     Designation; Powers . The Board may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole board, designate one or more committees, including, if they shall so determine, an executive committee. Each committee shall consist of such number of directors, with such qualifications, as may be required by applicable laws, regulations or stock exchange rules or as from time to time may be fixed by the Board. Any such designated committee shall have and may exercise such of the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation as may be provided in such resolution, except that no such committee shall have the power or authority of the Board in reference to amending the Certificate of Incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders an agreement of merger, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution of the Corporation, or amending, altering or repealing the bylaws or adopting new bylaws for the Corporation and, unless such resolution or the Certificate of Incorporation expressly so provides, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock. Any such designated committee may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. In addition to the above, such committee or committees shall have such other powers and limitations of authority as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board.

 

Section 4.2                                     Procedure; Meetings; Quorum . Any committee designated pursuant to Section 4.1 shall choose its own chairman, shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board when requested, and shall meet at such times and at such place or places as may be provided by the charter of such committee or by resolution of such committee or resolution of

 

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the Board. At every meeting of any such committee, the presence of a majority of all the members thereof shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary for the adoption by it of any resolution. The Board shall adopt a charter for each committee for which a charter is required by applicable laws, regulations or stock exchange rules, may adopt a charter for any other committee, and may adopt other rules and regulations for the government of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws or any such charter, and each committee may adopt its own rules and regulations of government, to the extent not inconsistent with these Bylaws or any charter or other rules and regulations adopted by the Board.

 

Section 4.3                                     Substitution of Members . The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.

 

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

 

Section 5.1                                     Officers . The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as the Board from time to time may deem proper. The Chairman of the Board shall be chosen from among the directors. All officers elected by the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this ARTICLE V. Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board or by any committee thereof. The Board or any committee thereof may from time to time elect, or the Chairman of the Board or President may appoint, such other officers (including one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, and Assistant Treasurers) and such agents, as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Corporation. Such other officers and agents shall have such duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as shall be provided in these Bylaws or as may be prescribed by the Board or such committee or by the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be. For the avoidance of doubt, the term Vice President shall refer to an officer elected by the Board as Vice President and shall not include any employees of the Corporation whose employment title is “ Vice President ” unless such individual has been elected as a Vice President of the Corporation in accordance with these Bylaws.

 

Section 5.2                                     Election and Term of Office . The officers of the Corporation shall be elected or appointed from time to time by the Board. Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected or appointed and shall have qualified or until his death or until he shall resign, but any officer may be removed from office at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board or, except in the case of an officer or agent elected by the Board, by the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer. Such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of the person so removed. No elected officer shall have any contractual rights against the Corporation for compensation by virtue of such election beyond the date of the election of his successor, his death, his resignation or his removal, whichever event

 

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shall first occur, except as otherwise provided in an employment contract or under an employee deferred compensation plan.

 

Section 5.3                                     Chairman of the Board . The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall be responsible for the general management of the affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties incidental to his office which may be required by law and all such other duties as are properly required of him by the Board. He shall make reports to the Board and the stockholders, and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board and of any committee thereof are carried into effect. The Chairman of the Board may also serve as Chief Executive Officer, if so elected by the Board.

 

Section 5.4                                     Chief Executive Officer . The Chief Executive Officer shall act in a general executive capacity and shall assist the Chairman of the Board in the administration and operation of the Corporation’s business and general supervision of its policies and affairs. The Chief Executive Officer shall, in the absence of or because of the inability to act of the Chairman of the Board, perform all duties of the Chairman of the Board and preside at all meetings of stockholders and of the Board. The Chief Executive Officer shall have the authority to sign, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, checks, orders, contracts, leases, notes, drafts and all other documents and instruments in connection with the business of the Corporation.

 

Section 5.5                                     President . The President shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him by the Board.

 

Section 5.6                                     Executive Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents . Each Executive Vice President and Vice President shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him by the Board.

 

Section 5.7                                     Treasurer . The Treasurer shall exercise general supervision over the receipt, custody and disbursement of corporate funds. The Treasurer shall cause the funds of the Corporation to be deposited in such banks as may be authorized by the Board, or in such banks as may be designated as depositaries in the manner provided by resolution of the Board. He shall have such further powers and duties and shall be subject to such directions as may be granted or imposed upon him from time to time by the Board, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 5.8                                     Secretary . The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept in one or more books provided for that purpose, the minutes of all meetings of the Board, the committees of the Board and the stockholders; he shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws and as required by law; he shall be custodian of the records and the seal of the Corporation and affix and attest the seal to all stock certificates of the Corporation (unless the seal of the Corporation on such certificates shall be a facsimile, as hereinafter provided) and affix and attest the seal to all other documents to be executed on behalf of the Corporation under its seal; and he shall see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and in general, he shall perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

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Section 5.9                                     Vacancies . A newly created elected office and a vacancy in any elected office because of death, resignation, or removal may be filled by the Board for the unexpired portion of the term at any meeting of the Board. Any vacancy in an office appointed by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer because of death, resignation, or removal may be filled by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 5.10                              Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations . Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of security holders of or with respect to any action of security holders of any other corporation in which this Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.

 

ARTICLE VI

STOCK CERTIFICATES AND TRANSFERS

 

Section 6.1                                     Stock Certificates and Transfers . The interest of each stockholder of the Corporation shall be evidenced by certificates for shares of stock in such form as the appropriate officers of the Corporation may from time to time prescribe, provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock may be uncertificated or electronic shares. The shares of the stock of the Corporation shall be entered in the books of the Corporation as they are issued and shall exhibit the holder’s name and number of shares. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the shares of the stock of the Corporation shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation, which may be maintained by a third party registrar or transfer agent, by the holder thereof in person or by his attorney, upon surrender for cancellation of certificates for at least the same number of shares, with an assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, with such proof of the authenticity of the signature as the Corporation or its agents may reasonably require or upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of uncertificated shares and upon compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form, at which time the Corporation shall issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.

 

Each certificated share of stock shall be signed, countersigned and registered in such manner as the Board may by resolution prescribe, which resolution may permit all or any of the signatures on such certificates to be in facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

Section 6.2                                     Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates . No certificate for shares or uncertificated shares of stock in the Corporation shall be issued in place of any certificate alleged to have been lost, destroyed or stolen, except on production of such evidence of such loss, destruction or theft and on delivery to the Corporation of a bond of indemnity in such amount, upon such terms and secured by such surety, as the Board or any financial officer may in its or his discretion require.

 

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Section 6.3                                     Ownership of Shares . The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of capital stock of the Corporation as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 6.4                                     Regulations Regarding Certificates . The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as they may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration or the replacement of certificates for shares of capital stock of the Corporation. The Corporation may enter into additional agreements with stockholders to restrict the transfer of stock of the Corporation in any manner not prohibited by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 7.1                                     Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January and end on the thirty-first day of December of each year.

 

Section 7.2                                     Dividends . Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares of capital stock, which dividends may be paid in either cash, property or shares of capital stock of the Corporation. A member of the Board, or a member of any committee designated by the Board shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person as to matters the director reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation, as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities and/or net profits of the Corporation, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of surplus or other funds from which dividends might properly be declared and paid.

 

Section 7.3                                     Seal . The corporate seal shall have enscribed thereon the words “ Corporate Seal ,” the year of incorporation and around the margin thereof the words “Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. — Delaware.”

 

Section 7.4                                     Waiver of Notice . Whenever any notice is required to be given to any stockholder or director of the Corporation under the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, including by electronic transmission, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual or special meeting of the stockholders or the Board or committee thereof need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

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Section 7.5                                     Resignations . Any director or any officer, whether elected or appointed, may resign at any time by giving written notice, including by electronic transmission, of such resignation to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary, and such resignation shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the date said notice is received by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary, or at such later time as is specified therein. No formal action shall be required of the Board or the stockholders to make any such resignation effective.

 

Section 7.6                                     Indemnification . (A)(1)  Each person who was or is a party or is involved in any Proceeding (other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation), by reason of the fact that he or she or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative is or was, or has agreed to become, a director, officer, employee or agent of a Subject Enterprise or by reason of any act or omission by such person in such capacity, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all Expenses and liabilities which were suffered or reasonably incurred by, or in the case of retainers, to be reasonably incurred by, such person in connection therewith, so long as such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation and, in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful. Such indemnification shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of (i) ten (10) years after the date such person has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Subject Enterprise and (ii) the date of final termination of any Proceeding in which it is entitled to indemnification hereby. Such indemnification shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and administrators.

 

(2)                                  Each person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative is or was, or has agreed to become, a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of a Subject Enterprise, or by reason of any act or omission by such person in such capacity, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all Expenses suffered or incurred by, or in the case of retainers, to be incurred by, such person in connection therewith, so long as such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation. Such indemnification shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of (i) ten (10) years after the date such person has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Subject Enterprise and (ii) the date of final termination of any Proceeding in which it is entitled to indemnification hereby. Such indemnification shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and administrators.

 

(3)                                  Notwithstanding Section 7.6(A)(2) , no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been finally adjudged to

 

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be liable to the Corporation in a final adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction, unless and to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or the court in which such Proceeding shall have been brought or is pending, shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

(4)                                  Notwithstanding Section 7.6(A)(1)  and (2) , except as provided in Section 7.6(C)  or the last sentence of Section 7.6(D) , the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person, including any Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person against the Corporation or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees only if (i) such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board prior to its initiation or (ii) the Corporation provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law.

 

(5)                                  The Corporation shall advance all Expenses incurred by a present or former director or officer in defending any Proceeding prior to the final disposition of such Proceeding upon written request of such person and delivery of an undertaking by such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation. Such advances shall be paid by the Corporation within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements from the claimant requesting such advance or advances from time to time.

 

(B)                                The Corporation may, by action of its Board, provide indemnification to employees and agents of the Corporation, individually or as a group, within the same scope and effect as the indemnification of its directors and officers.

 

(C)                                To obtain indemnification or advancement of Expenses under these Bylaws, a claimant shall submit to the Corporation a written request, including documentation and information which is reasonably available to the claimant and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the claimant is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding. Upon written request by a claimant for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of this paragraph (C), a determination by the Corporation, if required by applicable law, with respect to the claimant’s entitlement thereto shall be made as follows: (1) if requested by the claimant, by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined) in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to the claimant, or (2) if no request is made by the claimant for a determination by Independent Counsel, (i) by the Board by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined), even though less than a quorum of the Board, (ii) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, (iii) if there are no such Disinterested Directors, or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to the claimant, or (iv) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Corporation. The Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Corporation; provided, however , that the claimant may, within ten (10) days after written notice of selection shall be given, deliver to the Corporation written objection to such selection, which may only be asserted on the grounds that the Independent Counsel does not meet the definition of Independent Counsel as defined by these Bylaws. Such

 

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determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be made not later than ninety (90) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request for indemnification. If it is so determined that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, payment to the claimant shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. In any proceeding brought to enforce the right of a person to receive indemnification to which such person is entitled under this Section 7.6 , the person, persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the Delaware General Corporation Law or other applicable law and these Bylaws presume that such person is entitled to indemnification and the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. A prior determination by the Corporation (including the Board or any committee thereof, its independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct does not itself constitute evidence that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct. In any proceeding brought to enforce a claim for advances to which a person is entitled under Section 7.6(A)(5) , the person seeking an advance need only show that he or she has satisfied the requirements expressly set forth in Section 7.6(A)(5) .

 

(D)                                If the Board or the Independent Counsel, as applicable, shall have failed to make a determination as to entitlement to indemnification within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Corporation of such request, such claimant shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of such claimant’s option to such entitlement. Alternatively, such claimant, at his option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself: (i) create a presumption that the claimant did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that the claimant had reasonable cause to believe that the claimant’s conduct was unlawful; or (ii) otherwise adversely affect the rights of the claimant to indemnification, except as may be provided herein. All Expenses incurred by such person in connection with successfully establishing such person’s right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Section 7.6, in whole or in part, shall also be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

(E)                                 If a determination shall have been made pursuant to paragraph (C) of these Bylaws that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, the Corporation shall be bound by such determination and shall be precluded from asserting that such determination has not been made in any judicial Proceeding commenced pursuant to paragraph (D) of these Bylaws.

 

(F)                                  The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial Proceeding commenced pursuant to paragraph (D) of these Bylaws that the procedures and presumptions of these Bylaws are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in such Proceeding that the Corporation is bound by all the provisions of these Bylaws.

 

(G)                                The right to indemnification and the payment of Expenses incurred, or in the case of retainers or similar Expenses, reasonably expected to be incurred, in defending a Proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in these Bylaws shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the

 

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Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise. No repeal or modification of these Bylaws shall in any way diminish or adversely affect the rights of any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any occurrence or matter arising prior to any such repeal or modification.

 

(H)                               The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, grant rights to indemnification, and rights to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of these Bylaws with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation and of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

(I)                                    If any provision or provisions of these Bylaws shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (1) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of these Bylaws (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of these Bylaws containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (2) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of these Bylaws (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of these Bylaws containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable. If this Section 7.6 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless (1) indemnify each director or officer of the Corporation as to Expenses and liabilities paid in settlement with respect to any Proceeding, including an action by or in the right of the Corporation, and (2) advance Expenses to each director or officer of the Corporation entitled to advancement of expenses under Section 7.6(A) (5) in accordance therewith, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Section 7.6 that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

(J)                                    For purposes of these Bylaws:

 

(1)                                  Disinterested Director ” means a director of the Corporation who is not and was not a party to the matter in respect of which indemnification is sought.

 

(2)                                  Expenses ” means all reasonable costs, expenses, fees and charges, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with the prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also shall include, without limitation, (i) expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from, incurred by the claimant in connection with, arising out of, or in respect of or relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, (ii) expenses incurred by the claimant in connection with interpretation, enforcement or defense of such claimant’s rights, by litigation or otherwise, (iii) any federal, state, local or foreign taxes

 

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imposed on the claimant as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under these Bylaws, and (iv) any interest, assessments or other changes in respect of the foregoing.

 

(3)                                  Independent Counsel ” means a law firm of at least 50 attorneys or a member of a law firm of at least 50 attorneys that is experienced in matters of corporate law and that neither is presently nor in the past five years has been retained to represent (i) the Corporation or the claimant or any affiliate thereof in any matter material to either such party or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “ Independent Counsel ” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Corporation or the claimant in an action to determine the claimant’s right to indemnification under these Bylaws.

 

(4)                                  Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, governmental agency or body or any other legal entity.

 

(5)                                  Proceeding ” means any threatened, pending or completed action, claim, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, form or informal hearing, inquiry or investigation, litigation, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed judicial, administrative or arbitration proceeding (including, without limitation, any such proceeding under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other federal law, state law, statute or regulation), whether brought in the right of the Corporation or otherwise, and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature, in each case, in which the claimant was, is or will be, or is threatened to be, involved as a party, witness or otherwise by reason of the fact that such claimant is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any actual or alleged action by the such claimant or of any action on such claimant’s part while acting as director or officer of the Corporation, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Subject Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement can be provided under these Bylaws.

 

(6)                                  Subject Enterprise ” means the Corporation or any of the Corporation’s direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries or any other entity, including, but not limited to, another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, employee benefit plan, joint venture, trust or other enterprise for which a person is or was serving as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary at the request of the Corporation.

 

(K)                                Any person entitled to indemnification and/or advancement of expenses, in each case pursuant to this Section 7.6 (an “ Indemnitee ”) may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and/or insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Corporation hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Corporation shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of this Section 7.6 , (ii) the Corporation shall be primarily liable for all such obligations and any indemnification afforded to an Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of this Section 7.6 , whether created by law,

 

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organizational or constituent documents, contract or otherwise, (iii) any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which an Indemnitee may be associated  to indemnify such Indemnitee and/or advance Expenses or liabilities to such Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Corporation hereunder, (iv) the Corporation shall be required to indemnify each Indemnitee and advance Expenses to each Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights such Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which such Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person, and (v) the Corporation irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which an Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Corporation hereunder.

 

Section 7.7                                     Notices . Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law, all notices required to be given to any stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, or by sending such notice by commercial courier service, or by facsimile or other electronic transmission, provided that notice to stockholders by electronic transmission shall be given in the manner provided in Section 232 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent at his or her last known address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. The time when such notice shall be deemed to given shall be the time such notice is received by such stockholder, director, officer employee or agent, or by any person accepting such notice on behalf of such person, if delivered by hand, facsimile, other electronic transmission or commercial courier service, or the time such notice is dispatched, if delivered through the mails. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively, notice to any stockholder shall be deemed given: (1) if by facsimile, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (3) if by posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; (4) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder; and (5) if by mail, when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.

 

Section 7.8                                     Facsimile Signatures . In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board or a committee thereof.

 

Section 7.9                                     Time Periods . In applying any provision of these Bylaws which require that an act be done or not done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.

 

Section 7.10                              Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records . Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the

 

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Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees designated by the Board, or by any other person as to the matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

 

Section 8.1                                     Amendments. Subject to the provisions of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed (a) at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors if, in the case of such special meeting only, notice of such amendment, alteration or repeal is contained in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting or (b) by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors present at any special or regular meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present if, in the case of such special meeting only, notice of such amendment, alteration or repeal is contained in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sections 3.9 and 3.10 and this paragraph of Section 8.1 may only be amended, altered or repealed at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders upon the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3 % of the shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors if, in the case of such special meeting only, notice of such amendment, alteration or repeal is contained in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, alteration or repeal of Section 7.6 shall adversely affect any right or protection existing under these Bylaws immediately prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, including any right or protection of a present or former director or officer thereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment.

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

MIDSTATES PETROLEUM COMPANY, INC.
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of October 21, 2016, by and among (i) Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), (ii) the Holders (as defined below) of Company Common Stock (as defined below) listed on Schedule I hereto and (iii) the Holders of Warrants (as defined below) listed on Schedule II hereto. The Company and the Holders are referred to collectively herein as the “ Parties ”.

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, on April 30, 2016, the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Midstates Petroleum Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, filed voluntary petitions under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “ Bankruptcy Code ”);

 

WHEREAS, on September 29, 2016, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (the “ Bankruptcy Court ”), in case no. 16-32237 (DRJ) entered an order confirming the First Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc. and Its Debtor Affiliate dated July 7, 2016 for the Company pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code (the “ Plan ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company is emerging from bankruptcy as a public company;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Plan, the Company was authorized to enter into this Agreement and each Holder is deemed to hold Company Common Stock or Warrants, as applicable, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, each Holder is on the date hereof the holder of the number of shares of Company Common Stock or Warrants, as applicable, as set forth on Schedule I and Schedule II hereto and as set forth in the Plan;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by each Party, the Parties agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Definitions .  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1 :

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Person (including any investment fund the primary investment advisor to which is such Person or an Affiliate thereof); provided that for purposes of this Agreement, no Holder shall be deemed an Affiliate of any other securityholder solely by reason of any investment in the Company.  For purposes of this definition, the term “ control ” (including the correlative meanings of the terms “ controlling ,” “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the

 



 

power to direct or cause the direction of the management policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Alternative Transaction ” means the sale of Registrable Securities constituting more than 3% of the As-Converted Common Stock to one or more purchasers in a registered transaction without a prior marketing process by means of (a) a bought deal, (b) a block trade, (c) a direct sale or (d) any other transaction that is registered pursuant to a Shelf Registration that is not a firm commitment underwritten offering.

 

As-Converted Common Stock ” means the sum of all (a) outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and (b) shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of any outstanding Warrants or any vested options or similar employee compensation awards.

 

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement ” means an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined in Rule 405.

 

Bankruptcy Code ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Bankruptcy Court ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

beneficially owned ”, “ beneficial ownership ” and similar phrases have the same meanings as such terms have under Rule 13d-3 (or any successor rule then in effect) under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any Holder, such Holder shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such Holder has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable upon the occurrence of a subsequent event.  For the avoidance of doubt, each Holder shall be deemed to beneficially own all of the shares of Company Common Stock and Warrants held by any of its Affiliates.

 

Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are required or authorized by law to be closed in New York, New York.

 

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency then administering the Securities Act or Exchange Act.

 

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Company Common Stock ” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

 

Company Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(iii) .

 

Demand Eligible Holder ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)(i) .

 

Demand Eligible Holder Request ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)(i) .

 

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Demand Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)(i) .

 

Demand Registration ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)(i) .

 

Demand Registration Statement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)(i) .

 

Determination Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(viii) .

 

Effectiveness Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)(iii) .

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Family Member ” shall mean, with respect to any natural Person, such Person’s parents, spouse (but not including a former spouse or a spouse from whom such Person is legally separated) and descendants (whether or not adopted) and any trust, family limited partnership or limited liability company that is and remains solely for the benefit of such Person’s spouse (but not including a former spouse or a spouse from whom such Person is legally separated) and/or descendants.

 

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

Form S-1 Shelf ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(i) .

 

Form S-3 Shelf ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(i) .

 

Holder ” means each Person that is party to this Agreement on the date hereof and any Person who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 8(f) of this Agreement.  A Person shall cease to be a Holder hereunder at such time as it ceases to hold any Registrable Securities.

 

Holders of a Majority of Included Registrable Securities ” means Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement.

 

Indemnified Persons ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) .

 

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433, relating to an offer of the Registrable Securities.

 

Losses ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) .

 

Maximum Offering Size ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(iv) .

 

Other Registrable Securities ” means (a) Company Common Stock (including any Company Common Stock issued upon exercise of any Warrant), (b) any securities issued or issuable with respect to, on account of or in exchange for Company Common Stock, whether by stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, charter amendment or otherwise and (c) any options, warrants or other rights to acquire, and any securities received as a dividend or distribution in respect of, any of the securities described in clauses (a) and (b) above, in each case

 

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held by any other Person who has rights to participate in any offering of securities by the Company pursuant to a registration rights agreement or other similar arrangement with the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company relating to the Company Common Stock or warrants (other than this Agreement).

 

Parties ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Person ” means any individual, partnership, corporation, company, association, trust, joint venture, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, entity or division, or any government, governmental department or agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Piggyback Eligible Holders ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i) .

 

Piggyback Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i) .

 

Piggyback Registration ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i) .

 

Piggyback Registration Statement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i) .

 

Piggyback Request ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i) .

 

Plan ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Proceeding ” means any action, claim, suit, proceeding or investigation (including a preliminary investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition) pending or known to the Company to be threatened.

 

Prospectus ” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), all amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

 

Public Offering means any sale of shares of Company Common Stock to the public pursuant to a public offering registered (other than a registration effected solely to implement an employee benefit plan or a transaction to which Rule 145 is applicable) under the Securities Act.

 

Qualified Holder ” means, on any date, one or more Holders who beneficially own in the aggregate 7% or more of the Company Common Stock outstanding on such date.

 

Registrable Securities ” means (a) any Company Common Stock (including any Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of any Warrants), (b) any securities issued or issuable with respect to, on account of or in exchange for Company Common

 

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Stock, whether by stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, charter amendment or otherwise and (c) any options, warrants or other rights to acquire, and any securities received as a dividend or distribution in respect of, any of the securities described in clauses (a) and (b) above, in each case that are held on or after the date hereof by the Holders and their Affiliates or any transferee or assignee of any Holder or its Affiliates after giving effect to a transfer made in compliance with Section 8(f) , all of which securities are subject to the rights provided herein until such rights terminate pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, Registrable Securities do not include Warrants.  As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall not be Registrable Securities when (i) a Registration Statement registering such Registrable Securities under the Securities Act has been declared effective and such Registrable Securities have been sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Holder thereof pursuant to such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Registrable Securities are sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of pursuant to Rule 144, (iii) such securities cease to be outstanding, or (iv) such securities are held by a Holder who, together with its Affiliates, holds less than 1% of the As-Converted Common Stock and all such securities may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 without regard to volume or manner of sale limitations.

 

Registration Expenses ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5 .

 

Registration Statement ” means a registration statement of the Company filed with or to be filed with the Commission under the Securities Act and other applicable law, including an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, and including any Prospectus, amendments and supplements to each such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

Related Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(p) .

 

Representatives ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s directors, officers, members, partners, limited partners, general partners, shareholders, managers, management company, investment manager, affiliates, employees, agents, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, advisors, financial advisor and other professionals of such Person, in each case, in such capacity, serving on or after the date of this Agreement.

 

Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

 

Rule 145 ” means Rule 145 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

 

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Rule 158 ” means Rule 158 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

 

Rule 405 ” means Rule 405 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

 

Rule 424 ” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

 

Rule 433 ” means Rule 433 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

 

Seasoned Issuer ” means an issuer eligible to use Form S-3 under the Securities Act and who is not an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Selling Expenses ” means all underwriting fees, discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities and related legal and other fees of a Holder not included within the definition of Registration Expenses.

 

Shelf Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(i) .

 

Shelf Public Offering Requesting Holder ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) .

 

Shelf Registration ” means the registration of an offering of Registrable Securities on a Form S-1 Shelf or a Form S-3 Shelf, as applicable, on a delayed or continuous basis under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) .

 

Shelf Registration Statement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(i) .

 

Shelf Takedown Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(iii) .

 

Subsidiary ” means, when used with respect to any Person, any corporation or other entity, whether incorporated or unincorporated, (a) of which such Person or any other Subsidiary of such Person is a general partner (excluding partnerships, the general partnership interests of which held by such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person do not have a majority of the voting interests in such partnership) or (b) at least a majority of the securities or other interests of which having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar functions with respect to such corporation or other entity is directly or indirectly owned

 

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or controlled by such Person or by any one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries.

 

Suspension Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) .

 

Trading Market ” means the principal national securities exchange in the United States on which Registrable Securities are (or are to be) listed.

 

Underwritten Shelf Takedown ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) .

 

Warrant ” means each warrant to purchase Company Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan.

 

WKSI ” means a “well known seasoned issuer” as defined under Rule 405 and which (i) is a “well-known seasoned issuer” under paragraph (1)(i)(A) of such definition or (ii) is a “well-known seasoned issuer” under paragraph (1)(i)(B) of such definition and is also a Seasoned Issuer.

 

WKSI Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(viii) .

 

Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms; (b) references to Sections, paragraphs and clauses refer to Sections, paragraphs and clauses of this Agreement; (c) the terms “ include ,” “ includes ,” “ including ” or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (d) the terms “ hereof ,” “ herein ” or “ hereunder ” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (e) unless the context otherwise requires, the term “or” is not exclusive and shall have the inclusive meaning of “and/or”; (f) defined terms herein will apply equally to both the singular and plural forms and derivative forms of defined terms will have correlative meanings; (g) references to any law or statute shall be deemed to refer to such law or statute as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include all rules and regulations and forms promulgated thereunder, and references to any law, rule, form or statute shall be construed as including any legal and statutory provisions, rules or forms consolidating, amending, succeeding or replacing the applicable law, rule, form or statute; (h) references to any agreement or contract are to that agreement or contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; (i) references to any Person include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns; (j) references to “days” are to calendar days unless otherwise indicated; and (k) references to “writing”, “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form.  Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that each party was actively involved in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and that no law or rule of construction shall be raised or used in which the provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in favor or against any party hereto because one is deemed to be the author thereof.

 

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2.                                       Registration .

 

(a)                                  Shelf Registration .

 

(i)                                      Filing of Shelf Registration Statement .  No later than 90 days after the date hereof, the Company shall file a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration on Form S-3 covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities held by the Holders on a delayed or continuous basis (the “ Form S-3 Shelf ”).  If the Company is not a Seasoned Issuer or WKSI at the time of filing, the Company shall instead file such Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration on Form S-1 (the “ Form S-1 Shelf ” and, together with the Form S-3 Shelf, the “ Shelf Registration Statement ”).  In the event that the Company files such Shelf Registration Statement on a Form S-1 Shelf and thereafter becomes a Seasoned Issuer or WKSI, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Form S-1 Shelf to a Form S-3 Shelf (which shall be an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement if the Company is a WKSI) as soon as practicable after the Company becomes so eligible.  Subject to the terms of this Agreement, including any applicable Suspension Period, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act no later than the 10th day following the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement in the event of no “review” by the Commission, or in the event of a “limited review” or “review” by the Commission, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, including using commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective (x) no later than the 40th day following such filing in the event of “limited review” by the Commission or (y) no later than the 60th day following such filing in the event of a “review” by the Commission, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date that all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are no longer Registrable Securities, including, to the extent a Form S-1 Shelf was converted to a Form S-3 Shelf and the Company thereafter became ineligible to use Form S-3, by filing a Form S-1 Shelf not later than 10 Business Days after the date of such ineligibility and using its commercially reasonable efforts to have such Registration Statement declared effective as promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 20 days after the date of such filing) (the period during which the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act in accordance with this clause (i), the “ Shelf Period ”).  The Company shall notify the Holders named in the Shelf Registration Statement via facsimile or by e-mail of the effectiveness of a Form S-1 Shelf on the same Business Day that the Company telephonically confirms effectiveness with the Commission.  The Company shall file a final Prospectus with the Commission to the extent required by Rule 424.  The “Plan of Distribution” section of such Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for all permitted means of disposition of Registrable Securities reasonably requested to be included by the Holders named therein, including firm-commitment underwritten public offerings, Alternative Transactions, agented transactions, sales directly into the market, purchases or sales by brokers and sales not involving a public offering.

 

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(ii)                                   Underwritten Shelf Takedown .  At any time during the Shelf Period (subject to any Suspension Period), any one or more Holders of Registrable Securities (such Holder, a “ Shelf Public Offering Requesting Holder ”) may request to sell all or any portion of their Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering that is registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (each, an “ Underwritten Shelf Takedown ”); provided , that, and subject to Section 2(a)(v)  below, the Company shall not be obligated to effect (x) more than four Underwritten Shelf Takedowns in any 12-month period for all Holders and (y) any Underwritten Shelf Takedown if the aggregate proceeds expected to be received from the sale of the Registrable Securities requested to be sold in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, in the good faith judgment of the managing underwriter(s) therefor, is less than $25 million.

 

(iii)                                Notice of Underwritten Shelf Takedown .  All requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be made by giving written notice to the Company (the “ Shelf Takedown Notice ”).  Each Shelf Takedown Notice shall specify the class or series and the approximate number of Registrable Securities to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown and the expected price range (net of underwriting discounts and commissions) of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown.  Subject to Section 2(e)  below, within three days after receipt of any Shelf Takedown Notice, the Company shall give written notice of such requested Underwritten Shelf Takedown (which notice shall state the material terms of such proposed Underwritten Shelf Takedown, to the extent known, as well as the identity of the Shelf Public Offering Requesting Holder) to all other Holders of Registrable Securities (the “ Company Notice ”) and, subject to the provisions of Section 2(a)(iv)  and Section 2(e)  below, shall include in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown all Registrable Securities of the same class or series as the Registrable Securities originally requested to be sold by the Shelf Public Offering Requesting Holder with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within five Business Days after giving the Company Notice; provided that any such Registrable Securities shall be sold subject to the same terms as are applicable to the Registrable Securities the Shelf Public Offering Requesting Holder is requesting to sell.

 

(iv)                               Priority of Registrable Shares .  If the managing underwriters for such Underwritten Shelf Takedown advise the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities proposed to be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown that in their reasonable view the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown exceeds the number of Registrable Securities which can be sold in an orderly manner in such offering within a price range acceptable to the Holders of a Majority of Included Registrable Securities requested to be included in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown (the “ Maximum Offering Size ”), then the Company shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities proposed to be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, and shall include in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown the number of Registrable Securities which can be so sold in the following order of priority, up to the Maximum Offering Size:  (A) first, pro rata among the Holders of such Registrable Securities on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included therein by each such Holder, (B) second, any securities requested to be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown by the Company and (C) third, Other Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown to

 

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the extent permitted hereunder, allocated, if necessary for the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, pro rata among the respective holders of such Other Registrable Securities on the basis of the number of securities requested to be included therein by each such holder .

 

(v)                                  Timing of Underwritten Shelf Takedowns .  The Company shall not be obligated to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown within 90 days (or such shorter period specified in any applicable lock-up agreement entered into with underwriters) after the consummation of a previous Underwritten Shelf Takedown.

 

(vi)                               Selection of Bankers and Counsel .  The Holders of a Majority of Included Registrable Securities requested to be included in an Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks, subject to the Company’s approval (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed)) and one firm of counsel to represent all of the Holders (along with any reasonably necessary local counsel), in connection with such Underwritten Shelf Takedown; provided that the Company shall select such investment banker(s), manager(s) and counsel (including local counsel) if such Holders of such Majority of Registrable Securities cannot so agree on the same within a reasonable time period.

 

(vii)                            Withdrawal from Registration .  Any Holder whose Registrable Securities were to be included in any such registration pursuant to Section 2(a)(ii)  may elect to withdraw any or all of its Registrable Securities therefrom, without liability to any of the other Holders and without prejudice to the rights of any such Holder or Holders to include Registrable Securities in any future registration (or registrations), by written notice to the Company delivered on or prior to the effective date of the relevant Underwritten Shelf Takedown.

 

(viii)                         WKSI Filing .  Upon the Company first becoming a WKSI (the “ WKSI Date ”), (A) the Company shall give written notice to all of the Holders who hold Registrable Securities as promptly as practicable but in no event later than 5 Business Days thereafter, and such notice shall describe, in reasonable detail, the basis on which the Company has become a WKSI, and (B) the Company shall, in accordance with the following sentence, register, under an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, the sale of all outstanding Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than 10 days after the WKSI Date, and to cause such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective thereafter until there are no longer any Registrable Securities; provided, that, the failure of the Company to remain a WKSI after the filing of such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement shall not be deemed to be a breach of its obligations hereunder.  The Company shall give written notice of filing such Registration Statement to all of the Holders who hold Registrable Securities as promptly as practicable thereafter.  At any time after the filing of an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement by the Company, if it is reasonably likely that the Company will no longer be

 

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a WKSI (the “ Determination Date ”), as promptly as practicable but in no event later than five days after such Determination Date, the Company shall (1) give written notice thereof to all of the Holders and (2) file a Form S-3 Shelf, unless the Company is not then eligible to use Form S-3, in which case it shall use Form S-1 Shelf (or a post-effective amendment converting the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement to an appropriate form), covering all Registrable Securities, and cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act no later than the 10th day following the filing of the Registration Statement in the event of no “review” by the Commission, or in the event of a “limited review” or “review” by the Commission, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the date the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is no longer useable by the Holders to sell their Registrable Securities, including using commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective (x) no later than the 40th day following such filing in the event of “limited review” by the Commission or (y) no later than the 60 th  day following such filing in the event of a “review” by the Commission, and keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until there are no longer any Registrable Securities.

 

(ix)                               Adding Holders to Registration Statement .  After the Registration Statement with respect to a Shelf Registration is declared or becomes effective but subject to a Suspension Period, upon written request by one or more Holders (which written request shall specify the amount of such Holders’ Registrable Securities to be registered), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, (i) if it is a Seasoned Issuer or a WKSI, or if such Registration Statement is an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, file a Prospectus supplement to include such Holders as selling stockholders in such Registration Statement or (ii) if it is not a Seasoned Issuer or a WKSI, file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to include such Holders in such Shelf Registration and use commercially reasonable efforts to have such post-effective amendment declared effective.

 

(b)                                  Demand Registration .

 

(i)                                      Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at any time and from time to time after the date that is 90 days after the date hereof, upon written notice to the Company (a “ Demand Notice ”) delivered by one or more Qualified Holders requesting that the Company effect the registration (a “ Demand Registration ”) under the Securities Act (other than pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any similar or successor form under the Securities Act) of any or all of the Registrable Securities held by such Qualified Holder(s) which offering is expected to yield aggregate gross proceeds of at least $25 million, the Company shall promptly (but in any event, not later than five Business Days following the Company’s receipt of such Demand Notice) give written notice of the receipt of such Demand Notice to all other Holders that, to its knowledge, hold Registrable Securities (each, a “ Demand Eligible Holder ”).  The Company shall promptly file the appropriate Registration Statement (the “ Demand Registration Statement ”) and use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect, at the earliest practicable date, the registration under the Securities Act and under the

 

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applicable state securities laws of (A) the Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by the Qualified Holder(s) in the Demand Notice, (B) all other Registrable Securities of the same class or series as those requested to be registered by the Qualified Holder(s) which the Company has been requested to register by the Demand Eligible Holders by written request (the “ Demand Eligible Holder Request ”) given to the Company within five Business Days after the giving of such written notice by the Company, and (C) any Registrable Securities to be offered and sold by the Company, in each case subject to Section 2(b)(ii) , all to the extent required to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended methods of disposition) of the Registrable Securities to be so registered.  The Holders’ rights to request a Demand Registration set forth in this Section 2(b)  shall not be exercisable at any time if the Company (i) (x) is not in violation of its obligations to file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a)  or (y) has a currently effective Shelf Registration Statement covering all Registrable Securities in accordance with Section 2(a) , and (ii) has otherwise complied with its obligations pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(ii)                                   Demand Registration Using Form S-3 .  The Company shall effect any requested Demand Registration using Form S-3 whenever the Company is a Seasoned Issuer or a WKSI, and shall use an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement if it is a WKSI.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for so long as the Company remains a Seasoned Issuer or a WKSI, the Qualified Holders shall have the right to cause the Company to effect no more than two Demand Registrations in any six month period and any request for a Demand Registration must be expected to yield aggregate gross proceeds of at least $25 million.

 

(iii)                                Effectiveness of Demand Registration Statement .  The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Demand Registration Statement declared effective by the Commission and keep the Demand Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act for the period of time necessary for the underwriters or Holders to sell all the Registrable Securities covered by such Demand Registration Statement or such shorter period which will terminate when all Registrable Securities covered by such Demand Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto (including, if necessary, by filing with the Commission a post-effective amendment or a supplement to the Demand Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or by filing any other required document or otherwise supplementing or amending the Demand Registration Statement, if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Demand Registration Statement or by the Securities Act, any state securities or “blue sky” laws, or any other rules and regulations thereunder) (the “ Effectiveness Period ”). A Demand Registration requested pursuant to this Section 2(b)  shall not be deemed to have been effected (A) if the Registration Statement is withdrawn without becoming effective, (B) if the Registration Statement does not remain effective in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act and the laws of any state or other jurisdiction applicable to the disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement for the Effectiveness Period, (C) if, after it has become effective, such Registration Statement is subject to any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or other

 

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governmental or regulatory agency or court for any reason other than a violation of applicable law solely by any selling Holder and has not thereafter become effective, (D) in the event of an underwritten offering, if the conditions to closing specified in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with such registration are not satisfied or waived other than by reason of some wrongful act or omission by a Qualified Holder, or (E) if the Company does not include in the applicable Registration Statement any Registrable Securities held by a Holder that are required by the terms hereof to be included in such Registration Statement.

 

(iv)                               Priority of Registration .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2(b) , if (A) the Qualified Holder intends to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by a Demand Registration by means of an underwritten offering and (B) the managing underwriters advise the Company that in their reasonable view, the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be included in such offering (including Registrable Securities requested by Holders to be included in such offering and any securities that the Company or any other Person proposes to be included that are not Registrable Securities) exceeds the Maximum Offering Size, then the Company shall so advise the Qualified Holder and the Demand Eligible Holders with Registrable Securities proposed to be included in such underwritten offering, and shall include in such offering the number of Registrable Securities which can be so sold in the following order of priority, up to the Maximum Offering Size:  (1)  first , the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering by the Qualified Holders and the Demand Eligible Holders, allocated, if necessary for the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, pro rata among the Qualified Holders and Demand Eligible Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included therein by each such Holder, (2)  second , any securities proposed to be registered by the Company, and (3)  third , Other Registrable Securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering to the extent permitted hereunder, allocated, if necessary for the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, pro rata among the respective holders of such Other Registrable Securities on the basis of the number of securities requested to be included therein by each such holder.

 

(v)                                  Underwritten Demand Registration .  The determination of whether any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration will be an underwritten offering shall be made in the sole discretion of the Holders of a Majority of Included Registrable Securities for such Registration Statement, and such Holders of a Majority of Included Registrable Securities shall have the right to (A) determine the plan of distribution, including the price at which the Registrable Securities are to be sold and the underwriting commissions, discounts and fees, and (B) select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering (which shall consist of one (1) or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks, subject to the Company’s approval (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed)) and one firm of counsel to represent all of the Holders (along with any reasonably necessary local counsel), in connection with such Demand Registration; provided that the Company shall select such investment banker(s), manager(s) and counsel (including local counsel) if the Holders of such Majority of Registrable Securities cannot so agree on the same within a reasonable time period; provided further , that the Company shall

 

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not be obligated to effect an underwritten offering pursuant to a Demand Registration within 90 days after the consummation of a previous underwritten offering pursuant to a Demand Registration or Underwritten Shelf Takedown.

 

(vi)                               Withdrawal of Registrable Securities .  Any Holder whose Registrable Securities were to be included in any such registration pursuant to Section 2(b)  may elect to withdraw any or all of its Registrable Securities therefrom, without prejudice to the rights of any such Holder to include Registrable Securities in any future registration (or registrations), by written notice to the Company delivered on or prior to the effective date of the relevant Demand Registration Statement.

 

(vii)                            Occurrence of Demand Registration . A Demand Registration shall not be deemed to have occurred (x) unless the Registration Statement relating thereto (A) has become effective under the Securities Act and (B) has remained continuously effective for a period of at least 180 days (or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities of the Holders included in such registration have actually been sold thereunder); provided that such Registration Statement shall not be considered a Demand Registration if, after such Registration Statement becomes effective, (1) such Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or other governmental agency or court and (2) if such registration is pursuant to an underwritten offering, fewer than 75% of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement have been sold thereunder; or (y) if the Maximum Offering Size is reduced in accordance with Section 2(b)(iv)  such that less than 66 2 / 3 % of the Registrable Securities of the Qualified Holders and the Demand Eligible Holders requested to be included in such registration are included.

 

(c)                                   Piggyback Registration .

 

(i)                                      Registration Statement on behalf of the Company .  If at any time the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement, other than pursuant to a Shelf Registration under Section 2(a) , for an offering of Registrable Securities (for purposes of this section, irrespective of the holders thereof) for cash (excluding an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan, an offering relating to a transaction on Form S-4, a rights offering or an offering on any form of Registration Statement that does not permit secondary sales) (a “ Piggyback Registration Statement ”), the Company shall give prompt written notice (the “ Piggyback Notice ”) to all Holders that, to its knowledge, hold Registrable Securities (collectively, the “ Piggyback Eligible Holders ”) of the Company’s intention to file a Piggyback Registration Statement reasonably in advance of (and in any event at least 5 Business Days before) the anticipated filing date of such Piggyback Registration Statement. The Piggyback Notice shall offer the Piggyback Eligible Holders the opportunity to include for registration in such Piggyback Registration Statement the number of Registrable Securities of the same class and series as those proposed to be registered as they may request, subject to Section 2(c)(ii)  (a “ Piggyback Registration ”).  Subject to Section 2(c)(ii) , the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to include in each such Piggyback Registration such Registrable Securities for which the Company has received written requests (each, a “ Piggyback Request ”) from Piggyback Eligible Holders within five Business Days after giving the Piggyback Notice.  If a

 

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Piggyback Eligible Holder decides not to include all of its Registrable Securities in any Piggyback Registration Statement thereafter filed by the Company, such Piggyback Eligible Holder shall nevertheless continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any subsequent Piggyback Registration Statements or Registration Statements as may be filed by the Company with respect to offerings of Registrable Securities, all upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.   The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register pursuant to the Piggyback Requests, to the extent required to permit the disposition of the Registrable Securities so requested to be registered.

 

(ii)                                   Priority of Registration .  If the Piggyback Registration under which the Company gives notice pursuant to Section 2(c)(i)  is an underwritten offering, and the managing underwriter or managing underwriters of such offering advise the Company and the Piggyback Eligible Holders that, in their reasonable view the amount of securities requested to be included in such registration (including Registrable Securities requested by the Piggyback Eligible Holders to be included in such offering and any securities that the Company or any other Person proposes to be included that are not Registrable Securities) exceeds the Maximum Offering Size (which, for the purposes of a Piggyback Registration shall be within a price range acceptable to the Company), then the Company shall so advise all Piggyback Eligible Holders with Registrable Securities proposed to be included in such Piggyback Registration, and shall include in such offering the number which can be so sold in the following order of priority, up to the Maximum Offering Size: (A)  first , the securities that the Company proposes to sell up to the Maximum Offering Size, (B)  second , the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration, allocated, if necessary for the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, pro rata among the Piggyback Eligible Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included therein by each Piggyback Eligible Holder, and (C)  third , Other Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration, allocated, if necessary for the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, pro rata among the holders thereof on the basis of the number of securities requested to be included therein by each such holder.  All Piggyback Eligible Holders requesting to be included in the Piggyback Registration must sell their Registrable Securities to the underwriters selected as provided in Section 2(c)(iv)  on the same terms and conditions as apply to the Company.  Promptly (and in any event within one Business Day) following receipt of notification by the Company from the managing underwriter of a range of prices at which such Registrable Securities are likely to be sold, the Company shall so advise each Piggyback Eligible Holder requesting registration in such offering of such price.  If any Piggyback Eligible Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting (including the price offered by the underwriter(s) in such offering), such Piggyback Eligible Holder may elect to withdraw any or all of its Registrable Securities therefrom, without prejudice to the rights of any such Holder to include Registrable Securities in any future Piggyback Registration or other registration statement, by written notice to the Company and the managing underwriter(s) delivered on or prior to the effective date of such Piggyback Registration Statement. Any Registrable Securities withdrawn from such underwriting shall be excluded and withdrawn from the registration.  For any Piggyback Eligible Holder that is

 

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a partnership, limited liability company, corporation or other entity, the partners, members, stockholders, Subsidiaries, parents and Affiliates of such Piggyback Eligible Holder, or the estates and Family Members of any such partners/members and retired partners/members and any trusts for the benefit of any of the foregoing Persons, shall be deemed to be a single “Piggyback Eligible Holder,” and any pro rata reduction with respect to such “Piggyback Eligible Holder” shall be based upon the aggregate amount of securities carrying registration rights owned by all entities and individuals included in such “Piggyback Eligible Holder,” as defined in this sentence.

 

(iii)                                Withdrawal from Registration .  The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 2(c)  prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement, whether or not any Piggyback Eligible Holder has elected to include Registrable Securities in such Registration Statement, without prejudice, however, to the right of the Holders immediately to request that such registration be effected as a registration under Section 2(b)  to the extent permitted thereunder and subject to the terms set forth therein.  The Registration Expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Section 5 hereof.

 

(iv)                               Selection of Bankers and Counsel .  If a Piggyback Registration pursuant to this Section 2(c)  involves an underwritten offering, the Company shall have the right, in consultation with the Holders of a Majority of Included Registrable Securities included in such underwritten offering, to (A) determine the plan of distribution, including the price at which the Registrable Securities are to be sold and the underwriting commissions, discounts and fees and (B) select the investment banker or bankers and managers to administer the offering, including the lead managing underwriter or underwriters.

 

(v)                                  Effect of Piggyback Registration .  No registration effected under this Section 2(c)  shall relieve the Company of its obligations to effect any registration of the offer and sale of Registrable Securities upon request under Section 2(a)  or Section 2(b)  hereof and no registration effected pursuant to this Section 2(c)  shall be deemed to have been effected pursuant to Section 2(a)  or Section  2(b)  hereof.

 

(d)                                  Notice Requirements .  Any Demand Notice, Demand Eligible Holder Request or Piggyback Request shall (i) specify the maximum number or class or series of Registrable Securities intended to be offered and sold by the Holder making the request, (ii) express such Holder’s bona fide intent to offer up to such maximum number of Registrable Securities for distribution, (iii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Registrable Securities (to the extent applicable), and (iv) contain the undertaking of such Holder to provide all such information and materials and take all action as may reasonably be required in order to permit the Company to comply with all applicable requirements in connection with the registration of such Registrable Securities.

 

(e)                                   Suspension Period.   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2 , the Company shall have the right but not the obligation to defer the filing of (but not the

 

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preparation of), or suspend the use by the Holders of, any Registration Statement for a period of up to 45 days (i) if the Company is subject to any of its customary suspension or blackout periods, for all or part of such period; (ii) upon issuance by the Commission of a stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement with respect to Registrable Securities or the initiation of Proceedings with respect to such Registration Statement under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act; (iii) if the Company believes that any such registration or offering (x) should not be undertaken because it would reasonably be expected to materially interfere with any material corporate development or plan (including a pending securities offering by the Company) or (y) would require the Company, under applicable securities laws and other laws, to make disclosure of material nonpublic information that would not otherwise be required to be disclosed at that time and the Company believes in good faith that such disclosures at that time would not be in the Company’s best interests; provided that this exception (y) shall continue to apply only during the time that such material nonpublic information has not been disclosed and remains material; (iv) if the Company elects at such time to offer Company Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company to (x) fund a merger, third-party tender offer or other business combination, acquisition of assets or similar transaction or (y) meet rating agency and other capital funding requirements; (v) if the Company is pursuing a primary underwritten offering of Company Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement; provided that the Holders shall have Piggyback Registration rights with respect to such primary underwritten offering in accordance with and subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2(c) ; or (vi) if any other material development would materially and adversely interfere with any such Demand Registration or Shelf Registration (any such period, a “ Suspension Period ”); provided , however , that in such event, the Qualified Holders will be entitled to withdraw any request for a Demand Registration and, if such request is withdrawn, such Demand Registration will not count as a Demand Registration as the Company will pay all Registration Expenses in connection with such registration; and provided further , that in no event shall the Company declare a Suspension Period for more than an aggregate of 45 days in any 12-month period. The Company shall give written notice to the Holders of its declaration of a Suspension Period and of the expiration of the relevant Suspension Period.  If the filing of any Demand Registration or Shelf Registration is suspended pursuant to this Section 2(e) , once the Suspension Period ends, the Qualified Holders may request a new Demand Registration or a new Shelf Registration.

 

(f)                                    Required Information.   The Company may require each Holder of Registrable Securities as to which any Registration Statement is being filed or sale is being effected to furnish to the Company such information regarding the distribution of such securities and such other information relating to such Holder and its ownership of Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing ( provided that such information shall be used only in connection with such registration) and the Company may exclude from such registration or sale the Registrable Securities of any such Holder who fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request. Each Holder agrees to furnish such information to the Company and to cooperate with the Company as reasonably necessary to enable the Company to comply with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

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(g)                                   Other Registration Rights Agreements.   The Company has not entered into and, unless agreed in writing by each Holder on or after the date of this Agreement, will not enter into, any agreement that (i) is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders with respect to Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof in any material respect or (ii) other than as set forth in this Agreement, would allow any holder of Company Common Stock to include Company Common Stock in any Registration Statement filed by the Company on a basis that is more favorable in any material respect to the rights granted to the Holders hereunder.

 

(h)                                  Cessation of Registration Rights.   All registration rights granted under this Section 2 shall continue to be applicable with respect to any Holder until such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities.

 

3.                                       Alternative Transactions .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (a) no Holder shall be entitled to any piggyback right or to participate as a Demand Eligible Holder under Section 2 in connection with an Alternative Transaction (including Alternative Transactions off of a Shelf Registration Statement or an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, or in connection with the registration of Registrable Securities under an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement for purposes of effectuating an Alternative Transaction; provided , that, any registration with respect to an Alternative Transaction shall not constitute a Demand Registration for purposes of determining the number of Demand Registrations effected by the Company under Section 2(b)(ii)  above); and (b) no Holder shall be permitted to request or participate in an underwritten offering (including an Underwritten Shelf Takedown) that is an Alternative Transaction.

 

4.                                       Registration Procedures.   The procedures to be followed by the Company and each participating Holder to register the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement in accordance with this Agreement, and the respective rights and obligations of the Company and such Holders with respect to the preparation, filing and effectiveness of such Registration Statement, are as follows:

 

(a)                                  The Company will (i) prepare and file a Registration Statement or a prospectus supplement, as applicable, with the Commission (within the time period specified in Section 2(a)  or Section 2(b) , as applicable, in the case of a Shelf Registration, an Underwritten Shelf Takedown or a Demand Registration) which Registration Statement (A) shall be on a form selected by the Company for which the Company qualifies, (B) shall be available for the sale or exchange of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution, and (C) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include and/or incorporate by reference all financial statements required by the Commission to be filed therewith, (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective for the periods provided under Section 2(a)  or Section 2(b) , as applicable, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement or a Demand Registration Statement, (iii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the occurrence of any event that would cause a Registration Statement to contain a material misstatement or omission or to be

 

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not effective and usable for resale of the Registrable Securities registered pursuant thereto (during the period that such Registration Statement is required to be effective as provided under Section 2(a)  or Section 2(b) ), and (iv) cause each Registration Statement and the related Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of such Registration Statement, amendment or supplement (x) to comply in all material respects with any requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and (y) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Company will (1) at least five Business Days prior to the anticipated filing of a Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any documents incorporated by reference therein), or before using any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, furnish to such Holders, the Holders’ counsel and the managing underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if applicable, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, (2) use its commercially reasonable efforts to address in each such document prior to being so filed with the Commission such comments as such Holder, its counsel or underwriter reasonably shall propose within three Business Days of receipt of such copies by the Holders and (3) not file any Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto containing information regarding a participating Holder to which a participating Holder objects.

 

(b)                                  The Company will as promptly as reasonably practicable (i) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to each Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as (A) may be reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement necessary to permit such Holder to sell in accordance with its intended method of distribution or (B) may be necessary under applicable law to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered thereby for the periods provided under Section 2(a)  or Section 2(b) , as applicable, in accordance with the intended method of distribution and, subject to the limitations contained in this Agreement, prepare and file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities held by the Holders, (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented or amended, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424, (iii) respond to any comments received from the Commission with respect to each Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereto, and (iv) as promptly as reasonably practicable, provide such Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to such Registration Statement or Prospectus other than any comments that the Company determines in good faith would result in the disclosure to such Holders of material non-public information concerning the Company that is not already in the possession of such Holder.

 

(c)                                   The Company will comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (including Regulation M under the Exchange Act)

 

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with respect to each Registration Statement and the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement.

 

(d)                                  The Company will notify such Holders that, to its knowledge, hold Registrable Securities and the managing underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if applicable, as promptly as reasonably practicable: (i)(A) when a Registration Statement, any pre-effective amendment, any Prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or any free writing prospectus is proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a “review” of such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments on such Registration Statement (in which case the Company shall provide true and complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to each Holder, its counsel and each underwriter, if applicable, other than information which the Company determines in good faith would constitute material non-public information that is not already in the possession of such Holder); and (C) with respect to each Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has been declared effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental or regulatory authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information (whether before or after the effective date of the Registration Statement) or any other correspondence with the Commission or any such authority relating to, or which may affect, the Registration Statement; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission or any other governmental or regulatory authority of any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; (v) if, at any time, the representations and warranties of the Company in any applicable underwriting agreement or similar agreement cease to be true and correct in all material respects; or (vi) of the occurrence of any event that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or if, as a result of such event or the passage of time, such Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents requires revisions so that, in the case of such Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, or when any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus includes information that may conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or if, for any other reason, it shall be necessary during such time period to amend or supplement such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act, which shall correct such misstatement or omission or effect such compliance.

 

(e)                                   The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any stop order or other order

 

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suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the use of any Prospectus, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment, or if any such order or suspension is made effective during any Suspension Period, at the earliest practicable moment after the Suspension Period is over.

 

(f)                                    During the Effectiveness Period or the Shelf Period, as applicable, the Company will furnish to each selling Holder and the managing underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if applicable, upon their request, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each amendment thereto and all exhibits to the extent requested by such selling Holder or underwriter (including those incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission.

 

(g)                                   The Company will promptly deliver to each selling Holder and the managing underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if applicable, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such selling Holder or underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities by such selling Holder or underwriter.  The Company consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders and any applicable underwriter in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

(h)                                  The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, no later than the time such Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission, under all applicable securities laws (including the “blue sky” laws) of such jurisdictions each underwriter, if any, or any selling Holder shall reasonably request; (ii) keep each such registration or qualification effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective under the terms of this Agreement and (iii) do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such underwriter, if any, and each selling Holder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement; provided , however , that the Company will not be required to (x) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph, (y) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (z) consent to general service of process (other than service of process in connection with such registration or qualification or any sale of Registrable Securities in connection therewith) in any such jurisdiction.

 

(i)                                      To the extent that the Company has certificated shares of Company Common Stock, the Company will cooperate with each Holder and the underwriter or managing underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if applicable, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which

 

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certificates shall be free of all restrictive legends indicating that the Registrable Securities are unregistered or unqualified for resale under the Securities Act, Exchange Act or other applicable securities laws, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as each Holder or the underwriter or managing underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any, may request in writing.  In connection therewith, if required by the Company’s transfer agent, the Company will promptly, after the effective date of the Registration Statement, cause an opinion of counsel as to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement to be delivered to and maintained with such transfer agent, together with any other authorizations, certificates and directions required by the transfer agent which authorize and direct the transfer agent to issue such Registrable Securities without any such legend upon sale by the Holder or the underwriter or managing underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any, of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement.

 

(j)                                     Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 4(d)(vi) , as promptly as reasonably practicable, the Company will prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective amendment, if required by applicable law, to the affected Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference or to the applicable Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, no Registration Statement nor any Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading and no Issuer Free Writing Prospectus will include information that conflicts with information contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, such that each selling Holder can resume disposition of such Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus.

 

(k)                                  Selling Holders may distribute the Registrable Securities by means of an underwritten offering; provided that (i) such Holders provide to the Company a Shelf Takedown Notice or Demand Notice of their intention to distribute Registrable Securities by means of an underwritten offering, (ii) the right of any Holder to include such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein, (iii) each Holder participating in such underwritten offering agrees to enter into customary agreements, including an underwriting agreement in customary form, and sell such Holder’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Holders entitled to select the managing underwriter or managing underwriters hereunder (provided that any such Holder shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters  other than representations, warranties, agreements and indemnities regarding such Holder, such Holder’s title to the Registrable Securities, such Holder’s intended method of distribution, the accuracy of information concerning such Holder as provided by or on behalf of such Holder, and any other representations required to be

 

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made by the Holder under applicable law, and the aggregate amount of the liability of such Holder in connection with such offering shall not exceed such Holder’s net proceeds from the disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such offering) and (iv) each Holder participating in such underwritten offering completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, custody agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements. The Company hereby agrees with each Holder that, in connection with any underwritten offering in accordance with the terms hereof, it will negotiate in good faith and execute all indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements, and will procure auditor “comfort” letters addressed to the underwriters in the offering from the Company’s independent certified public accountants or independent auditors (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants or independent auditors of any Subsidiary of the Company or any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement) in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by comfort letters as the underwriters reasonably request, dated the date of execution of the underwriting agreement and brought down to the closing under the underwriting agreement.

 

(l)                                      The Company will obtain for delivery to the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities an opinion or opinions from counsel for the Company (including any local counsel reasonably requested by the underwriters) dated the most recent effective date of the Registration Statement or, in the event of an underwritten offering, the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, in customary form, scope and substance, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in sales of securities or underwritten offerings, which opinions shall be reasonably satisfactory to such underwriters and their counsel.

 

(m)                              For a reasonable period prior to the filing of any Registration Statement and throughout the Effectiveness Period or the Shelf Period, as applicable, the Company will make available upon reasonable notice at the Company’s principal place of business or such other reasonable place for inspection by a representative appointed by the Holders of a Majority of Included Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement, by any managing underwriter or managing underwriters selected in accordance with this Agreement and by any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by such Holders or underwriter, such financial and other information and books and records of the Company, and cause the officers, employees, counsel and independent certified public accountants of the Company to respond to such inquiries, as shall be reasonably necessary (and in the case of counsel, not violate an attorney-client privilege in such counsel’s reasonable belief) to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act.

 

(n)                                  The Company will (i) provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement and provide and enter into any reasonable agreements with a custodian for

 

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the Registrable Securities and (ii) not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement, provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities.

 

(o)                                  The Company will cooperate with each Holder of Registrable Securities and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA and in performance of any due diligence investigations by any underwriter.

 

(p)                                  The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, the Trading Market, FINRA and any state securities authority, and make available to each Holder, as soon as reasonably practicable after the effective date of the Registration Statement, an earnings statement covering at least 12 months which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158.

 

(q)                                  The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus utilized in connection with any Prospectus complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related Prospectus, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(r)                                     In connection with any registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will take all commercially reasonable actions as are necessary or advisable in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities by such Holders, including using commercially reasonable efforts to cause appropriate officers and employees to be available, on a customary basis and upon reasonable advance notice, to meet with prospective investors in presentations, meetings and road shows; provided , however that the Company shall not be required to participate in any marketing effort that is longer than two business days or requires face to face meeting with investors more than once every 90 days and no more than three times in a 12-month period.

 

(s)                                    The Company shall promptly have the Company’s Common Stock and any other Registrable Securities quoted on the NYSE MKT until listed on the New York Stock Exchange or one of the NASDAQ markets or any successor national securities exchange. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to promptly (subject to any listing requirements) list the Company Common Stock and any other Registrable Securities of any class or series on the New York Stock Exchange or the relevant NASDAQ market or any successor national securities exchange. The Company shall have effected such listing with respect to any shares of Registrable Securities sold under a Registration Statement no later than the settlement date for such sale; provided , however , that the requirements of this sentence shall be applicable only to the extent that the Company Common Stock is already listed on the New York Stock Exchange or the relevant NASDAQ market or any successor national securities

 

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exchange at the time of sale of such Registrable Securities.  Following the listing of the Company Common Stock and any other Registrable Securities on the New York Stock Exchange or the relevant NASDAQ market or any successor national securities exchange, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain such listing until each Holder has sold all of its Registrable Securities.

 

(t)                                     The Company shall, if such registration for an underwritten offering is pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration, include in such Registration Statement such additional information for marketing purposes as the managing underwriter(s) reasonably request(s).

 

(u)                                  The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate in a timely manner with any reasonable and customary request of the Holders in respect of any Alternative Transaction, including entering into customary agreements with respect to such Alternative Transactions (and providing customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities in such agreements) as well as providing other reasonable assistance in respect of such Alternative Transactions of the type applicable to a Public Offering subject to this Section 4 , to the extent customary for such transactions.

 

5.                                       Registration Expenses.   The Company shall bear all reasonable Registration Expenses incident to the Parties’ performance of or compliance with their respective obligations under this Agreement or otherwise in connection with any Demand Registration , Shelf Registration, Shelf Takedown Notice or Piggyback Registration (excluding any Selling Expenses), whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a Registration Statement.

 

Registration Expenses ” shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration, qualification and filing fees and expenses (including fees and expenses (A) of the Commission or FINRA, (B) incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on the Trading Market, and (C) in compliance with applicable state securities or “Blue Sky” laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities as may be set forth in any underwriting agreement)); (ii) expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, mailing and delivery of any registration statements, prospectuses and other documents in connection therewith and any amendments or supplements thereto (including expenses of printing certificates for the Company’s shares); (iii) analyst or investor presentation or road show expenses of the Company and the underwriters, if any; (iv) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses; (v) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel (including any local counsel), auditors and accountants for the Company (including the expenses incurred in connection with “comfort letters” required by or incident to such performance and compliance); (vi) the reasonable fees and disbursements of underwriters to the extent customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” (and its counsel) that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA and the other reasonable fees and disbursements of underwriters (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel

 

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for the underwriters) in connection with any FINRA qualification; (vii) fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company; (viii) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance; (ix) reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel (along with any reasonably necessary local counsel) representing all Holders mutually agreed by Holders of a Majority of Included Registrable Securities participating in the related registration; (x) fees and expenses payable in connection with any ratings of the Registrable Securities, including expenses relating to any presentations to rating agencies; (xi) internal expenses of the Company (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties); (xii) transfer agents’ and registrars’ fees and expenses and the fees and expenses of any other agent or trustee appointed in connection with such offering; and (xiii) any liability insurance or other premiums for insurance obtained in connection with any Demand Registration, Piggyback Registration or Shelf Registration pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.  In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including expenses payable to third parties and including all salaries and expenses of the Company’s officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and any underwriting fees, discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes and related legal and other fees applicable to securities sold by the Company and in respect of which proceeds are received by the Company. Each Holder shall pay any Selling Expenses applicable to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to any Demand Registration Statement or Piggyback Registration Statement, or pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement under which such selling Holder’s Registrable Securities were sold, in proportion to the amount of such selling Holder’s shares of Registrable Securities sold in any offering under such Demand Registration Statement, Piggyback Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement.

 

6.                                       Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  If requested by a participating Holder, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each underwriter, if any, engaged in connection with any registration referred to in Section 2 and provide representations, covenants, opinions and other assurances to such underwriter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such underwriter and the Company.  Further, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its partners, stockholders, equityholders, general partners, managers, members, and Affiliates and each of their respective officers and directors and any Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any employee or Representative thereof (collectively, “ Indemnified Persons ”), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, costs (including reasonable costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys’, accountants’ and experts’ fees) and expenses, judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all Proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnified Person may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, under the Securities Act or otherwise (collectively, “ Losses ”), as incurred, arising out of, based upon, resulting from or relating to (i) any untrue or alleged untrue

 

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statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which any Registrable Securities were registered, Prospectus (including in any preliminary prospectus (if used prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement)), or in any summary or final prospectus or free writing prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any documents incorporated by reference in any of the foregoing or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any federal, state or common law rule or regulation relating to action or inaction in connection with any Company provided information in such registration, disclosure document or related document or report, and the Company will reimburse such Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending any such Proceeding; provided , however , that the Company shall not be liable to any Indemnified Person to the extent that any such Losses arise out of, are based upon or results from an untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, such preliminary, summary or final prospectus or free writing prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

 

(b)                                  In connection with any Registration Statement filed by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof in which a Holder has registered for sale its Registrable Securities, each such selling Holder agrees (severally and not jointly) to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors and officers, Affiliates, employees, agents and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) from and against any Losses resulting from (i) any untrue statement of a material fact in any Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered or sold under the Securities Act (including any final, preliminary or summary Prospectus contained therein or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any documents incorporated by reference therein) or (ii) any omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein  not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information furnished in writing by or on behalf of such selling Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or Prospectus and has not been corrected in a subsequent writing prior to the sale of the Registrable Securities to the Indemnified Person asserting the claim. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder under the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation less any amounts paid by such Holder in connection with such sale.

 

(c)                                   Any Indemnified Person shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification ( provided that any delay or failure to so notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder except to the extent, if at all, that it is

 

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actually and materially prejudiced by reason of such delay or failure) and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; provided , however , that any Indemnified Person shall have the right to select and employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified person unless (A) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees or expenses, (B) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim within a reasonable time after receipt of notice of such claim from the Indemnified Person and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, (C) the Indemnified Person has reasonably concluded (based upon advice of its counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other Indemnified Persons that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, or (D) in the reasonable judgment of any such Indemnified Person (based upon advice of its counsel) a conflict of interest may exist between such Indemnified Person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the Indemnified Person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such Indemnified Person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such Indemnified Person).  No action may be settled without the consent of the indemnifying party, provided that the consent of the Indemnified Person shall not be required if (A) such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person in form and substance satisfactory to such Indemnified Person from all liability on the claims that are the subject matter of such settlement; (B) such settlement provides for the payment by the indemnifying party of money as the sole relief for such action and (C) such settlement does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.  It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, except as specifically set forth in this Section 6(c) , in connection with any Proceeding or related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements or other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(c) , no selling Holder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the net proceeds (after deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commissions) received by such selling Holder in the offering.  No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  Each selling Holder’s obligation to contribute pursuant to this Section 6(c)  is several in the proportion that the proceeds of the offering received by such selling Holder bears to the total proceeds of the offering received by all such selling Holders and not joint.

 

(d)                                  The remedies provided for in this Section 6 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

 

7.                                       Facilitation of Sales Pursuant to Rule 144 .  The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to timely file the reports required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act and the rules adopted by the Commission

 

28



 

thereunder (including the reports under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of Rule 144), and shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable the Holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption provided by Rule 144. Upon the written request of any Holder in connection with that Holder’s sale pursuant to Rule 144, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

8.                                       Miscellaneous .

 

(a)                                  Remedies .  In the event of a breach by any party hereto of any of its obligations under this Agreement, the non-breaching parties, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement.  Each party agrees that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate and shall waive any requirement for the posting of a bond.

 

(b)                                  Discontinued Disposition .  Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in clauses (ii) through (iv) and (vi) of Section 4(d)  or the occurrence of a Suspension Period, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemental Prospectus or amended Registration Statement or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement.  The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this Section 8(b) .  In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the period during which the applicable Registration Statement is required to be maintained effective shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement either receives the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed.

 

(c)                                   Amendments .  This Agreement may be amended, modified, extended or terminated, and the provisions hereof may be waived, only with (i) the consent of the Company and (ii) the affirmative vote of Holders of not less than a majority of the Registrable Securities Securities; provided that in no event shall the obligations of any Holder of Registrable Securities be increased or the rights of any Holder be adversely affected (without similarly increasing or adversely affecting the rights of all Holders), except upon the written consent of such Holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver

 

29



 

or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Securities whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders of Registrable Securities may be given by holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement.

 

(d)                                  Waivers .  No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any Party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.

 

(e)                                   Notices .  Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile (with confirmation of delivery) or electronic mail in PDF or similar electronic or digital format (with confirmation of receipt) prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on a business day in the place of receipt, (ii) the business day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile (with confirmation of delivery) or electronic mail in PDF or similar electronic or digital format (with confirmation of receipt) later than 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on such date, (iii) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service or (iv) upon actual receipt by the Party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as follows:

 

If to the Company:

 

 

 

Midstates Petroleum Company

 

321 South Boston Avenue, Suite 1000

 

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103

 

Attn.: Scott C. Weatherholt

Nelson M. Haight

 

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

 

 

Attn: Matthew R. Pacey

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

 

600 Travis Street

 

Suite 3300

 

Houston, TX 77002

 

 

If to any other Person who is then a Holder, to the address of such Holder as it appears on the signature pages hereto or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter by such Person.

 

30



 

(f)                                    Successors and Assigns; Transfers; New Issuances .  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives.  Without limiting any other restriction on transfer contained in any other contract by and among the Company and any of the Holders, or by and among the Holders, each Holder agrees that it shall not transfer any shares of Company Common Stock or any Warrant to any Person unless (i) such transfer is made in compliance with the Securities Act, any other applicable securities or “blue sky” laws, or rules or regulations promulgated by FINRA, and the terms and conditions of the certificate of incorporation and the by-laws of the Company, (ii) the transferee (if it will hold Registrable Securities upon and following such transfer and reasonably determines, based on the advice of counsel, that it is an “affiliate” (as such term is defined in the Securities Act) of the Company or holds Company Common Stock that is “restricted” or “control” stock (as such terms are defined in the Securities Act) and is not already a party hereto) shall have delivered to the Company a Joinder Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A agreeing to become subject to and bound by the terms of this Agreement and (iii) the Holder gives the Company written notice of such transfer, stating the name and address of the transferee.  Any attempt to transfer any shares of Company Common Stock or any Warrant not in compliance with this Agreement and the certificate of incorporation of the Company shall be null and void ab initio , and the Company shall not give any effect in the Company’s stock records to such attempted transfer.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not transfer or assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Holder.

 

(g)                                   Governing Law .  This Agreement, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the choice of law or conflicts of law.

 

(h)                                  Submission to Jurisdiction .  The parties hereby agree that any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be brought in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York or any New York State court sitting in the County of New York, so long as one of such courts shall have subject matter jurisdiction over such suit, action or proceeding, and that any cause of action arising out of this Agreement shall be deemed to have arisen from a transaction of business in the State of New York, and each of the parties hereby irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.  Process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court.  Without limiting the foregoing, each party agrees that service of process on such

 

31



 

party as provided in subsection (e) of this Section 8 shall be deemed effective service of process on such party.

 

(i)                                      WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

(j)                                     Cumulative Remedies .  The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

 

(k)                                  Severability .  If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction.  It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the Parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

 

(l)                                      Entire Agreement .  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior contracts or agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior or contemporaneous discussions, agreements and understandings, whether oral or written, that may have been made or entered into by or among any of the Parties or any of their respective Affiliates relating to the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(m)                              Execution of Agreement .  This Agreement may be executed and delivered (by facsimile, by electronic mail in portable document format (.pdf) or otherwise) in any number of counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same agreement.

 

(n)                                  Determination of Ownership .  In determining ownership of Company Common Stock or Warrant hereunder for any purpose, the Company may rely solely on the records of the transfer agent for the Company Common Stock and Warrant from time to time, or, if no such transfer agent exists, the Company’s stock ledger.

 

(o)                                  Headings; Section References .  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

(p)                                  No Recourse .  Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement, and notwithstanding the fact that certain of the Holders may be partnerships or limited liability companies, each Holder covenants, agrees and acknowledges that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement shall be had against any of the Company’s

 

32



 

or the Holder’s former, current or future direct or indirect equity holders, controlling persons, stockholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, Affiliates, members, financing sources, managers, general or limited partners or assignees (each, a “ Related Party ” and collectively, the “ Related Parties ”), in each case other than the Company, the current or former Holders or any of their respective assignees under this Agreement, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable Proceeding, or by virtue of any applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any of the Related Parties, as such, for any obligation or liability of the Company or the Holders under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or liabilities or their creation; provided, however, nothing in this Section 8(p)  shall relieve or otherwise limit the liability of the Company or any current or former Holder, as such, for any breach or violation of its obligations under this Agreement or such agreements, documents or instruments.

 

(q)                                  Recapitalizations, Exchanges, etc.   The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to (a) the Company Common Stock and Warrant, (b) any and all securities into which shares of Company Common Stock or Warrant are converted, exchanged or substituted in any recapitalization or other capital reorganization by the Company and (c) any and all equity securities of the Company or any successor or assign of the Company (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in conversion of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the Company Common Stock or Warrant and shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividends, splits, reverse splits, combinations, recapitalizations and the like occurring after the date hereof.  The Company shall cause any successor or assign (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) to assume the obligations of the Company under this Agreement or enter into a new registration rights agreement with the Holders on terms substantially the same as this Agreement as a condition of any such transaction.

 

(r)                                     Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights .  The Company agrees that it shall not enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company (i) that would allow such holder or prospective holder to include such securities in any Demand Registration, Piggyback Registration or Shelf Registration unless, under the terms of such agreement, such holder or prospective holder may include such securities in any such registration only to the extent that their inclusion would not reduce the amount of the Registrable Securities of the Holders included therein or (ii) on terms otherwise more favorable in the aggregate than this Agreement.  The Company also represents and warrants to each Holder that it has not previously entered into any agreement with respect to any of its securities granting any registration rights to any Person with respect to the Registrable Securities.

 

[ Signature Pages Follow ]

 

33



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

MIDSTATES PETROLEUM COMPANY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott C. Weatherholt

 

Name:

Scott C. Weatherholt

 

Title:

Vice President - General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Vice President - Land

 

[ REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ]

 



 

 

CENTERBRIDGE CREDIT PARTNERS OFFSHORE INTERMEDIATE III, LP

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Susanne V. Clark

 

Name:

Susanne V. Clark

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

CENTERBRIDGE CREDIT PARTNERS OFFSHORE INTERMEDIATE I, LP

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Susanne V. Clark

 

Name:

Susanne V. Clark

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

CENTERBRIDGE CREDIT PARTNERS, LP

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Susanne V. Clark

 

Name:

Susanne V. Clark

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

CENTERBRIDGE SPECIAL CREDIT PARTNERS II AIV III, LP

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Susanne V. Clark

 

Name:

Susanne V. Clark

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 



 

 

FIR TREE INC.,

 

 

 

 

 

on behalf of the following funds under management:

 

 

 

Fir Tree Capital Opportunity (LN) Master Fund, L.P.

 

 

 

Fir Tree Value (LN) Master Fund, L.P.

 

 

 

FT SOF IV HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

 

FT SOF V HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

 

FT SOF VII AIV HOLDINGS I, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian Meyer

 

Name:

Brian Meyer

 

Title:

Authorized Person

 

 

 

 

 

AVENUE ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES FUND, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Avenue Energy Opportunities Partners, LLC, its General Partner

 

 

 

 

By: GL Energy Opportunities Partners, LLC, its Managing Member

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Sonia Gardner

 

Title:

Member

 

[ REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ]

 

2



 

SCHEDULE I

 

STOCKHOLDERS

 

Fir Tree Capital Opportunity (LN) Master Fund, L.P.

Fir Tree Value (LN) Master Fund, L.P.

FT SOF IV Holdings, LLC

FT SOF V Holdings, LLC

FT SOF VII AIV Holdings I, LLC

Avenue Energy Opportunities Fund, L.P.

Centerbridge Credit Partners Offshore Intermediate III, LP

Centerbridge Credit Partners TE Intermediate I, LP

Centerbridge Credit Partners, LP

Centerbridge Special Credit Partners II AIV III, LP

 



 

SCHEDULE II

 

WARRANT HOLDERS

 

Centerbridge Credit Partners Offshore Intermediate III, LP

Centerbridge Credit Partners TE Intermediate I, LP

Centerbridge Credit Partners, LP

Centerbridge Special Credit Partners II AIV III, LP

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Joinder Agreement

 

The undersigned hereby agrees, effective as of the date set forth below, to become a party to that certain Registration Rights Agreement (as amended, restated and modified from time to time, the “ Agreement ”) dated as of October 21, 2016, by and among by and among Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and the holders of the Company’s common stock and warrants named therein, and for all purposes of the Agreement the undersigned will be included within the term “Holder” (as defined in the Agreement).  The address, facsimile number and email address to which notices may be sent to the undersigned are as follows:

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Facsimile No.:

 

 

Email:

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ If entity ]

 

 

 

 

 

[ ENTITY NAME ]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ If individual ]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Individual Name: