As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 31, 2017
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
WIDEOPENWEST, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
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46-0552948 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
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(I.R.S. Employer
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7887 East Belleview Avenue, Suite 1000
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80111 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
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WideOpenWest, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plan)
Craig Martin
General Counsel
7887 East Belleview Avenue, Suite 1000
Englewood, Colorado 80111
(720) 479-3500
(Name and address of agent for service and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Joshua N. Korff, P.C.
Brian Hecht
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 446-4800
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):
Large accelerated filer |
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Accelerated filer |
o |
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Non-accelerated filer |
x (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Smaller reporting company |
o |
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Emerging Growth Company |
o |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of securities
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Amount
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Proposed
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Proposed
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Amount of
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Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share |
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6,355,054(3) |
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16.70 |
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$106,129,401.80 |
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$12,300.40 |
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(1) Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), this registration statement shall also cover any additional shares of common stock which become issuable because of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of common stock.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h) of the Securities Act and based upon the average of the high and low sale prices of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on May 25, 2017, a date that is within five days prior to filing.
(3) Represents shares of Common Stock that are reserved for issuance under the plan being registered hereon.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Item 1. Plan Information.
The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered in accordance with Form S-8 and Rule 428(b) under the Securities Act. Such documents are not required to be, and are not, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission), either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. These documents, and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Form S-8, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.
The written statement required by Item 2 of Part I is included in documents delivered to participants in the plans covered by this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 428(b) of the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents, which have been filed by WideOpenWest, Inc. (the Company) with the Commission, are incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference:
(a) The Companys prospectus filed on May 25, 2017 pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act, which prospectus is a part of the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (Registration No. 333-216894); and
(b) The description of the Companys common stock contained in the Companys Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-38101) filed with the Commission on May 22, 2017, pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such descriptions.
All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than Current Reports on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K, including any exhibits included with such information, unless otherwise indicated therein) after the date of this Registration Statement, but prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Reference is made to Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL), which allows a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation will not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached the duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for this limitation of liability.
Section 145 of the DGCL (Section 145), provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was, is or is threatened to be made party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporations best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was illegal. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him against the expenses which such officer or director has actually and reasonably incurred.
Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him under Section 145.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL and must also pay expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition upon delivery of an undertaking, by or on behalf of an indemnified person, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined ultimately that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this section or otherwise.
The Company intends to enter into indemnification agreements with each of its current directors and officers. These agreements will require the Company to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to the Company, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
The indemnification rights set forth above shall not be exclusive of any other right which an indemnified person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Companys amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the Companys amended and restated bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
The Company maintains standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (1) to its directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (2) to the Company with respect to indemnification payments that it may make to such directors and officers.
The proposed form of Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (Registration No. 333-216894) provides for indemnification to its directors and officers by the underwriters against certain liabilities.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
Reference is made to the attached Exhibit Index, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective Registration Statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
provided , however , that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Companys annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Englewood, State of Colorado, on May 31, 2017.
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WideOpenWest, Inc. |
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By: |
/s/ Steven Cochran |
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Name: |
Steven Cochran |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each officer and director of WideOpenWest, Inc. whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Steven Cochran, Craig Martin and Richard E. Fish, Jr., and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and revocation, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute any or all amendments including any post-effective amendments and supplements to this Registration Statement, and any additional Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated and on the date indicated below:
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Date |
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/s/ Steven Cochran |
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Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
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May 31, 2017 |
Steven Cochran |
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/s/ Richard E. Fish, Jr. |
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Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
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May 31, 2017 |
Richard E. Fish, Jr. |
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/s/ David Burgstahler |
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Director |
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May 31, 2017 |
David Burgstahler |
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/s/ Brian Cassidy |
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Director |
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May 31, 2017 |
Brian Cassidy |
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/s/ Daniel Kilpatrick |
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Director |
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May 31, 2017 |
Daniel Kilpatrick |
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/s/ Jeffrey Marcus |
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Director |
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May 31, 2017 |
Jeffrey Marcus |
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/s/ Phil Seskin |
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Director |
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May 31, 2017 |
Phil Seskin |
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/s/ Joshua Tamaroff |
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Director |
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May 31, 2017 |
Joshua Tamaroff |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
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Description |
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4.1 |
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Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of WideOpenWest, Inc. |
4.2 |
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Amended and Restated Bylaws of WideOpenWest, Inc. |
4.3 |
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Senior Note Indenture, dated as of July 17, 2012, by and among WideOpenWest Finance, LLC, WideOpenWest Capital Corp., the guarantors specified therein, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and collateral agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to WideOpenWest Finance, LLCs Registration Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-187850, filed on April 10, 2013). |
4.4 |
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WideOpenWest, Inc. Stockholders Agreement. |
4.5 |
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WideOpenWest, Inc. Registration Rights Agreement. |
5.1 |
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Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. |
23.1 |
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Consent of BDO USA, LLP. |
23.2 |
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Consent of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). |
24.1 |
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Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this Registration Statement). |
99.1 |
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WideOpenWest, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan. |
Exhibit 4.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
WIDEOPENWEST, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
WideOpenWest Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Corporation), hereby certifies as follows:
1. The name of the Corporation is WideOpenWest, Inc. The date of filing of the Corporations original Certificate of Incorporation was June 22, 2012. The Corporation was originally incorporated under the name WideOpenWest Kite, Inc. The Corporation was renamed to WideOpenWest, Inc. on March 15, 2017.
2. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation attached hereto as Exhibit A, which restates, integrates and further amends the provisions of the existing Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as heretofore amended, has been duly adopted by the Corporations Board of Directors and the stockholders in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, with the adoption of the Corporations stockholders having been given by written consent in lieu of a meeting thereof in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by Richard E. Fish, Jr., its Chief Financial Officer, this 24th day of May, 2017.
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By: |
/s/ Richard E. Fish, Jr. |
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Name: |
Richard E. Fish, Jr. |
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Title: |
Chief Financial Officer |
EXHIBIT A
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
WIDEOPENWEST, INC.
ARTICLE ONE
The name of this corporation is WideOpenWest, Inc. (the Corporation).
ARTICLE TWO
The registered office of this Corporation in the State of Delaware is located at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19808. The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
ARTICLE THREE
The purpose of this Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the Delaware General Corporation Law).
ARTICLE FOUR
Section 1 Authorized Shares . The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation has authority to issue is 800,000,000 shares, consisting of:
(a) 100,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Preferred Stock); and
(b) 700,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Common Stock).
The Preferred Stock and the Common Stock shall have the rights, preferences and limitations set forth below.
Section 2 Preferred Stock . Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board of Directors) is authorized, to provide by resolution or resolutions from time to time for the issuance, out of the authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, of all or any of the shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and to establish the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the voting powers (full, limited or no voting powers), designations, powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, or such series, including, without limitation, that any such series may be (i) subject to redemption at such time or times and at such price or prices, (ii) entitled to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or non-cumulative) at such rates, on such conditions, and at such times, and payable in preference to, or in such relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes or series of capital stock, (iii) entitled to such rights upon
the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation or (iv) convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes of capital stock, or of any other series of the same class of capital stock, of the Corporation at such price or prices or at such rates and with such adjustments; all as may be stated in such resolution or resolutions, which resolution or resolutions shall be set forth on a certificate of designations filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law. Except as otherwise provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the Certificate of Incorporation), no vote of the holders of Preferred Stock or Common Stock shall be a prerequisite to the designation or issuance of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock authorized by and complying with the conditions of this Certificate of Incorporation. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the number of authorized shares of 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 outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, without the separate vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock as a class. Subject to Section 1 of this ARTICLE FOUR, the Board of Directors is also expressly authorized to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock subsequent to the issuance of shares of that series, but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the certificate of designations in respect of any series of Preferred Stock, in case the number of shares of such series shall be decreased in accordance with the foregoing sentence, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.
Section 3 Common Stock .
(a) Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by the Delaware General Corporation Law or this Certificate of Incorporation and subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, all of the voting power of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be vested in the holders of the Common Stock, and each holder of Common Stock shall have one vote for each share held by such holder on all matters voted upon by the stockholders of the Corporation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation in respect of 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 separate or together as a class with the holders of one or more such other series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation or the Delaware General Corporation Law.
(b) Dividends. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, and to the other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive equally, on a per share basis, such dividends and other distributions in cash, securities or other property of the Corporation as may be declared thereon by the Board of Directors from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor.
(c) Liquidation Rights. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment or provision
for payment of the Corporations debts and subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, the remaining net assets of the Corporation shall be distributed among holders of shares of Common Stock equally on a per share basis. A merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or entity, or a sale, lease, exchange, conveyance or other disposition of all or any part of the assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 3(c).
(d) Conversion Rights. The Common Stock shall not be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same class of the Corporations capital stock.
(e) Preemptive Rights. No holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to preemptive or subscription rights pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 4 Split of Common Stock. Upon this Certificate of Incorporation becoming effective in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law (the Effective Time ) each share of Common Stock issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Effective Time, if any, shall, automatically and without any action on the part of the respective holders thereof, be reclassified as and converted into 66,498.762 shares of Common Stock and any stock certificate that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented one share of Common Stock shall, from and after the Effective Time, represent 66,498.762 shares of Common Stock.
ARTICLE FIVE
The Corporation shall have perpetual existence.
ARTICLE SIX
Section 1 Board of Directors, Number . Unless otherwise provided by this Certificate of Incorporation or the Delaware General Corporation Law, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. Subject to any rights of the holders of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.
Section 2 Classification of Directors . Subject to any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the directors of the Corporation shall be divided into three classes as nearly equal in size as is practicable, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The term of office of the initial Class I directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders occurring after the initial public offering, the term of office of the initial Class II directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders occurring after the initial public offering, and the term of office of the initial Class III directors shall expire at the third annual meeting of stockholders occurring after the initial public offering. At each annual meeting after the first annual meeting of stockholders occurring after the initial public offering, each director elected to the class of directors expiring at such annual meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third succeeding annual meeting and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death,
resignation, removal or retirement. If the number of directors divided into classes as set forth herein is hereafter changed, any newly created directorship(s) or decrease in the number of directors shall be so apportioned among the classes as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as practicable. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the bylaws of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the Bylaws) shall so provide. The Board of Directors is authorized to assign members of the Board of Directors already in office to their respective classes.
Section 3 Newly-Created Directorships and Vacancies . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or any other cause shall be filled exclusively by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by stockholders. A director elected to fill a vacancy or a newly created directorship shall be elected for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office, and a director chosen to fill a position resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or his or her earlier death, resignation, removal or retirement.
Section 4 Removal of Directors . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, (i) prior to the Trigger Date (as defined below), any director may be removed from office at any time with or without cause, at a meeting called for that purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class and (ii) after the Trigger Date, any director may be removed from office at any time but only with cause, at a meeting called for that purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Section 5 Rights of Holders of Preferred Stock . Notwithstanding the provisions of this ARTICLE SIX, whenever the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately or together by series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorship shall be governed by the rights of such Preferred Stock as set forth in the certificate of designations or certificates of designations governing such series.
Section 6 No Cumulative Voting . Except as may otherwise be set forth in the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors providing the issue of one or more series of Preferred Stock, and then only with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, cumulative voting in the election of directors is specifically denied.
ARTICLE SEVEN
Section 1 Limitation of Liability .
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended hereafter to permit the further elimination or limitation of the liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended.
(b) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring at or prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE EIGHT
Section 1 No Action by Written Consent . From and after the first date (the Trigger Date) on which investment funds affiliated with Avista Capital Partners and Crestview Partners and their respective successors and Affiliates (collectively, the Sponsors), together cease collectively to beneficially own (directly or indirectly) more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be effected only at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders. Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person; the term control, as used in this definition, means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and controlled and controlling have meanings correlative to the foregoing. Person means an individual, any general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity. For the purpose of this Certificate of Incorporation, beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Section 2 Annual Meetings of Stockholders . Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such date, time and place, if any, as shall be determined exclusively by resolution of the Board of Directors in its sole and absolute discretion. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for election of directors and other business to be brought by stockholders at any meeting of stockholders shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.
Section 3 Special Meetings of Stockholders . Subject to any special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation shall be called exclusively (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors pursuant to a written resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies or (ii) prior to
the Trigger Date, by the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of the holders of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, and shall not be called by stockholders. Any business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.
ARTICLE NINE
Section 1 Certificate of Incorporation . The Corporation reserves the right at any time from time to time to alter, amend, repeal or change any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, and to adopt any other provision authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed herein and by the laws of the State of Delaware, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, and notwithstanding that a lesser percentage or vote may be permitted from time to time by applicable law, no provision of ARTICLE SIX, ARTICLE SEVEN, ARTICLE EIGHT, this ARTICLE NINE, ARTICLE TEN, ARTICLE ELEVEN and ARTICLE TWELVE may be altered, amended or repealed in any respect, nor may any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or of the Bylaws inconsistent therewith be adopted, unless in addition to any other vote required by this Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise required by law, (i) prior to the Trigger Date, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class and (ii) from and after the Trigger Date, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Section 2 Bylaws . In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws without any action on the part of the stockholders. Any adoption, alteration, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws by the Board of Directors shall require the approval of a majority of the Board of Directors then in office, provided a quorum is otherwise present. Any Bylaws adopted or amended by the Board of Directors, and any powers conferred thereby, may be amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders. In addition to any other vote otherwise required by law or this Certificate of Incorporation, from and after the Trigger Date, with respect to the adoption, alteration, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws by the stockholders, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote with respect thereto, voting together as a single class, shall be required to adopt, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws.
ARTICLE TEN
The Corporation expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
Section 1 Scope . The provisions of this ARTICLE ELEVEN are set forth to define, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the duties of Exempted Persons (as defined below) to the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities. Exempted Persons means the Sponsors and their respective Affiliates (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) and all of their respective partners, principals, directors, officers, members, managers and employees, including any of the foregoing who serve as officers or directors of the Corporation.
Section 2 Competition and Allocation of Corporate Opportunities . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Exempted Persons shall not have any fiduciary duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to the Exempted Persons, even if the opportunity is one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, and each such Exempted Person shall have no duty to communicate or offer such business opportunity to the Corporation and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such Exempted Person pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries.
Section 3 Certain Matters Deemed Not Corporate Opportunities . In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this ARTICLE ELEVEN, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to belong to the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that the Corporation is not financially or legally able or contractually permitted to undertake, or that is, from its nature, not in the line of the Corporations business or is of no practical advantage to it or that is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.
Section 4 Amendment of this Article . To the fullest extent permitted by law, no amendment or repeal of this ARTICLE ELEVEN in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of ARTICLE ELEVEN shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any Exempted Person for or with respect to any activities or opportunities of which such Exempted Person becomes aware prior to such amendment or repeal. This ARTICLE ELEVEN shall not limit or eliminate any protections or defenses otherwise available to, or any rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses of, any director or officer of the Corporation under this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement between the Corporation and such officer or director, or any applicable law.
Section 5 Deemed Notice . Any person or entity purchasing, holding or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this ARTICLE ELEVEN.
ARTICLE TWELVE
Unless this Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporations stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation (including, without limitation, shares of Common Stock) shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this ARTICLE TWELVE.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
If any provision (or any part thereof) of this Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Certificate of Incorporation 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 (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Exhibit 4.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
WIDEOPENWEST, INC.
A Delaware corporation
(Adopted as of May 24, 2017)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Registered Office . The address of the registered office of WideOpenWest, Inc. (the Corporation) in the State of Delaware, and the name of the Corporations registered agent at such address, shall be as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the Certificate of Incorporation).
Section 2. Other Offices . The Corporation may have an office or offices other than said registered office at such place or places, either within or outside the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.
Section 3. Books and Records. Any records maintained by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account and minute books, may be maintained on any information storage device or method; provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time. The Corporation shall so convert any records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect such records pursuant to applicable law.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Place of Meetings . All meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, if any, as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate such place of meeting, either within or outside the State of Delaware. In the absence of such designation, meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Section 211(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
Section 2. Annual Meeting . An annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held on such date and at such time as is specified by the Board of Directors. At the annual meeting, stockholders shall elect directors and transact such other business as may be properly brought
before the annual meeting pursuant to Section 11 of ARTICLE II hereof. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled annual meeting of the stockholders.
Section 3. Special Meetings . Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the Corporations notice of the meeting given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by the Secretary (solely to the extent and in the manner provided by the Certificate of Incorporation). The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled special meeting of stockholders.
Section 4. Notice .
(a) Timing; Contents . Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take action at a meeting, written notice of each annual and special meeting of stockholders stating the date, time and place, if any, of the meeting, 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, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different than the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by the Secretary (solely to the extent and in the manner provided by the Certificate of Incorporation), to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting except as otherwise required by law.
(b) Form of Notice . All such notices shall be delivered in writing, in person or by a form of electronic transmission if receipt thereof has been consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his, her or its address as the same appears on the records of the Corporation, or, if a stockholder shall have filed with the Secretary of the Corporation a written request that notices to such stockholder be mailed to some other address, then directed to such stockholder at such other address. If given by facsimile telecommunication, such notice shall be deemed given when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice by facsimile. Subject to the limitations of Section 4(d) of this ARTICLE II, if given by electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed given: (i) by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (x) such posting and (y) the giving of such separate notice by United States mail or facsimile transmission; and (iv) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, the transfer agent of the Corporation or any other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
(c) Waiver of Notice . Whenever notice is required to be given under any provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of
Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the stockholder entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person or entity entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting. Attendance of a stockholder of the Corporation at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends 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. Any stockholder so waiving notice of the meeting shall be bound by the proceedings of the meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had been given.
(d) Notice by Electronic Delivery . Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders of the Corporation pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any notice to stockholders of the Corporation given by the Corporation under any provision of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder of the Corporation to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if: (i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices of meetings or of other business given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent; and (ii) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. For purposes of these Bylaws, except as otherwise limited by applicable law, the term electronic transmission means any form of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of paper that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
Section 5. List of Stockholders . The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Nothing contained in this section shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the 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 to examine the list of stockholders required by this section or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
Section 6. Quorum . Except as otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders; it being understood that to the extent the Board of Directors issues or grants any shares that are subject to vesting or forfeiture and restrict or eliminate voting rights with respect to such shares until such vesting criteria is satisfied or such forfeiture provisions lapse, any such unvested shares shall not be considered to have the power to vote at a meeting of stockholders. If a quorum is not present, the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting, may adjourn the meeting to another time and/or place. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series of capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on such matter, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on the matter. Shares of its own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for 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 a fiduciary capacity. A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.
Section 7. Adjourned Meetings . Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time to any other time and to any other place by the chairman of the meeting, at any time in advance of the meeting or at the meeting, or by the stockholders present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon, although less than a quorum. When a meeting is adjourned to another time and place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 213(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.
Section 8. Vote Required . When a quorum is present at any meeting of stockholders, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of capital stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall decide any question brought before the meeting (other than the election of directors), unless by express provisions of an applicable law or regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities or of the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these Bylaws a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series of capital stock is required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares of such class, classes or series present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of such class, classes or series. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of record of capital stock entitled to vote in the election of such directors. No vote of the stockholders need be taken by written ballot or by electronic transmission unless otherwise required by law. Any vote not required to be taken by written ballot or by electronic transmission may be conducted in any manner approved by the Board of Directors prior to the meeting at which such vote is taken.
Section 9. Voting Rights . Except as otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation in respect of any series of preferred stock), each holder of record of capital stock shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder on the record date for voting for such meeting.
Section 10. Proxies . Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy executed or transmitted in a manner permitted by applicable law, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting or voting in person or by filing with the Secretary of the Corporation either an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date. At each meeting of stockholders, and before any voting commences, all proxies filed at or before the meeting shall be submitted to and examined by the Secretary or a person designated by the Secretary, and no shares may be represented or voted under a proxy that has been found to be invalid or irregular.
Section 11. Business Brought Before a Meeting of the Stockholders .
(A) Annual Meetings.
(1) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors shall be considered and such other business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, nominations and other business must be a proper matter for stockholder
action under Delaware law and must be (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, (b) brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder who (i) is a stockholder of record of the Corporation (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed or such nomination or nominations are made, only if such beneficial owner is the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation) both at the time the notice provided for in paragraph (A) of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting of stockholders, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (iii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in paragraph (A) of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II. For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation even if such matter is already the subject of any notice to the stockholders or public announcement from the Board of Directors. To be timely, a stockholders notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that there was no annual meeting in the prior year or the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) 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, deferral or postponement of an annual meeting or the public announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, a stockholders notice required by paragraph (A) of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, 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 tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(2) A stockholders notice providing for the nomination of a person or persons for election as a director or directors of the Corporation shall set forth (a) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made (and for purposes of clauses (ii) through (ix) below, including any interests described therein held by any affiliates or associates (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) for purposes of these Bylaws) of such stockholder or beneficial owner or by any member of such stockholders or beneficial owners immediate family sharing the same household or Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), in each case as of the date of such stockholders notice, which information shall be confirmed or
updated, if necessary, by such stockholder and beneficial owner (x) not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the notice of the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date for the notice of the meeting, and (y) not later than eight (8) business days before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof to disclose such ownership as of the date that is ten (10) business days before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (or if not practicable to provide such updated information not later than eight (8) business days before any adjournment or postponement, on the first practicable date before any such adjournment or postponement)) (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporations books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) (provided that a person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation as to which such person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future) and owned of record by such stockholder or beneficial owner, (iii) the class or series, if any, and number of options, warrants, puts, calls, convertible securities, stock appreciation rights, or similar rights, obligations or commitments with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, right, obligation or commitment shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation (each a Derivative Security), which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned by such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), (iv) any agreement, arrangement, understanding, or relationship, including any repurchase or similar so-called stock borrowing agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such stockholder or beneficial owner or any Stockholder Associated Person, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or beneficial owner or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any class or series of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation, or that provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series or capital stock or other securities of the Corporation, (v) a description of any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit (including any performance-based fees) derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares or other securities of the Corporation, (vi) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or beneficial owner or any Stockholder Associated Person has a right to vote any shares or other securities of the Corporation, (vii) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or such beneficial owner or such Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (viii) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Securities held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, if any, (ix) a description of all agreements, arrangements, and understandings between such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person and any other person(s) (including their name(s)) in connection with or related to the ownership or voting of
capital stock of the Corporation or Derivative Securities, (x) any other information relating to such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated 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 the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (xi) a statement as to whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporations voting shares required under applicable law to elect such stockholders nominees and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from the stockholders in support of such nomination and (xii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination, and (b) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, (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 an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved) pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such persons written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (ii) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person, 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 Item 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, 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, (iii) a completed and signed questionnaire regarding the background and qualifications of such person to serve as a director, a copy of which may be obtained upon request to the Secretary of the Corporation, (iv) all information with respect to such person that would be required to be set forth in a stockholders notice pursuant to this Section 11 of ARTICLE II if such person were a stockholder or beneficial owner, on whose behalf the nomination was made, submitting a notice providing for the nomination of a person or persons for election as a director or directors of the Corporation in accordance with this Section 11 of ARTICLE II and (v) such additional information that the Corporation may reasonably request to determine the eligibility or qualifications of such person to serve as a director or an independent director of the Corporation, or that could be material to a reasonable stockholders understanding of the qualifications and/or independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee as a director. For purposes of these Bylaws, a Stockholder Associated Person of any stockholder means (i) any affiliate or associate (as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of any stock or other securities of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder, (iii) any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with any such Stockholder Associated Person referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above and (iv) any person acting in concert in respect of any matter involving the Corporation or its securities with either such stockholder or any beneficial owner of any stock or
other securities of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder. Notwithstanding anything this Section 11 of ARTICLE II to the contrary, the requirements of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II shall not apply to the exercise by Avista Capital Partners (Avista) and Crestview Partners (Crestview) of its right to designate persons for nomination for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to the stockholders agreement to which it is a party with the Corporation.
(3) A stockholders notice regarding business proposed to be brought before a meeting of stockholders other than the nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors shall set forth (a) as to the stockholder giving notice and the beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, the information called for by clauses (a)(i) through (a)(ix) of the immediately preceding paragraph (2) (including any interests described therein held by any affiliates or associates of such stockholder or beneficial owner or by any member of such stockholders or beneficial owners immediate family sharing the same household, in each case as of the date of such stockholders notice, which information shall be confirmed or updated, if necessary, by such stockholder and beneficial owner (x) not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the notice of the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date for the notice of the meeting, and (y) not later than eight (8) business days before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof to disclose such ownership as of the date that is ten (10) business days before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (or if not practicable to provide such updated information not later than eight (8) business days before any adjournment or postponement, on the first practicable date before any such adjournment or postponement)), (b) a brief description of (i) the business desired to be brought before such meeting, including the text of any resolution proposed for consideration by the stockholders, (ii) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and (iii) any material interest of such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person in such business, including a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person and any other person(s) (including the name(s) of such other person(s)) in connection with or related to the proposal of such business by the stockholder, (c) as to the stockholder giving notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (i) a statement as to whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporations voting shares required under applicable law to approve the proposal and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal and (ii) any other information relating to such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated 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 the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (d) if the matter such stockholder proposes to bring before any meeting of stockholders involves an amendment to the Corporations Bylaws, the specific wording of such proposed amendment, (e) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business and (f) such additional information that the Corporation may reasonably request regarding such stockholder or beneficial owner or Stockholder Associated Person, if any, and/or the business that such stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting. The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the
stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholders proposal 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. Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only in the manner set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as is a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law and as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporations notice of the special meeting given by or at the direction of the Board or by the Secretary (solely to the extent and in the manner provided by the Certificate of Incorporation). The notice of such special meeting shall include the purpose for which the meeting is called. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by the Secretary (solely to the extent and in the manner provided by the Certificate of Incorporation) or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (a) is a stockholder of record of the Corporation (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such nomination or nominations are made, only if such beneficial owner is the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation) both at the time the notice provided for in paragraph (B) of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II is delivered to the Corporations Secretary and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting, (b) is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and (c) complies with the notice procedures set forth in subparagraph (2) of paragraph (A) of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporations notice of meeting, if the stockholders notice required by paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II shall be delivered to the Corporations Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) 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 of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment, deferral or postponement of a special meeting or the public announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above.
(C) General.
(1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 of ARTICLE II shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation 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 this Section 11 of ARTICLE II. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II, if the stockholder (or a qualified
representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. The requirements of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II shall apply to any business or nominations to be brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder whether such business or nominations are to be included in the Corporations proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act or presented to stockholders by means of an independently financed proxy solicitation. For purposes of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II, 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.
(2) For purposes of this section, public announcement shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service in the United States or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II, 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 this Section 11 of ARTICLE II.
(4) Nothing in this Section 11 of ARTICLE II shall be deemed to (a) affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporations proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, (b) confer upon any stockholder a right to have a nominee or any proposed business included in the Corporations proxy statement, or (c) affect any rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.
(5) The chairman of the meeting of stockholders shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not properly made or any business was not properly brought before the meeting, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II; if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such nomination not properly made or any business not properly brought before the meeting, as the case may be, shall not be transacted.
Section 12. Fixing a Record Date for Stockholder Meetings . In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board
of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 12 of ARTICLE II at the adjourned meeting.
Section 13. Fixing a Record Date for Other Purposes . In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 14. Conduct of Meetings .
(a) Generally . Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by a chairman designated by the Board of Directors, or in his or her absence, by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, by the President, or in the absence of the President, by the Chief Financial Officer, or in the absence of all of the foregoing, by the most senior officer of the Corporation present at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the absence of the Secretary, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
(b) Rules, Regulations and Procedures . The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate, including, without limitation, such guidelines and procedures as it may deem appropriate regarding the participation by means of remote communication of stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and procedures as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) the determination of when the polls shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting; (iii) rules and procedures for maintaining
order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iv) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as shall be determined; (v) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (vi) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The chairman of the meeting shall announce at the meeting when the polls for each matter to be voted upon at the meeting will be opened and closed. After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or changes thereto may be accepted. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date and time or to recess the meeting.
(c) Inspectors of Elections . The Corporation may, and to the extent required by law shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. No person who is a candidate for office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of such inspectors duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspectors ability. The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of stock outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (ii) determine the shares of stock represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, and (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors. The inspector may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspector in the performance of his or her duties. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders, the inspector may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. The inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law and shall take charge of the polls and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the number of shares of stock represented at the meeting and the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by law.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. Number; Tenure; Qualifications . Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors. The directors shall be classified in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Each director shall hold office until such time as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Directors need not be stockholders.
Section 2. General Powers . Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In
addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by applicable law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, except as otherwise specifically required by law or as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 3. Annual Meetings . Except as otherwise from time to time determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, an annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than this Bylaw immediately after, and at the same place (if any) as, the annual meeting of stockholders.
Section 4. Regular Meetings and Special Meetings . Regular meetings, other than the annual meeting, of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the chairman of the board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President (in either case, if such person is a director) or upon the written request of at least a majority of the directors then in office.
Section 5. Notice of Meetings . Notice of regular meetings of the Board of Directors need not be given except as otherwise required by law or these Bylaws, provided , however, that if the Board of Directors shall fix or change the time or place of any regular meeting, notice of such action shall be given promptly to each director who shall not have been present at the meeting at which such action was taken. Notice of each special or adjourned meeting of the Board of Directors, and of each regular and annual meeting of the Board of Directors for which notice shall be required, shall be given by the Secretary as hereinafter provided in this Section 5. Any such notice shall state the time and place of the meeting. Notice of any special or adjourned meeting, and of any regular or annual meeting for which notice is required, shall be given to each director at least (a) 24 hours before the meeting, if the notice is given by telephone, by delivery in person, or sent by telex, telecopy, electronic mail or similar means or (b) 5 days before the meeting if delivered by mail to the directors residence or usual place of business. Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail so addressed, with postage prepaid, or when transmitted if sent by telex, telecopy, email or similar means. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
Section 6. Chairman of the Board, Quorum, Required Vote and Adjournment . The Board of Directors may elect from among its ranks, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office, a Chairman of the Board, who shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he or she is present and shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. If the Chairman of the Board is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at such meeting (if the Chief Executive Officer is a director and is not also Chairman of the Board), and, if the Chief Executive Officer is not present at such meeting or is not a director, the President shall preside at such meeting (if the President is a director and is not also the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer), and, if the President is not present at such meeting or is not a director, a majority of the directors present at such meeting then in office shall elect one of their members to so preside. A majority of the total number of
directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Unless by express provision of an applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws a different vote is required, the vote of a majority of directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. A majority of directors present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn the meeting from time to time. At the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 7. Committees . The Board of Directors (i) may designate one or more committees consisting of one or more of the directors of the Corporation and (ii) shall, during such period of time as any securities of the Corporation are listed on a national securities exchange, designate all committees required by the rules and regulations of such exchange. The Board of Directors 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. Except to the extent restricted by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, each such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution creating it, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors. Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors or as required by the rules and regulations of such exchange, if applicable. No committee shall have the power or authority: to approve or adopt, or recommend to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware to be submitted by the Board of Directors to the stockholders for approval; or to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors upon request.
Section 8. Committee Rules . Each committee of the Board of Directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee. In the absence of such rules of procedure, each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to this Article III. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. All matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, in the event that a member and that members alternate, if alternates are designated by the Board of Directors, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.
Section 9. Telephonic and Other Meetings . Unless restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in and act at any meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.
Section 10. Waiver of Notice . Any director may waive notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, by a written waiver signed by the director entitled to the notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the director entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein. Attendance of a director at a meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the director attends 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.
Section 11. Action by Written Consent . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 12. Compensation . The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary or other compensation as a director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings. Any director of the Corporation may decline any or all such compensation payable to such director in his or her discretion.
Section 13. Reliance on Books and Records . A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of such directors duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporations officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the director reasonably believes are within such other persons professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
Section 14. Newly-Created Directorships; Vacancies; Removal; Resignation . Any newly-created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office, or any other cause shall be filled, and any director may be removed from office, in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Any director may resign by delivering a resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. Such resignation shall be effective upon delivery unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event or events.
Section 15. Director Elections by Holders of Preferred Stock . Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more series or classes of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by series or class, to elect one or more directors at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders, the election, filling of vacancies, removal of directors and other features of such one or more directorships shall be governed by the terms of such one or more series or classes of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by law.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. Number, Titles . The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and may consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except that neither the Chief Executive Officer nor the President shall also hold the office of Secretary. In its discretion, the Board of Directors may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable, except that the offices of President and Secretary shall be filled as expeditiously as possible.
Section 2. Election and Term of Office . The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at its first meeting held after each annual meeting of stockholders or as soon thereafter as convenient. Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled at any meeting of the Board of Directors. Each officer shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or retirement as hereinafter provided.
Section 3. Resignation; Removal . Any officer may resign by delivering a resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. Such resignation shall be effective upon delivery unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event or events. Any officer or agent elected by the Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors at its sole discretion, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. The election or appointment of an officer shall not of itself create contract rights.
Section 4. Vacancies . Any vacancy occurring in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, retirement or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Compensation . Compensation of all executive officers shall be approved by the Board of Directors, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by virtue of his or her also being a director of the Corporation; provided, however, that compensation of some or all executive officers may be determined by a committee established for that purpose if so authorized by the Board of Directors or as required by applicable law or any applicable rule or regulation, including any rule or regulation of any stock exchange upon which the Corporations securities are then listed for trading.
Section 6. Chief Executive Officer . The Chief Executive Officer shall have, subject to the supervision, direction and control of the Board of Directors, the general powers and duties of supervision, direction, and management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, including, without limitation, all powers necessary to direct and control the organizational and reporting relationships within the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. In addition, the Chief Executive Officer shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or as are set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. If the Board of Directors has not elected or appointed a President or the office of the President is otherwise vacant, and no officer otherwise functions with the powers and duties of the President, then, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall also have all the powers and duties of the President.
Section 7. The President . The President, if there is such an officer and the Board of Directors so directs, shall serve as chief operating officer and have the powers and duties customarily and usually associated with the office of chief operating officer unless the Board of Directors provides for another officer to serve as chief operating officer (or to have the powers and duties of chief operating officer). The President shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be delegated to him or her from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. If the Board of Directors has not elected or appointed a Chief Executive Officer or the office of Chief Executive Officer is otherwise vacant, then, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the President shall also have all the powers and duties of the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 8. Vice Presidents . Each Vice President shall have the powers and duties delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or the President. One Vice President may be designated by the Board of Directors to perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President in the event of the Presidents absence or disability.
Section 9. The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries . The Secretary shall issue all authorized notices for, and shall keep minutes of, all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. He or she shall have charge of the corporate books and shall perform other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Any Assistant Secretary, if there is such an officer, shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, President or the Secretary may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary (or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors), shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.
Section 10. The Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers . The Chief Financial Officer shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the Corporation in a thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the Corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. The Chief Financial Officer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the Corporation. The Chief
Financial Officer shall perform other duties commonly incident to such office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President shall designate from time to time. The Chief Executive Officer or President may direct the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, if there is such an officer, to assume and perform the duties of the Chief Financial Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer, and each Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall perform other duties commonly incident to such office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President shall designate from time to time.
Section 11. Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents . Officers, assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are provided for in these Bylaws, shall have such authority and perform such duties as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 12. Delegation of Authority . The Board of Directors may by resolution delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other person whom it may select.
Section 13. Officers Bonds or Other Security . If required by the Board of Directors, any officer of the Corporation shall give a bond or other security for the faithful performance of his duties, in such amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors may require.
Section 14. Absence or Disability of Officers . In the case of the absence or disability of any officer of the Corporation and of any person hereby authorized to act in such officers place during such officers absence or disability, the Board of Directors may by resolution delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other person selected by it.
ARTICLE V
STOCK
Section 1. Uncertificated Shares; Certificated Shares . The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be uncertificated, provided that the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be represented by certificates. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. If shares are represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in the form, other than bearer form, approved by the Board of Directors. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, (i) the Chairman of the Board, or the President or Vice President and (ii) the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. Any or all signatures on any such certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed, whose facsimile signature has been used on or who has duly affixed a facsimile signature or signatures to any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation whether because of death, resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates have been issued by the Corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued as though the
person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates, whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon or who duly affixed a facsimile signature or signatures thereon had not ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation. The rights and obligations of stockholders with the same class and/or series of stock shall be identical whether or not their shares are represented by certificates.
Section 2. Transfers of Stock . Transfers of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made only on the stock record of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by his, her or its attorney thereunto authorized by the power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the Corporation or the transfer agent thereof. Certificated shares, if any, shall be transferred only upon surrender of the certificate or certificates representing such shares, properly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed stock transfer power. Uncertificated shares shall be transferred by delivery of a duly executed stock transfer power, which certificate shall be canceled before a new certificate or uncertificated shares shall be issued. Registration of transfer of any shares shall be subject to applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law with respect to the transfer of such shares. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred. The Corporation may, but is not required, to recognize the transfer of fractional shares. The Board of Directors may make such additional rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue and transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation.
Section 3. Transfer Agent . The Board of Directors may appoint a bank or trust company organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof to act as its transfer agent or registrar, or both in connection with the transfer of any class or series of securities of the Corporation.
Section 4. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates . The Corporation may issue or direct a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, or of uncertificated shares, the Corporation may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
Section 5. Registered Stockholders . The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its records as the owner of shares of stock of the Corporation to receive dividends, to vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner of such shares. The Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in any such shares of stock 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.
ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Dividends . Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors in accordance with applicable law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, in shares of the capital stock or in any combination thereof, subject to the provisions of applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors may think conducive to the interests of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserves in the manner in which it was created.
Section 2. Contracts . In addition to the powers otherwise granted to officers pursuant to ARTICLE IV hereof, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, or any agent or agents, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to enter into or execute and deliver any and all deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts and other obligations or instruments, and such authority must be in writing or by electronic transmission and may be general or confined to specific instances.
Section 3. Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Corporate Seal . The Board of Directors may provide a corporate seal which shall be in the form as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no seal shall be required by virtue of this section.
Section 5. Voting Securities Owned By Corporation . Voting securities in any other Corporation held by the Corporation shall be voted (or consents in writing may be provided in respect thereof) by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Secretary or any Vice President, unless the Board of Directors specifically confers authority to vote (or express consent in writing) with respect thereto, which authority may be general or confined to specific instances, upon some other person or officer. Any person authorized to vote or express consent with respect to such securities shall have the power to appoint proxies, with general power of substitution.
Section 6. Inspection of Books and Records . The Board of Directors shall have power from time to time to determine to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions and regulations the accounts and books of the Corporation, or any of them, shall be open to the inspection of the stockholders; and no stockholder shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Corporation, except as conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware.
Section 7. Time Periods . Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, in applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be 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 8. Section Headings . Section headings in these Bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.
Section 9. Inconsistent Provisions . In the event that any provision of these Bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any other applicable law, the provision of these Bylaws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.
Section 10. Severability . If any provision (or any part thereof) of these Bylaws shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of these Bylaws (including, without limitation, each portion of any section 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 (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of these Bylaws (including, without limitation, each such containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. Right to Indemnification . Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including involvement, without limitation, as a witness) in any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a proceeding), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as an employee, legal representative or agent of the Corporation or as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an indemnitee), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, 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, against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys fees and related disbursements, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time (ERISA), and any other penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in
settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation (or has ceased to serve, at the request of the Corporation, as an employee or agent of the Corporation or as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee, legal representative or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan) and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitees heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (following the final disposition of such proceeding) or advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized in the first instance by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII shall be a contract right and shall include the obligation of the Corporation to pay the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (an advancement of expenses); provided, however, that an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (an undertaking), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (a final adjudication) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 1 or otherwise. The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification and advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation with the same or lesser scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers.
Section 2. Avista and Crestview Directors . The Corporation hereby acknowledges that the directors that are partners or employees of Avista or Crestview (Avista and Crestview Directors) have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by Avista and Crestview and certain affiliates that, directly or indirectly, (i) are controlled by, (ii) control or (iii) are under common control with, Avista or Crestview (collectively, the Fund Indemnitors). The Corporation hereby agrees (i) that it is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to the Avista and Crestview Directors are primary and any obligation of the Fund Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by the Avista and Crestview Directors are secondary), (ii) that it shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by the Avista and Crestview Directors and shall be liable for the full amount of all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this paragraph and the Bylaws of the Corporation from time to time (or any other agreement between the Corporation and the Avista and Crestview Directors), without regard to any rights the Avista and Crestview Directors may have against the Fund Indemnitors, and (iii) that it irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Fund Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Fund Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. The Corporation further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Fund Indemnitors on behalf of the Avista and Crestview Directors with respect to any claim for which the Avista and Crestview Directors have sought indemnification from the Corporation shall affect the foregoing and the Fund Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or to be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of the
Avista and Crestview Directors against the Corporation. The Corporation and the Avista and Crestview Directors agree that the Fund Indemnitors are express third-party beneficiaries of the terms of this paragraph.
Section 3. Procedure for Indemnification . If a claim for indemnification under this Article VII (which may only be made following the final disposition of such proceeding) is not paid in full within sixty days after the Corporation has received a claim therefor by the indemnitee, or if a claim for any advancement of expenses under this Article VII is not paid in full within thirty days after the Corporation has received a statement or statements requesting such amounts to be advanced (provided that the indemnitee has delivered the undertaking contemplated by Section 1 of this Article VII), the indemnitee shall thereupon (but not before) be entitled to file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim. Such persons costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law. It shall be a defense to any action by a director or officer for indemnification or the advancement of expenses (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for the advancement of expenses where the undertaking required pursuant to Section 2 of this ARTICLE VII, if any, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors, a committee thereof, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its directors, a committee thereof, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct. The procedure for indemnification of other employees and agents of the Corporation for whom indemnification and advancement of expenses is provided pursuant to Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII shall be the same procedure set forth in this Section 3 for directors or officers of the Corporation, unless otherwise set forth in the action of the Board of Directors providing indemnification and advancement of expenses for such employees or agents of the Corporation.
Section 4. Insurance . The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was or has agreed to become a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, against any expense, liability or loss asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expenses, liability or loss under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
Section 5. Service for Subsidiaries . Any person serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or
other enterprise, at least 50% of whose equity interests are owned directly or indirectly by the Corporation (a subsidiary for this ARTICLE VII) shall be conclusively presumed to be serving in such capacity at the request of the Corporation.
Section 6. Reliance . Persons who after the date of the adoption of this provision become or remain directors or officers of the Corporation or who, while a director or officer of the Corporation, become or remain a director, officer, employee or agent of a subsidiary, shall be conclusively presumed to have relied on the rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and other rights contained in this ARTICLE VII in entering into or continuing such service. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this ARTICLE VII shall apply to claims made against an indemnitee arising out of acts or omissions which occurred or occur both prior and subsequent to the adoption hereof.
Section 7. Other Rights; Continuation of Rights to Indemnification . The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this ARTICLE VII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or under any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. All rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses under this ARTICLE VII shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each indemnitee who serves or served in such capacity at any time while this ARTICLE VII is in effect. Any repeal or modification of this ARTICLE VII or any repeal or modification of relevant provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any other applicable laws shall not in any way diminish any rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses of such indemnitee or the obligations of the Corporation arising hereunder with respect to any proceeding arising out of, or relating to, any actions, transactions or facts occurring prior to the final adoption of such repeal or modification.
Section 8. Merger or Consolidation . For purposes of this ARTICLE VII, references to the Corporation shall include, in addition to the resulting or surviving corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this ARTICLE VII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
Section 9. Savings Clause . If this ARTICLE VII or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify and advance expenses to each person entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses under Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII as to all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys fees and related disbursements, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and any other penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such person and for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is available to such person pursuant to this ARTICLE VII to the fullest extent permitted
by any applicable portion of this ARTICLE VII that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended, altered, changed or repealed or new Bylaws adopted only in accordance with Article Nine, Section 2 of the Certificate of Incorporation.
Exhibit 4.4
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
This STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms, the Agreement ) is made as of May 24, 2017, among (i) WideOpenWest, Inc. (the Company ), (ii) the Avista Investor Group, (iii) the Crestview Investor Group (each of the Avista Investor Group and the Crestview Investor Group, an Investor and collectively, the Investors ), (iv) each of the Management Stockholders named on the signature pages hereto and (v) the Persons who from time to time become stockholders of the Company and execute and deliver a Joinder Agreement, substantially as set forth on Exhibit A hereto.
WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation by the Company of an initial public offering of its Common Stock (the IPO ), the parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement to govern certain of their rights, duties and obligations with respect to their ownership of shares of Common Stock after consummation of the IPO.
THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties mutually agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
Affiliate of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, control when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms controlling and controlled have meanings correlative to the foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes hereof, none of the Investors, the Company, or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall be considered Affiliates of any portfolio operating company in which the Investors or any of their investment fund Affiliates have made a debt or equity investment, and none of the Investors or any of their Affiliates shall be considered an Affiliate of (a) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (b) each other.
Avista Investor Group means, collectively, Avista Capital Partners, L.P., Avista Capital Partners (Offshore), L.P., Avista Capital Partners III, L.P., Avista Capital Partners (Offshore) III, L.P., Avista Capital Partners (Offshore) III-A, L.P., ACP Racecar Co-Invest, LLC and ACP Racecar Co-Invest II, LLC and any of their respective Affiliates who beneficially own Common Stock from time to time.
beneficial ownership and beneficially own and similar terms have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that no Stockholder shall be deemed to beneficially own any securities of the Company held by any other Stockholder solely
by virtue of the provisions of this Agreement (other than this definition which shall be deemed to be read for this purpose without the proviso hereto).
Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
Business Day means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York, are authorized or required by law to close.
Cause means, with respect to any Management Stockholder, the definition used in the Management Stockholders employment agreement or employment letter in the case where there is such defined term and an employment agreement or employment letter, and in the case where there is no defined term and/or an employment agreement or employment letter, Cause means a Management Stockholders (i) conviction, guilty plea, or plea of no contest to any felony or other crime involving moral turpitude, (ii) commission of any act involving dishonesty or fraud with respect to the Company, (iii) engaging in any conduct bringing the Company (or its officers or directors) into public disgrace or disrepute, (iv) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company, (v) substantial and repeated failure to perform the duties of such Management Stockholders position, after being given written notice and reasonable opportunity to cure such deficiency (but only if such deficiency is subject to cure) or (vi) any material breach of this Agreement.
Common Stock means common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, and any securities into which such shares of common stock shall have been changed or any securities resulting from any reclassification or recapitalization of such shares of common stock.
Company has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Company Group has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a) .
Coordination Committee has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a) .
Crestview Investor Group means, collectively, Crestview W1 Co Investors, LLC, Crestview W1 TE Holdings, LLC, and Crestview W1 Holdings, L.P. and any of their respective Affiliates who beneficially own Common Stock from time to time.
Determination Time has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(b) .
Exchange Act means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.
Family Group shall mean, with respect to a natural Person, such Persons spouse, ancestors and descendants (whether natural or adopted) and any trust or other entity (including a partnership or limited liability company) solely for the benefit of such Person and/or for such Persons spouse, their respective ancestors or descendants.
FCC means the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession that are in effect from time to time.
Good Reason means, with respect to any Management Stockholder, the definition used in the Management Stockholders employment agreement or employment letter in the case where there is such defined term and an employment agreement or employment letter, and in the case where there is no defined term and/or an employment agreement or employment letter, Good Reason means (x) an assignment of duties to such employee that are materially inconsistent with such Management Stockholders title and position, or any other action by the Company that results in a significant diminution in such Management Stockholders title, position, authority or responsibilities in effect as of the date hereof, which reduction has not been remedied by the Company within 45 days after written notification to the Company containing a reasonably detailed description of such reduction, or (y) such Management Stockholder is required to relocate outside of a 40 mile radius from such Management Stockholders current work location to perform such Management Stockholders duties, provided that reasonable travel required by the Company shall not be considered a relocation for this purpose.
Indemnified Liabilities has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5 .
Indemnitees has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5 .
Initial Shares means, with respect to any Management Stockholder, all vested and unvested Common Stock owned by such Management Stockholder as of the date hereof, after
giving effect to all Common Stock issued or received at the time of the IPO but not any Common Stock issued or received after the time of the IPO.
IPO has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Investors has the meaning set forth in the Preamble. For purposes of clarity, there are two Investors: the Avista Investor Group, which shall collectively be deemed an Investor , and the Crestview Investor Group, which shall collectively be deemed an Investor . Any determination, appointment, designation, consent or approval to be made, given or withheld by the Avista Investor Group in its capacity as an Investor under this Agreement shall be made, given or withheld by the Person or Persons holding a majority of the shares of Common Stock that are then deemed to be held by the Avista Investor Group and any determination, appointment, designation, consent or approval to be made, given or withheld by the Crestview Investor Group under this Agreement shall be made, given or withheld by the Person or Persons holding a majority of the shares of Common Stock that are then deemed to be held by the Crestview Investor Group.
Investor Director Designee has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a) .
Investor Ownership Percentage means, with respect to any Investor and as of any date of determination, a fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock held or beneficially owned by such Investor and its Affiliates as of such date and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of such date.
Law with respect to any Person, means (a) all provisions of all laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, certificates or orders of any governmental authority applicable to such Person or any of its assets or property or to which such Person or any of its assets or property is subject and (b) all judgments, injunctions, orders and decrees of all courts and arbitrators in proceedings or actions in which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its assets or properties is or may be bound or subject.
Management Ownership Percentage has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(b) .
Management Permitted Transferee means (i) in the case of a natural Person, by will or pursuant to applicable laws of descent and distribution or among such Persons Family Group and (ii) in the case of a non-natural Person, (A) to its members, partners or shareholders (including by way of distribution) or (B) among its wholly-owned Affiliates.
Management Stockholder means each officer or employee of the Company party to this Agreement who owns Common Stock.
Minimum Ownership Percentage has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(b) .
Necessary Action means, with respect to any party and a specified result, all actions (solely to the extent such actions are permitted by Law and within such partys control) necessary to cause such result, including (i) voting or providing a written consent or proxy with respect to the Common Stock, (ii) causing the adoption of stockholders resolutions and
amendments to the organizational documents of the Company, (iii) executing agreements and instruments and (iv) making, or causing to be made, with governmental, administrative or regulatory authorities, all filings, registrations or similar actions that are required to achieve such result.
Other Investor has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(b) .
Ownership Year has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(b) .
Person means an individual, partnership, corporation, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company or any other entity of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
Proprietary Information has the meaning set forth in Section 6.7 .
Public Offering means any public offering and sale of equity securities of the Company or any successor to the Company for cash pursuant to an effective registration statement (other than on Form S-4, S-8 or a comparable form) under the Securities Act.
Purchased Equity means any shares of Common Stock received in connection with the IPO on account of any equity units of WideOpenWest Holdings, LLC purchased for cash or as a rollover investment by a Management Stockholder and not received or earned pursuant to any equity program, awards or grant, solely as set forth on Schedule I hereto.
Registration Rights Agreement has the meaning set forth in Article IV .
Reimbursable Expenses has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 .
Representatives has the meaning set forth in Section 6.7(i) .
Requisite FCC Approval means any action by the FCC, including any action by any of its bureaus or offices pursuant to delegated authority, approving the proposed transfer of control of the FCC authorizations held by the Company and its Subsidiaries to allow either Investor or both Investors to relinquish the negative control of the Company each holds as of the date hereof.
Rule 144 means Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation).
Rule 144 Transfer has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(b) .
Rule 144 Transferring Investor has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(b) .
SEC means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.
Share Equivalents means, for a Person or Persons, (a) Common Stock beneficially owned as of such determination date by such Person or Persons, and (b) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any security that is currently exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable for, on any such date of determination, Common Stock.
Stockholder means each member of the Avista Investor Group and Crestview Investor Group who owns shares of Common Stock and each Management Stockholder who owns shares of Common Stock.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company or other non-corporate business enterprise in which such Person (or another Subsidiary of such Person) holds stock or other ownership interests representing (a) more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all outstanding stock or ownership interests of such entity, (b) the right to receive more than fifty percent (50%) of the net assets of such entity available for distribution to the holders of outstanding stock or ownership interests upon a liquidation or dissolution of such entity or (c) a general or managing partnership interest in such entity.
Transfer means, with respect to any Common Stock or Share Equivalents, a direct or indirect transfer (including through one or more transfers), sale, exchange, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance or other disposition of such Common Stock or Share Equivalents, including the grant of an option or other right, whether directly or indirectly, whether voluntarily, involuntarily or by operation of Law; provided, that a Transfer shall not include any direct or indirect transfer (including through one or more transfers), sale, exchange, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance or other disposition of Common Stock or Share Equivalents as a result of any direct or indirect transfer (including through one or more transfers), sale, exchange, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance or other disposition of an interest in an Investor, including the grant of an option or other right, whether voluntarily, involuntarily or by operation of Law. Transferred , Transferring and Transferee shall each have a correlative meaning to the term Transfer .
Unwinding Event has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(b) .
Section 1.2 General Interpretive Principles . The name assigned to this Agreement and the section captions used herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not be construed to affect the meaning, construction or effect hereof. Unless otherwise specified, the terms hereof , herein and similar terms refer to this Agreement as a whole, and references herein to Articles or Sections refer to Articles or Sections of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, the words, include , includes and including , when used herein, shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words without limitation . The terms dollars and $ shall mean United States dollars. Except as otherwise set forth herein, Common Stock underlying unexercised options that have been issued by the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for any purposes in this Agreement. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 2.1 Representations and Warranties of the Stockholders . Each Stockholder, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to the Company and each other Stockholder that on the date hereof:
(a) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Stockholder and, assuming the due execution and delivery of this Agreement by the other parties hereto, this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of such Stockholder, enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other similar Laws affecting creditors rights generally and by the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law).
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by such Stockholder of this Agreement and the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both: (i) violate the provisions of any Law, rule or regulation applicable to such Stockholder or his or her properties or assets; (ii) violate any judgment, decree, order or award of any court, governmental or quasi-governmental agency or arbitrator applicable to such Stockholder or his or her properties or assets; or (iii) conflict with, or result in a breach or default under, any term or condition of or constitute a default under, any organizational documents, contract, agreement or instrument to which such Stockholder is a party or by which such Stockholder or his or her properties or assets are bound.
(c) Such Stockholder understands that the Common Stock may not be sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of without registration under the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom, and that in the absence of an effective registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock or an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act, Common Stock must be held indefinitely.
Section 2.2 Entitlement of the Company and the Stockholders to Rely on Representations and Warranties . The representations and warranties contained in Section 2.1 may be relied upon by the Company and by the other Stockholders in connection with the entering into of this Agreement.
Section 2.3 Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Stockholders that as of the date of this Agreement:
(a) It is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, it has full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action.
(b) This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a legal and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other similar Laws affecting creditors rights generally and by the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law).
(c) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, (i) violate the provisions of Law, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or its properties or assets, (ii) violate any judgment, decree, order or award of any court, governmental or quasi-governmental agency or arbitrator applicable to the Company or its properties or assets or (iii) conflict with, or result in a breach or default under, any term or condition of the Companys organizational documents, contract, agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it or its properties or assets are bound.
ARTICLE III
MANAGEMENT
Section 3.1 Composition of the Board of Directors .
(a) Concurrently with the effectiveness of this Agreement, the Avista Investor Group and the Crestview Investor Group shall each have the right to designate the number of directors specified in the table below to the Board based on their respective Investor Ownership Percentage (any individual designated by the Avista Investor Group or the Crestview Investor Group, as applicable, an Investor Director Designee ). The Company and each Stockholder shall take all Necessary Action to cause the Investor Director Designees to be elected and/or appointed to the Board.
Investor Ownership
|
|
Number of Avista
|
|
Number of Crestview
|
|
22.5% or more |
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
15-22.5% |
|
2 |
|
2 |
|
5-15% |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
(b) As of the date hereof, the directors designated for appointment to the Board (i) by the Avista Investor Group shall be Phil Seskin, designated as a Class I Director, Joshua Tamaroff, designated as a Class II Director, and David Burgstahler, designated as a Class III Director and (ii) by the Crestview Investor Group shall be Jeffrey Marcus, designated as a Class I Director, Daniel Kilpatrick, designated as a Class II Director, and Brian Cassidy, designated as a Class III Director. In addition, the Companys Chief Executive Officer, Steven Cochran, will initially serve as a Class I Director.
(c) It is the intent of the Investors to cause the Board to be comprised of eight directors, until such time as the Requisite FCC Approval is obtained, and thereafter to expand the Board to nine directors at the discretion of the Board. In the event that a vacancy is created at any time by the death, disability, retirement, resignation or removal of any director who was an Investor Director Designee, the Company agrees to take at any time and from time to time all actions necessary to cause the vacancy created thereby to be filled as promptly as practicable by a new Investor Director Designee designated by the same Investor that designated the Investor Director Designee to the Board seat that has become vacant; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, an Investor shall not have the right to designate a replacement director, and the Board of Directors and the Stockholders shall not be required to take any action to cause any vacancy to be filled with any such Investor Director Designee, to the extent that election or appointment of such Investor Director Designee to the Board of Directors would result in a number of directors designated by the Investor in excess of the number of directors that the Investor is then entitled to designate for membership on the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 3.1(a) .
(d) No Stockholder shall take any action with respect to the Company that would be inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) The Company and its Subsidiaries shall reimburse the Investor Director Designees for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in connection with their attendance at meetings of the Board or the board of directors of any of the Companys Subsidiaries, and any committees thereof, including, without limitation, travel, lodging and meal expenses.
(f) The Company and its Subsidiaries shall obtain customary director and officer indemnity insurance on commercially reasonable terms which insurance shall cover each member of the Board and the members of each board of directors of each of the Companys Subsidiaries. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall enter into director and officer indemnification agreements, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to each of the Investors, with each of the Investor Director Designees. The provisions of this Section 3.1(f) shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
The Company shall grant to each of the Investors the registration rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement in Exhibit B hereto (the Registration Rights Agreement ).
ARTICLE V
TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS
Section 5.1 Coordination Committee; Transfer Restrictions .
(a) The Company shall create a coordination committee (the Coordination Committee ), which shall not be a committee of the Board, and will maintain such committee for so long as each of the Investors has an Investor Ownership Percentage of more than 5% or until
disbanded with the written consent of each Investor. The Coordination Committee shall facilitate coordination of dispositions of the Common Stock held by the Investors pursuant to Rule 144, as provided in Section 5.1(b) . The Investors each shall be permitted to designate an equal number of representatives (who may, but need not, be a director of the Company) to participate on the Coordination Committee, and shall be permitted to remove and replace such designee from time to time. The procedures governing the conduct of the Coordination Committee shall be established from time to time by the written consent of each Investor. The Coordination Committee shall meet as needed. The Coordination Committee shall notify the Company of any disposition or distribution of the Common Stock which is effected and of which such committee has been notified. If requested by the Company (and at the expense of the Company) any such disposition or distribution shall be supported by an opinion of reputable counsel acceptable to the parties retained by the Investors as to applicability of the Securities Act and any applicable exemptions thereunder.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for so long as each of the Investors has an Investor Ownership Percentage of more than 5%, an Investor wishing to effectuate a Transfer of some or all of its Common Stock pursuant to a Transfer under Rule 144 (such Transfer, a Rule 144 Transfer ; and such Investor, a Rule 144 Transferring Investor ) shall consult with the other Investor (the Other Investor ) at least two Business Days prior to effectuating any such Rule 144 Transfer, and shall provide the Other Investor with the opportunity to participate in the contemplated Rule 144 Transfer by selling its Common Stock up to an amount equal to (x) the number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be Transferred by the Rule 144 Transferring Investor in such Rule 144 Transfer multiplied by (y) such Other Investors percentage ownership of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock held by both Investors as of the date hereof; it being understood that if such product is fractional, it shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number.
(c) The restrictions in this Section 5.1 may not be avoided by the holding of shares of Common Stock directly or indirectly through a Person that can itself be sold to dispose of an interest in Common Stock free of such restrictions.
Section 5.2 Restrictions on Transfer by Management Stockholders . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary:
(a) For the first 180 days following the IPO, no Management Stockholder shall Transfer any Common Stock.
(b) No Management Stockholder shall Transfer any Common Stock (other than to Management Permitted Transferees pursuant to Section 5.3 ) to the extent that such Transfer would result in the Management Ownership Percentage of such Management Stockholder immediately following the effective time of such Transfer (the Determination Time ) being less than the Minimum Ownership Percentage during the relevant period. For purposes of this Section 5.2(b) , Management Ownership Percentage means a fraction (expressed as a percentage), (A) the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock owned by such Management Stockholder immediately following the Determination Time and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Initial Shares that are or have become vested as of immediately following the Determination Time. For the purposes of this Section 5.2(b) ,
Minimum Ownership Percentage means the Management Ownership Percentage that must be held by each Management Stockholder during each year beginning 181 days after the consummation of the IPO ( Ownership Year ), as set forth below:
Ownership Year |
|
Minimum Ownership Percentage |
|
1 |
|
75% |
|
2 |
|
50% |
|
3 |
|
25% |
|
4 |
|
0% |
|
Any Purchased Equity shall not be considered for purposes of the definition of Management Ownership Percentage and shall not be subject to the limitations in this Section 5.2(b) . The limitations on Transfer set forth in this Section 5.2(b) shall terminate, with respect to any Management Stockholder, if ever, at such time that such Management Stockholder ceases to be employed by the Company other than as a result of such Management Stockholder being (x) terminated for Cause or (y) resigning without Good Reason; provided that , if such employment ceases as set forth in this sentence prior to the one year anniversary of the date hereof, the limitations on Transfer set forth in this Section 5.2(b) shall not terminate with respect to such Management Stockholder until the one year anniversary of the date hereof.
(c) In connection with each underwritten Public Offering (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) and if requested by the managing underwriter, each of the Management Stockholders agree not to effect any public sale or private offer or distribution of any shares of Common Stock during the 10 days prior to the consummation of such Public Offering and during such time period after the consummation of such Public Offering, not to exceed 90 days (180 days in the case of the IPO) as may be requested by the managing underwriter. Any discretionary waiver or reduction of the requirements under the foregoing provisions made by the Company or the applicable lead managing underwriters shall apply to each Management Stockholder on a pro rata basis. The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Common Stock (or other securities) subject to the foregoing restriction until the end of such period.
(d) Any attempt by a Management Stockholder to Transfer any Common Stock and Share Equivalents not in compliance with this Section 5.2 shall be null and void and have no force or effect, and the Company shall not, and shall cause any transfer agent not to, give any effect in the Companys stock records to such attempted Transfer. The parties hereto acknowledge that the transfer restrictions contained herein are reasonable and in the best interests of the Company.
(e) No Management Stockholder that has been designated an Officer for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall transfer any Initial Shares other than pursuant to a prearranged trading plan in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act approved by the Company.
Section 5.3 Management Permitted Transferees .
(a) Any Management Stockholder may at any time Transfer any or all of its Common Stock to a Management Permitted Transferee without the consent of any Person and without compliance with Section 5.2(b) and Section 5.2(e) , so long as such Management Permitted Transferee shall have agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement by executing a Joinder Agreement. Such Management Stockholder must give prior written notice to the Company of any proposed Transfer to a Management Permitted Transferee, including the identity of such proposed Management Permitted Transferee and such other documentation reasonably requested by the Company, to ensure compliance with the terms of this Agreement.
(b) If, while a Management Permitted Transferee holds any shares of Common Stock, a Management Permitted Transferee ceases to qualify as a Management
Permitted Transferee in relation to the initial transferring Management Stockholder from whom or which such Management Permitted Transferee or any previous Management Permitted Transferee of such initial transferring Management Stockholder received such Common Stock (an Unwinding Event ), then:
(i) the relevant initial transferor Management Stockholder shall forthwith notify the other Stockholders and the Company of the pending occurrence of such Unwinding Event; and
(ii) immediately following such Unwinding Event, without limiting any other rights or remedies, such initial transferor Management Stockholder shall take all actions necessary to effect a Transfer of all the Common Stock held by the relevant Management Permitted Transferee either back to such Management Stockholder or, pursuant to this Section 5.3 , to another Person that qualifies as a Management Permitted Transferee of such initial transferring Management Stockholder.
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES
Section 6.1 Obligation to Update Investors . The Company shall keep the Investor Director Designees informed, on a current basis, of any events, discussions, notices or changes with respect to any tax (other than ordinary course communications which could not reasonably be expected to be material to the Company), criminal or regulatory investigation or action involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and shall reasonably cooperate with the Investors, their members and their respective Affiliates in an effort to avoid or mitigate any cost or regulatory consequences to the Investors or their Affiliates that might arise from such investigation or action (including by reviewing written submissions in advance, attending meetings with authorities and coordinating and providing assistance in meeting with regulators).
Section 6.2 Logo of the Company and its Subsidiaries . The Company grants the Investors permission to use the Companys and its Subsidiaries names and logos in the Investors or their respective Affiliates marketing materials solely to reflect that the Company is, or was, at one time a portfolio company of the Investor. The Investors or their respective Affiliates, as applicable, shall include a trademark attribution notice giving notice of the Companys or its Subsidiaries ownership of its trademarks in the marketing materials in which the Companys or its Subsidiaries names and logos appear.
Section 6.3 Expenses . The Company will pay (or cause to be paid) to an Investor (or an Affiliate thereof) on demand all Reimbursable Expenses whether incurred prior to or following the date of this Agreement. As used herein, Reimbursable Expenses means, all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of, and any amounts paid in respect of indemnities in favor of, any attorneys, accountants, consultants and other third parties) incurred by such Investor or an Affiliate thereof (i) on behalf of the Company (with the Companys consent), (ii) in connection with any services provided by such Investor or its Affiliates to the Company or any of its Affiliates from time to time or (iii) in connection with such Investors enforcement of rights or taking of actions under this Agreement,
the constitutive documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any transaction or agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party.
Section 6.4 Management Stockholders Non-Compete .
(a) Except as provided below, each Management Stockholder agrees that for so long as he or she is employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and for one year thereafter (the Non-Competition Period ), such Management Stockholder shall not, without the express written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, engage in any activity which is in competition with the Company, or participate or invest in (except as owner of less than 5% of the shares of the publicly traded stock of a company which such Management Stockholder does not have in fact, through beneficial ownership or otherwise, the power to control or direct) or assist (whether as owner, part-owner, stockholder, partner, director, officer, trustee, employee, agent, independent contractor or consultant, or in any other capacity) any competitor of the Company.
(b) Each Management Stockholder agrees that for so long as he or she is employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and for the Non-Competition Period, such Management Stockholder shall not, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit for employment or employ any person who is employed by the Company, (ii) encourage any officer, employee, client, customer or supplier to terminate or alter his, her, or its relationship or employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) solicit for or on behalf of any competitor of the Company any client, customer or supplier of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or divert to any Person any client or business opportunity of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(c) In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing restrictions, during each Management Stockholders employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and the Non-Competition Period, subject to each Management Stockholders duties of employment, each Management Stockholder shall not devote any time to consulting, lecturing or engaging in other self-employment or employment activities without the prior written consent of the Company.
(d) If any court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment determines that a specified time period, a geographical area, a specified business limitation or any other relevant feature of this Section 6.4 is unreasonable, arbitrary or against public policy, then a lesser time period, geographical area, business limitation or other relevant feature which is determined by such court to be reasonable, not arbitrary and not against public policy may be enforced against the applicable party.
(e) Each Management Stockholder, while he or she is employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries, agrees to offer or otherwise make known or available to the Company or any Subsidiary, as directed by the Company and without additional compensation or consideration, any business prospects, contracts or other business opportunities that he or she may discover, find, develop or otherwise have available to him or her in any field in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is engaged, and further agrees that any such prospects, contracts or other business opportunities shall be the property of the Company.
Section 6.5 Indemnity and Liability .
(a) The Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to exonerate and hold each of the Investors and each of its respective shareholders, members, affiliates, directors, officers,
fiduciaries, managers, controlling persons, employees, representatives and agents, and each of the partners, shareholders, members, affiliates, directors, officers, fiduciaries, managers, controlling persons, employees, representatives and agents of each of the foregoing (collectively, the Indemnitees ), each of whom is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Agreement and may specifically enforce the Companys obligations hereunder, free and harmless from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, claims, liabilities, losses, damages and costs and expenses or any other amounts in connection therewith, including without limitation all actual out-of-pocket attorneys fees and expenses (collectively, the Indemnified Liabilities ), incurred by the Indemnitees or any of them as a result of, arising out of, or in any way relating to (i) services provided by any Investor or its Indemnitees to the Company or to any of the Companys Subsidiaries (collectively, the Company Group ), (ii) this Agreement, except for any breach of this Agreement by such Investor or such Investors respective Indemnitee, or (iii) any claim, cause of action or suit against the Investor or any Indemnitee solely by reason of the Investors status as a stockholder of the Company and which arises out of or relates to actions, liabilities or losses of the Company or its Subsidiaries, but not including any Indemnified Liabilities arising from or primarily related to such Indemnitees willful misconduct, fraud or gross negligence, or filings with the SEC describing its ownership in the Company, or in connection with any Public Offering (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) where information provided by an Investor is the cause of any claim relating to that Public Offering. If, and to the extent that, the foregoing undertaking may be unavailable or unenforceable for any reason, the Company hereby agrees to make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities that is permissible under applicable Law. For purposes of this Section 6.5 , none of the circumstances described in the limitations contained in the first sentence of this Section 6.5(a) shall be deemed to apply absent a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to such effect, in which case to the extent any such limitation is so determined to apply to any Indemnitee as to any previously advanced indemnity payments made by the Company, then such payments shall be repaid by such Indemnitee to the Company.
(b) Any Indemnitee may, at its own expense, retain separate counsel to participate in such defense, and in any action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding in which the Company, on the one hand, and an Indemnitee, on the other hand, is, or is reasonably likely to become, a party. An Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Company and to control its own defense of such action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel to such Indemnitee, a conflict or potential conflict exists between the Company, on the one hand, and such Indemnitee, on the other hand, that would make such separate representation advisable. The Company agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of the applicable Indemnitee, settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, suit, investigation, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated hereby (if any Indemnitee is a party thereto or has been threatened to be made a party thereto) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of the applicable Indemnitee and each other Indemnitee from all liability arising or that may arise out of such claim, suit, investigation, action or proceeding.
(c) The rights of any Indemnitee to indemnification hereunder will be in addition to any other rights any such Person may have under any other agreement or instrument to which such Indemnitee is or becomes a party or is or otherwise becomes a beneficiary or
under Law or regulation. The Company hereby agrees that it is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to any Indemnitee under this Agreement are primary and any obligation of any Investor (or any Affiliate thereof other than the Company) to provide advancement or indemnification for the same Indemnified Liabilities (including all interest, assessment and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Indemnified Liabilities) incurred by Indemnitee are secondary), and if any Investor (or any Affiliate thereof other than the Company) pays or causes to be paid, for any reason, any amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder or under any other indemnification agreement (whether pursuant to contract, bylaws or charter) with any Indemnitee, then (i) such Investor shall be fully subrogated to all rights of Indemnitee with respect to such payment, and (ii) the Company shall reimburse such Investor (or such other Affiliate) for the payments actually made. The Company hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases (and covenants and agrees not to exercise, and to cause each of its Affiliates not to exercise), any claims or rights that the Company may now have or hereafter acquire against any Indemnitee (in any capacity) that arise from or relate to the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of the Companys obligations under this Agreement or under any indemnification obligation (whether pursuant to any other contract, any organizational document or otherwise), including any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of any Indemnitee against any Indemnitee, whether such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute, common law or otherwise, including any right to claim, take or receive from any Indemnitee, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, any payment or security or other credit support on account of such claim, remedy or right. Except as specifically provided otherwise in this Agreement, none of the Indemnitees will be liable to the Company or any of its Affiliates for any act or omission suffered or taken by such Indemnitee that does not constitute willful misconduct, fraud or gross negligence.
Section 6.6 Access to Information and Personnel .
(a) For so long as either (x) an Investor is entitled to designate at least one Investor Director Designee pursuant to Section 3.1(a) or (y) an Investor has provided a written request, the Company will deliver, or will cause to be delivered, the following to such Investor (unless such Investor has informed the Company that it does not wish to receive any such information):
(i) unaudited consolidated quarterly financial reports of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP for the first three fiscal quarters of each year, which shall be provided no later than the date upon which the Form 10-Q for the Company is due for such fiscal quarter;
(ii) audited consolidated annual financial reports of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP, which shall be provided no later than the date upon which the Form 10-K for the Company is due for such fiscal year;
(iii) as soon as available after each month and in any event within 15 days after the date on which such information is delivered in final form to the Board, unaudited
consolidated monthly financial reports of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP;
(iv) the annual business plan (including operating budget and capital expenditures presented on a monthly basis); and
(v) such other information and data as the Investor may reasonably request in connection with its ownership of Common Stock, including, but not limited to any information necessary to assist such Investor in preparing its tax, regulatory or other similar filings or as otherwise required for administrative purposes.
(b) The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, provide the Avista Investor Group and the Crestview Investor Group, as applicable, full access to all books, records, policies and procedures, internal audit and compliance reports, and to officers, personnel, accountants and other representatives of the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses, whether located in the United States or outside the United States, including, without limitation, the right to audit any such books, records, policies and procedures, and reports and to make copies therefrom.
Section 6.7 Confidentiality . Each Stockholder shall maintain the confidentiality of any confidential and proprietary information of the Company and its Subsidiaries ( Proprietary Information ) using the same standard of care, but in no event less than reasonable care, as it applies to its own confidential information, except (i) for any Proprietary Information which is publicly available (other than as a result of dissemination by such Stockholder in violation of this Section 6.7 ) or a matter of public knowledge generally, (ii) if the release of such Proprietary Information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, following delivery of prior written notice to the Company (to the extent permitted under applicable Law), or (iii) for Proprietary Information that was known to such Stockholder prior to its disclosure by the Company, or becomes known by such Stockholder, in each case on a non-confidential basis, without, to such Stockholders knowledge, breach of any third-partys confidentiality obligations. Each Stockholder further acknowledges and agrees that it shall not disclose any Proprietary Information to any Person, except that Proprietary Information may be disclosed:
(i) to its and its Affiliates directors, officers, employees, stockholders, members, partners, agents, counsel, investment advisers or other representatives (all such persons being collectively referred to as Representatives ) in the normal course of the performance of their duties to the Investor or its Affiliates; provided such recipient agrees to be bound by a confidentiality agreement consistent with the provisions hereunder or is otherwise bound under Law or contract to a duty of confidentiality to the Investor or its Affiliate;
(ii) to any regulatory authority to which the Stockholder or any of its Affiliates is subject or with which it has regular dealings in connection with a general regulatory inquiry not specifically targeted at the Company; provided that to the extent legally permissible and practicable, the Stockholder gives prior notice of such disclosure
to the Company, and provided further, that such authority is advised of the confidential nature of such information;
(iii) to the extent related to the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including all materials of any kind, such as opinions or other tax analyses that the Company, its Affiliates or any of its Representatives have provided to such Stockholder relating to such tax treatment and tax structure); provided that the foregoing does not constitute an authorization to disclose the identity of any existing or future party to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or their Affiliates or Representatives, or, except to the extent relating to such tax structure or tax treatment, any specific pricing terms or commercial or financial information; or
(iv) if the prior written consent of the Board shall have been obtained.
Nothing contained herein shall prevent the use (subject, to the extent possible, to a protective order) of Proprietary Information in connection with the assertion or defense of any claim by or against the Company or any Stockholder.
Section 6.8 Matters Requiring Stockholder Consent . The Company shall not (and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to) take any of the actions listed below without the consent of each Investor until the later of (x) such time as the Requisite FCC Approval is obtained and (y) the earlier of (1) June 30, 2018 or (2) such time as such Investor no longer has an Investor Ownership Percentage of at least 22.5% at such time (in which case such Investor's consent shall not be required for any of the actions listed below):
(i) enter into or effect any transaction or series of related transactions, involving the purchase, rent, license, exchange or other acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any assets (including any securities of any other Person) for consideration having a fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Board) in excess of $250,000,000 other than transactions in the ordinary course of business exclusively between and among any of the Companys direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries;
(ii) enter into or effect any transaction or series of related transactions, involving the sale of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding Common Stock of the Company or the sale by the company of all or substantially all of its assets;
(iii) hire or remove, with or without cause, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, from time to time.
Section 6.9 Certain Other Matters . Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall enter into any contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding containing any provision or covenant that purports to, or could reasonably be expected to, limit in any respect the ability of any Investor or any of their respective Affiliates or portfolio companies to (i) sell any products or services of or to any other Person or in any geographic region, (ii) engage in any line of business, (iii) compete with or obtain products or services from any Person or (iv) provide products or services to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1 No Exclusive Duty to the Company .
In recognition that the Investors currently have, and will in the future have or will consider acquiring, investments in numerous companies with respect to which such Investor (or one or more Affiliates, associated investment funds, portfolio companies or employees) may serve as an advisor, a director or in some other capacity, and in recognition that such Investor (or one or more Affiliates, associated investment funds, portfolio companies or employees) may have a myriad of duties to various investors and partners, and in anticipation that the Company, on the one hand, and such Investor (or one or more Affiliates, associated investment funds, portfolio companies or employees), on the other hand, may engage in the same or similar activities or lines of business and have an interest in the same areas of corporate opportunities, and in recognition of the benefits to be derived by the Company hereunder and in recognition of the difficulties which may confront any Investor who desires and endeavors fully to satisfy such Investors duties, in determining the full scope of such duties in any particular situation, the provisions of this Section 7.1 are set forth to regulate, define and guide the conduct of certain affairs of the Company as they may involve such Investor.
(a) Such Investor shall have the right:
i. to directly or indirectly engage in or invest in any business (including any business activities or lines of business that are the same as or similar to those pursued by, or competitive with, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries);
ii. to directly or indirectly do business with any client or customer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
iii. to take any other action that such Investor believes in good faith is necessary to or appropriate to fulfill its obligations as described in the first sentence of this Section 7.1 ; and
iv. not to present potential transactions, matters or business opportunities to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and to pursue, directly or indirectly, any such opportunity for itself, and to direct any such opportunity to another person.
(b) Such Investor (or one or more Affiliates, associated investment funds, portfolio companies or employees) shall have no duty (contractual or otherwise) to communicate or present any corporate opportunities to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to refrain from any actions specified in Section 7.1(a) , and the Company, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Subsidiaries, hereby renounces and waives any right to require such Investor (or one or more Affiliates, associated investment funds, portfolio companies or employees) to act in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of Section 7.1(a) .
(c) Such Investor and its Affiliates, associated investment funds, portfolio companies and employees shall not be liable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for breach of any duty (contractual or otherwise) by reason of any activities or omissions of the types referred to in this Section 7.01 or such Investors or its Affiliates, associated investment funds, portfolio companies or employees participation therein.
Section 7.2 Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement between the parties as to the matters covered herein and supersedes and replaces any prior understandings or agreements between the parties as to the matters covered herein and supersedes and replaces any prior understandings or agreements, in each case, written or oral, of any and every nature with respect thereto. In the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and any document executed or delivered to effect the purposes of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the by-laws of any company, this Agreement shall govern as among the parties hereto.
Section 7.3 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial .
(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.
(b) EACH OF THE PARTIES SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO, AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF THE ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND AGREES NOT TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO IN ANY OTHER COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING SO BROUGHT AND WAIVES ANY BOND, SURETY OR OTHER SECURITY THAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED OF ANY OTHER PARTY WITH RESPECT THERETO. EACH PARTY AGREES THAT SERVICE OF SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT OR ANY OTHER PROCESS THAT MIGHT BE SERVED IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE MADE ON SUCH PARTY BY SENDING OR DELIVERING A COPY OF THE PROCESS TO THE PARTY TO BE SERVED AT THE ADDRESS OF THE PARTY AND IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR THE GIVING OF NOTICES IN SECTION 7.9 . NOTHING IN THIS SECTION 7.3(B) , HOWEVER, SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL, NON- APPEALABLE JUDGMENT IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING SO BROUGHT SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.
(c) EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION, OR CAUSE OF ACTION (I) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR (II) IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO, IN EACH CASE, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION WILL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
Section 7.4 Obligations; Remedies . The Company and the Stockholders shall be entitled to enforce their rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, costs of enforcement) and to exercise all other rights existing in their favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that money damages may not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement, and that the Company or any Stockholder may in its sole discretion apply to any court of Law or equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance or injunctive relief (without posting a bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent any violation of the provisions of this Agreement. All remedies, either under this Agreement or by Law or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative. All obligations hereunder shall be satisfied in full without set-off, defense or counterclaim.
Section 7.5 Amendment and Waiver .
(a) The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be modified or amended at any time and from time to time only by the written consent of (i) the Company, (ii) the Person or Persons holding a majority of the shares of Common Stock that are then deemed to be held by the Avista Investor Group and (iii) the Person or Persons holding a majority of the Shares that are then deemed to be held by the Crestview Investor Group; provided , however , that any waiver, amendment or modification that adversely affects Management Stockholders disproportionately as compared to the Investors (taking into account and considering the rights of Management Stockholders prior to such amendment or modification), shall require the prior written consent of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock then held by the Management Stockholders. If requested by the Investors, the Company agrees to execute and deliver any amendments to this Agreement which are not adverse to the Company or its public stockholders to the extent so requested by the Investors in connection with the addition of (i) a transferee of Common Stock or Share Equivalents or (ii) a recipient of any newly-issued Common Stock or Share Equivalents as a party hereto; provided that such amendments are in compliance with the immediately foregoing sentence and the terms of this Agreement. Any amendment, modification or waiver effected in accordance with the foregoing shall be effective and binding on the Company, each Investor and each of the Management Stockholders.
(b) Any failure by any party at any time to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement, or single or partial enforcement of any rights, powers or remedies conferred by this Agreement, shall not be construed as a waiver of such provision or any other provisions hereof, or preclude any other or further exercise thereof.
Section 7.6 Binding Effect; Assignment . The rights and obligations under this Agreement shall not be assignable without the prior written consent of (i) the Company, (ii) the Person or Persons holding a majority of the Shares that are then deemed to be held by the Avista Investor Group and (iii) the Person or Persons holding a majority of the shares of Common Stock that are then deemed to be held by the Crestview Investor Group, and any attempted assignment of rights or obligations in violation of this Section 7.6 shall be null and void.
Section 7.7 Termination . This Agreement shall terminate automatically (without any action by any party hereto) as to each Investor when such Investor ceases have an Investor Ownership Percentage of at least 5% and shall terminate automatically (without any action by any party hereto) as to all parties when each Investor ceases to have an Investor Ownership Percentage of at least 5%. In the event of any termination of this Agreement as provided in this Section 7.7 , this Agreement shall forthwith become wholly void and of no further force or effect (except for Section 3.1(f) , Section 6.5 and this Article VII ) and there shall be no liability on the part of any parties hereto or their respective officers or directors, except as provided in this Article VII . Notwithstanding the foregoing, no party hereto shall be relieved from liability for any willful breach of this Agreement.
Section 7.8 Non-Recourse . Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement or any document or instrument delivered in connection herewith, and notwithstanding the fact that certain of the Investors may be partnerships or limited liability companies, by its acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement, the Company and each Stockholder covenant, agree and acknowledge that no Person (other than the parties hereto) has any obligations hereunder, and that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement shall be had against any current or future director, officer, employee, general or limited partner or member of any Investor or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other 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 former, current and future Investor, controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents, affiliates, members, managers, general or limited partners or assignees of the Investors or any former, current or future Investor, controlling person, director, officer, employee, general or limited partner, member, manager, Affiliate, agent or assignee of any of the foregoing, as such for any obligation of any Investor under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.
Section 7.9 Notices . Any and all notices, designations, offers, acceptances or other communications provided for herein shall be given (a) when delivered personally by hand, (b) when sent by email or facsimile, (c) when received or rejected by the addressee if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or (d) when received or rejected if sent by overnight courier:
if to the Company, to:
WideOpenWest, Inc.
7887 East Belleview Avenue, Suite 1000
Englewood, Colorado 80111
Attn: Craig Martin, General Counsel
Facsimile: (269) 567-4193
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Joshua N. Korff, P.C. and Brian Hecht
Facsimile: (212) 446-4900
if to the Avista Investor Group, to:
Avista Capital Partners
65 East 55th Street, 18th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Attention: David Burgstahler, Joshua Tamaroff and Ben Silbert
Facsimile: (212) 593-6901
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Joshua N. Korff, P.C. and Brian Hecht
Facsimile: (212) 446-4900
if to the Crestview Investor Group, to:
c/o Crestview Partners III, L.P.
667 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, New York 10065
Attention: Brian Cassidy, Daniel Kilpatrick and Jeff Marcus
Facsimile: (212) 906-0780
with a copy (which shall not constitute written notice) to:
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019-6064
Attention: Kenneth M. Schneider and Neil Goldman
Facsimile: (212) 757-3990
or to such other address as may be designated by such party in writing to the Company, and to any other Stockholder, to such Stockholders address as set forth in the records of the Company.
Section 7.10 Severability . If any portion of this Agreement shall be declared void or unenforceable by any court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction, then, so long as no party is deprived of the benefits of this Agreement in any material respect, such portion shall be deemed severable from the remainder of this Agreement, which shall continue in all respects valid and enforceable.
Section 7.11 Headings . The headings and subheadings in this Agreement are included for convenience and identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereto.
Section 7.12 No Third-Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and successors, and, except as provided in Section 6.5 , Section 7.4 and Section 7.8 , nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section 7.13 Recapitalizations; Exchanges, Etc . The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to Common Stock, to any and all shares of capital stock 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 exchange for, or in substitution of the Common Stock, by reason of a stock dividend, stock split, stock issuance, reverse stock split, combination, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or otherwise.
Section 7.14 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute a single instrument. Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy or other electronic transmission service shall be considered original executed counterparts for purposes of this Section 7.14.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
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WIDEOPENWEST, INC. |
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/s/ Richard E. Fish, Jr. |
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Name: Richard E. Fish, Jr. |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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AVISTA CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P. |
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Avista Capital Partners GP, LLC |
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Its: |
General Partner |
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By: |
/s/ David Burgstahler |
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Name: |
David Burgstahler |
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Title: |
President |
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AVISTA CAPITAL PARTNERS (OFFSHORE), L.P. |
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By: |
Avista Capital Partners GP, LLC |
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Its: |
General Partner |
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By: |
/s/ David Burgstahler |
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Name: |
David Burgstahler |
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President |
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AVISTA CAPITAL PARTNERS III, L.P. |
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By: |
Avista Capital Partners III GP, L.P. |
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Its: |
General Partner |
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By: |
Avista Capital Managing Member, LLC |
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Its: |
General Partner |
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By: |
/s/ David Burgstahler |
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Name: |
David Burgstahler |
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Title: |
President |
[ Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement ]
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AVISTA CAPITAL PARTNERS (OFFSHORE) III, L.P. |
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By: |
Avista Capital Partners III GP, L.P. |
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Its: |
General Partner |
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By: |
Avista Capital Managing Member, LLC |
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Its: |
General Partner |
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By: |
/s/ David Burgstahler |
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Name: |
David Burgstahler |
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Title: |
President |
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AVISTA CAPITAL PARTNERS (OFFSHORE) III-A, L.P. |
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By: |
Avista Capital Partners III GP, L.P. |
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Its: |
General Partner |
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By: |
Avista Capital Managing Member, LLC |
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Its: |
General Partner |
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By: |
/s/ David Burgstahler |
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Name: |
David Burgstahler |
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Title: |
President |
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ACP RACECAR CO-INVEST, LLC |
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By: |
Avista Capital Partners III GP, L.P. |
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Its: |
Manager |
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By: |
Avista Capital Managing Member, LLC |
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Its: |
General Partner |
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By: |
/s/ David Burgstahler |
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Name: |
David Burgstahler |
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Title: |
President |
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ACP RACECAR CO-INVEST II, LLC |
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By: |
Avista Capital Partners III GP, L.P. |
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Manager |
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By: |
Avista Capital Managing Member, LLC |
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Its: |
General Partner |
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By: |
/s/ David Burgstahler |
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Name: |
David Burgstahler |
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Title: |
President |
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CRESTVIEW W1 CO-INVESTORS, LLC |
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By: |
/s/ Jeffrey A. Marcus |
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Jeffrey A. Marcus |
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Title: |
Managing Director |
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CRESTVIEW W1 TE HOLDINGS, LLC |
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/s/ Jeffrey A. Marcus |
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Jeffrey A. Marcus |
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Managing Director |
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CRESTVIEW W1 HOLDINGS, L.P. |
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By: |
Crestview W1 GP, LLC |
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Its: |
General Partner |
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By: |
/s/ Jeffrey A. Marcus |
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Name: |
Jeffrey A. Marcus |
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Title: |
Managing Director |
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MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDERS: |
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/s/ Gregory Argetsinger |
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Gregory Argetsinger |
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/s/ Floyd Armstead |
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Floyd Armstead |
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/s/ Ken Bardsley |
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Ken Bardsley |
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/s/ Lucas Binder |
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Lucas Binder |
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/s/ Cristin Brown |
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Cristin Brown |
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/s/ Scott Caldarella |
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Scott Caldarella |
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/s/ Steven Cochran |
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Steven Cochran |
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/s/ Torryon Coleman |
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Torryon Coleman |
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/s/ Jason P. Covert |
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Jason P. Covert |
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/s/ Kim D. Crooks |
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Kim D. Crooks |
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/s/ Robert Dinardo, Jr. |
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Robert Dinardo, Jr. |
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/s/ Richard E. Fish, Jr. |
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Richard E. Fish, Jr. |
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/s/ Eric Fligel |
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Eric Fligel |
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/s/ Kathryn E. Ford |
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Kathryn E. Ford |
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/s/ Lana Frank |
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Lana Frank |
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/s/ Mary M. Gonka |
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Mary M. Gonka |
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/s/ Cash Hagen |
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Cash Hagen |
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/s/ Scott Hansen |
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Scott Hansen |
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/s/ Michael T. Harry |
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Michael T. Harry |
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/s/ Justin Hebda |
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Justin Hebda |
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/s/ Thomas Brian Hoekelman |
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Thomas Brian Hoekelman |
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/s/ Luci Kasiorek |
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Luci Kasiorek |
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/s/ Kevin Kavanah |
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Kevin Kavanah |
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/s/ Catherine Kuo |
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Catherine Kuo |
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/s/ Jerry B. Lieby |
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Jerry B. Lieby |
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/s/ Craig Martin |
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Craig Martin |
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/s/ Angela R. Nelson |
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Angela R. Nelson |
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/s/ Gary Nilsen |
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Gary Nilsen |
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/s/ Stephen Pozil |
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Stephen Pozil |
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/s/ Chris W. Rullman |
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Chris W. Rullman |
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/s/ Scott Russell |
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Scott Russell |
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/s/ Roger A. Seiken |
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Roger A. Seiken |
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/s/ Adil Sesi |
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Adil Sesi |
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/s/ Philip Seskin |
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Philip Seskin |
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/s/ Amol Shah |
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Amol Shah |
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/s/ Julie Smoots |
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Julie Smoots |
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/s/ Steven Stanfill |
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Steven Stanfill |
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/s/ Donald E. Stoops, Jr. (Desi) |
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Donald E. Stoops, Jr. (Desi) |
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/s/ Mark F. Sweeney |
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Mark F. Sweeney |
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/s/ David L. Troxel |
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David L. Troxel |
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/s/ Ralph D. Valentino, Jr. |
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Ralph D. Valentino, Jr. |
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/s/ Ken Worcester |
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Ken Worcester |
Schedule I
EXHIBIT A
JOINDER TO THE STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
[ · ], 20[ · ]
This Joinder Agreement (the Joinder Agreement ) is made as of the date written above by the undersigned (the Joining Party ) in accordance with the Stockholders Agreement dated as of [ · ], 2017 (as amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the Stockholders Agreement ) among WideOpenWest, Inc. and the other persons listed on the signature pages thereto. Capitalized terms used, but not defined, herein shall have the respective meanings of ascribed to such terms in the Stockholders Agreement.
The Joining Party hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that, by its execution of this Joinder Agreement, the Joining Party shall be deemed to be a party to the Stockholders Agreement as of the date hereof and shall have all of the rights and obligations of a[n] [Investor] // [Management Stockholder] thereunder as if it had executed the Stockholders Agreement Agreement. The Joining Party hereby ratifies, as of the date hereof, and agrees to be bound by, all of the terms, provisions and conditions contained in the Stockholders Agreement Agreement.
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AGREED ON THIS [ ] day of [ ], 20 :
WIDEOPENWEST, INC.
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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Exhibit 4.5
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the Agreement ), dated as of May 24, 2017, by and among WideOpenWest, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the Company ), the Avista Investor Group (as hereinafter defined), the Crestview Investor Group (as hereinafter defined, and together with the Avista Investor Group, the Investors ) and the other signatories hereto who execute an agreement to bound to this Agreement in the form of Exhibit A hereto and any other Person who becomes a party hereto.
WHEREAS, the Holders (as defined below) own Registrable Securities (as defined below); and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth certain registration rights applicable to the Registrable Securities.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual promises, covenants and agreements of the parties hereto, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any other Person who, directly or indirectly, controls such first Person or is controlled by said Person or is under common control with said Person, where control means the power and ability to direct, directly or indirectly, or share equally in or cause the direction of, the management and/or policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting shares or other equivalent interests of the controlled Person, by contract (including proxy) or otherwise; provided , that no Holder shall be deemed an Affiliate of any other Holder by reason of an investment in, or holding Shares of, the Company.
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Avista Holder means any holder of Registrable Securities that is a member of the Avista Investor Group.
Avista Investor Group means, collectively, Avista Capital Partners, L.P., Avista Capital Partners (Offshore), L.P., Avista Capital Partners III, L.P., Avista Capital Partners (Offshore) III, L.P., Avista Capital Partners (Offshore) III-A, L.P., ACP Racecar Co-Invest, LLC and ACP Racecar Co-Invest II, LLC and any of their respective Affiliates who beneficially own Common Stock from time to time.
Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
Business Day means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City, New York are authorized or required by applicable law to close.
Commission means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Common Stock means common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, and any securities into which such shares of common stock shall have been changed or any securities resulting from any reclassification or recapitalization of such shares of common stock.
Company has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Crestview Holder means any holder of Registrable Securities that is a member of the Crestview Investor Group.
Crestview Investor Group means, collectively, Crestview W1 Co Investors, LLC, Crestview W1 TE Holdings, LLC, and Crestview W1 Holdings, L.P. and any of their respective Affiliates who beneficially own Common Stock from time to time.
Damages has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a) .
Demand Maximum Offering Size has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(d) .
Demand Registration has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a) .
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
FINRA means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
Governmental Authority means any federal, state, local or foreign governmental authority, department, commission, board, bureau, agency, court, instrumentality or judicial or regulatory body or entity.
Holder means any Avista Holder, any Crestview Holder or any other holder of Registrable Securities who is a party hereto and their Permitted Transferees.
Initial Public Offering means any initial underwritten sale of Common Stock of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Person that holds, directly or indirectly, all of the Common Stock or Share Equivalents or assets of the Company, pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act filed with the Commission on Form S-1 (or a successor form) after which sale such Common Stock is (a) listed on a national securities exchange or authorized to be quoted on an inter-dealer quotation system of a registered national securities association and (b) registered under the Exchange Act.
Indemnified Party shall mean (i) each officer and director of the Company and (ii) each Holder and their respective Affiliates, officers, managers, directors, employees, shareholders, partners, members, advisors or sub-advisors.
Indemnifying Party has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(c) .
Inspectors has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(g) .
Investors has the meaning set forth in the Preamble. For purposes of clarity, there are two Investors: the Avista Investor Group, which shall collectively be deemed an Investor , and the Crestview Investor Group, which shall collectively be deemed an Investor . Any determination, demand, consent or approval to be made, given or withheld by the Avista Investor Group (or its successor) in its capacity as an Investor under this Agreement shall be made, given or withheld by the Person or Persons holding a majority of the shares of Common Stock that are then deemed to be held by the Avista Investor Group (or its successor) and any determination, demand, consent or approval to be made, given or withheld by the Crestview Investor Group (or its successor) under this Agreement shall be made, given or withheld by the Person or Persons holding a majority of the shares of Common Stock that are then deemed to be held by the Crestview Investor Group (or its successor).
IPO Indemnified Parties has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a) .
Participating Holders has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a) .
Permitted Transferee means, (i) with respect to any Investor, (x) any Affiliate of such Investor or (y) any passive Person, vehicle, account or fund that is managed, sponsored or advised by, such Investor or any Affiliate thereof, so long as the decision-making control with respect to such interests after such Transfer to such passive Person, vehicle, account or fund remains with such Investor or any Affiliate thereof and (ii) with respect to any Holder who is an individual, (A) in the event of such Holders death, such Holders heirs, executors, administrators, testamentary trustees, legatees or beneficiaries, (B) a trust, the beneficiaries of which include only such Holder and the spouse and lineal descendants of such Holder and pursuant to which the Holder retains all of the voting interest in the Company, (C) a charitable trust pursuant to which the Holder retains all of the voting interests in the Company, or (D) a closely held company with respect to which the Holder together with the Holders immediate family holds 100% of the beneficial interests.
Person means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a Governmental Authority and, where the context so permits, the legal representatives, successors in interest and permitted assigns of such Person.
Piggyback Maximum Offering Size has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(b) .
Piggyback Registration has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a) .
Public Offering means a public offering and sale of Common Stock for cash pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act.
Records has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(g) .
Registrable Securities shall mean, at any time, any Common Stock or Share Equivalents (other than non-participating, non-convertible preferred stock) of the Company held by any Investor (including any Crestview Holder and any Avista Holder) or any of their respective Permitted Transferees; provided , that Registrable Securities shall not include any shares (i) the sale of which has been registered pursuant to the Securities Act and which shares have been sold pursuant to such registration, (ii) which have been sold or distributed pursuant to Rule 144 or (iii) which have been registered for resale pursuant to an effective Registration Statement on a Form S-8 (or any successor or similar form).
Registration Expenses means any and all expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with any registration or marketing of securities, including all (i) registration and filing fees, FINRA fees and all other fees and expenses payable in connection with the listing of securities on any securities exchange or automated interdealer quotation system, (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with any securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications of the securities registered), (iii) 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, (iv) security engraving and printing expenses, (v) internal expenses of the Company (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), (vi) fees and disbursements of all counsel for the Company and customary fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by the Company (including the expenses relating to any comfort letters or costs associated with the delivery by independent certified public accountants of any comfort letters to be provided pursuant to Section 2.05(h) hereof), (vii) fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration, (viii) reasonable fees and expenses of all counsel to the Investors, (ix) fees and expenses in connection with any review of the underwriting arrangements or other terms of the offering, and all fees and expenses of any qualified independent underwriter or other independent appraiser participating in any offering, including the fees and expenses of any counsel thereto, (x) fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities, but excluding any underwriting fees, discounts and commissions attributable to the sale of Registrable Securities, (xi) costs of printing and producing any agreements among underwriters, underwriting agreements, any blue sky or legal investment memoranda and any selling agreements and other documents in connection with the offering, sale or delivery of the Registrable Securities, (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, (xiii) expenses relating to any analyst or investor presentations or any road shows undertaken in connection with the registration, marketing or selling of the Registrable Securities, (xiv) fees and expenses payable in connection with any ratings of the Registrable Securities, including expenses relating to any presentations to rating agencies, and (xv) all other costs and expenses incurred by the Company or its officers in connection with their compliance with Articles II, III and Sections 4.08 and 4.09 .
Registration Statement shall mean any registration statement of the Company, under the Securities Act which permits the Public Offering of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and
all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
Requesting Investor has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a) .
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Share Equivalents means (i) shares of Common Stock, stock or other equity interests (including other classes or series thereof having such relative rights, powers and/or obligations as may from time to time be established by the Board, including rights, powers and/or duties different from, senior to or more favorable than existing classes and series of shares, stock and other equity interests, and including any profits interests), (ii) obligations, evidences of indebtedness or other securities or interests convertible or exchangeable into shares, stock or other equity interests, and (iii) warrants, options or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire shares, stock or other equity interests. Unless the context otherwise indicates, the term Share Equivalents refers to Share Equivalents of the Company.
Shelf Registration has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a) .
Shelf Request has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a) .
Stockholders Agreement means the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company and the Investors, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person in which such specified Person, directly or indirectly through one or more Affiliates or otherwise, beneficially owns at least fifty percent (50%) of the ownership interest (determined by equity or economic interests) in, or the voting control of, such other Person.
Transfer means, with respect to any Common Stock or Share Equivalents, every absolute or conditional method of transferring a legal or equitable, record or beneficial, direct or indirect ownership (including the granting of an option or other right, or through the transfer of capital stock of any Person that holds, or controls any Person that holds an interest) of a Holders interest in the Company, or a part thereof, whether voluntarily, involuntarily, or by operation of law (including a change in beneficiaries or trustees of a trust) and including directly or indirectly (including through one or more transfers) selling, exchanging, assigning, transferring, conveying, giving away, pledging, mortgaging, or otherwise create, incur or assume any encumbrance with respect to, such interest; provided , however , that a Transfer shall not include any direct or indirect transfer (including through one or more transfers), sale, exchange, assignment, conveyance, gift, pledge, mortgage or other disposition of an interest in the Avista Investor Group or the Crestview Investor Group, including the grant of an option or other right, whether voluntarily, involuntarily or by operation of law.
Underwritten Shelf Take-Down has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a) .
Withdrawing Holders has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(c) .
Section 1.02 General Interpretive Principles . The name assigned to this Agreement and the section captions used herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not be construed to affect the meaning, construction or effect hereof. Unless otherwise specified, the terms hereof, herein and similar terms refer to this Agreement as a whole, and references herein to Articles or Sections refer to Articles or Sections of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, the words, include, includes and including, when used herein, shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words without limitation. The terms dollars and $ shall mean United States dollars. Except as otherwise set forth herein, Shares underlying unexercised options that have been issued by the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for any purposes in this Agreement. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Section 2.01 Demand Registration .
(a) Registration Request . At any time following the Initial Public Offering, each Investor may request (the Requesting Investor ) in writing that the Company effect the registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their Registrable Securities, specifying the intended method of disposition thereof (each such request, a Demand Registration ) and the Company shall then provide prompt notice to the other Investor and any other Holders and shall thereupon use its reasonable best efforts to effect, as expeditiously as possible, the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities for which such Investor has requested registration under this Section 2.01(a) ; provided that the Company shall not be obligated to effect a Demand Registration unless the aggregate gross proceeds expected to be received from the sale of the Registrable Securities requested to be included by such Investor in such Demand Registration are at least $20,000,000. Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2.01(d) , all other Registrable Securities that any other Investor (all such Investors, together with the Requesting Stockholders and any other Person participating in the registration, the Participating Holders ) have requested the Company to register by request received by the Company within 10 days after such Investor receives the Companys notice of the Demand Registration, all to the extent necessary to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended methods thereof as aforesaid) of the Registrable Securities so to be registered; provided that if the Demand Registration involves an underwritten Public Offering, no Person may participate in any Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2.01(a) unless such Person agrees to sell their Registrable Securities to the underwriters selected as provided in Section 2.05(f) on the same terms and conditions as apply to the Requesting Investor and no such Person shall be required to make any representations or warranties, or provide any indemnity, in connection with any such registration other than representations and warranties (or indemnities with respect thereto) as to (i) such Persons ownership of his, her or its Registrable Securities to be transferred free and clear of all liens, claims, and encumbrances, (ii) such Persons power and authority to effect such transfer, (iii) such matters pertaining to compliance with securities laws
by such Person as may be reasonably requested and (iv) such information furnished in writing to the Company by such Person or on behalf of such Person expressly for use in the Registration Statement; provided , further , however , that the obligation of such Person to indemnify pursuant to any such underwriting arrangements shall be several, not joint and several, among such Persons selling Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Person will be in proportion thereto; and provided , further , that such liability will be limited to the net proceeds received by such Person from the sale of his, her or its Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration.
(b) Effective Registration . At any time prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement relating to such Demand Registration, the Requesting Investor may revoke their registration request without liability to such Investor, by providing a notice to the Company revoking such request.
(c) Registration Expenses . The Company shall be liable for and pay all Registration Expenses in connection with each Demand Registration, regardless of whether such registration is effected; provided , that the Participating Holders holding Registrable Securities shall each pay their pro rata portion (based on the number of shares each Participating Holder is selling) of all underwriting discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities.
(d) Reduction of Public Offering . The Company shall not include in any Demand Registration any securities which are not Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of the Investors. If a Demand Registration involves a Public Offering and the managing underwriter advises the Company and the Investors that, in its view, the number of Registrable Securities that the Investors, the Holders (pursuant to Section 2.02 ) and the Company propose to include in such registration exceeds the largest number of Registrable Securities that can be sold without having an adverse effect on such offering, including the price at which such Registrable Securities can be sold (the Demand Maximum Offering Size ), the Company shall only include in such registration Registrable Securities of the Investors and the Holders up to the Demand Maximum Offering Size (with the number of Registrable Securities of the Investors and the Holders included in such registration reduced pro rata based on their relative number of Registrable Securities beneficially owned by the Investors as of the date thereof).
(e) Deferral or Suspension of Registration Statement . The Company may defer the filing (but not the preparation) of a Registration Statement, or suspend the continued use of a Registration Statement, required by this Section 2.01 for a period of up to 30 days after the request to file a Registration Statement if at the time the Company receives the request to register Registrable Securities, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are engaged in confidential negotiations or other confidential business activities, disclosure of which would be required in such Registration Statement (but would not be required if such Registration Statement were not filed), and the Board determines in good faith, after consultation with external legal counsel, that such disclosure would have a material adverse effect on the Company or its business or on the Companys ability to effect a proposed material acquisition, disposition, financing, reorganization, recapitalization or similar transaction.
(i) A deferral of the filing of a Registration Statement, or the suspension of the continued use of a Registration Statement, pursuant to this Section 2.01(e) , shall be
promptly lifted, and the requested Registration Statement shall be filed as expeditiously as possible, in the case of a deferral, if the negotiations or other activities are disclosed or terminated.
(ii) In order to defer the filing of a Registration Statement, or suspend the continued use of a Registration Statement, pursuant to this Section 2.01(e) , the Company shall promptly (but in any event within five days), upon determining to seek such deferral or suspension, deliver to the Investors a certificate signed by the Board stating that the Company is deferring such filing, or suspending the continued use of a Registration Statement, pursuant to this Section 2.01(e) and a general statement of the reason for such deferral or suspension, as the case may be, and an approximation of the anticipated delay.
(iii) The Company may defer the filing, or suspend the continued use of, a particular Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2.01(e) no more than twice in any 12 month period; provided , that there must be an interim period of at least 90 days between the end of one deferral or suspension period and the beginning of a subsequent deferral or suspension period.
(iv) In the event the Company exercises its rights under this Section 2.01(e) , the Company will, within 10 days following receipt by the Investors of the notice of deferral or suspension, as the case may be, update the deferred or suspended Registration Statement as may be necessary to permit the Investors to resume use thereof in connection with the offer and sale of its Registrable Securities in accordance with applicable law.
Section 2.02 Piggyback Registration .
(a) Participation . If the Company proposes to register any Common Stock or Share Equivalents under the Securities Act (whether for itself or otherwise in connection with a sale of securities by another Person (including a Shelf Registration or a Demand Registration by an Investor), but other than (i) a registration on a Form S-4 (or any successor or similar form) in connection with a direct or indirect acquisition by the Company of another Person, (ii) a registration on a Form S-8 (or any successor or similar form), or (iii) an Initial Public Offering unless Registrable Securities of an Investor are registered, the Company shall at each such time give prompt written notice at least three days prior to the anticipated filing date of the Registration Statement relating to such registration to each Investor and any other Holder holding Registrable Securities hereunder, which notice shall set forth such Investors rights under this Section 2.02 and shall offer such Investor the opportunity to include in such Registration Statement all or any portion of the Registrable Securities held by such Investor (a Piggyback Registration ), subject to the restrictions set forth herein.
(i) Upon any such request of any such Investor made within three days after the receipt of notice from the Company (which request shall specify the number of Registrable Securities intended to be registered by such Investor), the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of all such Registrable Securities that the Company has been so requested to register by all such Investors; provided , that if such registration involves a Public Offering, all such Investors
requesting to be included in the Companys registration must sell their Registrable Securities to the underwriters selected as provided in Section 2.05(f) on the same terms and conditions as apply to the Company or any other selling equity holders; provided , however , that no such Person shall be required to make any representations or warranties, or provide any indemnity, in connection with any such registration other than representations and warranties (or indemnities with respect thereto) as to (i) such Persons ownership of his, her or its Registrable Securities to be transferred free and clear of all liens, claims, and encumbrances, (ii) such Persons power and authority to effect such transfer, (iii) such matters pertaining to compliance with securities laws by such Person as may be reasonably requested and (iv) such information furnished in writing to the Company by such Person or on behalf of such Person expressly for use in the Registration Statement; provided , further , however , that the obligation of such Person to indemnify pursuant to any such underwriting arrangements shall be several, not joint and several, among such Persons selling Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Person will be in proportion thereto; and provided , further , that such liability will be limited to the net proceeds received by such Person from the sale of his, her or its Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration.
(ii) If, at any time after giving notice of its intention to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) and prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement filed in connection with such registration, the initiating Investors shall decide for any reason not to register such securities, the Company shall give notice to all such Investors and, thereupon, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration. No registration effected under this Section 2.02 shall relieve the Company of its obligations to effect a Demand Registration to the extent required by Section 2.01 . The Company shall be liable for and pay all Registration Expenses in connection with each Piggyback Registration, regardless of whether such registration is effected.
(b) Reduction of Piggyback Offering . If a Piggyback Registration involves a Public Offering and the managing underwriter advises the Company that, in its view, the number of shares of Common Stock or Share Equivalents that the Company and all selling Holders propose to include in such registration exceeds the largest number of shares of Common Stock or Share Equivalents that can be sold without having an adverse effect on such offering, including the price at which such shares of Common Stock or Share Equivalents can be sold (the Piggyback Maximum Offering Size ), the Company shall include in such registration, in the following priority, up to the Piggyback Maximum Offering Size:
(i) first, such number of shares of Common Stock or Share Equivalents proposed to be registered for the account of the Company, if any, as would not cause the offering to exceed the Piggyback Maximum Offering Size;
(ii) second, all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by the Investors or any other Holder pursuant to Section 2.01 and this Section 2.02 (the Registrable Securities in this clause (ii) allocated, if necessary for the offering not to exceed the Piggyback Maximum Offering Size, pro rata among such Holders
based on their relative number of Registrable Securities beneficially owned by the Investor as of the date thereof.
Section 2.03 Shelf Registration .
(a) Shelf Registration Request .
(i) As soon as reasonably practicable after the Initial Public Offering, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, to qualify for and remain eligible to use Form S-3 registration or a similar short-form registration. At any time after the Company becomes eligible to use Form S-3 registration or a similar short-form registration, upon receipt of a written request (the Shelf Request ) from either of the Investors that the Company file a shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (the Shelf Registration ) on Form S-3 (or any successor form to Form S-3, or any similar short form Registration Statement), covering the resale of Registrable Securities, the Company shall (i) consistent with the terms of this Agreement, cause the Shelf Registration to be filed with the Commission as soon as practicable (but in no event later than 20 days following its receipt of the Shelf Request) and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, to cause such Shelf Registration to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as possible.
(ii) In connection with any proposed firmly underwritten resale of Registrable Securities which is not pursuant to a Demand Registration under Section 2.01 and with respect to which such Shelf Registration is expressly being utilized to effect such resale (an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down ) pursuant to a Shelf Registration, each Investor agrees, in an effort to conduct any such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down in the most efficient and organized manner, to coordinate with the other Investor prior to initiating any sales efforts and cooperate with the other Investor as to the terms of such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, including the aggregate amount of securities to be sold and the number of Registrable Securities to be sold by each Investor. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company shall give prompt notice to the non-initiating Investor (if such Investors Registrable Securities are included in the Shelf Registration) of the receipt of a request from the initiating Investor (whose Registrable Securities are included in the Shelf Registration) of a proposed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down under and pursuant to the Shelf Registration and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, will provide such non-initiating Investor a period of one Business Day to participate in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, subject to the terms negotiated by and applicable to the initiating Investor and subject to cutback limitations set forth in Section 2.01(d) as if the subject Underwritten Shelf Take-Down was being effected pursuant to a Demand Registration. All such Investors electing to be included in an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down must sell their Registrable Securities to the underwriters selected as provided in Section 2.05(f) on the same terms and conditions as apply to any other selling stockholders; provided , however , that no such Person shall be required to make any representations or warranties, or provide any indemnity, in connection with any such registration other than representations and warranties (or indemnities with respect thereto) as to (i) such Persons ownership of his, her or its Registrable Securities to be
transferred free and clear of all liens, claims, and encumbrances, (ii) such Persons power and authority to effect such transfer, and (iii) such matters pertaining to compliance with securities laws by such Person as may be reasonably requested; provided , further , however , that the obligation of such Person to indemnify pursuant to any such underwriting arrangements shall be several, not joint and several, among such Persons selling Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Person will be in proportion thereto, and provided , further , that such liability will be limited to, the net proceeds received by such Person from the sale of his, her or its Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration.
(iii) At any time that an Investor holds 5% or less of the outstanding Common Stock and does not have an Investor Director Designee (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) on the Board, such Investor may, at its option, unilaterally engage in an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down without any requirement to coordinate with the other Investor pursuant to Section 2.03(a)(ii) by providing notice of such intention to the Company and the Company shall not provide the other Investor any advance notice of the Underwritten Shelf-Take-Down or provide the other Investor or any other Person (including the Company) an opportunity to participate in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down. For the avoidance of doubt, the other provisions herein applicable to any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, including Section 2.03(d) and Section 2.05 shall apply to any offering conducted pursuant to this paragraph.
(b) Effectiveness . The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to maintain in effect, supplement and amend, if necessary the Shelf Registration, as required by the instructions applicable to such registration form or by the Securities Act or as reasonably requested by the Investors and will furnish to the holders of Registrable Securities copies of any supplement or amendment to such Shelf Registration.
(i) If at any time the Shelf Registration ceases to be effective, then the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file and cause to become effective a new shelf Registration Statement as promptly as practicable. If, after the Shelf Registration has become effective, any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or other Governmental Authority or other Person with regulatory authority over the Company is threatened, then the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration or any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of any such order as soon as reasonably practicable.
(c) Limitation . The provisions of this Section 2.03 shall be applicable to each take-down from a Shelf Registration initiated under this Section 2.03 and any subsequent resale of Registrable Securities pursuant thereto; provided , that the reasonably anticipated gross proceeds from any such take-down from a shelf registration initiated under this Section 2.03 shall equal at least $10,000,000.
(d) Shelf Registration Expenses . The Company shall be liable for and pay all Registration Expenses in connection with each Shelf Registration, regardless of whether such
Shelf Registration is effected, and any underwritten resale of Registrable Securities which is not pursuant to a Demand Registration under Section 2.01 and with respect to an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down; provided , that the Participating Holders holding Registrable Securities shall each pay their pro rata portion (based on the number of shares each Participating Holder is selling) of all underwriting discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to such resale of Registrable Securities.
Section 2.04 Lock-Up Agreements .
(a) Lock-up . In connection with each underwritten Public Offering including any Demand Registration, any Piggyback Registration or Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, and if requested by the managing underwriter, the Holders agree not to effect any public sale or private offer or distribution (other than a distribution-in-kind pro rata to all stockholders, limited partners or members, as the case may be, or to immediate family members, of such Holder) of any Registrable Securities during the 10 days prior to the consummation of such Public Offering and during such time period after the consummation of such Public Offering, not to exceed 90 days as may be requested by the managing underwriter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 2.04 shall not apply to any sale by a Holder or a director or officer of a Holder of Common Stock acquired in open market transactions or block purchases by such Holder or its Affiliates. Any discretionary waiver or reduction of the requirements under the foregoing provisions made by the Company or the applicable lead managing underwriters shall apply to each Holder on a pro rata basis except as otherwise agreed in any lock-up agreement delivered by a Holder to the underwriter(s) in connection with any underwritten Public Offering. The provisions of this Section 2.04(a) shall not apply to any Investor that holds 5% or less of the outstanding Common Stock and does not have an Investor Director Designee (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) on the Board unless such Investor actually participates in the underwritten Public Offering. Moreover, the provisions of this Section 2.04(a) shall not apply to any unilateral Underwritten Shelf Take-Down effectuated pursuant to Section 2.03(a)(iii) .
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company shall, at any time, register under the Securities Act an offering and sale of Registrable Securities held by the Holders for sale to the public pursuant to an underwritten Public Offering including any Demand Registration, any Piggyback Registration or Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the lead underwriters for such offering, effect any public sale or distribution of securities similar to those being registered, or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such securities, for such period, not to exceed 90 days, as shall be determined by the lead underwriters and that is for the same period and on substantially similar terms as agreed to by the Investors participating in such offering.
(c) At any time following the Initial Public Offering, any Investor that holds less than five percent of the outstanding Common Stock may elect (the Withdrawing Holders ), by written notice to the Company, to withdraw from the provisions of Articles II, III and Sections 4.07 , 4.08 and 4.09 and as a result of such withdrawal, such Withdrawing Holders shall no longer be entitled to the rights, nor be subject to the obligations, of Articles II, III and Sections 4.07 , 4.08 and 4.09 and the Common Stock and Share Equivalents held by the Withdrawing Holders shall conclusively be deemed thereafter not to be Registrable Securities under this Agreement. No withdrawal pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall release any
Withdrawing Holder from its indemnification and contribution rights and obligations, if any, pursuant to Article III.
Section 2.05 Registration Procedures . Whenever any Investors request that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 2.01 , Section 2.02 , or Section 2.03 hereof, subject to the provisions of such Sections, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof as quickly as practicable, and, in connection with any such request:
(a) The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible, subject to Section 2.01 and 2.03 hereof, upon receipt by the Company of the written request, prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement on any form for which the Company then qualifies and the managing underwriter, if any, and the Investors shall deem appropriate and which form shall be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance with the intended method of distribution thereof, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such filed Registration Statement to become and remain effective for a period of not less than 180 days or in the case of a Shelf Registration, not less than two years (or such shorter period in which all of the Registrable Securities of the Investors included in such Registration Statement shall have actually been sold thereunder); provided , however , that such 180 day period or two year period, as applicable, shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period any Holder refrains from selling any securities included in such registration at the request of an underwriter and, in the case of any Shelf Registration, subject to compliance with applicable Commission rules, such two year period shall be extended, if necessary, to keep the Registration Statement effective until all such Registrable Securities are sold.
(b) Prior to filing a Registration Statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, the Company shall furnish to each Holder covered by such Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, and thereafter the Company shall furnish to such Investor and underwriter, if any, such number of copies of such Registration Statement, each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 or Rule 430A under the Securities Act and such other documents as such Investor or underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor.
(c) After the filing of the Registration Statement, the Company shall (i) promptly notify each Investor holding Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement of the time when such Registration Statement has been declared effective or a supplement or amendment to any prospectus forming a part of such Registration Statement has been filed, (ii) cause the related prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act and shall incorporate such information as the managing underwriter or underwriters and the Investors agree should be included therein relating to the plan of distribution, (iii) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition thereof by the Investors set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to such prospectus, and (iv) promptly notify each Investor holding Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement of any stop order issued or threatened by the Commission or any state securities commission and take all reasonable actions required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered.
(d) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as any Investor holding such Registrable Securities reasonably (in light of such Investors intended plan of distribution) requests and (ii) cause such Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other Governmental Authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable Investors to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by them; provided , that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 2.05(d) , (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (C) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction.
(e) The Company shall immediately notify each Holder holding Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus will not contain an 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 not misleading and promptly prepare and make available to each such Holder and file with the Commission any such supplement or amendment.
(f) The Board shall have the right to select the underwriter or underwriters in connection with any Public Offering, provided that the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in any Demand Registration or Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall have the right to select the underwriter or underwriters in connection with such Public Offering. In connection with any Public Offering, the Company shall enter into customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary form, provided that the scope of the indemnity contained in such underwriting agreement on the part of the selling Holders is not more extensive than the indemnity described in Section 3.01(b) hereof), provided that such agreements are consistent with this Agreement, and take all such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in any such Public Offering, including the engagement of a qualified independent underwriter in connection with the qualification of the underwriting arrangements with FINRA. The Company shall make such representations and warranties to the holders of Registrable Securities being registered, and the underwriters or agents, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers in secondary underwritten public offerings and take any other actions as the Investors or the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the registration and disposition of such Registrable Securities. Each Holder
participating in such underwriting shall also enter into such agreement, provided that the terms of any such agreement are consistent with this Agreement.
(g) Upon execution of confidentiality agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, the Company shall make available for inspection by the Investors and any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a Registration Statement being filed by the Company pursuant to this Section 2.05 and any attorney, accountant or other professional retained by the Investors or any such underwriter (collectively, the Inspectors ), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the Records ) as shall be reasonably necessary or desirable to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Companys officers, managers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any Inspectors in connection with such Registration Statement. Records that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and that it notifies the Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in such Registration Statement or (ii) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction or is otherwise required by law. Each Holder agrees that at the time that such Holder is a Participating Holder, information obtained by it as a result of such inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by it or its Affiliates as the basis for any market transactions in Common Stock unless and until such information is made generally available to the public, and further agrees that, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall give notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential.
(h) The Company shall cause to be furnished to each such underwriter, if any, a signed counterpart, addressed to such underwriter, of (i) an opinion or opinions of counsel to the Company and (ii) a comfort letter or comfort letters from the Companys independent public accountants, each in customary form and covering such matters of the kind customarily covered by opinions or comfort letters, as the case may be, as such managing underwriter therefor reasonably requests.
(i) The Company shall otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement or such other document that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder. The Company shall cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities and each underwriter, if any, participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings to be made with FINRA.
(j) The Company may require each Participating Holder, by written notice given to each such Participating Holder to promptly furnish in writing to the Company such information regarding the distribution of the Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request and such other information as may be legally required in connection with such registration. Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees to furnish such information to the Company and cooperate with the Company as reasonably necessary to enable the Company to comply with the provisions of this Agreement.
(k) Each Holder agrees that at the time that such Holder is a Participating Holder, upon receipt of any written notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment of a prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement that is required to be delivered under the Securities Act so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or to make the statements therein not misleading, such Holder shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities until such Holders receipt of the copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus, and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder shall deliver to the Company all copies, other than any permanent file copies then in such Holders possession, of the most recent prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice. If the Company shall give such notice, the Company shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective (including the period referred to in Section 2.05(a) ) by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of notice pursuant to Section 2.05(e) to the date when the Company shall make available to such Holder a prospectus supplemented or amended to conform with the requirements of Section 2.05(e) .
(l) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to list all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement on the New York Stock Exchange or any other securities exchange (including NASDAQ) on which any of the Registrable Securities are then listed or traded and if none of the Registrable Securities are so listed, on any securities exchange (including NASDAQ) on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed, and if no such similar securities are listed, on any national securities exchange.
(m) The Company shall have appropriate officers of the Company (i) prepare and make presentations at any road shows and before analysts and rating agencies, as the case may be, (ii) take other reasonable actions to obtain ratings for any Registrable Securities, and (iii) otherwise use their reasonable best efforts to cooperate as requested by the underwriters in the offering, marketing or selling of the Registrable Securities.
(n) If any Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or otherwise as the holder of any Common Stock, and if, based on the reasonable advice of such Holders counsel, such Holder is or would be deemed to be an underwriter or a controlling person of the Company, then such Holder shall have the right to require (i) the insertion of language in the Registration Statement, in form and substance satisfactory to such Holder and presented to the Company in writing, to the effect that the holding by such Holder of such Common Stock is not to be construed as a recommendation by such Holder of the investment quality of the Companys equity securities covered thereby and that such holding does not imply that such Holder shall assist in meeting any future financial requirements of the Company, or (ii) in the event that such reference to such Holder by name or otherwise is not required by the Securities Act or any similar federal statute then in force, the deletion of the reference to such Holder.
ARTICLE III
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
Section 3.01 Indemnification .
(a) Indemnification by the Company . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its officers, directors, employees, managers, members, stockholders, partners, agents and Affiliates, and each Person, if any, who controls any such Persons within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (the IPO Indemnified Parties ) from and against any and all losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable attorneys fees and expenses), joint or several, ( Damages ) caused by, arising out of or relating to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities or any preliminary prospectus or free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) (each, as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by or relating to any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or caused by or related to any violation or alleged violation of the Securities Act or Exchange Act, except insofar as such Damages are caused by or related to any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission so made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder or on such Holders behalf expressly for use therein. The indemnification provided for under this Section 3.01 shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of an IPO Indemnified Party or a subsequent Transfer by an IPO Indemnified Party of its equity securities in the Company. No Holder shall be liable under this Section 3.01 for any Damages in excess of the net proceeds realized by such Holder in the sale of Registrable Securities of such Holder to which such Damages relate.
(b) Indemnification by the Participating Holders . Each Holder, at the time that such Holder is a Participating Holder, agrees, severally but not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless from and against all Damages the Company, its officers, managers, directors and agents and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act with respect to information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder or on such Holders behalf expressly for use in any Registration Statement or prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus. As a condition to including Registrable Securities in any Registration Statement filed in accordance with Articles II, III and Sections 4.08 , 4.09 and 4.10 , the Company may require that it shall have received an undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from any underwriter to indemnify and hold it harmless to the extent customarily provided by underwriters with respect to similar securities. No Holder shall be liable under this Section 3.01(b) for any Damages in excess of the net proceeds realized by such Holder in the sale of Registrable Securities of such Holder to which such Damages relate.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings . If any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Indemnified Party in respect of
which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Articles II, III and Sections 4.08 , 4.09 and 4.10 , such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the Indemnifying Party ) in writing and the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, and shall assume the payment of all fees and expenses, provided that the failure of any Indemnified Party so to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations hereunder except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced by such failure to notify. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless (i) the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) in the reasonable judgment of such Indemnified Party, representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any time for all such Indemnified Parties, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In the case of any such separate firm for the Indemnified Parties, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Indemnified Parties. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with such consent, or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Party shall indemnify and hold harmless such Indemnified Parties from and against any Damages (to the extent stated above) by reason of such settlement or judgment. Without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, no Indemnifying Party shall effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such settlement (a) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such proceeding, (b) does not contain a statement about or an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party and (c) does not commit such Indemnified Party to take, or hold back from taking, any action.
Section 3.02 Contribution .
(a) If the indemnification provided for in Section 3.01 is unavailable to the Indemnified Parties or insufficient in respect of any Damages (other than by reason of the exceptions provided herein), then each such Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Damages, as between the Company on the one hand and each such Holder on the other, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company and of each such Holder in connection with such statements or omissions, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of each such Holder on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such party, and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(b) The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 3.02(b) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the Damages referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.02(b) , no Holder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds realized by such Holder in the sale of Registrable Securities of such Holder to which such Damages relate exceeds the amount of any Damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. 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. Subject to the foregoing and as among the Holders, each Holders obligation to contribute pursuant to this Section 3.02(b) is several in the proportion that the proceeds of the offering received by such Holder bears to the total proceeds of the offering received by all such Participating Holders and not joint.
ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 4.01 Term . This Agreement shall terminate upon the time as there are no Registrable Securities, except for the all the provisions of Articles III and IV, which shall survive any, such termination.
Section 4.02 Existing Registration Statements . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary and subject to applicable law and regulation, the Company may satisfy any obligation hereunder to file a Registration Statement or to have a Registration Statement become effective by a specified date by designating, by notice to the Holders, a Registration Statement that previously has been filed with the Commission or become effective, as the case may be, as the relevant Registration Statement for purposes of satisfying such obligation, and all references to any such obligation shall be construed accordingly; provided , that such previously filed Registration Statement may be amended to add the number of Registrable Securities, and, to the extent necessary, to identify as selling stockholders those Holders demanding the filing of a Registration Statement pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. To the extent this Agreement refers to the filing or effectiveness of other Registration Statements by or at a specified time and the Company has, in lieu of then filing such Registration Statements or having such Registration Statements become effective, designated a previously filed or effective Registration Statement as the relevant Registration Statement for such purposes in accordance with the preceding sentence, such references shall be construed to refer to such designated Registration Statement.
Section 4.03 Specific Performance, Cumulative Remedies . The parties hereto acknowledge that money damages may not be an adequate remedy for violations of this Agreement and that any party, in addition to any other rights and remedies which the parties may have hereunder or at law or in equity, may, in his or its sole discretion, apply to a court of
competent jurisdiction for specific performance or injunction or such other relief as such court may deem just and proper in order to enforce this Agreement or prevent any violation hereof and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, each party waives any objection to the imposition of such relief. All rights, powers and remedies provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity shall be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise or beginning of the exercise of any thereof by any party shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any other such rights, powers or remedies by such party.
Section 4.04 Attorneys Fees . In any action or proceeding brought to enforce any provision of this Agreement or where any provision hereof is validly asserted as a defense, the successful party shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees in addition to any other available remedy.
Section 4.05 Notices . In the event a notice or other document is required to be sent hereunder to the Company or any Holder or legal representative of a Holder, such notice or other document shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered or certified first class mail, fax, email or courier guaranteeing overnight delivery to such party at the following addresses (or at such other address as shall be given in writing by any party to the others):
if to the Company, to:
WideOpenWest, Inc.
7887 East Belleview Avenue, Suite 1000
Englewood, Colorado 80111
Attn: Craig Martin, General Counsel
Facsimile: (269) 567-4193
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Joshua N. Korff, P.C. and Brian Hecht
Facsimile: (212) 446-4900
if to the Avista Investor Group, to:
Avista Capital Partners
65 East 55th Street, 18th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Attention: David Burgstahler, Joshua Tamaroff and Ben Silbert
Facsimile: (212) 593-6901
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Joshua N. Korff, P.C. and Brian Hecht
Facsimile: (212) 446-4900
if to the Crestview Investor Group, to:
c/o Crestview Partners III, L.P.
667 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, New York 10065
Attention: Brian Cassidy, Daniel Kilpatrick and Jeff Marcus
Facsimile: (212) 906-0780
with a copy (which shall not constitute written notice) to:
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019-6064
Attention: Kenneth M. Schneider and Neil Goldman
Facsimile: (212) 757-3990
If to any other Holder, to the address or email address set forth on the books of the Company or any other address or email address as a party may hereafter specify for such purpose to the Company. Any notice sent to one of the Investors shall also be sent to the other Investor.
The Company or any Holder or their respective legal representatives may effect a change of address for purposes of this Agreement by giving notice of such change to the Company, and the Company shall, upon the request of any such Person, notify the other parties hereto of such change in the manner provided herein. Until such notice of change of address is properly given, the addresses set forth herein shall be effective for all purposes.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been duly given: (a) when delivered personally by hand, (b) when sent by email or facsimile, (c) when received or rejected by the addressee if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or (d) when received or rejected if sent by overnight courier.
Section 4.06 Amendment; Wavier . Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, and only if such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the Investors or, in the case of a waiver, by any of the following parties against whom such waiver is to be effective with respect to the Company or
Holders, as applicable: (i) the Company and (ii) the Investors and (b) this Section 4.06 may not be amended without the prior written consent of all of the Holders.
Section 4.07 Restriction on Company/Company Grants of Subsequent Registration Rights . So long as the Investors hold any Registrable Securities in respect of which registration rights provided for in Section 2.01 of this Agreement remain in effect, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of each of the Investors, grant to any Person or agree to otherwise become obligated in respect of (i) the rights of registration in the nature or substantially in the nature of those set forth in Section 2.01 of this Agreement that would have priority over or parity with the Registrable Securities with respect to the inclusion of such securities in any registration or (ii) demand registration rights exercisable prior to such time as the Investors can first exercise its rights under Section 2.01 .
Section 4.08 Cooperation by the Company . With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission that may at any time permit the sale of securities to the public without registration, the Board agrees to use, and to cause the Company to use, its reasonable best efforts to:
(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are defined in Rule 144, at all times after the effective date that the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act;
(b) file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements);
(c) furnish to any Holder, so long as such Holder owns any Registrable Securities, (i) upon request by such Holder, a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 (at any time after 90 days after the effective date of the first Registration Statement filed by the Company for a Public Offering), and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements) or that it qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time after it so qualifies), (ii) upon request by such Holder, a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and (iii) such other reports and documents of the Company and other information in the possession of, or reasonably obtainable by, the Company as such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing a Holder to sell any such securities without registration; and
(d) upon the request of any Holder, instruct the transfer agent in writing that it shall rely on the written legal opinion of such Holders counsel, and shall act in accordance with the written instructions of such Holders counsel, with respect to any transfer of Common Stock.
Section 4.09 Successors, Assigns and Transferees .
(a) Following an Initial Public Offering, the registration rights granted pursuant to this Agreement shall not be assignable or Transferred except to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with this Section 4.09 .
(b) If any Permitted Transferee shall acquire Common Stock or Share Equivalents from any Holder in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, such transferring Holder shall promptly notify the Company and, except to the extent limited by such Holder transferring such Common Stock or Share Equivalents, such Common Stock or Share Equivalents acquired from such Holder shall be subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and any transferee thereof shall execute and deliver to the Company a joinder agreement in the form of Exhibit A, whereupon such transferee shall be entitled to receive the benefits of, and be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform, all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement that are applicable to the Holder transferring such Common Stock Common Stock or Share Equivalents.
Section 4.10 Binding Effect . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of each of the parties hereto and their respective successors.
Section 4.11 Third Parties . It is understood and agreed among the parties that this Agreement and the covenants made herein are made expressly and solely for the benefit of the parties hereto, and that no other Person, other than an Indemnified Party pursuant to Article III shall be entitled or be deemed to be entitled to any benefits or rights hereunder, nor be authorized or entitled to enforce any rights, claims or remedies hereunder or by reason hereof.
Section 4.12 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial .
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts entered into and performed entirely within such State.
(b) Any claim, action, suit or proceeding (whether in contract or tort) 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 heard and determined in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware and any state appellate court therefrom within the State of Delaware (or, if the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware), and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom in any such claim, action, suit 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 venue of any such claim, action, suit or proceeding in any such court or that any such claim, action, suit or proceeding that is brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
(c) Subject to applicable Law, process in any such claim, action, suit 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 and subject to applicable Law, each party agrees that service of process on such party as provided in Section 4.05 shall be deemed effective service of process on such party. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Law or at equity. WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUCH CLAIM, ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, TO
THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW WHICH CANNOT BE WAIVED, EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND RELEASES TO THE OTHER ITS RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY, AND AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SEEK A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS BEEN INFORMED BY THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO THAT THIS SECTION 4.12 CONSTITUTES A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT UPON WHICH THEY ARE RELYING AND WILL RELY IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT. ANY PARTY HERETO MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 4.12 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF EACH SUCH PARTY TO THE WAIVER OF ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
Section 4.13 Severability . If any portion of this Agreement shall be declared void or unenforceable by any court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction, then, so long as no party is deprived of the benefits of this Agreement in any material respect, such portion shall be deemed severable from the remainder of this Agreement, which shall continue in all respects valid and enforceable.
Section 4.14 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute a single instrument. Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy or other electronic transmission service shall be considered original executed counterparts for purposes of this Section 4.14 .
Section 4.15 Headings . The headings and subheadings in this Agreement are included for convenience and identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereto.
[REMAINDER INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.
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WIDEOPENWEST, INC. |
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/s/ Richard E. Fish, Jr. |
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Name: Richard E. Fish, Jr. |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]
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AVISTA CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P. |
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Avista Capital Partners GP, LLC |
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General Partner |
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/s/ David Burgstahler |
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David Burgstahler |
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President |
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AVISTA CAPITAL PARTNERS (OFFSHORE), L.P. |
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Avista Capital Partners GP, LLC |
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General Partner |
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/s/ David Burgstahler |
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David Burgstahler |
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President |
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AVISTA CAPITAL PARTNERS III, L.P. |
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Avista Capital Partners III GP, L.P. |
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General Partner |
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Avista Capital Managing Member, LLC |
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Its: |
General Partner |
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By: |
/s/ David Burgstahler |
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Name: |
David Burgstahler |
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President |
[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]
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AVISTA CAPITAL PARTNERS (OFFSHORE) III, L.P. |
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By: |
Avista Capital Partners III GP, L.P. |
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General Partner |
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Avista Capital Managing Member, LLC |
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Its: |
General Partner |
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/s/ David Burgstahler |
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Name: |
David Burgstahler |
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President |
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AVISTA CAPITAL PARTNERS (OFFSHORE) III-A, L.P. |
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Avista Capital Partners III GP, L.P. |
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Its: |
General Partner |
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Avista Capital Managing Member, LLC |
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General Partner |
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/s/ David Burgstahler |
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Name: |
David Burgstahler |
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President |
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ACP RACECAR CO-INVEST, LLC |
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By: |
Avista Capital Partners III GP, L.P. |
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Avista Capital Managing Member, LLC |
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General Partner |
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/s/ David Burgstahler |
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Name: |
David Burgstahler |
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Title: |
President |
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ACP RACECAR CO-INVEST II, LLC |
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Avista Capital Partners III GP, L.P. |
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Avista Capital Managing Member, LLC |
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General Partner |
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/s/ David Burgstahler |
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Name: |
David Burgstahler |
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Title: |
President |
[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]
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CRESTVIEW W1 CO-INVESTORS, LLC |
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/s/ Jeffrey A. Marcus |
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Jeffrey A. Marcus |
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Managing Director |
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CRESTVIEW W1 TE HOLDINGS, LLC |
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/s/ Jeffrey A. Marcus |
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Jeffrey A. Marcus |
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Managing Director |
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CRESTVIEW W1 HOLDINGS, L.P. |
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Crestview W1 GP, LLC |
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/s/ Jeffrey A. Marcus |
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Jeffrey A. Marcus |
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Managing Director |
[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]
EXHIBIT A
JOINDER TO THE REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
[ · ], 20[ · ]
This Joinder Agreement (the Joinder Agreement ) is made as of the date written above by the undersigned (the Joining Party ) in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of [ · ], 2017 (as amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the Registration Rights Agreement ) among WideOpenWest, Inc. and the other persons listed on the signature pages thereto. Capitalized terms used, but not defined, herein shall have the respective meanings of ascribed to such terms in the Registration Rights Agreement.
The Joining Party hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that, by its execution of this Joinder Agreement, the Joining Party shall be deemed to be a party to the Registration Rights Agreement as of the date hereof and shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Holder thereunder as if it had executed the Registration Rights Agreement. The Joining Party hereby ratifies, as of the date hereof, and agrees to be bound by, all of the terms, provisions and conditions contained in the Registration Rights Agreement.
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AGREED ON THIS [ ] day of [ ], 20 :
WIDEOPENWEST, INC.
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Exhibit 5.1
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 446-4800
(212) 446-4900 (facsimile)
www.kirkland.com
May 31, 2017
WideOpenWest, Inc.
7887 East Belleview Avenue, Suite 1000
Englewood, Colorado 80111
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as special counsel to WideOpenWest, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), in connection with the filing by the Company of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the Registration Statement) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Act), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) covering the offering by the Company of up to 6,355,054 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the Plan Shares) pursuant to the WideOpenWest, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the Plan).
For purposes of this letter, we have examined such documents, records, certificates, resolutions and other instruments deemed necessary as a basis for this opinion, and we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing qualifications, assumptions and limitations and the further limitations set forth below, we advise you that the Plan Shares are duly authorized and when (i) the Registration Statement related to the Plan Shares becomes effective under the Act and (ii) the Plan Shares have been duly issued pursuant to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Companys Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, the Plan Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Our opinions expressed above are subject to the qualifications that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of any laws except the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
We have relied without independent investigation upon, among other things, an assurance from the Company that the number of shares which the Company is authorized to issue in its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation exceeds the number of shares outstanding and the number of shares which the Company is obligated to issue (or had otherwise reserved for
Chicago Hong Kong Houston London Los Angeles Munich Palo Alto San Francisco Shanghai Washington, D.C.
issuance) for any purposes other than issuances in connection with the Plan by at least the number of Plan Shares which may be issued in connection with the Plan and we have assumed that such condition will remain true at all future times relevant to this opinion. We have assumed that the Company will cause certificates, if any, representing the Plan Shares issued in the future to be properly executed and delivered and will take all other actions appropriate for the issuances of such Plan Shares.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.
We do not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion, and accordingly we do not purport to cover herein, the application of the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states to the issuance and sale of the Plan Shares.
This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.
This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement, and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon for any other purposes.
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Sincerely, |
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/s/ KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP |
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
WideOpenWest, Inc.
Englewood, Colorado
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our report dated March 23, 2017, relating to the combined consolidated financial statements of WideOpenWest, Inc. appearing in the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-1.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP |
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Atlanta, Georgia |
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May 31, 2017 |
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Exhibit 99.1
WideOpenWest, Inc.
2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
The purpose of this WideOpenWest, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan is to enhance the profitability and value of the Company for the benefit of its stockholders by enabling the Company to offer Eligible Individuals cash and stock-based incentives in order to attract, retain and reward such individuals and strengthen the mutuality of interests between such individuals and the Companys stockholders. The Plan is effective as of the date set forth in Article XV.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
2.1 Affiliate means each of the following: (a) any Subsidiary; (b) any Parent; (c) any corporation, trade or business (including, without limitation, a partnership or limited liability company) which is directly or indirectly controlled 50% or more (whether by ownership of stock, assets or an equivalent ownership interest or voting interest) by the Company or one of its Affiliates; (d) any trade or business (including, without limitation, a partnership or limited liability company) which directly or indirectly controls 50% or more (whether by ownership of stock, assets or an equivalent ownership interest or voting interest) of the Company; and (e) any other entity in which the Company or any of its Affiliates has a material equity interest and which is designated as an Affiliate by resolution of the Committee; provided that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Common Stock subject to any Award constitutes service recipient stock for purposes of Section 409A of the Code or otherwise does not subject the Award to Section 409A of the Code.
2.2 Award means any award under the Plan of any Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Performance Award, Other Stock-Based Award or Other Cash-Based Award. All Awards shall be granted by, confirmed by, and subject to the terms of, a written agreement executed by the Company and the Participant.
2.3 Award Agreement means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and conditions applicable to an Award.
2.4 Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.5 Cause means, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, with respect to a Participants Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy, the following: (a) in the case where there is no employment agreement, consulting
agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award (or where there is such an agreement but it does not define cause (or words of like import)), termination due to a Participants insubordination, dishonesty, fraud, incompetence, moral turpitude, willful misconduct, refusal to perform the Participants duties or responsibilities for any reason other than illness or incapacity or materially unsatisfactory performance of the Participants duties for the Company or an Affiliate, as determined by the Committee in its good faith discretion; or (b) in the case where there is an employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award that defines cause (or words of like import), cause as defined under such agreement; provided, however, that with regard to any agreement under which the definition of cause only applies on occurrence of a change in control, such definition of cause shall not apply until a change in control actually takes place and then only with regard to a termination thereafter. With respect to a Participants Termination of Directorship, cause means an act or failure to act that constitutes cause for removal of a director under applicable Delaware law.
2.6 Change in Control has the meaning set forth in 11.2.
2.7 Change in Control Price has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.
2.8 Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any reference to any section of the Code shall also be a reference to any successor provision and any treasury regulation promulgated thereunder.
2.9 Committee means any committee of the Board duly authorized by the Board to administer the Plan. If no committee is duly authorized by the Board to administer the Plan, the term Committee shall be deemed to refer to the Board for all purposes under the Plan.
2.10 Common Stock means the common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company.
2.11 Company means WideOpenWest, Inc. a Delaware corporation, and its successors by operation of law.
2.12 Consultant means any natural person who is an advisor or consultant to the Company or its Affiliates.
2.13 Disability means, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, with respect to a Participants Termination, a permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. A Disability shall only be deemed to occur at the time of the determination by the Committee of the Disability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for Awards that are subject to Section 409A of the Code, Disability shall mean that a Participant is disabled under Section 409A(a)(2)(C)(i) or (ii) of the Code.
2.14 Effective Date means the effective date of the Plan as defined in Article XV.
2.15 Eligible Employees means each employee of the Company or an Affiliate.
2.16 Eligible Individual means an Eligible Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant who is designated by the Committee in its discretion as eligible to receive Awards subject to the conditions set forth herein.
2.17 Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Exchange Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or interpretation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
2.18 Fair Market Value means, for purposes of the Plan, unless otherwise required by any applicable provision of the Code or any regulations issued thereunder, as of any date and except as provided below, the last sales price reported for the Common Stock on the applicable date: (a) as reported on the principal national securities exchange in the United States on which it is then traded or (b) if the Common Stock is not traded, listed or otherwise reported or quoted, the Committee shall determine in good faith the Fair Market Value in whatever manner it considers appropriate taking into account the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of the grant of any Award, the applicable date shall be the trading day immediately prior to the date on which the Award is granted. For purposes of the exercise of any Award, the applicable date shall be the date a notice of exercise is received by the Committee or, if not a day on which the applicable market is open, the next day that it is open.
2.19 Family Member means the Participants child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the Participants household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which these persons have more than fifty percent (50%) of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Participant) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Participant) own more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests.
2.20 Incentive Stock Option means any Stock Option awarded to an Eligible Employee of the Company, its Subsidiaries and its Parents (if any) under the Plan intended to be and designated as an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
2.21 Lead Underwriter has the meaning set forth in Section 14.20.
2.22 Lock-Up Period has the meaning set forth in Section 14.20.
2.23 Non-Employee Director means a director or a member of the Board of the Company or any Affiliate who is not an active employee of the Company or any Affiliate.
2.24 Non-Qualified Stock Option means any Stock Option awarded under the Plan that is not an Incentive Stock Option.
2.25 Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall mean the right to receive an amount in cash and/or stock equal to the difference between (x) the Fair Market Value of a share
of Common Stock on the date such right is exercised, and (y) the aggregate exercise price of such right, otherwise than on surrender of a Stock Option.
2.26 Other Cash-Based Award means an Award granted pursuant to Section 10.3 of the Plan and payable in cash at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
2.27 Other Stock-Based Award means an Award under Article X of the Plan that is valued in whole or in part by reference to, or is payable in or otherwise based on, Common Stock, including, without limitation, an Award valued by reference to an Affiliate.
2.28 Parent means any parent corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code.
2.29 Participant means an Eligible Individual to whom an Award has been granted pursuant to the Plan.
2.30 Performance Award means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article IX hereof contingent upon achieving certain Performance Goals.
2.31 Performance Goals means goals established by the Committee as contingencies for Awards to vest and/or become exercisable or distributable based on one or more of the performance goals set forth in Exhibit A hereto.
2.32 Performance Period means the designated period during which the Performance Goals must be satisfied with respect to the Award to which the Performance Goals relate.
2.33 Plan means this WideOpenWest, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
2.34 Proceeding has the meaning set forth in Section 14.9.
2.35 Reference Stock Option has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
2.36 Registration Date means the date on which the Company sells its Common Stock in a bona fide, firm commitment underwriting pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act.
2.37 Reorganization has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b)(ii).
2.38 Restricted Stock means an Award of shares of Common Stock under the Plan that is subject to restrictions under Article VIII.
2.39 Restriction Period has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(a) with respect to Restricted Stock.
2.40 Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act as then in effect or any successor provision.
2.41 Section 162(m) of the Code means the exception for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code and any applicable treasury regulations thereunder.
2.42 Section 409A of the Code means the nonqualified deferred compensation rules under Section 409A of the Code and any applicable treasury regulations and other official guidance thereunder.
2.43 Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Reference to a specific section of the Securities Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or interpretation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
2.44 Stock Appreciation Right shall mean the right pursuant to an Award granted under Article VII.
2.45 Stock Option or Option means any option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted to Eligible Individuals granted pursuant to Article VI.
2.46 Subsidiary means any subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.
2.47 Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall mean the right to surrender to the Company all (or a portion) of a Stock Option in exchange for an amount in cash and/or stock equal to the difference between (i) the Fair Market Value on the date such Stock Option (or such portion thereof) is surrendered, of the Common Stock covered by such Stock Option (or such portion thereof), and (ii) the aggregate exercise price of such Stock Option (or such portion thereof).
2.48 Ten Percent Stockholder means a person owning stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Parent.
2.49 Termination means a Termination of Consultancy, Termination of Directorship or Termination of Employment, as applicable.
2.50 Termination of Consultancy means: (a) that the Consultant is no longer acting as a consultant to the Company or an Affiliate; or (b) when an entity which is retaining a Participant as a Consultant ceases to be an Affiliate unless the Participant otherwise is, or thereupon becomes, a Consultant to the Company or another Affiliate at the time the entity ceases to be an Affiliate. In the event that a Consultant becomes an Eligible Employee or a Non-Employee Director upon the termination of such Consultants consultancy, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, no Termination of Consultancy shall be deemed to occur until such time as such Consultant is no longer a Consultant, an Eligible
Employee or a Non-Employee Director. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may otherwise define Termination of Consultancy in the Award Agreement or, if no rights of a Participant are reduced, may otherwise define Termination of Consultancy thereafter, provided that any such change to the definition of the term Termination of Consultancy does not subject the applicable Award to Section 409A of the Code.
2.51 Termination of Directorship means that the Non-Employee Director has ceased to be a director of the Company; except that if a Non-Employee Director becomes an Eligible Employee or a Consultant upon the termination of such Non-Employee Directors directorship, such Non-Employee Directors ceasing to be a director of the Company shall not be treated as a Termination of Directorship unless and until the Participant has a Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy, as the case may be.
2.52 Termination of Employment means: (a) a termination of employment (for reasons other than a military or personal leave of absence granted by the Company) of a Participant from the Company and its Affiliates; or (b) when an entity which is employing a Participant ceases to be an Affiliate, unless the Participant otherwise is, or thereupon becomes, employed by the Company or another Affiliate at the time the entity ceases to be an Affiliate. In the event that an Eligible Employee becomes a Consultant or a Non-Employee Director upon the termination of such Eligible Employees employment, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, no Termination of Employment shall be deemed to occur until such time as such Eligible Employee is no longer an Eligible Employee, a Consultant or a Non-Employee Director. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may otherwise define Termination of Employment in the Award Agreement or, if no rights of a Participant are reduced, may otherwise define Termination of Employment thereafter, provided that any such change to the definition of the term Termination of Employment does not subject the applicable Award to Section 409A of the Code.
2.53 Transfer means: (a) when used as a noun, any direct or indirect transfer, sale, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance or other disposition (including the issuance of equity in any entity), whether for value or no value and whether voluntary or involuntary (including by operation of law), and (b) when used as a verb, to directly or indirectly transfer, sell, assign, pledge, encumber, charge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of (including the issuance of equity in any entity) whether for value or for no value and whether voluntarily or involuntarily (including by operation of law). Transferred and Transferable shall have a correlative meaning.
2.54 Transition Period means the period beginning with the Registration Date and ending as of the earlier of: (i) the date of the first annual meeting of stockholders of the Company at which directors are to be elected that occurs after the close of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which the Registration Date occurs; and (ii) the expiration of the reliance period under Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(f)(2).
ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION
3.1 The Committee . The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Committee. To the extent required by applicable law, rule or regulation, it is intended that each member of the Committee shall qualify as (a) a non-employee director under Rule 16b-3, (b) an outside director under Section 162(m) of the Code and (c) an independent director under the rules of any national securities exchange or national securities association, as applicable. If it is later determined that one or more members of the Committee do not so qualify, actions taken by the Committee prior to such determination shall be valid despite such failure to qualify.
3.2 Grants of Awards . The Committee shall have full authority to grant, pursuant to the terms of the Plan, to Eligible Individuals: (i) Stock Options, (ii) Stock Appreciation Rights, (iii) Restricted Stock Awards, (iv) Performance Awards; (v) Other Stock-Based Awards; and (vi) Other Cash-Based Awards. In particular, the Committee shall have the authority:
(a) to select the Eligible Individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder;
(b) to determine whether and to what extent Awards, or any combination thereof, are to be granted hereunder to one or more Eligible Individuals;
(c) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(d) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, the exercise or purchase price (if any), any restriction or limitation, any vesting schedule or acceleration thereof, or any forfeiture restrictions or waiver thereof, regarding any Award and the shares of Common Stock relating thereto, based on such factors, if any, as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion);
(e) to determine the amount of cash to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(f) to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances grants of Options and other Awards under the Plan are to operate on a tandem basis and/or in conjunction with or apart from other awards made by the Company outside of the Plan;
(g) to determine whether and under what circumstances a Stock Option may be settled in cash, Common Stock and/or Restricted Stock under Section 6.4(d);
(h) to determine whether a Stock Option is an Incentive Stock Option or Non-Qualified Stock Option;
(i) to determine whether to require a Participant, as a condition of the granting of any Award, to not sell or otherwise dispose of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an
Award for a period of time as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, following the date of the acquisition of such Award;
(j) to modify, extend or renew an Award, subject to Article XII and Section 6.4(l), provided, however, that such action does not subject the Award to Section 409A of the Code without the consent of the Participant; and
(k) solely to the extent permitted by applicable law, to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances to provide loans (which may be on a recourse basis and shall bear interest at the rate the Committee shall provide) to Participants in order to exercise Options under the Plan.
3.3 Guidelines . Subject to Article XII hereof, the Committee shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan and perform all acts, including the delegation of its responsibilities (to the extent permitted by applicable law and applicable stock exchange rules), as it shall, from time to time, deem advisable; to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan (and any agreements relating thereto); and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any agreement relating thereto in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary to effectuate the purpose and intent of the Plan. The Committee may adopt special guidelines and provisions for persons who are residing in or employed in, or subject to, the taxes of, any domestic or foreign jurisdictions to comply with applicable tax and securities laws of such domestic or foreign jurisdictions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no action of the Committee under this Section 3.3 shall impair the rights of any Participant without the Participants consent. To the extent applicable, the Plan is intended to comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3, and with respect to Awards intended to be performance-based, the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, and the Plan shall be limited, construed and interpreted in a manner so as to comply therewith.
3.4 Decisions Final . Any decision, interpretation or other action made or taken in good faith by or at the direction of the Company, the Board or the Committee (or any of its members) arising out of or in connection with the Plan shall be within the absolute discretion of all and each of them, as the case may be, and shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Company and all employees and Participants and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.
3.5 Procedures . If the Committee is appointed, the Board shall designate one of the members of the Committee as chairman and the Committee shall hold meetings, subject to the By-Laws of the Company, at such times and places as it shall deem advisable, including, without limitation, by telephone conference or by written consent to the extent permitted by applicable law. A majority of the Committee members shall constitute a quorum. All determinations of the Committee shall be made by a majority of its members. Any decision or determination reduced to writing and signed by all of the Committee members in accordance with the By-Laws of the Company, shall be fully effective as if it had been made by a vote at a meeting duly called and held. The Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings and shall make such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it shall deem advisable.
3.6 Designation of Consultants/Liability .
(a) The Committee may designate employees of the Company and professional advisors to assist the Committee in the administration of the Plan and (to the extent permitted by applicable law and applicable exchange rules) may grant authority to officers to grant Awards and/or execute agreements or other documents on behalf of the Committee. In the event of any designation of authority hereunder, subject to applicable law, applicable stock exchange rules and any limitations imposed by the Committee in connection with such designation, such designee or designees shall have the power and authority to take such actions, exercise such powers and make such determinations that are otherwise specifically designated to the Committee hereunder.
(b) The Committee may employ such legal counsel, consultants and agents as it may deem desirable for the administration of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion received from any such counsel or consultant and any computation received from any such consultant or agent. Expenses incurred by the Committee or the Board in the engagement of any such counsel, consultant or agent shall be paid by the Company. The Committee, its members and any person designated pursuant to sub-section (a) above shall not be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, no officer of the Company or member or former member of the Committee or of the Board shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award granted under it.
3.7 Indemnification . To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company and to the extent not covered by insurance directly insuring such person, each officer or employee of the Company or any Affiliate and member or former member of the Committee or the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against any cost or expense (including reasonable fees of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Committee) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of the Committee), and advanced amounts necessary to pay the foregoing at the earliest time and to the fullest extent permitted, arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with the administration of the Plan, except to the extent arising out of such officers, employees, members or former members own fraud or bad faith. Such indemnification shall be in addition to any right of indemnification the employees, officers, directors or members or former officers, directors or members may have under applicable law or under the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company or any Affiliate. Notwithstanding anything else herein, this indemnification will not apply to the actions or determinations made by an individual with regard to Awards granted to such individual under the Plan.
ARTICLE IV
SHARE LIMITATION
4.1 Shares . (a) The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued or used for reference purposes or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall not exceed 6,474,128 shares (subject to any increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2) (the Share Reserve ), which may be either authorized and unissued Common Stock or Common Stock held in or acquired for the treasury of the Company or both. The Share Reserve shall not include Awards distributed or granted prior to the May 31, 2017 (Pre-IPO Awards). For the sake of clarity, Pre-IPO Awards shall be subject to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, Plan and stockholders agreement, if applicable, but in no event shall the Pre-IPO Awards be taken into account with respect to the Share Reserve or other provision of the Plan that may increase or decrease the Share Reserve. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options may be granted under the
Plan shall be equal to 6,474,128. With respect to Stock Appreciation Rights settled in Common Stock, upon settlement, only the number of shares of Common Stock delivered to a Participant (based on the difference between the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Stock Appreciation Right on the date such Stock Appreciation Right is exercised and the exercise price of each Stock Appreciation Right on the date such Stock Appreciation Right was awarded) shall count against the aggregate and individual share limitations set forth under Sections 4.1(a) and 4.1(b). If any Option, Stock Appreciation Right or Other Stock-Based Awards granted under the Plan expires, terminates or is canceled for any reason without having been exercised in full, the number of shares of Common Stock underlying any unexercised Award shall again be available for the purpose of Awards under the Plan. If any shares of Restricted Stock, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards denominated in shares of Common Stock awarded under the Plan to a Participant are forfeited for any reason, the number of forfeited shares of Restricted Stock, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards denominated in shares of Common Stock shall again be available for purposes of Awards under the Plan. If a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right or a Limited Stock Appreciation Right is granted in tandem with an Option, such grant shall only apply once against the maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan. Any Award under the Plan settled in cash shall not be counted against the foregoing maximum share limitations. The maximum grant date fair value of any Award granted to any director for services as a director during any calendar year shall not exceed $1,000,000.
(b) Individual Participant Limitations . To the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code for Awards under the Plan to qualify as performance-based compensation, the following individual Participant limitations shall only apply after the expiration of the Transition Period:
(i) The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Award of Stock Options, or Stock Appreciation Rights, or shares of Restricted Stock, or Other Stock-Based Awards for which the grant of such Award or the lapse of the relevant Restriction Period is subject to the attainment of Performance Goals in accordance with Section 8.3(a)(ii) which may be granted under the Plan during any fiscal year of the Company to any Participant shall be 1,000,000 shares per type of Award (which shall be subject to any further increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2), provided that the maximum number of shares of Common Stock for all types of Awards does not exceed 5,000,000 shares (which shall be subject to any further increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2) during any fiscal year of the Company. If a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right is granted or a Limited Stock Appreciation Right is granted in tandem with a Stock Option, it shall apply against the Participants individual share limitations for both Stock Appreciation Rights and Stock Options.
(ii) There are no annual individual share limitations applicable to Participants on Restricted Stock or Other Stock-Based Awards for which the grant, vesting or payment (as applicable) of any such Award is not subject to the attainment of Performance Goals.
(iii) The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Performance Award which may be granted under the Plan during any fiscal year of the Company to any Participant shall be 1,000,000 shares (which shall be subject to any further increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2) with respect to any fiscal year of the Company.
(iv) The maximum value of a cash payment made under a Performance Award which may be granted under the Plan with respect to any fiscal year of the Company to any Participant shall be $10,000,000.
(v) The individual Participant limitations set forth in this Section 4.1(b) (other than Section 4.1(b)(iii)) shall be cumulative; that is, to the extent that shares of Common Stock for which Awards are permitted to be granted to a Participant during a fiscal year are not covered by an Award to such Participant in a fiscal year, the number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards to such Participant shall automatically increase in the subsequent fiscal years during the term of the Plan until used.
(c) Annual Non-Employee Director Award Limitation . The aggregate grant date fair value (computed as of the date of grant in accordance with applicable financial accounting rules) of all Awards granted under the Plan to any individual Non-Employee Director in any fiscal year of the Company (excluding Awards made pursuant to deferred compensation arrangements in lieu of all or a portion of cash retainers and any stock dividends payable in respect of outstanding Awards) shall not exceed $1,000,000.
4.2 Changes .
(a) The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board, the Committee or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization, stock split, or other change in the Companys capital structure or its business, (ii) any merger or consolidation of the Company or any Affiliate, (iii) any issuance of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Common Stock, (iv) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any Affiliate, (v) any sale or transfer of all or part of the assets or business of the Company or any Affiliate or (vi) any other corporate act or proceeding.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 11.1:
(i) If the Company at any time subdivides (by any split, recapitalization or otherwise) the outstanding Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, or combines (by reverse split, combination or otherwise) its outstanding Common Stock into a lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then the respective exercise prices for outstanding Awards that provide for a Participant elected exercise and the number of shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding Awards shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under the Plan.
(ii) Excepting transactions covered by Section 4.2(b)(i), if the Company effects any merger, consolidation, statutory exchange, spin-off, reorganization, sale or transfer of all or substantially all the Companys assets or business, or other corporate transaction or event in such a manner that the Companys outstanding shares of Common Stock are converted into the right to receive (or the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive in exchange therefor), either immediately or upon liquidation of the Company, securities or other property of the Company or other entity (each, a Reorganization ), then, subject to the provisions of Section 11.1, (A) the aggregate number or kind of securities that thereafter may be issued under the Plan, (B) the number or kind of securities or other property (including cash) to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan (including as a result of the assumption of the Plan and the obligations hereunder by a successor entity, as applicable), or (C) the purchase price thereof, shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under the Plan.
(iii) If there shall occur any change in the capital structure of the Company other than those covered by Section 4.2(b)(i) or 4.2(b)(ii), including by reason of any extraordinary dividend (whether cash or equity), any conversion, any adjustment, any issuance of any class of securities convertible or exercisable into, or exercisable for, any class of equity securities of the Company, then the Committee shall adjust any Award and make such other adjustments to the Plan to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under the Plan.
(iv) Any such adjustment determined by the Committee pursuant to this Section 4.2(b) shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Company and all Participants and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns. Any adjustment to, or assumption or substitution of, an Award under this Section 4.2(b) shall be intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulation §1.424-1 (and any amendments thereto), to the extent applicable. Except as expressly provided in this Section 4.2 or in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant shall have no additional rights under the Plan by reason of any transaction or event described in this Section 4.2.
(v) Fractional shares of Common Stock resulting from any adjustment in Awards pursuant to Section 4.2(a) or this Section 4.2(b) shall be aggregated until, and eliminated at, the time of exercise or payment by rounding-down for fractions less than one-half and rounding-up for fractions equal to or greater than one-half. No cash settlements shall be required with respect to fractional shares eliminated by rounding. Notice of any adjustment shall be given by the Committee to each Participant whose Award has been adjusted and such adjustment (whether or not such notice is given) shall be effective and binding for all purposes of the Plan.
4.3 Minimum Purchase Price . Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if authorized but previously unissued shares of Common Stock are issued under the Plan, such shares shall not be issued for a consideration that is less than as permitted under applicable law.
ARTICLE V
ELIGIBILITY
5.1 General Eligibility . All current and prospective Eligible Individuals are eligible to be granted Awards. Eligibility for the grant of Awards and actual participation in the Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
5.2 Incentive Stock Options . Notwithstanding the foregoing, only Eligible Employees of the Company, its Subsidiaries and its Parent (if any) are eligible to be granted Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. Eligibility for the grant of an Incentive Stock Option and actual participation in the Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
5.3 General Requirement . The vesting and exercise of Awards granted to a prospective Eligible Individual are conditioned upon such individual actually becoming an Eligible Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director, respectively.
ARTICLE VI
STOCK OPTIONS
6.1 Options . Stock Options may be granted alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. Each Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be of one of two types: (a) an Incentive Stock Option or (b) a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
6.2 Grants . The Committee shall have the authority to grant to any Eligible Employee one or more Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, or both types of Stock Options. The Committee shall have the authority to grant any Consultant or Non-Employee Director one or more Non-Qualified Stock Options. To the extent that any Stock Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option (whether because of its provisions or the time or manner of its exercise or otherwise), such Stock Option or the portion thereof which does not so qualify shall constitute a separate Non-Qualified Stock Option.
6.3 Incentive Stock Options . Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, no term of the Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be so exercised, so as to disqualify the Plan under Section 422 of the Code, or, without the consent of the Participants affected, to disqualify any Incentive Stock Option under such Section 422.
6.4 Terms of Options . Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall be in such form and contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable:
(a) Exercise Price . The exercise price per share of Common Stock subject to a Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant, provided that the per share exercise price of a Stock Option shall not be less than 100% (or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, 110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time of grant.
(b) Stock Option Term . The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Committee, provided that no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than 10 years after the date the Option is granted; and provided further that the term of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder shall not exceed five years.
(c) Exercisability . Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.4, Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant. If the Committee provides, in its discretion, that any Stock Option is exercisable subject to certain limitations (including, without limitation, that such Stock Option is exercisable only in installments or within certain time periods), the Committee may waive such limitations on the exercisability at any time at or after the time of grant in whole or in part (including, without limitation, waiver of the installment exercise provisions or acceleration of the time at which such Stock Option may be exercised), based on such factors, if any, as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion.
(d) Method of Exercise . Subject to whatever installment exercise and waiting period provisions apply under Section 6.4(c), to the extent vested, Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the Option term, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased. Such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price as follows: (i) in cash or by check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company; (ii) solely to the extent permitted by applicable law, if the Common Stock is traded on a national securities exchange, and the Committee authorizes, through a procedure whereby the Participant delivers irrevocable instructions to a broker reasonably acceptable to the Committee to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the purchase price; or (iii) on such other terms and conditions as may be acceptable to the Committee (including, without limitation, with the consent of the Committee, having the Company withhold shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Stock Option, or by payment in full or in part in the form of Common Stock owned by the Participant, based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the payment date as determined by the Committee). No shares of Common Stock shall be issued until payment therefor, as provided herein, has been made or provided for.
(e) Non-Transferability of Options . No Stock Option shall be Transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the Participants lifetime, only by the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion, at the time of grant or thereafter that a Non-Qualified Stock Option that is otherwise not Transferable pursuant to this Section is Transferable to a Family Member in whole or in part and in such circumstances, and under such conditions, as specified by the Committee. A Non-Qualified Stock Option that is Transferred to a Family Member pursuant to the preceding sentence (i) may not be subsequently Transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and (ii) remains subject to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Any shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option by a permissible transferee of a Non-Qualified Stock Option or a permissible transferee pursuant to a Transfer after the exercise of the Non-Qualified Stock Option shall be subject to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.
(f) Termination by Death or Disability . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participants Termination is by reason of death or Disability, all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participants Termination may be exercised by the Participant (or in the case of the Participants death, by the legal representative of the Participants estate) at any time within a period of one (1) year from the date of such Termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options; provided, however, that, in the event of a Participants Termination by reason of Disability, if the Participant dies within such exercise period, all unexercised Stock Options held by such Participant shall thereafter be exercisable, to the extent to which they were exercisable at the time of death, for a period of one (1) year from the date of such death, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options.
(g) Involuntary Termination Without Cause . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participants Termination is by involuntary termination by the Company without Cause, all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participants Termination may be exercised by the Participant at any time within a period of ninety (90) days from the date of such Termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options.
(h) Voluntary Resignation . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participants Termination is voluntary (other than a voluntary termination described in Section 6.4(i)(y) hereof), all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participants Termination may be exercised by the Participant at any time within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of such Termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options.
(i) Termination for Cause . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participants Termination (x) is for Cause or (y) is a voluntary Termination (as provided in Section 6.4(h)) after the occurrence of an event that would be grounds for a Termination for Cause, all Stock Options, whether vested or not vested, that are held by such Participant shall thereupon terminate and expire as of the date of such Termination.
(j) Unvested Stock Options . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, Stock Options that are not vested as of the date of a Participants Termination for any reason shall terminate and expire as of the date of such Termination.
(k) Incentive Stock Option Limitations . To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an Eligible Employee during any calendar year under the Plan and/or any other stock option plan of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Parent exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options. In addition, if an Eligible Employee does not remain employed by the Company, any Subsidiary or
any Parent at all times from the time an Incentive Stock Option is granted until three months prior to the date of exercise thereof (or such other period as required by applicable law), such Stock Option shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option. Should any provision of the Plan not be necessary in order for the Stock Options to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, or should any additional provisions be required, the Committee may amend the Plan accordingly, without the necessity of obtaining the approval of the stockholders of the Company.
(l) Form, Modification, Extension and Renewal of Stock Options . Subject to the terms and conditions and within the limitations of the Plan, Stock Options shall be evidenced by such form of agreement or grant as is approved by the Committee, and the Committee may (i) modify, extend or renew outstanding Stock Options granted under the Plan (provided that the rights of a Participant are not reduced without such Participants consent and provided further that such action does not subject the Stock Options to Section 409A of the Code without the consent of the Participant), and (ii) accept the surrender of outstanding Stock Options (to the extent not theretofore exercised) and authorize the granting of new Stock Options in substitution therefor (to the extent not theretofore exercised). Notwithstanding the foregoing, an outstanding Option may not be modified to reduce the exercise price thereof nor may a new Option at a lower price be substituted for a surrendered Option (other than adjustments or substitutions in accordance with Section 4.2), unless such action is approved by the stockholders of the Company.
(m) Deferred Delivery of Common Stock . The Committee may in its discretion permit Participants to defer delivery of Common Stock acquired pursuant to a Participants exercise of an Option in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, which shall be intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
(n) Early Exercise . The Committee may provide that a Stock Option include a provision whereby the Participant may elect at any time before the Participants Termination to exercise the Stock Option as to any part or all of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Option prior to the full vesting of the Stock Option and such shares shall be subject to the provisions of Article VIII and be treated as Restricted Stock. Unvested shares of Common Stock so purchased may be subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company or to any other restriction the Committee determines to be appropriate.
(o) Other Terms and Conditions . The Committee may include a provision in an Award Agreement providing for the automatic exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option on a cashless basis on the last day of the term of such Option if the Participant has failed to exercise the Non-Qualified Stock Option as of such date, with respect to which the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Non-Qualified Stock Option exceeds the exercise price of such Non-Qualified Stock Option on the date of expiration of such Option, subject to Section 14.4. Stock Options may contain such other provisions, which shall not be inconsistent with any of the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem appropriate.
ARTICLE VII
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
7.1 Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights . Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in conjunction with all or part of any Stock Option (a Reference Stock Option ) granted under the Plan ( Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights ). In the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, such rights may be granted either at or after the time of the grant of such Reference Stock Option. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, such rights may be granted only at the time of the grant of such Reference Stock Option.
7.2 Terms and Conditions of Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights . Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights granted hereunder shall be subject to such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as shall be determined from time to time by the Committee, and the following:
(a) Exercise Price . The exercise price per share of Common Stock subject to a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant, provided that the per share exercise price of a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time of grant.
(b) Term . A Tandem Stock Appreciation Right or applicable portion thereof granted with respect to a Reference Stock Option shall terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the Reference Stock Option, except that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, at the time of grant, a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right granted with respect to less than the full number of shares covered by the Reference Stock Option shall not be reduced until, and then only to the extent that the exercise or termination of the Reference Stock Option causes, the number of shares covered by the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right to exceed the number of shares remaining available and unexercised under the Reference Stock Option.
(c) Exercisability . Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that the Reference Stock Options to which they relate shall be exercisable in accordance with the provisions of Article VI, and shall be subject to the provisions of Section 6.4(c).
(d) Method of Exercise . A Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised by the Participant by surrendering the applicable portion of the Reference Stock Option. Upon such exercise and surrender, the Participant shall be entitled to receive an amount determined in the manner prescribed in this Section 7.2. Stock Options which have been so surrendered, in whole or in part, shall no longer be exercisable to the extent that the related Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights have been exercised.
(e) Payment . Upon the exercise of a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but no more than, an amount in cash and/or Common Stock (as chosen by the Committee in its sole discretion) equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock over the Option exercise price per share specified in the Reference Stock Option agreement multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock in
respect of which the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised, with the Committee having the right to determine the form of payment.
(f) Deemed Exercise of Reference Stock Option . Upon the exercise of a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right, the Reference Stock Option or part thereof to which such Stock Appreciation Right is related shall be deemed to have been exercised for the purpose of the limitation set forth in Article IV of the Plan on the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued under the Plan.
(g) Non-Transferability . Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights shall be Transferable only when and to the extent that the underlying Stock Option would be Transferable under Section 6.4(e) of the Plan.
7.3 Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights . Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights may also be granted without reference to any Stock Options granted under the Plan.
7.4 Terms and Conditions of Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights . Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights granted hereunder shall be subject to such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as shall be determined from time to time by the Committee, and the following:
(a) Exercise Price . The exercise price per share of Common Stock subject to a Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant, provided that the per share exercise price of a Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time of grant.
(b) Term . The term of each Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall be fixed by the Committee, but shall not be greater than 10 years after the date the right is granted.
(c) Exercisability . Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.4, Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant. If the Committee provides, in its discretion, that any such right is exercisable subject to certain limitations (including, without limitation, that it is exercisable only in installments or within certain time periods), the Committee may waive such limitations on the exercisability at any time at or after grant in whole or in part (including, without limitation, waiver of the installment exercise provisions or acceleration of the time at which such right may be exercised), based on such factors, if any, as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion.
(d) Method of Exercise . Subject to whatever installment exercise and waiting period provisions apply under Section 7.4(c), Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised in whole or in part at any time in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights to be exercised.
(e) Payment . Upon the exercise of a Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right a Participant shall be entitled to receive, for each right exercised, up to, but no more than, an
amount in cash and/or Common Stock (as chosen by the Committee in its sole discretion) equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date that the right is exercised over the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date that the right was awarded to the Participant.
(f) Termination . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, subject to the provisions of the applicable Award Agreement and the Plan, upon a Participants Termination for any reason, Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights will remain exercisable following a Participants Termination on the same basis as Stock Options would be exercisable following a Participants Termination in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6.4(f) through 6.4(j).
(g) Non-Transferability . No Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights shall be Transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all such rights shall be exercisable, during the Participants lifetime, only by the Participant.
7.5 Limited Stock Appreciation Rights . The Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant Tandem and Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights either as a general Stock Appreciation Right or as a Limited Stock Appreciation Right. Limited Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised only upon the occurrence of a Change in Control or such other event as the Committee may, in its sole discretion, designate at the time of grant or thereafter. Upon the exercise of Limited Stock Appreciation Rights, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, the Participant shall receive in cash and/or Common Stock, as determined by the Committee, an amount equal to the amount (i) set forth in Section 7.2(e) with respect to Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights, or (ii) set forth in Section 7.4(e) with respect to Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights.
7.6 Other Terms and Conditions . The Committee may include a provision in an Award Agreement providing for the automatic exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right on a cashless basis on the last day of the term of such Stock Appreciation Right if the Participant has failed to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right as of such date, with respect to which the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Stock Appreciation Right exceeds the exercise price of such Stock Appreciation Right on the date of expiration of such Stock Appreciation Right, subject to Section 14.4. Stock Appreciation Rights may contain such other provisions, which shall not be inconsistent with any of the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem appropriate.
ARTICLE VIII
RESTRICTED STOCK
8.1 Awards of Restricted Stock . Shares of Restricted Stock may be issued either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. The Committee shall determine the Eligible Individuals, to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Restricted Stock shall be made, the number of shares to be awarded, the price (if any) to be paid by the Participant (subject to Section 8.2), the time or times within which such Awards may be subject to forfeiture, the vesting schedule and rights to acceleration thereof, and all other terms and conditions of the Awards.
The Committee may condition the grant or vesting of Restricted Stock upon the attainment of specified performance targets (including, the Performance Goals) or such other factor as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion, including to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.
8.2 Awards and Certificates . Eligible Individuals selected to receive Restricted Stock shall not have any right with respect to such Award, unless and until such Participant has delivered a fully executed copy of the agreement evidencing the Award to the Company, to the extent required by the Committee, and has otherwise complied with the applicable terms and conditions of such Award. Further, such Award shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) Purchase Price . The purchase price of Restricted Stock shall be fixed by the Committee. Subject to Section 4.3, the purchase price for shares of Restricted Stock may be zero to the extent permitted by applicable law, and, to the extent not so permitted, such purchase price may not be less than par value.
(b) Acceptance . Awards of Restricted Stock must be accepted within a period of 60 days (or such shorter period as the Committee may specify at grant) after the grant date, by executing a Restricted Stock agreement and by paying whatever price (if any) the Committee has designated thereunder.
(c) Legend . Each Participant receiving Restricted Stock shall be issued a stock certificate in respect of such shares of Restricted Stock, unless the Committee elects to use another system, such as book entries by the transfer agent, as evidencing ownership of shares of Restricted Stock. Such certificate shall be registered in the name of such Participant, and shall, in addition to such legends required by applicable securities laws, bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Award, substantially in the following form:
The anticipation, alienation, attachment, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge of the shares of stock represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture) of the WideOpenWest, Inc. (the Company) 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the Plan) and an Agreement entered into between the registered owner and the Company dated . Copies of such Plan and Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company.
(d) Custody . If stock certificates are issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, the Committee may require that any stock certificates evidencing such shares be held in custody by the Company until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a condition of any grant of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have delivered a duly signed stock power or other instruments of assignment (including a power of attorney), each endorsed in blank with a guarantee of signature if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company, which would permit transfer to the Company of all or a portion of the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award in the event that such Award is forfeited in whole or part.
8.3 Restrictions and Conditions . The shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to the following restrictions and conditions:
(a) Restriction Period . (i) The Participant shall not be permitted to Transfer shares of Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan during the period or periods set by the Committee (the Restriction Period ) commencing on the date of such Award, as set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement and such agreement shall set forth a vesting schedule and any event that would accelerate vesting of the shares of Restricted Stock. Within these limits, based on service, attainment of Performance Goals pursuant to Section 8.3(a)(ii) and/or such other factors or criteria as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion, the Committee may condition the grant or provide for the lapse of such restrictions in installments in whole or in part, or may accelerate the vesting of all or any part of any Restricted Stock Award and/or waive the deferral limitations for all or any part of any Restricted Stock Award.
(ii) If the grant of shares of Restricted Stock or the lapse of restrictions is based on the attainment of Performance Goals, the Committee shall establish the objective Performance Goals and the applicable vesting percentage of the Restricted Stock applicable to each Participant or class of Participants in writing prior to the beginning of the applicable fiscal year or at such later date as otherwise determined by the Committee and while the outcome of the Performance Goals are substantially uncertain. Such Performance Goals may incorporate provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including, without limitation, dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar type events or circumstances. With regard to a Restricted Stock Award that is intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, to the extent that any such provision would create impermissible discretion under Section 162(m) of the Code or otherwise violate Section 162(m) of the Code, such provision shall be of no force or effect.
(b) Rights as a Stockholder . Except as provided in Section 8.3(a) and this Section 8.3(b) or as otherwise determined by the Committee in an Award Agreement, the Participant shall have, with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, the right to vote such shares and, subject to and conditioned upon the full vesting of shares of Restricted Stock, the right to tender such shares. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine at the time of grant that the payment of dividends shall be deferred until, and conditioned upon, the expiration of the applicable Restriction Period.
(c) Termination . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, upon a Participants Termination for any reason during the relevant Restriction Period, all Restricted Stock still subject to restriction will be forfeited in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee at grant or thereafter.
(d) Lapse of Restrictions . If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the Restricted Stock, the certificates for such shares shall be delivered to the Participant. All legends shall be removed from said certificates at the time of delivery to the Participant, except as otherwise required by applicable law or other limitations imposed by the Committee.
ARTICLE IX
PERFORMANCE AWARDS
9.1 Performance Awards . The Committee may grant a Performance Award to a Participant payable upon the attainment of specific Performance Goals. The Committee may grant Performance Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, as well as Performance Awards that are not intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code. If the Performance Award is payable in shares of Restricted Stock, such shares shall be transferable to the Participant only upon attainment of the relevant Performance Goal in accordance with Article VIII. If the Performance Award is payable in cash, it may be paid upon the attainment of the relevant Performance Goals either in cash or in shares of Restricted Stock (based on the then current Fair Market Value of such shares), as determined by the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion. Each Performance Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in such form that is not inconsistent with the Plan and that the Committee may from time to time approve. With respect to Performance Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall condition the right to payment of any Performance Award upon the attainment of objective Performance Goals established pursuant to Section 9.2(c).
9.2 Terms and Conditions . Performance Awards awarded pursuant to this Article IX shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) Earning of Performance Award . At the expiration of the applicable Performance Period, the Committee shall determine the extent to which the Performance Goals established pursuant to Section 9.2(c) are achieved and the percentage of each Performance Award that has been earned.
(b) Non-Transferability . Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, Performance Awards may not be Transferred during the Performance Period.
(c) Objective Performance Goals, Formulae or Standards . With respect to Performance Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall establish the objective Performance Goals for the earning of Performance Awards based on a Performance Period applicable to each Participant or class of Participants in writing prior to the beginning of the applicable Performance Period or at such later date as permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code and while the outcome of the Performance Goals are substantially uncertain. Such Performance Goals may incorporate, if and only to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including, without limitation, dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar type events or circumstances. To the extent that any such provision would create impermissible discretion under Section 162(m) of the Code or otherwise violate Section 162(m) of the Code, such provision shall be of no force or effect, with respect to Performance Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code. Performance goals may also be based on an individual participants performance goals, as determined by the Compensation Committee. In
addition, all performance goals may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of our performance, or the performance of a subsidiary, division or other operational unit, under one or more of the measures described above relative to the performance of other corporations. The Compensation Committee may designate additional business criteria on which the performance goals may be based or adjust, modify or amend those criteria.
(d) Dividends . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, amounts equal to dividends declared during the Performance Period with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock covered by a Performance Award will not be paid to the Participant.
(e) Payment . Following the Committees determination in accordance with Section 9.2(a), the Company shall settle Performance Awards, in such form (including, without limitation, in shares of Common Stock or in cash) as determined by the Committee, in an amount equal to such Participants earned Performance Awards.
(f) Termination . Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, upon a Participants Termination for any reason during the Performance Period for a given Performance Award, the Performance Award in question will vest or be forfeited in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee at grant.
(g) Accelerated Vesting . Based on service, performance and/or such other factors or criteria, if any, as the Committee may determine, the Committee may, at or after grant, accelerate the vesting of all or any part of any Performance Award.
ARTICLE X
OTHER STOCK-BASED AND CASH-BASED AWARDS
10.1 Other Stock-Based Awards . The Committee is authorized to grant to Eligible Individuals Other Stock-Based Awards that are payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to shares of Common Stock, including but not limited to, shares of Common Stock awarded purely as a bonus and not subject to restrictions or conditions, shares of Common Stock in payment of the amounts due under an incentive or performance plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or an Affiliate, stock equivalent units, restricted stock units, and Awards valued by reference to book value of shares of Common Stock. Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted either alone or in addition to or in tandem with other Awards granted under the Plan.
Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have authority to determine the Eligible Individuals, to whom, and the time or times at which, such Awards shall be made, the number of shares of Common Stock to be awarded pursuant to such Awards, and all other conditions of the Awards. The Committee may also provide for the grant of Common Stock under such Awards upon the completion of a specified Performance Period.
The Committee may condition the grant or vesting of Other Stock-Based Awards upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals as the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion; provided that to the extent that such Other Stock-Based Awards are intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall establish the objective Performance Goals for
the grant or vesting of such Other Stock-Based Awards based on a Performance Period applicable to each Participant or class of Participants in writing prior to the beginning of the applicable Performance Period or at such later date as permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code and while the outcome of the Performance Goals are substantially uncertain. Such Performance Goals may incorporate, if and only to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including, without limitation, dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar type events or circumstances. To the extent that any such provision would create impermissible discretion under Section 162(m) of the Code or otherwise violate Section 162(m) of the Code, such provision shall be of no force or effect, with respect to Performance Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.
10.2 Terms and Conditions . Other Stock-Based Awards made pursuant to this Article X shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) Non-Transferability . Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, shares of Common Stock subject to Awards made under this Article X may not be Transferred prior to the date on which the shares are issued, or, if later, the date on which any applicable restriction, performance or deferral period lapses.
(b) Dividends . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of Award, subject to the provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, the recipient of an Award under this Article X shall not be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, dividends or dividend equivalents in respect of the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Award.
(c) Vesting . Any Award under this Article X and any Common Stock covered by any such Award shall vest or be forfeited to the extent so provided in the Award Agreement, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.
(d) Price . Common Stock issued on a bonus basis under this Article X may be issued for no cash consideration. Common Stock purchased pursuant to a purchase right awarded under this Article X shall be priced, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
10.3 Other Cash-Based Awards . The Committee may from time to time grant Other Cash-Based Awards to Eligible Individuals in such amounts, on such terms and conditions, and for such consideration, including no consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law, as it shall determine in its sole discretion. Other Cash-Based Awards may be granted subject to the satisfaction of vesting conditions or may be awarded purely as a bonus and not subject to restrictions or conditions, and if subject to vesting conditions, the Committee may accelerate the vesting of such Awards at any time in its sole discretion. The grant of an Other Cash-Based Award shall not require a segregation of any of the Companys assets for satisfaction of the Companys payment obligation thereunder.
ARTICLE XI
CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS
11.1 Benefits . In the event of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below), and except as otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award Agreement, the Compensation
Committee may treat a Participants Award in accordance with one or more of the following methods as determined by the Committee:
(a) Awards, whether or not then vested, shall be continued, assumed, or have new rights substituted therefor, as determined by the Committee in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and restrictions to which shares of Restricted Stock or any other Award granted prior to the Change in Control are subject shall not lapse upon a Change in Control and the Restricted Stock or other Award shall, where appropriate in the sole discretion of the Committee, receive the same distribution as other Common Stock on such terms as determined by the Committee; provided that the Committee may decide to award additional Restricted Stock or other Awards in lieu of any cash distribution. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of Incentive Stock Options, any assumed or substituted Stock Option shall comply with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.424-1 (and any amendment thereto).
(b) The Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for the purchase of any Awards by the Company or an Affiliate for an amount of cash equal to the excess (if any) of the Change in Control Price (as defined below) of the shares of Common Stock covered by such Awards, over the aggregate exercise price of such Awards. For purposes hereof, Change in Control Price shall mean the highest price per share of Common Stock paid in any transaction related to a Change in Control of the Company.
(c) The Committee may, in its sole discretion, terminate all outstanding and unexercised Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, or any Other Stock-Based Award that provides for a Participant elected exercise, effective as of the date of the Change in Control, by delivering notice of termination to each Participant at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of consummation of the Change in Control, in which case during the period from the date on which such notice of termination is delivered to the consummation of the Change in Control, each such Participant shall have the right to exercise in full all of such Participants Awards that are then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on exercisability otherwise contained in the Award Agreements), but any such exercise shall be contingent on the occurrence of the Change in Control, and, provided that, if the Change in Control does not take place within a specified period after giving such notice for any reason whatsoever, the notice and exercise pursuant thereto shall be null and void.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for accelerated vesting or lapse of restrictions, of an Award at any time.
11.2 Change in Control . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement with a Participant approved by the Committee, a Change in Control shall be deemed to occur if:
(a) any person, as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company, TowerBrook Capital Partners, L.P. or its affiliates, or any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially
the same proportions as their ownership of Common Stock of the Company), becoming the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities;
(b) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in paragraph (a), (c), or (d) of this Section 11.2 or a director whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as such term is used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Companys stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board;
(c) a merger, reorganization, or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger, reorganization or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; provided, however, that a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no person (other than those covered by the exceptions in Section 11.2(a)) acquires more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company; or
(d) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the consummation of a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets other than the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to a person or persons who beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company at the time of the sale.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award that is characterized as nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, an event shall not be considered to be a Change in Control under the Plan for purposes of payment of such Award unless such event is also a change in ownership, a change in effective control or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.
11.3 Initial Public Offering not a Change in Control . Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of the Plan, the occurrence of the Registration Date or any change in the composition of the Board within one year following the Registration Date shall not be considered a Change in Control.
ARTICLE XII
TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF PLAN
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Board may at any time, and from time to time, amend, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of the Plan (including any amendment deemed necessary to ensure that the Company may comply with any regulatory requirement referred to in Article XIV or Section 409A of the Code), or suspend or terminate it entirely, retroactively or otherwise; provided, however, that, unless otherwise required by law or specifically provided herein, the rights of a Participant with respect to Awards granted prior to such amendment, suspension or termination, may not be impaired without the consent of such Participant and, provided further, that without the approval of the holders of the Companys Common Stock entitled to vote in accordance with applicable law, no amendment may be made that would (i) increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of Section 4.2); (ii) increase the maximum individual Participant limitations for a fiscal year under Section 4.1(b) (except by operation of Section 4.2); (iii) change the classification of individuals eligible to receive Awards under the Plan; (iv) decrease the minimum option price of any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right; (v) extend the maximum option period under Section 6.4; (vi) alter the Performance Goals for Restricted Stock, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards as set forth in Exhibit A hereto; (vii) award any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right in replacement of a canceled Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right with a higher exercise price than the replacement award; or (viii) require stockholder approval in order for the Plan to continue to comply with the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code or, to the extent applicable to Incentive Stock Options, Section 422 of the Code. In no event may the Plan be amended without the approval of the stockholders of the Company in accordance with the applicable laws of the State of Delaware to increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan, decrease the minimum exercise price of any Award, or to make any other amendment that would require stockholder approval under Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and regulations or the rules of any exchange or system on which the Companys securities are listed or traded at the request of the Company. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Board may amend the Plan or any Award Agreement at any time without a Participants consent to comply with applicable law including Section 409A of the Code. The Committee may amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, but, subject to Article IV or as otherwise specifically provided herein, no such amendment or other action by the Committee shall impair the rights of any holder without the holders consent.
ARTICLE XIII
UNFUNDED STATUS OF PLAN
The Plan is intended to constitute an unfunded plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payment as to which a Participant has a fixed and vested interest but which are not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any right that is greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.
ARTICLE XIV
GENERAL PROVISIONS
14.1 Legend . The Committee may require each person receiving shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Stock Option or other Award under the Plan to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that the Participant is acquiring the shares without a view to distribution thereof. In addition to any legend required by the Plan, the certificates for such shares may include any legend that the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on Transfer. All certificates for shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is then listed or any national securities exchange system upon whose system the Common Stock is then quoted, any applicable federal or state securities law, and any applicable corporate law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
14.2 Other Plans . Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if such approval is required, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
14.3 No Right to Employment/Directorship/Consultancy . Neither the Plan nor the grant of any Option or other Award hereunder shall give any Participant or other employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director any right with respect to continuance of employment, consultancy or directorship by the Company or any Affiliate, nor shall there be a limitation in any way on the right of the Company or any Affiliate by which an employee is employed or a Consultant or Non-Employee Director is retained to terminate such employment, consultancy or directorship at any time.
14.4 Withholding of Taxes . The Company shall have the right to deduct from any payment to be made pursuant to the Plan, or to otherwise require, prior to the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock or the payment of any cash hereunder, payment by the Participant of, any federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld. Upon the vesting of Restricted Stock (or other Award that is taxable upon vesting), or upon making an election under Section 83(b) of the Code, a Participant shall pay all required withholding to the Company. Any minimum statutorily required withholding obligation with regard to any Participant may be satisfied, subject to the consent of the Committee, by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable or by delivering shares of Common Stock already owned. Any fraction of a share of Common Stock required to satisfy such tax obligations shall be disregarded and the amount due shall be paid instead in cash by the Participant.
14.5 No Assignment of Benefits . No Award or other benefit payable under the Plan shall, except as otherwise specifically provided by law or permitted by the Committee, be Transferable in any manner, and any attempt to Transfer any such benefit shall be void, and any such benefit shall not in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of any person who shall be entitled to such benefit, nor shall it be subject to attachment or legal process for or against such person.
14.6 Listing and Other Conditions .
(a) Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, as long as the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange or system sponsored by a national securities association, the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award shall be conditioned upon such shares being listed on such exchange or system. The Company shall have no obligation to issue such shares unless and until such shares are so listed, and the right to exercise any Option or other Award with respect to such shares shall be suspended until such listing has been effected.
(b) If at any time counsel to the Company shall be of the opinion that any sale or delivery of shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Option or other Award is or may in the circumstances be unlawful or result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company under the statutes, rules or regulations of any applicable jurisdiction, the Company shall have no obligation to make such sale or delivery, or to make any application or to effect or to maintain any qualification or registration under the Securities Act or otherwise, with respect to shares of Common Stock or Awards, and the right to exercise any Option or other Award shall be suspended until, in the opinion of said counsel, such sale or delivery shall be lawful or will not result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company.
(c) Upon termination of any period of suspension under this Section 14.6, any Award affected by such suspension which shall not then have expired or terminated shall be reinstated as to all shares available before such suspension and as to shares which would otherwise have become available during the period of such suspension, but no such suspension shall extend the term of any Award.
(d) A Participant shall be required to supply the Company with certificates, representations and information that the Company requests and otherwise cooperate with the Company in obtaining any listing, registration, qualification, exemption, consent or approval the Company deems necessary or appropriate.
14.7 Stockholders Agreement and Other Requirements . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, as a condition to the receipt of shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award under the Plan, to the extent required by the Committee, the Participant shall execute and deliver a stockholders agreement or such other documentation that shall set forth certain restrictions on transferability of the shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise or purchase, and such other terms as the Board or Committee shall from time to time establish. Such stockholders agreement or other documentation shall apply to the Common Stock acquired under the Plan and covered by such stockholders agreement or other documentation. The Company may require, as a condition of exercise, the Participant to become a party to any other existing stockholder agreement (or other agreement).
14.8 Governing Law . The Plan and actions taken in connection herewith shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (regardless of the law that might otherwise govern under applicable Delaware principles of conflict of laws).
14.9 Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial . Any suit, action or proceeding with respect to the Plan or any Award Agreement, or any judgment entered by any court of competent
jurisdiction in respect of any thereof, shall be resolved only in the courts of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and the appellate courts having jurisdiction of appeals in such courts. In that context, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company and each Participant shall irrevocably and unconditionally (a) submit in any proceeding relating to the Plan or any Award Agreement, or for the recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof (a Proceeding ), to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware, the court of the United States of America for the District of Delaware, and appellate courts having jurisdiction of appeals from any of the foregoing, and agree that all claims in respect of any such Proceeding shall be heard and determined in such Delaware State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court, (b) consent that any such Proceeding may and shall be brought in such courts and waives any objection that the Company and each Participant may now or thereafter have to the venue or jurisdiction of any such Proceeding in any such court or that such Proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agree not to plead or claim the same, (c) waive all right to trial by jury in any Proceeding (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to the Plan or any Award Agreement, (d) agree that service of process in any such Proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy of such process by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such party, in the case of a Participant, at the Participants address shown in the books and records of the Company or, in the case of the Company, at the Companys principal offices, attention General Counsel, and (e) agree that nothing in the Plan shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware.
14.10 Construction . Wherever any words are used in the Plan in the masculine gender they shall be construed as though they were also used in the feminine gender in all cases where they would so apply, and wherever words are used herein in the singular form they shall be construed as though they were also used in the plural form in all cases where they would so apply.
14.11 Other Benefits . No Award granted or paid out under the Plan shall be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits under any retirement plan of the Company or its Affiliates nor affect any benefit under any other benefit plan now or subsequently in effect under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to the level of compensation.
14.12 Costs . The Company shall bear all expenses associated with administering the Plan, including expenses of issuing Common Stock pursuant to Awards hereunder.
14.13 No Right to Same Benefits . The provisions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant, and such Awards to individual Participants need not be the same in subsequent years.
14.14 Death/Disability . The Committee may in its discretion require the transferee of a Participant to supply it with written notice of the Participants death or Disability and to supply it with a copy of the will (in the case of the Participants death) or such other evidence as the Committee deems necessary to establish the validity of the transfer of an Award. The Committee may also require that the agreement of the transferee to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Plan.
14.15 Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act . All elections and transactions under the Plan by persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act involving shares of Common Stock are intended to comply with any applicable exemptive condition under Rule 16b-3. The Committee may establish and adopt written administrative guidelines, designed to facilitate compliance with Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, as it may deem necessary or proper for the administration and operation of the Plan and the transaction of business thereunder.
14.16 Section 409A of the Code . The Plan is intended to comply with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, it shall be paid in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, including proposed, temporary or final regulations or any other guidance issued by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any provision in the Plan that is inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code shall be deemed to be amended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and to the extent such provision cannot be amended to comply therewith, such provision shall be null and void. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Award that is intended to be exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A of the Code is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Committee or the Company and, in the event that any amount or benefit under the Plan becomes subject to penalties under Section 409A of the Code, responsibility for payment of such penalties shall rest solely with the affected Participants and not with the Company. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or Award Agreement, any payment(s) of nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) that are otherwise required to be made under the Plan to a specified employee (as defined under Section 409A of the Code) as a result of such employees separation from service (other than a payment that is not subject to Section 409A of the Code) shall be delayed for the first six (6) months following such separation from service (or, if earlier, the date of death of the specified employee) and shall instead be paid (in a manner set forth in the Award Agreement) upon expiration of such delay period.
14.17 Successor and Assigns . The Plan shall be binding on all successors and permitted assigns of a Participant, including, without limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or trustee of such estate.
14.18 Severability of Provisions . If any provision of the Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.
14.19 Payments to Minors, Etc . Any benefit payable to or for the benefit of a minor, an incompetent person or other person incapable of receipt thereof shall be deemed paid when paid to such persons guardian or to the party providing or reasonably appearing to provide for the care of such person, and such payment shall fully discharge the Committee, the Board, the Company, its Affiliates and their employees, agents and representatives with respect thereto.
14.20 Lock-Up Agreement . As a condition to the grant of an Award, if requested by the Company and the lead underwriter of any public offering of the Common Stock (the Lead Underwriter ), a Participant shall irrevocably agree not to sell, contract to sell, grant any option to
purchase, transfer the economic risk of ownership in, make any short sale of, pledge or otherwise transfer or dispose of, any interest in any Common Stock or any securities convertible into, derivative of, or exchangeable or exercisable for, or any other rights to purchase or acquire Common Stock (except Common Stock included in such public offering or acquired on the public market after such offering) during such period of time following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act that the Lead Underwriter shall specify (the Lock-Up Period ). The Participant shall further agree to sign such documents as may be requested by the Lead Underwriter to effect the foregoing and agree that the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Award until the end of such Lock-Up Period.
14.21 Headings and Captions . The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of the Plan.
14.22 Section 162(m) of the Code . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, (i) prior to the Registration Date and during the Transition Period, the provisions of the Plan requiring compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code for Awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation shall only apply to the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code, and (ii) the provisions of the Plan requiring compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code shall not apply to Awards granted under the Plan that are not intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.
14.23 Post-Transition Period . Following the Transition Period, any Award granted under the Plan that is intended to be performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, shall be subject to the approval of the material terms of the Plan by a majority of the stockholders of the Company in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code and the treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.
14.24 Company Recoupment of Awards . A Participants rights with respect to any Award hereunder shall in all events be subject to (i) any right that the Company may have under any Company recoupment policy or other agreement or arrangement with a Participant, or (ii) any right or obligation that the Company may have regarding the clawback of incentive-based compensation under Section 10D of the Exchange Act and any applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
ARTICLE XV
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN
The Plan shall become effective on May 24, 2017 which is the date of its adoption by the Board, subject to the approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company in accordance with the requirements of the laws of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE XVI
TERM OF PLAN
No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the earlier of the date that the Plan is adopted or the date of stockholder approval, but Awards granted
prior to such tenth anniversary may extend beyond that date; provided that no Award (other than a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right) that is intended to be performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code shall be granted on or after the fifth anniversary of the stockholder approval of the Plan unless the Performance Goals are re-approved (or other designated Performance Goals are approved) by the stockholders no later than the first stockholder meeting that occurs in the fifth year following the year in which stockholders approve the Performance Goals.
ARTICLE XVII
NAME OF PLAN
The Plan shall be known as the WideOpenWest, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
EXHIBIT A
PERFORMANCE GOALS
To the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, performance goals established for purposes of Awards intended to be performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, shall be based on the attainment of certain target levels of, or a specified increase or decrease (as applicable) in one or more of the following performance goals:
· earnings per share;
· operating income;
· gross income;
· net income (before or after taxes);
· cash flow;
· gross profit;
· gross profit return on investment;
· gross margin return on investment;
· gross margin;
· operating margin;
· working capital;
· earnings before interest and taxes;
· earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization;
· return on equity;
· return on assets;
· return on capital;
· return on invested capital;
· net revenues;
· gross revenues;
· revenue growth;
· annual recurring revenues;
· recurring revenues;
· license revenues;
· sales or market share
· total stockholder return
· economic value added
· specified objectives with regard to limiting the level of increase in all or a portion of our bank debt or other long-term or short-term public or private debt or other similar financial obligations, which may be calculated net of cash balances and other offsets and adjustments as may be established by the Compensation Committee
· the fair market value of a share of our common stock
· the growth in the value of an investment in our common stock assuming the reinvestment of dividends;
· reduction in operating expenses.
With respect to Awards t hat are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, also exclude, or adjust to reflect, the impact of an event or occurrence that the Committee determines should be appropriately excluded or adjusted, including:
(a) restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items or events, and other unusual or non-recurring charges as described in Accounting Standards Codification 225-20, Extraordinary and Unusual Items, and/or managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing or incorporated by reference in the Companys Form 10-K for the applicable year;
(b) an event either not directly related to the operations of the Company or not within the reasonable control of the Companys management; or
(c) a change in tax law or accounting standards required by generally accepted accounting principles.
Performance goals may also be based upon individual participant performance goals, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. In addition, Awards that are not intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code may be based on the performance goals set forth herein or on such other performance goals as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
In addition, such performance goals may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of Company (or subsidiary, division, other operational unit, administrative department or product category of the Company) performance under one or more of the measures described above relative to the performance of other corporations. With respect to Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, but only to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code (including, without limitation, compliance with any requirements for stockholder approval), the Committee may also:
(a) designate additional business criteria on which the performance goals may be based; or
(b) adjust, modify or amend the aforementioned business criteria.