UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 26, 2019

 

Sundance Energy Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-36302

 

61-1949225

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

1050 17th Street, Suite 700 Denver, CO 80265

 

(303) 543-5700

(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o                                    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o                                    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o                                    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o                                    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

 

SNDE

 

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Emerging growth company   x

 

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 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  o

 

 

 


 

Explanatory Note

 

Completion of Redomiciliation

 

On November 26, 2019 (the “Effective Date”), the redomiciliation (“Redomiciliation”) of Sundance Energy Australia Limited, a public company incorporated under the laws of the State of South Australia (“SEAL”) was completed in accordance with the Scheme Implementation Agreement, dated September 11, 2019, between SEAL and Sundance Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).  As a result of the Redomiciliation, the location of incorporation of the ultimate parent company of the Sundance group of companies was changed from Australia to Delaware.

 

The Redomiciliation was effected pursuant to a statutory scheme of arrangement under Australian law (the “Scheme”), whereby on the Effective Date, all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of SEAL were exchanged for newly issued shares of common stock of the Company, on the basis of one share of the Company’s common stock for every 100 ordinary shares of SEAL issued and outstanding.  Holders of SEAL’s American Depository Shares (“ADSs”) (each of which represents 10 ordinary shares) received one share of the Company’s common stock for every 10 ADSs held.

 

The Company’s common stock issued in the Scheme was exempt from registration under Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

Prior to the Redomiciliation, SEAL’s ordinary shares were registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and its ADSs listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”).  SEAL’s ADSs were suspended from trading on Nasdaq prior to the start of trading on the Effective Date, and following the Effective Date will no longer trade on Nasdaq.

 

Pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) under the Exchange Act, as of the Effective Date the Company is the successor issuer to SEAL, the Company’s common stock is deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company is subject to the periodic and current reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  The Company hereby reports this succession in accordance with Rule 12g-3(f) under the Exchange Act.

 

The Company’s common stock began trading on Nasdaq at the start of trading on the Effective Date under the symbol “SNDE”, the same symbol under which SEAL’s ADSs were traded on Nasdaq prior to the Effective Date. The CUSIP for the Company’s common stock is 86725N 102.  Nasdaq has filed a Form 25 with the SEC to remove SEAL’s  ADS listing on Nasdaq. SEAL expects to file a Form 15 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to terminate the registration under the Exchange Act of SEAL’s ordinary shares, and to suspend its reporting obligations under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

In connection with the Redomiciliation, the Company has agreed to become a guarantor under SEAL’s syndicated reserve-based revolver with Natixis, New York Branch, as administrative agent, and SEAL’s second lien term loan with Morgan Stanley Energy Capital, as administrative agent.

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

The information included under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference to this Item 2.03.

 

Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

 

The information included under the Explanatory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference to this Item 3.01.

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities.

 

The information included under the Explanatory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference to this Item 3.02.

 

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

The information included under the Explanatory Note, Item 5.03 and Item 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference to this Item 3.03.

 

Item 5.01 Changes in Control of Registrant.

 

The information included under the Explanatory Note and Item 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference to this Item 5.01.

 

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Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangement of Certain Officers.

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

The directors of SEAL prior to the completion of the Redomiciliation are the same directors of the Company.  As of the Effective Date, the committees of the board of directors of the Company were constituted as follows:

 

Audit Committee: Thomas L. Mitchell (Chairman), Judith D. Buie, Damien A. Hannes, Neville W. Martin and Michael D. Hannell

 

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee: Damien A. Hannes (Chairman), Michael D. Hannell, H. Weldon Holcombe, and Thomas L. Mitchell

 

Compensation Committee: Damien A. Hannes (Chairman), Michael D. Hannell, H. Weldon Holcombe, and Thomas L. Mitchell

 

Reserves Committee: H. Weldon Holcombe (Chairman), Judith D. Buie, Michael D. Hannell and Neville W. Martin

 

Eric. P. McCrady will serve as chief executive officer of the Company, and Cathy L. Anderson will serve as chief financial officer of the Company.  Mr. McCrady and Ms. Anderson served in these same roles at SEAL prior to the Redomiciliation.

 

Biographical information with respect to the above directors and executive officers of the Company can be found under Item 6A of the Annual Report on Form 20-F filed by SEAL with the SEC on April 30, 2019, and is incorporated by reference to this Item 5.02.

 

Indemnification Agreements

 

On the Effective Date, the Company entered into indemnification agreements with each of the directors and executive officers of the Company. These agreements provide for the indemnification by the Company of these persons against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of his or her status or service as a director or officer or in such other capacity and to advance expenses incurred as a result of certain proceedings, to the fullest extent provided by law.

 

The foregoing description of the indemnification agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of such agreement filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to this Item 5.02.

 

Restricted Share Units

 

On the Effective Date, and pursuant to the Scheme, the Company assumed SEAL’s obligations with respect to the settlement of restricted share units awards (“RSUs”) that were granted by SEAL prior to the Effective Date pursuant to SEAL’s Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended (the “RSU Plan”), which provided for grants of RSUs to SEAL’s U.S. based employees.  Accordingly, the RSUs will be settled in shares of common stock of the Company rather than ordinary shares of SEAL.  Other than as described above, the terms of the RSU Plan and the RSUs remain unchanged.

 

Following the Effective Date, no new awards or grants will be made under the RSU Plan.  The Company intends to present a new equity incentive plan to stockholders for approval at the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders.

 

The foregoing description of the RSU Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of such RSU Plan filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to this Item 5.02.

 

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

In connection with the Redomiciliation, the Company’s board of directors approved the Company’s certificate of incorporation (“Certificate”) and bylaws (the “Bylaws”).  The summary of the material terms of the Certificate and

 

3


 

Bylaws is included under the heading “Description of Common Stock” in Item 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to this Item 5.03.

 

The foregoing description of the Certificate and Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Certificate and Bylaws, which are filed as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to this Item 5.03.

 

Item 5.05. Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

 

On the Effective Date, the Company adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (the “Code”), which applies to all directors, officers and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

The foregoing description of the Code is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Code, which is filed as Exhibit 14.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to this Item 5.05. The Code will be made available on the Company’s website at www.sundanceenergy.net.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

Press Release

 

On November 26, 2019, the Company issued a press release announcing the completion of the Redomiciliation and other information related thereto. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference to this Item 8.01.

 

Successor Issuer

 

Pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) under the Exchange Act, as of the Effective Date the Company is the successor issuer to SEAL, the Company’s common stock is deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company is subject to the periodic and current reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  The Company hereby reports this succession in accordance with Rule 12g-3(f) under the Exchange Act.

 

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

 

The following description of the Company’s common stock is a summary. This summary is subject to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) and the complete text of the Certificate and Bylaws, which are filed as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference to this Item 8.01.

 

General

 

The Certificate authorizes the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share.  On the Effective Date, all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of SEAL were exchanged for newly issued shares of common stock of the Company, on the basis of one share of the Company’s common stock for every 100 ordinary shares issued and outstanding.

 

Voting Rights

 

Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors. The Company’s stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Accordingly, in an uncontested election, holders of a majority of the voting shares are able to elect all of the directors.

 

Dividends

 

Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the

 

4


 

Company’s board of directors out of legally available funds.  Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of common stock.  Declaration and payment of any dividend will be subject to the discretion of the board of directors. The time and amount of dividends will be dependent upon the Company’s financial condition, operations, cash requirements and availability, debt repayment obligations, capital expenditure needs, restrictions in the Company’s debt instruments, industry trends, the provisions of Delaware law affecting the payment of distributions to stockholders and any other factors the Board may consider relevant.

 

Liquidation

 

In the event of the Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to share rateably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of the Company’s debts and other liabilities and the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any then outstanding shares of preferred stock.

 

Rights and Preferences

 

Holders of the Company’s common stock have no pre-emptive, conversion, subscription or other rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Company’s common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Company’s common stock are subject to and may be adversely affected by the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that the Company may designate in the future.

 

Fully Paid and Nonassessable

 

All outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Annual Stockholder Meetings

 

The Certificate and Bylaws provide that annual stockholder meetings will be held at a date, place (if any) and time, as exclusively selected by the board of directors. To the extent permitted under applicable law, the Company may but is not obligated to conduct meetings by remote communications, including by webcast.

 

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of the Certificate and Bylaws and DGCL

 

Some provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate and Bylaws could make the following transactions difficult: (i) acquisition of the Company by means of a tender offer; (ii) acquisition of the Company by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or (iii) removal of incumbent officers and directors of the Company. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish or could deter transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interest or in the best interests of the Company, including transactions that might result in a premium over the market price for the Company’s common stock.

 

These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of the Company to first negotiate with the Board.

 

Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute

 

The Company is subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, which prohibits persons deemed “interested stockholders” from engaging in a “business combination” with a publicly-held Delaware corporation for three years following the date these persons become interested stockholders unless the business combination is, or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder was, approved in a prescribed manner or another prescribed exception applies. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status did own, 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock, and a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. The existence of this provision may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the board of directors, such as

 

5


 

discouraging takeover attempts that might result in a premium over the market price of the Company’s common stock.

 

Special Stockholder Meetings

 

The Bylaws provide that a special meeting of stockholders (i) may be called by the board of directors, the chair of the board of directors or the Chief Executive Officer at such time and for such purpose as the person calling such meeting shall see fit, and (ii) shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer at the request in writing of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares entitled to vote, provided such request states the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.

 

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals

 

The Bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors.

 

Composition of the Board of Directors; Election and Removal of Directors; Filling Vacancies

 

The Company’s board of directors consists of not less than four directors. In any uncontested elections of directors, a director nominee for the board of directors of the Company will be elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast with respect to such director by the shares represented and entitled to vote at a meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, voting together as a single class.

 

An incumbent director who is nominated for an uncontested election and fails to receive a majority of the votes present and voting for such director’s re-election would be required to tender his or her resignation to the board of directors. If the resignation is accepted, the board of directors will determine a date on which such resignation will take effect within 90 days of the date of such decision and make the effective date of such resignation public by means of a current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC within four business days thereof. If the resignation is not accepted, upon a unanimous vote, the board of directors will decline to accept such resignation and, not later than four business days thereof, make public, together with a discussion of the analysis used in reaching the conclusion, the specific reasons that the board of directors chose not to accept the resignation and that the board’s decision was in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders. In a contested election, a plurality voting standard will apply to director elections. The directors of the Company are elected until the expiration of the term for which they are elected and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

The directors of the Company may be removed by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the holders of the Company’s then-outstanding common stock. Furthermore, any vacancy on the Company’s board of directors, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the size of the board, may be filled only by a majority vote of the board of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director.

 

Choice of Forum

 

The Bylaws provide that, unless an alternative forum is selected, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; (ii) any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty; (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the DGCL, the Certificate or the Bylaws; or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Company that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware. Although the Certificate contains the choice of forum provision described above, it is possible that a court could find that such a provision is inapplicable for a particular claim or action or that such provision is unenforceable.

 

Amendment of the Certificate and Bylaws

 

The Certificate may be amended in any manner permitted under the DGCL and the Bylaws may be amended by the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock.

 

6


 

Limitations of Liability and Indemnification Matters

 

Each of the Certificate and Bylaws provide that the Company is required to indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. The Bylaws also obligates the Company to advance expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding upon delivery to the Company of 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, that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses.

 

The Company may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for Company’s common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 250 Royall St., Canton, Massachusetts 02021.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Description of Exhibit

2.1

 

Scheme Implementation Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of the Current Report on Form 6-K of Sundance Energy Australia Limited (File No. 001-36302) furnished on September 11, 2019)

 

 

 

3.1*

 

Certificate of Incorporation of Sundance Energy Inc., dated September 5, 2019

 

 

 

3.2*

 

Bylaws of Sundance Energy Inc., dated September 5, 2019

 

 

 

4.1*

 

Form of common stock certificate of Sundance Energy Inc.

 

 

 

10.1*

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement

 

 

 

10.2*

 

Sundance Energy Australia Limited Long Term Incentive Plan

 

 

 

14.1*

 

Code of Ethics and Business Conduct

 

 

 

99.1*

 

Press release, dated November 26, 2019

 


*Filed herewith.

 

7


 

SIGNATURE

 

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

 

Date:  November 26, 2019

 

 

SUNDANCE ENERGY INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Eric P. McCrady

 

Name:

Eric P. McCrady

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

8


Exhibit 3.1

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

SUNDANCE ENERGY INC.

 

FIRST.  The name of the corporation is Sundance Energy Inc. (the “Corporation”).

 

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

 

THIRD.  The purpose of the 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 “DGCL”) as the same exists or may hereafter be amended.

 

FOURTH.  The total number of shares of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 100,000,000 shares of common stock having a par value of $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”).

 

FIFTH.  Each holder of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally.

 

SIXTH.  The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”).

 

SEVENTH.  Subject to the Bylaws, the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. Each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting at which such director was elected, or, in each case, if later, until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier retirement, death, resignation or removal. Election of directors need not be by written ballot except and to the extent provided by the Bylaws.

 

EIGHTH.  The name and mailing address of the incorporator of the Corporation is:

 

Name

Mailing Address

Heath C. Trisdale

Baker & McKenzie LLP

 

700 Louisiana, Ste. 3000

 

Houston, Texas 77002

 

NINTH.  An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such place, if any, or solely by remote communications, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall determine.

 

TENTH.  A director of the Corporation shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended. Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any

 

1


 

right or protection of a director of the corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.

 

ELEVENTH.  Each person (and the heirs, executors or administrators of such person) who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article ELEVENTH shall also include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in connection with any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article ELEVENTH shall be a contract right.

 

The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification to such of the employees and agents of the Corporation to such extent and to such effect as the Board of Directors shall determine to be appropriate and authorized by the DGCL.

 

The Corporation shall have power 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, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss incurred by such person in any such capacity or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the DGCL.

 

The rights and authority conferred in this Article ELEVENTH shall not be exclusive of any other right that any person may otherwise have or hereafter acquire.

 

Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article ELEVENTH, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, nor, to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL, any modification of law, shall adversely affect any right or protection of any person granted pursuant hereto existing at, or arising out of or related to any event, act or omission that occurred prior to, the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification (regardless of when any proceeding (or part thereof) relating to such event, act or omission arises or is first threatened, commenced or completed).

 

TWELFTH.  The Corporation reserves the right to amend this Certificate of Incorporation in any manner permitted under the DGCL and all rights and powers conferred upon stockholders, directors and officers herein are granted subject to this reservation.

 

(Signature page follows)

 

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THE UNDERSIGNED, being the sole incorporator, for the purpose of forming a corporation pursuant to the DGCL, does make this certificate, hereby declaring and certifying that the facts stated are true, and accordingly have hereunto set his hand this 5th day of September, 2019.

 

 

/s/ Heath C. Trisdale

 

Name:

Heath C. Trisdale

 

 

Sole Incorporator

 

(Signature page to Certificate of Incorporation)

 


Exhibit 3.2

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

SUNDANCE ENERGY INC.

 

(the “Corporation”)

 

Adopted as of September 5, 2019

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE I MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

1

 

 

 

Section 1.

Annual Meeting

1

 

 

 

Section 2.

Special Meetings

5

 

 

 

Section 3.

Notice of Meetings

6

 

 

 

Section 4.

Quorum

6

 

 

 

Section 5.

Presiding Officers of the Meeting

7

 

 

 

Section 6.

Conduct of Business

7

 

 

 

Section 7.

Proxies and Voting

7

 

 

 

Section 8.

Stock List

8

 

 

 

ARTICLE II BOARD OF DIRECTORS

9

 

 

 

Section 1.

Number, Election and Term of Directors

9

 

 

 

Section 2.

Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies

9

 

 

 

Section 3.

Eligibility for Stockholder Director Nominees

9

 

 

 

Section 4.

Regular Meetings

10

 

 

 

Section 5.

Special Meetings

10

 

 

 

Section 6.

Quorum

10

 

 

 

Section 7.

Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone

10

 

 

 

Section 8.

Conduct of Business/Action by Consent

10

 

 

 

Section 9.

Compensation of Directors

11

 

 

 

ARTICLE III COMMITTEES

11

 

 

 

Section 1.

Committees of the Board of Directors

11

 

 

 

Section 2.

Regular Meetings

11

 

 

 

Section 3.

Special Meetings

11

 

 

 

Section 4.

Quorum

11

 

 

 

Section 5.

Conduct of Business/Action by Consent

12

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV OFFICERS

12

 

 

 

Section 1.

Generally

12

 

 

 

Section 2.

Powers

12

 

 

 

Section 3.

Delegation of Authority

12

 

 

 

Section 4.

Removal

12

 

 

 

Section 5.

Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations

13

 

 

 

ARTICLE V STOCK

13

 

 

 

Section 1.

Certificates of Stock; Uncertificated Shares

13

 

 

 

Section 2.

Transfers of Stock

13

 

 

 

Section 3.

Record Date

13

 

 

 

Section 4.

Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates

14

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 5.

Regulations

14

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI NOTICES

15

 

 

 

Section 1.

Notices

15

 

 

 

Section 2.

Waivers

15

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS

16

 

 

 

Section 1.

Electronic Signatures

16

 

 

 

Section 2.

Corporate Seal

16

 

 

 

Section 3.

Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records

16

 

 

 

Section 4.

Fiscal Year

16

 

 

 

Section 5.

Dispute Resolution

16

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

17

 

 

 

Section 1.

Right to Indemnification

17

 

 

 

Section 2.

Right to Advancement of Expenses

17

 

 

 

Section 3.

Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit

17

 

 

 

Section 4.

Non-Exclusivity of Rights

18

 

 

 

Section 5.

Insurance

18

 

 

 

Section 6.

Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation

18

 

 

 

Section 7.

Nature of Rights

18

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS

19

 

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ARTICLE I

 

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1.                                          Annual Meeting.

 

(a)                                          An annual meeting of the stockholders, for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place within or without the State of Delaware or solely by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), on such date, and at such time as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors and, in the absence thereof, the Chair of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, may postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled annual meeting.

 

(b)                                          Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be transacted by the stockholders may only be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice and proxy materials for such meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, or (iii) by any stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time of the giving of the notice required in Section 1(c) who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or propose business (other than business required to be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (such act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Exchange Act”) which shall be deemed to comply with this Section 1(b)) at an annual meeting of stockholders.

 

For nominations or business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder of record pursuant to clause (iii) above of this Section 1(b), (i) the stockholder of record must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation (the “Secretary”), (ii) the stockholder of record must provide to the Secretary any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms specified in this Section 1, (iii) any such business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as amended and/or restated the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or applicable law, and (iv) the stockholder of record and the beneficial owner or owners, if any, on whose behalf any such proposal or nomination is made, must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Solicitation Statement (as defined below). To be timely, a notice by a stockholder of record must be received by the Secretary by the close of business at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 nor more than 120 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that, subject to the last sentence of this Section 1(b), if the meeting is convened more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 60 days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder of record to be timely must be so received not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of the annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the 90th day before such annual meeting or (ii) if the first public announcement by the Corporation of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement by the Corporation of the date of such meeting is first made.

 

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Notwithstanding anything in the preceding sentence to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there has been no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or indicating the increase in the size of the Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least 10 days before the last day a stockholder of record may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with the preceding sentence, a notice by a stockholder of record required by this Section 1 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase in the number of directors, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall an adjournment, or postponement of an annual meeting of stockholders for which notice has been given, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a notice by a stockholder of record.

 

(c)                                           Such notice by a stockholder of record shall set forth:

 

(i)                                     If such notice pertains to the nomination of directors, as to each person whom the stockholder of record proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director: (A) all information relating to such person as would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of such nominees as directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act; (B) such person’s written consent to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement and associated proxy card as a nominee of the stockholder and to serving as a director if elected and written representation of his or her intention to serve as a director for the entire term if elected; (C) a description of all direct and indirect compensation or other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder of record and beneficial owner or owners, if any, or other person on whose behalf the nomination is made, and their respective affiliates and associates, or other persons acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his or her respective affiliates and associates or other persons acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder of record making the nomination and any beneficial owner or owners, if any, or other person on whose behalf the nomination is made, or any affiliate or associate thereof or other person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant; and (D) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation or agreement as may be required by the Corporation pursuant to Section 3 of Article II of these Bylaws. For purposes of these Bylaws, a person shall be deemed to be acting in concert with another person if such person knowingly acts toward a common goal relating to the management, governance or control of the Corporation in parallel with such other person where (A) each person is conscious of the other person’s conduct or intent and this awareness is an element in their decision-making process and (B) at least one additional factor suggests that persons intend to act in parallel, which additional factors may include attending meetings, conducting discussions or making or soliciting invitations to act in parallel.

 

(ii)                                  As to any business that the stockholder of record proposes to bring before the meeting: a brief description of such business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, any material interest in such business of such stockholder of

 

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record and the beneficial owner or owners, if any, or other persons on whose behalf the proposal is made or acting in concert therewith and a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder of record and beneficial owner or owners, if any, and any other such person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder of record.

 

(iii)                               As to (1) the stockholder of record giving the notice and (2) the beneficial owner or owners, if any, or other persons on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made or acting in concert therewith (each, a “party”):

 

(A)                               the name and address of each such party;

 

(B)                               (1) the class, series, and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record by each such party, (2) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or providing for a settlement payment or mechanism based on the price of any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by each such party, and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, (3) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which any party, either directly or acting in concert with another person or persons, has a right to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares of any security of the Corporation, (4) any short interest or other borrowing arrangement in any security of the Corporation held by each such party (for purposes of this Section 1(c), a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security), (5) any rights to dividends on the shares of capital stock of the Corporation owned beneficially directly or indirectly by each such party that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of capital stock of the Corporation, (6) any proportionate interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which any party is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and (7) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that each such party is directly or indirectly entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of capital stock of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of each such party’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information set forth in this paragraph shall be supplemented by such stockholder or such beneficial owner or other person, as the case may be, not later than 10 days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date);

 

(C)                               any other information relating to each such party that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act (whether or not such party intends to deliver a proxy statement or conduct its own proxy solicitation); and

 

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(D)                               a statement as to whether or not each such party will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation required under applicable law to approve the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations for election as directors, at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation reasonably believed by the stockholder of record or beneficial owner or owners, as the case may be, to be sufficient to elect the persons proposed to be nominated by the stockholder of record (such statement, a “Solicitation Statement”).

 

(iv)                              A stockholder of record providing notice of a nomination of director or other business proposed to be brought before a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 1 shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five business days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than five business days prior to the date for the meeting, if practicable (or, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to) any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

 

(d)                                          A person shall not be eligible for election or re-election as a director at an annual meeting unless (i) the person is nominated by a stockholder of record in accordance with Section 1(b)(iii) of this Article I; or (ii) the person is nominated by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof. Only such business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1. The chair of the meeting shall have the power and the duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting has been made in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such proposed business or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual 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. For purposes of this Section 1, 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.

 

(e)                                           For purposes of these Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure by the Corporation in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to matters set forth in this Section 1. Nothing in this Section 1 shall be deemed to affect any rights of (a) stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (b) holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 2.                                          Special Meetings.

 

(a)                                          Special meetings of the stockholders, other than those required by statute, (i) may be called by the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation at such time and for such purpose as the person calling such meeting shall see fit, and (ii) shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer at the request in writing of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares entitled to vote and such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. The Board of Directors and, in the absence thereof, the Chair of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, may postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled special meeting. A special meeting of stockholders shall be held at such place within or without the State of Delaware or solely by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 211(a)(2) of the DGCL, on such date, and at such time as designated in the notice of such special meeting.

 

(b)                                          Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof or, in the absence thereof, the Chair of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. The notice of such special meeting shall include the purpose for which the meeting is called. If a special meeting of stockholders has been called for the purpose of the election of directors, nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at such special meeting of stockholders (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof or (b) by any stockholder of record who, at the time of giving of notice provided for in this paragraph, shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and nominate persons for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 1(b)(iii) of this Article I, who delivers a written notice to the Secretary setting forth the information set forth in Section 1(c)(i) and 1(c)(iii) of this Article I and who provides to the Secretary any updates as supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms specified in Section 1(c)(iv) of this Article I. Nominations by stockholders of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at such a special meeting of stockholders only if such stockholder of record’s notice required by the preceding sentence shall be received by the Secretary by the close of business at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such special meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such special meeting, the 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 an adjournment, or postponement of a special meeting for which notice has been given, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder of record’s notice. A person shall not be eligible for election or reelection as a director at a special meeting unless the person is nominated (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by a stockholder of record entitled to nominate persons for election or re-election in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 1(b)(iii) of this Article I.

 

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(c)                                           Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to matters set forth in this Section 2. Nothing in this Section 2 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 2, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 3.                                          Notice of Meetings.

 

(a)                                          Notice of the place, if any, date, and time of all meetings of the stockholders, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, shall be given, not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, or applicable law.

 

(b)                                          When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders 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; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than 30 days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, notice of the place, if any, date, and time of the adjourned meeting and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such 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 as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting . At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

Section 4.                                          Quorum.

 

At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law or by the rules or listing standards of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed.

 

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Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, a majority of the voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.

 

If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chair of the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date, or time. Notice of such adjourned meeting, if any, shall be given as provided in Section 3(b) of this Article I.

 

Section 5.                                          Presiding Officers of the Meeting.

 

The Chair of the Board or, in his or her absence or unwillingness to act, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or, in his or her absence or unwillingness to act, such person as may be chosen by the Board of Directors or, if there are not remaining directors serving, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, at such meeting shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders and act as chair of the meeting. In the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the chair of the meeting appoints.

 

Section 6.                                          Conduct of Business.

 

The chair of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the matters to be voted upon by the stockholders, the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him or her in order. The chair shall have the power (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date and time. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting. No ballots, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors or the chair of the meeting after the closing of the polls unless the Delaware Court of Chancery upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise.

 

Section 7.                                          Proxies and Voting.

 

(a)                                          At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy authorized by a document permitted by law and filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the document (including any electronic transmission) authorized pursuant to this paragraph may be substituted or used in lieu of the original document for any and all purposes for which the document could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original document.

 

(b)                                          The Corporation may, and to the extent required by law, shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more 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 person presiding at the meeting may, and to the extent required by law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of

 

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inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. Every vote taken by ballots shall be counted by a duly appointed inspector or inspectors.

 

(c)                                           When a quorum is present at any meeting, action on a matter shall be approved as follows:

 

(i)                                     For a proposal other than the election of directors, unless these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, applicable law, a specific rule, regulation or provision or the rules or listing standards of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed or any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities requires a minimum or different vote with respect to such proposal (in which case such minimum or different vote shall be the required vote for such proposal), or the proposal has been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors by resolution requires a higher vote with respect to such matter (in which case such higher vote shall be the required vote for such proposal), the proposal shall be approved if the votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast opposing the proposal.

 

(ii)                                  In a contested director election in which the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, each director shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast.

 

(iii)                               In an uncontested director election, each nominee who receives a majority of the votes cast shall be deemed to be elected and if an incumbent director of the Corporation receives less than a majority of the votes cast, such director shall tender his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, whereupon the Board of Directors shall within 90 days after the receipt thereof either (a) accept the resignation of such director, determine a date on which such resignation will take effect within 90 days of the date of such decision and make the effective date of such resignation public by means of a current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC within four business days thereof, or (b) upon the unanimous vote of the Board of Directors, decline to accept such resignation and, not later than four business days thereof, make public, together with a discussion of the analysis used in reaching the conclusion, the specific reasons that the Board of Directors chose not to accept the resignation and the decision was in the best interest of the Corporation and its stockholders. For purposes of this Section 7(c)(iii) of these Bylaws, a majority of votes cast shall mean that the number of votes cast “for” a director’s election exceeds the number of votes cast “against” that director’s election (with “abstentions” and “broker non-votes” not counted as a vote cast either “for” or “against” that director’s election).

 

Section 8.                                          Stock List.

 

The Corporation shall prepare, at least ten (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 ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, 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. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of meeting or (ii) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the

 

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Corporation.   The stock list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting as provided by law. This list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to examine such stock list and to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.

 

ARTICLE II

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.                                          Number, Election and Term of Directors.

 

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors shall not be less than four. Each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting at which such director was elected, or, in each case, if later, until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier retirement, death, resignation or removal.

 

Section 2.                                          Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies.

 

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall, unless otherwise required by law or by resolution of the Board of Directors, be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, whether or not such directors number less than a quorum (and not by stockholders), and directors so chosen shall serve for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders or until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of authorized directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

Section 3.                                          Eligibility for Stockholder Director Nominees.

 

To be eligible to be a stockholder nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation, a person must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Sections 1 and 2 of Article I of these Bylaws or such period as the Board of Directors may specify) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which form of questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such person: (A) is not and will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed in writing to the Corporation or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law; (B) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation; and (C) in such person’s individual

 

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capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation.

 

Section 4.                                          Regular Meetings.

 

Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held without notice at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors. A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.

 

Section 5.                                          Special Meetings.

 

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the director elected by the non-employee, independent directors to serve as Lead Director (if a director has been so elected and is serving in such capacity prior to the meeting), or, if requested in writing by two directors, by the Chief Executive Officer and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as they, or he or she shall fix. Notice of the place, date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given to each director by whom it is not waived in writing or via electronic transmission of the same not less than 24 hours before the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

 

Section 6.                                          Quorum.

 

At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for all purposes.

 

Section 7.                                          Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone.

 

Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board of Directors or committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can speak to and hear (which includes communications through an agent in cases of limited physical abilities) each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

Section 8.                                          Conduct of Business/Action by Consent.

 

At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Chair of the Board, or, in his or her absence, such chair of the meeting as the members of the Board of Directors present may elect, and such other business may thereafter be transacted in such order and manner as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine by vote of the majority of directors present, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the directors present, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. Action may be taken by the Board of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission.  After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors. 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.

 

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Section 9.                                          Compensation of Directors.

 

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have the authority to fix the compensation of the directors. The Board of Directors may be paid for their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed compensation for attending committee meetings.

 

ARTICLE III

 

COMMITTEES

 

Section 1.                                          Committees of the Board of Directors.

 

In addition to the standing committees described below, the Board of Directors may from time to time designate additional committees of the Board of Directors, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and shall, for those committees and any others provided for herein, elect the director or directors to serve as the member or members of each such committee, designating the chair of each such committee and, if it desires, other directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of each such committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member. There are hereby designated three standing committees of the Board of Directors: Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Board of Directors shall adopt a written charter for each such standing committee addressing its purpose, responsibilities, powers, authority and any other matter required by law.

 

Section 2.                                          Regular Meetings.

 

Regular meetings of standing committees of the Board of Directors shall be held with or without notice at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors or such committee.

 

Section 3.                                          Special Meetings.

 

Special meetings of committees of the Board of Directors may be called by the chair of such committee, the Board of Directors or, if requested in writing by two members of such committee, then by the Chief Executive Officer, and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as they or he or she shall fix. Notice of the place, date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given to each director by whom it is not waived in writing or by electronic transmission of the same not less than 24 hours before the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

 

Section 4.                                          Quorum.

 

At any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors, a majority of the members of such committee shall constitute a quorum for all purposes.

 

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Section 5.                                          Conduct of Business/Action by Consent.

 

At any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the chair of such committee, or in his or her absence, such chair of the meeting as the members of such committee present may elect, and such other business may thereafter be transacted in such order and manner as such committee may from time to time determine by vote of the majority of members present, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the members present, except as otherwise provided by these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law. Action may be taken by a committee of the Board of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto, shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee of the Board of Directors. 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.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

OFFICERS

 

Section 1.                                          Generally.

 

The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer and a Chief Financial Officer, and may include the Chair of the Board and such other officers, including one or more Vice Presidents, as may from time to time be appointed by the Board of Directors or by a duly authorized committee thereof. Officers shall be appointed by the Board of Directors, which shall consider that subject at its first meeting after every annual meeting of stockholders. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is appointed and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, or removal. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. The salaries of officers appointed by the Board of Directors or by a duly authorized committee thereof shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors or by such officers as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.                                          Powers.

 

The powers and duties of the officers of the Corporation shall be as provided from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. In the absence of such resolution, the respective officers shall have the powers and shall discharge the duties customarily and usually held and performed by like officers of corporations similar in organization and business purposes to the Corporation subject to the control of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3.                                          Delegation of Authority.

 

The Board of Directors (including any committee thereof) may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

 

Section 4.                                          Removal.

 

Any officer of the Corporation may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 5.                                          Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations.

 

Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Vice Presidents or any officer of the Corporation authorized by the Board of Directors shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders or equity holders of or with respect to any action of stockholders or equity holders of any other corporation or entity in which this Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation or entity.

 

ARTICLE V

 

STOCK

 

Section 1.                                          Certificates of Stock; Uncertificated Shares.

 

The shares of stock at the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board may provide, by resolution, that some or all classes or series of its stock may be uncertificated shares. Each holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, any two authorized officers of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by the stockholder. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be by facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, such certificate may nonetheless be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

Section 2.                                          Transfers of Stock.

 

Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation. Except where a certificate is issued in accordance with Section 4 of Article V of these Bylaws, an outstanding certificate for the number of shares involved, if one has been issued, shall be surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate, if any, is issued therefor.

 

Section 3.                                          Record Date.

 

(a)                                          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, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than 60 nor less than 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 or 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

 

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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 herewith at the adjourned meeting.

 

(b)                                          In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors 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 not be more than 60 days prior to such action. If no such 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.

 

(c)                                           Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, 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 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting is fixed by the Board of Directors, (i) when no prior action of the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

Section 4.                                          Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.

 

The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.

 

Section 5.                                          Regulations.

 

The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

NOTICES

 

Section 1.                                          Notices.

 

(a)                                 Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws may be given in writing directed to the stockholder’s mailing address (or by electronic transmission directed to the stockholder’s electronic mail address, as applicable) as it appears on the records of the corporation. Notice shall be given (i) if mailed, when deposited in the United States mail, (ii) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is received or left at the stockholder’s address, or (iii) if given by electronic mail, when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address (unless the stockholder has notified the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail or such notice is prohibited by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware to be given by electronic transmission). A notice by electronic mail must include a prominent legend that the communication is an important notice regarding the corporation. A notice by electronic mail will include any files attached thereto and any information hyperlinked to a website if such electronic mail includes the contact information of an officer or agent of the corporation who is available to assist with accessing such files or information. Any notice to stockholders by electronic transmission other than by electronic mail may only be given in a form consented to by such stockholder and any such notice by electronic transmission shall be deemed to be given as provided for in DGCL.

 

(b)                             Except as otherwise provided herein or permitted by applicable law, notices to directors may be in writing and delivered personally or mailed to the directors at their addresses appearing on the books of the corporation or may be given by telephone or any other means of electronic transmission, including, without limitation, electronic mail.

 

(c)           Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, and except as prohibited by applicable law, any notice to stockholders given by the corporation under any provision of applicable law, the certificate of incorporation, or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the corporation. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the corporation, within 60 days of having been given written notice by the corporation of its intention to send the single notice permitted under this subsection (c), shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.

 

Section 2.                                          Waivers.

 

A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver. Attendance at any meeting shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

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ARTICLE VII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 1.                                          Electronic Signatures.

 

Any document, including, without limitation, any consent, agreement, certificate or instrument, required by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to be executed by any officer, director, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation may be executed using a facsimile or other form of electronic signature to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.  All other contracts, agreements, certificates or instruments to be executed on behalf of the Corporation may be executed using a facsimile or other form of electronic signature to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

Section 2.                                          Corporate Seal.

 

The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation.

 

Section 3.                                          Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records.

 

Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person as to matters which such director or committee member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

 

Section 4.                                          Fiscal Year.

 

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.                                          Dispute Resolution.

 

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 5.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

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 in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she (or a person for whom he or she is a representative) is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation is or was serving at the request of the Corporation in any position or capacity for any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity or in any other capacity shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 3 of this Article VIII with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, 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 by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

Section 2.                                          Right to Advancement of Expenses.

 

In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 1 of this Article VIII, the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, pay the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter 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 (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 2 or otherwise.

 

Section 3.                                          Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit.

 

If a claim under Section 1 or 2 of this Article VIII is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. Any such suit must be brought in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of Article VII of these Bylaws. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be

 

17


 

entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (a) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (b) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VIII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

 

Section 4.                                          Non-Exclusivity of Rights.

 

The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or directors, or otherwise.

 

Section 5.                                          Insurance.

 

The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

 

Section 6.                                          Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation.

 

The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.

 

Section 7.                                          Nature of Rights.

 

The rights conferred upon indemnitees in this Article VIII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or who has ceased serving at the request of the

 

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Corporation in any position or capacity for any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VIII that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or his or her successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

AMENDMENTS

 

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend and repeal these Bylaws subject to the power of the holders of capital stock of the Corporation to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws; provided, however, that, with respect to the power of holders of capital stock to adopt, amend and repeal these Bylaws, notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation required by these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, or applicable law, and subject to the terms of any then outstanding class or series of preferred stock, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the holders of capital stock to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of these Bylaws.

 

*                                         *                                         *

 

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Exhibit 4.1

ZQ|CERT#|COY|CLS|RGSTRY|ACCT#|TRANSTYPE|RUN#|TRANS# . COMMON STOCK PAR VALUE $0.001 COMMON STOCK Certificate Number ZQ00000000 Shares * * 000000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 000000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 000000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 000000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 000000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SUNDANCE ENERGY INC. INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE ** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS THIS CERTIFIES THAT Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander Alexander David SamMple ***R* Mr. A.lexaSnderADavidMSampPle ***L* MrE. Alexan&der DavMid SamRple **S** Mr.. AleSxandeAr DaMvid SamPple *L*** MEr. Alex&ander David Sample **** David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander DavidMSampRle ****.Mr. SAlexaAnderMDavidPSamLple *E*** Mr. &AlexandMer DavRid SaSmple.**** SMr. AAlexanMder DaPvid SLampEle **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Sample **** Mr. Sample is the owner of **000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares*** *000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares**** 000000**Shar*es****0*000Z00**SEhareRs****00O0000**ShHares**U**0000N00**SDhares*R***000E000**DShares**T**000H000**SOhares*U***000S000**AShareNs****00D0000**Shares****0 THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE IN CITIES DESIGNATED BY THE TRANSFER AGENT, AVAILABLE ONLINE AT www.computershare.com 00000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****00 0000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000 000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****0000 00**Shares****0Z0000E0**ShRares***O*000000*H*ShareUs****0N00000D**SharRes****0E0000D0**ShareAs****0N00000D**SharesZ****00E0000R**SharOes****0*000*00**Shares****00000 0**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000 **Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000* *Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000** Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**S FULLY-PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF Sundance Energy Inc. (hereinafter called the “Company”), transferable on the books of the Company in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate and the shares represented hereby, are issued and shall be held subject to all of the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and the By-Laws, as amended, of the Company (copies of which are on file with the Company and with the Transfer Agent), to all of which each holder, by acceptance hereof, assents. This Certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. Witness the facsimile seal of the Company and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers. DATED DD-MMM-YYYY E COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED: COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A. TRANSFERAGENT ANDREGISTRAR, Chief Executive Officer 9/5/2019 FACSIMILE SIGNATURE TO COME Secretary By AUTHORIZEDSIGNATURE CUSIP/IDENTIFIER Holder ID Insurance Value Number of Shares DTC Certificate Numbers 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 Total Transaction XXXXXX XX X XXXXXXXXXX 1,000,000.00 123456 12345678 123456789012345 PO BOX 505006, Louisville, KY 40233-5006 Num/No. Denom. Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 MR A SAMPLE DESIGNATION (IF ANY) ADD 1 ADD 2 ADD 3 ADD 4 CUSIP 86725N 10 2

GRAPHIC

 

 

. SUNDANCE ENERGY, INC THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS, A SUMMARY OF THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OF THE COMPANY AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS, AND THE VARIATIONS IN RIGHTS, PREFERENCES AND LIMITATIONS DETERMINED FOR EACH SERIES, WHICH ARE FIXED BY THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THE COMPANY, AS AMENDED, AND THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY, AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO DETERMINE VARIATIONS FOR FUTURE SERIES. SUCH REQUEST MAY BE MADE TO THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY OR TO THE TRANSFER AGENT. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY REQUIRE THE OWNER OF A LOST OR DESTROYED STOCK CERTIFICATE, OR HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES, TO GIVE THE COMPANY A BOND TO INDEMNIFY IT AND ITS TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS AGAINST ANY CLAIM THAT MAY BE MADE AGAINST THEM ON ACCOUNT OF THE ALLEGED LOSS OR DESTRUCTION OF ANY SUCH CERTIFICATE. (Cust) (Minor) (State) (Cust) and not as tenants in common (Minor) (State) PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE For value received, hereby sell, assign and transfer unto (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE) Shares of the common stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within-named Company with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated: 20 Signature: Signature: Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate, in every particular, without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever. The IRS requires that the named transfer agent (“we”) report the cost basis of certain shares or units acquired after January 1, 2011. If your shares or units are covered by the legislation, and you requested to sell or transfer the shares or units using a specific cost basis calculation method, then we have processed as you requested. If you did not specify a cost basis calculation method, then we have defaulted to the first in, first out (FIFO) method. Please consult your tax advisor if you need additional information about cost basis. If you do not keep in contact with the issuer or do not have any activity in your account for the time period specified by state law, your property may become subject to state unclaimed property laws and transferred to the appropriate state. Signature(s) Guaranteed: Medallion Guarantee Stamp THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (Banks, Stockbrokers, Savings and Loan Associations and Credit Unions) WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15. The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM - as tenants in commonUNIF GIFT MIN ACT -............................................ Custodian................................................ TEN ENT - as tenants by the entiretiesunder Uniform Gifts to Minors Act........................................................ JT TEN-as joint tenants with right of survivorshipUNIFTRF MIN ACT -............................................ Custodian (until age................................ ) ............................. under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act................... Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

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Exhibit 10.1

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into this     day of        , 20  , by and between Sundance Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which term shall include, where appropriate, any Entity (as hereinafter defined) controlled directly or indirectly by the Company), and            (the “Indemnitee”).

 

WHEREAS, it is essential to the Company that it be able to retain and attract as directors and officers the most capable persons available;

 

WHEREAS, increased corporate litigation has subjected directors and officers to litigation risks and expenses, and the limitations on the availability of directors and officers liability insurance have made it increasingly difficult for the Company to attract and retain such persons;

 

WHEREAS, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws (as may be amended from time to time, the “Certificate” and the “Bylaws,” respectively), provide that the Company is authorized to indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permissible by applicable law and permit it to make other indemnification arrangements and agreements;

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide Indemnitee with specific contractual assurance of Indemnitee’s rights to full indemnification against litigation risks and expenses, regardless, among other things, of any amendment to or revocation of the Certificate or Bylaws or any change in the ownership of the Company or the composition of its board of directors (the “Board of Directors”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company intends that this Agreement be a supplement to, and in furtherance of, the Certificate and Bylaws and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee is relying upon the rights afforded under this Agreement in becoming or continuing as a director and/or officer of the Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Definitions.

 

(a)                                 Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is serving or has served (i) as a director and/or officer of the Company, (ii) in any capacity with respect to any employee benefit plan of the Company or (at the request of the Company) any employee benefit plan of any other Entity, or (iii) as a director and/or officer of any other Entity at the request of the Company.  For purposes of subsections (ii) and (iii) of this Section 1(a), if Indemnitee is serving or has served as a director and/or officer of a Subsidiary (as defined below), or in any capacity with respect to any employee benefit plan of a Subsidiary, Indemnitee shall be deemed

 


 

to be serving at the request of the Company. If Indemnitee is an employee of the Company, Corporate Status shall not include actions taken by Indemnitee in any capacity other than as a director and/or officer or as a representative of any employee benefit plan.

 

(b)                                 Entity” shall mean any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, foundation, association, organization or other legal entity.

 

(c)                                  Expenses” shall mean all fees, costs and expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (as defined below), including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, disbursements and retainers (including, without limitation, any such fees, disbursements and retainers incurred by Indemnitee pursuant to Sections 11 and 12(c) of this Agreement), fees and disbursements of expert witnesses, private investigators and professional advisors (including, without limitation, accountants and investment bankers), court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, travel expenses, duplicating, printing and binding costs, telephone and fax transmission charges, postage, delivery services, secretarial services, and other disbursements and expenses.

 

(d)                                 Indemnifiable Expenses,” “Indemnifiable Liabilities” and “Indemnifiable Amounts” shall have the meanings ascribed to those terms in Section 3(a) below.

 

(e)                                  Liabilities” shall mean judgments, damages, liabilities, losses, penalties, excise taxes, fines and amounts paid in settlement.

 

(f)                                   Proceeding” shall mean any threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution process, investigation, administrative hearing, appeal, or any other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative, whether formal or informal, including a proceeding initiated by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement to enforce Indemnitee’s rights hereunder.

 

(g)                                  Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other Entity of which the Company owns (either directly or through or together with another Subsidiary of the Company) either (i) a general partner, managing member or other similar interest or (ii) (A) 50% or more of the voting power of the voting capital equity interests of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other Entity or (B) 50% or more of the outstanding voting capital stock or other voting equity interests of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other Entity.

 

(h)                                 to the fullest extent permissible by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the fullest extent permitted by the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) that authorize or contemplate additional or supplementary indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provisions of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL or such provisions thereof; and (ii) the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its directors and/or officers.

 

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2.                                      Services of Indemnitee.  In consideration of the Company’s covenants and commitments hereunder, Indemnitee agrees to serve or continue to serve as a director and/or officer of the Company.  However, this Agreement shall not impose any obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitee’s service to the Company beyond any period otherwise required by law or by other agreements or commitments of the parties, if any.

 

3.                                      Agreement to Indemnify.  The Company agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permissible by applicable law as follows:

 

(a)                                 Proceedings.  Subject to the exceptions contained in Section 4(a) below, if Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee shall be indemnified by the Company against all Expenses and Liabilities actually and reasonably incurred or paid by Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding (referred to herein as “Indemnifiable Expenses” and “Indemnifiable Liabilities,” respectively, and collectively as “Indemnifiable Amounts”).

 

(b)                                 Conclusive Presumption Regarding Standard of Care.  In making any determination required to be made under Delaware law with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee submitted a request therefor in accordance with Section 5 of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or Entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.

 

4.                                      Exceptions to Indemnification.  Subject to Section 20 below, Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification under Section 3(a) above in all circumstances and with respect to each and every specific claim, issue or matter involved in the Proceeding out of which Indemnitee’s claim for indemnification has arisen to the fullest extent permissible by applicable law, except as follows:

 

(a)                                 Proceedings.  If indemnification is requested under Section 3(a) and it has been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction that, in connection with such specific claim, issue or matter, Indemnitee failed to act (i) in good faith and (ii) in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to payment of Indemnifiable Amounts hereunder to the extent that they arise out of such claim, issue or matter.

 

(b)                                 Insurance Proceeds.  To the extent payment is actually made to the Indemnitee under a valid and collectible insurance policy maintained at the expense of the Company in respect of Indemnifiable Amounts in connection with such specific claim, issue or matter, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to payment of Indemnifiable Amounts hereunder except in respect of any excess of such Indemnifiable Amounts beyond the amount of payment under such insurance.

 

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5.                                      Procedure for Payment of Indemnifiable Amounts.  Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request specifying the Indemnifiable Amounts for which Indemnitee seeks payment under Section 3 of this Agreement and the basis for the claim.  The Company shall pay such Indemnifiable Amounts to Indemnitee promptly, but in no event later than thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of such request.  At the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall furnish such documentation and information as are reasonably available to Indemnitee and necessary to establish that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder.

 

6.                                      Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and without limiting any such provision, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permissible by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify to the fullest extent permissible by applicable law Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter.  For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, by reason of settlement, judgment, order or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

7.                                      Effect of Certain Resolutions.  Neither the settlement nor termination of any Proceeding nor the failure of the Company to award indemnification or to determine that indemnification is payable shall create a presumption that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification hereunder.  In addition, the termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s action was unlawful.

 

8.                                      Agreement to Advance Expenses; Undertaking.  The Company shall advance to the fullest extent permissible by applicable law all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding in which Indemnitee is involved by reason of such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status within thirty (30) calendar days after the receipt by the Company of a written statement from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding.  Advances shall be unsecured and interest free.  Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.  To the extent required by Delaware law, Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay any and all of the amount of Indemnifiable Expenses paid to Indemnitee if it is finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that Indemnitee is not entitled under this Agreement to indemnification with respect to such Expenses.  This undertaking is an unlimited general obligation of Indemnitee.

 

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9.                                      Procedure for Advance Payment of Expenses.  Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request specifying the Indemnifiable Expenses for which Indemnitee seeks an advancement under Section 8 of this Agreement, together with documentation evidencing that Indemnitee has incurred such Indemnifiable Expenses.

 

10.                               Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he or she shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permissible by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection therewith.

 

11.                               Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)                                 Right to Petition Court.  In the event that Indemnitee makes a request for payment of Indemnifiable Amounts under Sections 3 and 5 above or a request for an advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses under Sections 8 and 9 above and the Company fails to make such payment or advancement in a timely manner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware to enforce the Company’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 Burden of Proof.  In any judicial proceeding brought under Section 11(a) above, the Company shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to payment of Indemnifiable Amounts hereunder.

 

(c)                                  Expenses.  The Company agrees to reimburse Indemnitee in full for any Expenses in connection with any Proceeding incurred by Indemnitee in connection with investigating, preparing for, litigating, defending or settling any action brought by Indemnitee under Section 11(a) above, or in connection with any claim or counterclaim brought by the Company in connection therewith, whether or not Indemnitee is successful in whole or in part in connection with any such action, except to the extent that it has been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction that such reimbursement would be unlawful.

 

(d)                                 Failure to Act Not a Defense.  The failure of the Company (including its Board of Directors or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or stockholders) to make a determination concerning the permissibility of the payment of Indemnifiable Amounts or the advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses under this Agreement shall not be a defense in any action brought under Section 11(a) above, and shall not create a presumption that such payment or advancement is not permissible.

 

12.                               Defense of the Underlying Proceeding.

 

(a)                                 Notice by Indemnitee.  Indemnitee agrees to notify the Company promptly upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information, or other document relating to any Proceeding which may result in the payment of Indemnifiable Amounts or the advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses hereunder; provided, however, that the failure to give any such notice shall not disqualify Indemnitee from the right, or otherwise affect

 

5


 

in any manner any right of Indemnitee, to receive payments of Indemnifiable Amounts or advancements of Indemnifiable Expenses unless the Company’s ability to defend in such Proceeding is materially and adversely prejudiced thereby.

 

(b)                                 Defense by Company.  Subject to the provisions of the last sentence of this Section 12(b) and of Section 12(c) below, the Company shall have the right to defend Indemnitee in any Proceeding which may give rise to the payment of Indemnifiable Amounts hereunder; provided, however, that the Company shall notify Indemnitee of any such decision to defend within ten (10) calendar days of the Company’s receipt of notice of any such Proceeding under Section 12(a) above.  The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, consent to the entry of any judgment against Indemnitee or enter into any settlement or compromise which (i) includes an admission of fault of Indemnitee or (ii) does not include, as an unconditional term thereof, the full release of Indemnitee from all liability in respect of such Proceeding, which release shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee.  This Section 12(b) shall not apply to a Proceeding brought by Indemnitee under Section 11(a) above or pursuant to Section 20 below.

 

(c)                                  Indemnitee’s Right to Counsel.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 12(b) above, in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, at the Indemnittee’s option Indemnitee shall have the right to retain counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, at the expense of the Company, to represent Indemnitee in connection with any such matter and the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in any such matter shall constitute Indemnifiable Expenses.

 

13.                               Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The Company hereby represents and warrants to Indemnitee as follows:

 

(a)                                 Authority.  The Company has all necessary power and authority to enter into, and be bound by the terms of, this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance of the undertakings contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by the Company.

 

(b)                                 Enforceability.  This Agreement, when executed and delivered by the Company in accordance with the provisions hereof, shall be a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally.

 

14.                               Insurance.  The Company shall, from time to time, make the good faith determination whether or not it is practicable for the Company to obtain and maintain a policy or policies of insurance with a reputable insurance company providing the Indemnitee with coverage for losses from wrongful acts.  For so long as Indemnitee shall have Corporate Status, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in all policies of director and officer liability insurance in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company’s officers and directors.  If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such

 

6


 

proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.  The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to obtain or maintain such insurance if the Company determines in good faith that such insurance is not reasonably available, if the premium costs for such insurance are disproportionate to the amount of coverage provided, or if the coverage provided by such insurance is limited by exclusions so as to provide an insufficient benefit.

 

15.                               No Duplication of Payments.  The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment under any insurance policy, provision of the Certificate or the Bylaws or otherwise of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder. The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee as a result of the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with an Entity other than the Company shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such other Entity.

 

16.                               Contract Rights Not Exclusive.  The rights to payment of Indemnifiable Amounts and advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to, but not exclusive of, any other rights which Indemnitee may have at any time under applicable law, the Certificate or Bylaws, or any other agreement, vote of stockholders or directors (or a committee of directors), or otherwise, both as to action in Indemnitee’s official capacity and as to action in any other capacity as a result of Indemnitee’s serving as a director of the Company.

 

17.                               Successors.  This Agreement shall be (a) binding upon all successors and assigns of the Company (including any transferee of all or a substantial portion of the business, stock and/or assets of the Company and any direct or indirect successor by merger or consolidation or otherwise by operation of law) and (b) binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, personal representatives, executors and administrators of Indemnitee.  This Agreement shall continue for the benefit of Indemnitee and such heirs, personal representatives, executors and administrators after Indemnitee has ceased to have Corporate Status.

 

18.                               Change in Law.  To the extent that a change in Delaware law (whether by statute or judicial decision) or the Certificate shall permit broader indemnification or advancement of expenses than is provided under the terms of the Bylaws and this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to such broader indemnification and advancements, and this Agreement shall be deemed to be amended to such extent.

 

19.                               Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement, or any clause thereof, shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, such provision or clause shall be limited or modified in its application to the minimum extent necessary to make such provision or clause valid, legal and enforceable, and the remaining provisions and clauses of this Agreement shall remain fully enforceable and binding on the parties.

 

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20.                               Indemnitee as Plaintiff.  Except as provided in Section 11(c) of this Agreement and in the next sentence, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to payment of Indemnifiable Amounts or advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses with respect to any Proceeding brought by Indemnitee against the Company, any Subsidiary, any Entity which it controls, any director or officer thereof, or any third party, unless the Board of Directors has consented to the initiation of such Proceeding or the Company provides indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.  This Section shall not apply to counterclaims or affirmative defenses asserted by Indemnitee in an action brought against Indemnitee.

 

21.                               Modifications and Waivers; Counterparts.  Except as provided in Section 18 above with respect to changes in Delaware law which broaden the right of Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Company or to receive advancements, no supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by each of the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile signature and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

22.                               General Notices.  All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when delivered by hand, (b) when transmitted by electronic mail or facsimile and receipt is acknowledged during normal business hours, and if not, the next business day after transmission, or (c) if mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed:

 

(i)                                     If to Indemnitee, to:

 

[·]

 

(ii)                                  If to the Company, to:

 

1050 17th Street

Suite 700

Denver, CO 80265

Attn:

Email:

 

or to such other address as may have been furnished in the same manner by any party to the others.

 

23.                               Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of Process.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its rules of conflict of laws.  Each of the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably

 

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and unconditionally consents to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the courts of the United States of America located in the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Courts”) for any litigation arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (and agrees not to commence any litigation relating thereto except in such courts), waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such litigation in the Delaware Courts and agrees not to plead or claim in any Delaware Court that such litigation brought therein has been brought in an inconvenient forum.  Each of the parties hereto agrees, (a) to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, to appoint and maintain an agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process, and (b) that service of process may also be made on such party by prepaid certified mail with a proof of mailing receipt validated by the United States Postal Service constituting evidence of valid service.  Service made pursuant to (a) or (b) above shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware.

 

24.                               Joinders.  Subsidiaries of the Company may from time to time join this Agreement by signing a joinder in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.  The Company and all Subsidiaries that have joined this Agreement shall be jointly and severally liable for all obligations of the Company under this Agreement.

 

25.                               Assignment. Except as otherwise set forth herein, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder may be assigned by any party hereto, without the prior written consent of all of the other parties hereto.

 

26.                               Entire Agreement.  Without limitation to the Certificate and the Bylaws, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

[The remainder of this page is intentionally blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Indemnification Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

SUNDANCE ENERGY INC.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]

 


 

EXHIBIT A

 

JOINDERS

 

The undersigned hereby join in the obligations of Sundance Energy Inc. under this Indemnification Agreement as provided in Section 24 above on this     day of      , 20[  ].

 

 

[                                                           ]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

[                                                           ]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

[Signature Page to Joinder to Indemnification Agreement]

 


Exhibit 10.2

 

 

SUNDANCE ENERGY AUSTRALIA LTD

 

ACN 112 202 883

 

LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN — EXECUTIVES, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND CONSULTANTS

 

RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

 


 

Table of Contents

 

1.

Definitions and Interpretation

3

 

 

 

2.

Awards

6

 

 

 

3.

Purpose of the LTI Program

6

 

 

 

4.

General description of the LTI Program

7

 

 

 

5.

RSUs

7

 

 

 

6.

Vesting

8

 

 

 

7.

Shares

8

 

 

 

8.

Participants

9

 

 

 

9.

Earning Period

9

 

 

 

10.

Maximum number of RSUs and Grant of RSUs

9

 

 

 

11.

Determination of the targets

10

 

 

 

12.

Requirement for continued employment or service

10

 

 

 

13.

Termination of employment or service

10

 

 

 

14.

Shareholder rights attached to RSUs

11

 

 

 

15.

Claw back

11

 

 

 

16.

Administration of the Program

12

 

 

 

17.

Amendments to the Terms

12

 

 

 

18.

Rights of Participant

12

 

 

 

19.

General

13

 

 

 

20.

Security Interests

15

 

 

 

21.

Governing law and jurisdiction

15

 


 

Sundance Energy Australia Limited ACN 112 202 883

 

Terms and Conditions — RSUs

 

1.                                      Definitions and Interpretation

 

1.1                               Definitions

 

In these Terms, unless the contrary intention appears:

 

“Acceptance Form” means a duly completed and executed document of acceptance by a LTI Recipient of an Offer in a form approved by the Board from time to time.

 

“Associated Company” means any body which is a related body corporate under Section 50 of the Corporations Act.

 

“ASX” means ASX Limited ACN 008 624 691.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company as constituted from time to time.

 

“Change in Control” means any circumstance where Control of the Company changes from that subsisting as at the Grant Date.

 

“Closed Period” has the same meaning as in the Company’s Securities Trading Policy.

 

“Company” means Sundance Energy Australia Limited ACN 112 202 883, or its successor.

 

“Control” means where a person:

 

(a)                                 owns beneficially, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the Company’s issued voting securities;

 

(b)                                 has the ability to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the Company, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; or

 

(c)                                  otherwise controls the Company for the purposes of section 50AA of the Corporations Act.

 

“Corporations Act” means the Australian Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

 

“Director” means a director of the Company or any Associated Company.

 

“Earning Period” means an earning period commencing on the first day of the Company’s Financial Year and ending on the last day of that Financial Year.

 

“Employee” means a person whom the Board determines to be in the full-time or part-time employment of a company in the Group as a potential LTI Recipient and for the purposes of these Terms each Director is deemed to be an Employee.

 

“Final Vesting Date” means the 3rd anniversary of the Grant Date.

 

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“Financial Year” currently means each year commencing on the first day of July and ending on the 30th day of June though, upon the adoption by the Company of a different Financial Year, will mean that newly adopted Financial Year.

 

“Governing Law” means all laws, regulations and stock exchange listing rules governing the Group, including the Corporations Act and the Listing Rules, and any applicable US laws and regulations including federal securities law.

 

“Grant Date” means the date set out in the Offer, which will be on or around the date of Board approval of the grant of RSUs.

 

“Group” means the Company and its Associated Companies.

 

“Interim Vesting Date” in relation to a Financial Year during the term of a RSU means the final day of that Financial Year.

 

“Listing Rules” means the official listing rules of the ASX.

 

“LTI” means long term incentive.

 

“LTI Recipient” means an Employee or other individual who has been selected by the Board to receive an Offer or who has been approved for participation in the LTI Program under the Plan.

 

“LTI Program” means the share incentive program which forms all or part (as applicable) of the equity component of the LTI established by the Company under the Plan and for the purposes of these Terms each Director is deemed to participate in the LTI Program.

 

“Market Price” means, in relation to the Company, the weighted average market price of a Share sold on the ASX during one week of trading days immediately before the close of the Financial Year for which the RSUs are granted, or where the Board determines that this price does not fairly and appropriately reflect the market value of the Company as at the close of that Financial Year, the market price of a Share on such other date or period that the Board considers appropriate, as determined by the Board in good faith and in its absolute discretion, having regard to arm’s length valuation principles and generally accepted valuation methodologies. The Company must ensure that any such price determined by the Board fairly and appropriately reflects the market value of the Company.

 

“Offer” means an offer of RSUs made in accordance with the Plan.

 

“Offer Period” means the time period for the acceptance of an Offer.

 

“Participant” means a LTI Recipient who accepts an Offer to participate in the Plan, agrees to be bound by the Rules and has been provided with RSUs under the LTI Program.

 

“Person” includes a body corporate and the trustee of a trust estate.

 

“Plan” means the Incentive Compensation Plan for Executives established by the Company on 6 April 2011, and operated in accordance with the Rules. The Board decided in a meeting held on 6 April 2011, to establish the Plan, which includes the LTI Program.

 

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“Qualifying Reason” means death, total and permanent disability, Redundancy, termination of the Employee without cause, or any other reason as determined by the Board in its absolute discretion.  For the avoidance of doubt, termination with cause means any right to immediate termination (including for the reasons of fraud, defalcation and/or gross misconduct in relation to the affairs of the Company or any Associated Company (whether or not charged with an offence) or doing any act which in the opinion of the Board brings the Company or any Associated Company into disrepute) and also includes sustained performance below expectations by the Employee.

 

“Redundancy” means the termination of the employment of the Employee by the Company or an Associated Company by reason of the relevant position of employment no longer being required or as part of a restructure or reduction in the Management or organisational structure of the Company or the Associated Company.

 

“RSU” means a restricted share unit each carrying a right to receive one Share issued under these Terms.

 

“Rules” means the rules governing the Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

“Section 409A” means as defined in clause 19.10.

 

“Security Interest” means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other encumbrance of any nature.

 

“Settlement Date” means as defined in clause 7.2.

 

“Share” means a fully paid Ordinary Share in the capital of the Company which ranks equally with and has the same rights as other fully paid Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company.

 

“Terms” means these terms and conditions of the RSUs.

 

“Termination of Employment” means the termination or cessation of employment or the holding of an office with the Company or any Associated Company (other than for the purposes of re-employment with any other company in the Group) of a Participant.

 

“Vesting Date” means each date on which one or more RSUs vest in accordance with these Terms.

 

1.2                               Interpretation

 

In these Terms, unless the contrary intention appears:

 

(a)                                 reference to any legislation or any provision of any legislation includes any modification or re-enactment of the legislation or any legislative provision substituted for, and all legislation and statutory instruments and regulations issued under, the legislation;

 

(b)                                 words denoting the singular include the plural and vice versa;

 

(c)                                  words denoting a gender include other genders;

 

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(d)                                 words denoting an individual or persons include bodies corporate and trusts and vice versa;

 

(e)                                  headings are for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of these Terms;

 

(f)                                   reference to a clause or paragraph is a reference to a clause or paragraph of these Terms, or the corresponding Term or Terms of the RSUs under the Plan as amended from time to time;

 

(g)                                  reference to any document or agreement includes reference to that document or agreement as amended, novated, supplemented, varied or replaced from time to time; and

 

(h)                                 where any word or phrase is given a definite meaning in these Terms, any part of speech or other grammatical form of that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning.

 

2.                                      Awards

 

2.1                               At its sole discretion, the Board may grant you an award of RSUs, in accordance with the LTI equity component of the Company’s Plan; the Plan comprises both LTI and Short Term Incentive components.

 

2.2                               RSUs will be granted by the Company under the LTI Program established under the Plan as part of your LTI bonus, and in consideration of, and subject to your performance of, services to the Group, as a Director of the Company, executive or employee of, or consultant to, the Group.

 

2.3                               These Terms set out the general terms and conditions of the RSUs.

 

2.4                               The RSUs and the LTI Program are expressly subject to these Terms, the Plan and any additional terms and conditions the Board in its absolute discretion may elect to include in an Offer.  If you receive or have received any other award under the Plan, or any other equity compensation plan for any year, it will be governed by the terms and conditions of the applicable award or equity compensation, which may be different from these Terms.

 

2.5                               By accepting a grant of RSUs, you expressly agree to these Terms and the Plan, and any applicable Rules.

 

2.6                               Capitalised terms used in these Terms that are not defined in the text have the meanings set out in clause 1 above, or in the Plan.

 

3.                                      Purpose of the LTI Program

 

3.1                               The LTI Program’s objectives are to reward Directors of the Company, executives, and employees of, and consultants to, the Group (potential LTI Recipients) for achieving the Group’s long term goals, to align the interests of LTI Recipients and shareholders, to attract and retain potential LTI Recipients, and to form part of a competitive incentive package.

 

3.2                               The purpose of the LTI Program is to direct LTI Recipients’ attention to achieving the Company’s financial targets, and increasing the Company’s shareholder value. The

 

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LTI Program provides potential LTI Recipients with the opportunity to receive LTI awards under the Plan in the form of RSUs.

 

3.3                               You may only receive RSUs under the LTI Program where you have earned an LTI award under the Plan after achieving targets and objectives under the Plan.

 

3.4                               RSUs do not confer upon you any right, entitlement or interest in Shares in the Company or any Associated Company or any option to acquire Shares in the Company or shares in any Associated Company, other than in accordance with these Terms.

 

3.5                               The manner in which RSUs will be granted to you is set out in these Terms.

 

3.6                               In the case of a non-executive director, the Board in its absolute discretion may grant RSUs:

 

(a)                                 solely to attract or retain that director or both; or

 

(b)                                 as part of that director’s remuneration package,

 

and for the purposes of these Terms that director will be deemed to have achieved targets and objectives under the Plan and to have earned an LTI award under the Plan.

 

4.                                      General description of the LTI Program

 

4.1                               The LTI Program will continue to operate until the Board in its absolute discretion decides to amend or terminate it. The Remuneration Committee will review the LTI Program at least annually, and report its findings to the Board. The first Earning Period will commence on 1 July 2010, and end on 30 June 2011, and will proceed from there on a Financial Year basis.

 

4.2                               The LTI Program offers the possibility of receiving Shares as an incentive, via the settlement of RSUs granted to you, if your targets set for the Earning Period are achieved.

 

4.3                               The Board will decide your maximum number of RSUs, in accordance with clause 10.  The actual number of RSUs awarded to you will be determined by reference to the level of achievement of your targets set for the Earning Period.

 

4.4                               The Board in its absolute discretion may make a written offer to grant RSUs to some or all potential LTI Recipients each year in accordance with the LTI Program, setting out the maximum number of RSUs proposed to be granted on these Terms.  Any such offer will be made as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the previous Financial Year.

 

5.                                      RSUs

 

5.1                               The number of RSUs which may be granted to you pursuant to these Terms under the LTI Program will be communicated to you in writing, in accordance with clause 4.4.

 

5.2                               Each RSU gives you the unsecured right to receive, subject to these Terms, one Share in the future at a time determined in accordance with clause 7.2.

 

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5.3                               You will not be required to pay any consideration for the issue of the Shares on settlement of your RSUs.

 

5.4                               The Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, may grant an award of RSUs subject to such additional terms and conditions as determined by the Board and set forth in the Acceptance Form.

 

6.                                      Vesting

 

6.1                               Subject to your continuous employment with, or other service to, the Group (as determined by the Board in its absolute discretion), the Rules and these Terms, and except as otherwise provided in your Acceptance Form, the RSUs will vest in four equal annual tranches, beginning on the Grant Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Grant Date, as follows.

 

Tranche

 

Vesting Date

Tranche 1 (25%)

 

Grant Date

Tranche 2 (25%)

 

1st anniversary of the Grant Date

Tranche 3 (25%)

 

2nd anniversary of the Grant Date

Tranche 4 (25%)

 

3rd anniversary of the Grant Date

 

6.2                               Any fractional Shares resulting from the application of the vesting schedule referred to in clause 6.1 will be aggregated, and the Shares resulting from such aggregation will vest on the first anniversary of the Grant Date.

 

6.3                               Each date on which one or more RSUs vest in accordance with these Terms is referred to as a Vesting Date.

 

7.                                      Shares

 

7.1                               Each RSU will be fully satisfied by the issue of one Share.

 

7.2                               Subject to clauses 7.3 and 7.5 below, prior vesting and your compliance with these Terms and the Plan, settlement of each Share will occur on the 60th day following the Vesting Date or any earlier date determined by the Board in its absolute discretion (the Settlement Date).

 

7.3                               If the scheduled Settlement Date falls within a Closed Period, the Board will extend that Settlement Date to a date no later than 5 business days after the end of the Closed Period, or with your approval to a later date. If you do not wish the Board to extend the Settlement Date, then before the Board does so you must:

 

(a)                                 request the Board in writing not to extend the Settlement Date; and

 

(b)                                 provide payment in cash or check acceptable to the Company prior to that Settlement Date to satisfy the supplemental taxable income withholding obligations, in accordance with clause 19.9 below.

 

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7.4                               It is acknowledged that any extension of the Settlement Date under clause 7.3 is intended to benefit Participants and facilitate administration of the Plan, since in the usual course some of the Shares will need to be sold on the Settlement Date to satisfy the supplemental taxable income withholding obligations, and except in limited circumstances the Participants cannot sell Shares during a Closed Period. Refer to clause 19.9 below.

 

7.5                               If the scheduled Settlement Date falls outside a Closed Period, and despite this either the Company’s Securities Trading Policy or Australian law or both do not permit any of your Shares to be sold on the scheduled Settlement Date to satisfy the supplemental taxable income withholding obligations, you may request the Board in writing to extend the Settlement Date to a date no later than 5 business days after this restriction ends and the Shares are permitted to be sold. The Board may do so in its discretion, provided that the Board is satisfied that:

 

(a)                                 your Shares are not permitted to be sold on the scheduled Settlement Date to satisfy the supplemental taxable income withholding obligations;

 

(b)                                 the request is made in good faith; and

 

(c)                                  it is reasonable in the circumstances to extend the Settlement Date, having regard to any hardship to you that might arise, if you were required to provide payment in cash or check acceptable to the Company prior to that scheduled Settlement Date to satisfy the supplemental taxable income withholding obligations, in accordance with clause 19.9 below.

 

7.6                               You will continue to be bound by the Company’s Securities Trading Policy, and participation in the Plan will not affect or alter your obligations under that Securities Trading Policy.

 

8.                                      Participants

 

8.1                               The Board, in its absolute discretion, will determine who can participate in the LTI Program.

 

8.2                               Participation in the LTI Program will not affect or alter the terms of your employment.

 

9.                                      Earning Period

 

Each LTI Program Earning Period commences on the first day of the Company’s Financial Year and ends on the last day of that same Financial Year.

 

10.                               Maximum number of RSUs and Grant of RSUs

 

10.1                        The Board decides, in its absolute discretion, the maximum number of RSUs for each Financial Year by dividing the value of your LTI award under the Plan by the Market Price of the Shares, in accordance with the Plan and subject to any exceptions set out in the Plan, as follows:

 

 

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10.2                        The Board will provide you with notice of the number of RSUs you have been granted, subject to these Terms, including your continued employment with, or service to, the Group.

 

10.3                        Generally, the Board will award grants of RSUs pursuant to this LTI Program within 4 months of the end of the relevant Financial Year with respect to the Plan, unless the Board in its absolute discretion determines that additional time is required to make this decision.

 

11.                               Determination of the targets

 

Under the Plan, the Board, in its absolute discretion, will determine the performance targets applicable during the Earning Period, as well as the principles for determining whether the targets have been achieved and how they translate into RSUs to be granted under this LTI Program on an annual basis.

 

12.                               Requirement for continued employment or service

 

12.1                        The Board will determine, in its absolute discretion, who the potential LTI Recipients of the Group are.

 

12.2                        Subject to clause 13, if your employment or other service in the Group has terminated before the applicable Vesting Date of the RSUs, those unvested RSUs will be forfeited, and you will not be issued Shares or any other compensation or benefit in relation to the forfeited RSUs.

 

12.3                        Your right to RSUs is personal to you, and RSUs are to be allotted, if at all, only to you.

 

12.4                        Your right to RSUs cannot be transferred.

 

13.                               Termination of employment or service

 

13.1                        Where you cease to be employed by, or otherwise providing services to, the Company or an Associated Company before the Final Vesting Date due to a Qualifying Reason:

 

(a)                                 vested RSUs as at the date of termination will be satisfied by the issue to you (or to your heirs and devisees in the event of your death) of one Share for each vested RSU, within 60 days of the termination of your employment or services; and

 

(b)                                 any unvested RSUs at the date of termination will be forfeited, subject to the Board exercising its discretion in accordance with clause 13.2 to deem some or all of those unvested RSUs to be vested and compliance with clauses 19.8 - 19.10 below (Section 409A), in which case any such deemed vested RSUs will be satisfied by the issue to you (or to your heirs and devisees in the event of your death) of one Share for each such deemed vested RSU, within 90 days of the termination of your employment or services.

 

13.2                        For the purposes of clause 13.1(b), when determining whether any unvested RSUs at the date of termination should be either deemed to be vested or forfeited subject to compliance with clauses 19.8 to 19.10 below (Section 409A) the Board must act in good faith, and have regard to:

 

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(a)                                 your length of employment by, or service to, the Company or any Associated Company, and contribution to the Company or any Associated Company;

 

(b)                                 the circumstances of the termination of your employment by, or service to, the Company;

 

(c)                                  the date when the RSUs would have vested if your employment or service had not been terminated;

 

(d)                                 the interests of the Company or any Associated Company; and

 

any other matters the Board considers relevant to the exercise of its discretion.

 

13.3                        Where you cease to be employed by, or otherwise providing services to the Company or an Associated Company before the Final Vesting Date other than for a Qualifying Reason:

 

(a)                                 vested RSUs as at the date of termination will be satisfied by the issue to you of one Share for each vested RSU, within 60 days of the termination of your employment; and

 

(b)                                 any unvested RSUs at the date of termination will be forfeited.

 

14.                               Shareholder rights attached to RSUs

 

14.1                        You will have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares until the Settlement Date of those Shares. You are not entitled to participate in any new issue to existing shareholders in the Company unless your RSUs have vested before the record date for determining entitlements to the new issue of securities, and been satisfied by the issue to you of Shares, and you participate as a result of holding Shares.

 

14.2                        From the Settlement Date of your Shares, you will have all rights as a shareholder, including the right to receive dividends and capital repayments, with respect to the Shares.

 

15.                               Claw back

 

The Board, in its discretion (which discretion must be exercised in good faith), reserves the right to claw back and cancel without compensation any RSUs issued under these Terms, whether vested or unvested, if any of the following conditions apply prior to the Settlement Date applying to the RSUs concerned:

 

(a)                                 the Company’s financial statements are required to be restated due to material non-compliance with any financial reporting requirements under Governing Law (other than a restatement due to a change in accounting rules) and:

 

(i)                                     as a result of such restatement, a performance measure which was a material factor in determining the award is restated; and

 

(ii)                                  in the opinion of the Board, a lower number of RSUs would have been granted to you based upon the restated financial results;

 

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(b)                                 should it subsequently be found that the information or assumptions relied on by the Board in determining the award of RSUs to you under the Plan are materially erroneous;

 

(c)                                  in the event that there is evidence of fraud by any employee resulting in a material adverse change to the Company’s financial statements; or

 

(d)                                 in the event that there is a material adverse change in the circumstances of the Company.

 

16.                               Administration of the Program

 

16.1                        The Board shall administer and monitor the LTI Program and decide on all disputes or other matters relating to the LTI Program. The Board, in its absolute discretion, reserves the right to accelerate vesting of all or any portion of outstanding RSUs granted to any Participant for any reason. The Board need not take the same action with respect to all Participants or all RSUs held by any Participant.

 

16.2                        Where the Terms provide for a determination, decision, approval or opinion of the Board, such determination, decision, approval or opinion of the Board shall be in its absolute discretion, subject to any express obligation to act in good faith set out in these Terms.

 

16.3                        Any power or discretion which is conferred on the Board by these Terms may be exercised by the Board in the interests or for the benefit of the Company, and the Board is not, in exercising any such power or discretion, under any fiduciary or other obligation to any other person, subject to any express obligation to act in good faith set out in these Terms.

 

16.4                        The decision of the Board as to the interpretation, effect or application of these Terms will be final.

 

16.5                        The Board may delegate such functions and powers as it may consider appropriate, for the efficient administration of the LTI Program, to a committee made up of persons capable of performing those functions and exercising those powers.

 

16.6                        The Board may take and rely upon independent professional or expert advice in or in relation to the exercise of any of its powers or discretions under these Terms.

 

17.                               Amendments to the Terms

 

17.1                        The Board shall be entitled to amend these Terms, the LTI Program, the Plan and the Rules during any Earning Period subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

17.2                        Any change of these Terms will not materially affect or prejudice RSUs provided to Participants at or before that time, unless approved by the affected Participants.

 

18.                               Rights of Participant

 

Nothing in these Terms:

 

(a)                                 confers on any Participant the right to continue as an Employee of, or consultant to, the Company or any Associated Company;

 

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(b)                                 affects any rights which the Company or any Associated Company may have to terminate the employment or office of any Employee of, or consultant to, the Company or any other potential LTI Recipient; or

 

(c)                                  may be used to increase damages in any action brought against the Company or any Associated Company in respect of any such termination.

 

19.                               General

 

19.1                        The rights of the Participants with respect to RSUs and these Terms are subject to the Rules, the Plan, the Company’s Constitution, the Corporations Act and, where appropriate, the Listing Rules.

 

19.2                        If, at any time while RSUs are held by Participants, the issued capital of the Company is reorganised in any way, or the Company makes a bonus issue of Shares or pro rata issue of Shares or other issue of securities, the rights of the Participants may be varied either to:

 

(a)                                 comply with the ASX Listing Rules or other applicable rules which apply to the reconstruction or issue at the time of the reconstruction or issue; or

 

(b)                                 ensure that the Participants will neither be unfairly disadvantaged as a result nor receive a benefit that the holders of Shares do not receive,

 

or both.

 

19.3                        If:

 

(a)                                 a takeover bid is made to acquire Shares in the Company, then at any time offers under a takeover bid remain open for acceptance; or

 

(b)                                 any other Change in Control occurs, then prior to the consummation of the Change in Control transaction,

 

the Board in its absolute discretion may give written notice of the bid to the holders of RSUs, stating that:

 

(c)                                  all or any unvested RSUs, as determined by the Board, will vest and be fully satisfied by the issue of one Share each, on any date determined by the Board; and

 

(d)                                 in accordance with clause 7.2, the Settlement Date of all or any vested RSUs, as determined by the Board, will be an earlier date than the 60th day following the Vesting Date.

 

In connection with a takeover bid or any other Change in Control, the Board in its absolute discretion may also provide for the cancellation of outstanding RSUs and a cash payment equal to the then fair market value of the RSUs immediately prior to the closing of the Change in Control transaction.  In connection with any other corporate event (except a Change in Control), the Board in its absolute discretion may provide for the assumption or substitution of outstanding RSUs.

 

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19.4                        Any calculations or adjustments that are required to be made under this clause 19 will be made by the Board and will, in the absence of manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding on the Company and the Participants.

 

19.5                        The LTI Program must operate in accordance with these Terms and the Rules which bind the Company, each Associated Company, and each LTI Recipient and Participant.

 

19.6                        Notwithstanding any Term or Rule, no RSU, Share or remuneration benefit (including, but not limited to, any termination benefit) may be provided if to do so would contravene any Governing Law including, without limitation, the Corporations Act or the Listing Rules.

 

19.7                        The Company must pay all the expenses, costs and charges incurred in operating the LTI Program and the Plan.

 

19.8                        As a Participant you have sole responsibility for:

 

(a)                                 paying any related personal income taxation, withholding tax, other taxation liability, social security contributions or other taxes or charges related to your LTI grant; and

 

(b)                                 complying with all social security and other reporting obligations,

 

in accordance with the Governing Law applicable to you in relation to the LTI Program. You should consult your own tax adviser regarding the tax consequences of participating in the LTI Program. You will need to consider your own circumstances, in light of the benefit that you are likely to receive under the LTI Program.

 

19.9                        Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless the Participant provides payment in cash or check acceptable to the Company prior to each Settlement Date, the Company shall automatically withhold the number of whole Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant with a value at the conversion date equal to the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, and local income taxes and employment taxes applicable to supplemental taxable income withholding obligations, or the Company shall make alternative arrangements for that number of whole Shares to be sold to satisfy those supplemental taxable income withholding obligations, which may include arranging for the Participant to sell that number of whole Shares on behalf of the Company and irrevocably authorise and direct that the proceeds be paid to the Company or the Company’s nominee, on terms acceptable to the Company.  The Participant shall promptly pay to the Company any remaining amount required to be withheld.

 

19.10                 To the extent applicable, the grant, vesting and settlement of RSUs awarded to any Participant are intended to satisfy the short-term deferral exception for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Section 409A).  To the extent required for compliance with Section 409A, RSUs granted under the LTI Program shall be interpreted and administered to the maximum extent possible to comply with Section 409A, including a six month delay in payment to “specified employees” payable on account of a “separation from service” each as determined under Section 409A.

 

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19.11                 The Company or the Associated Company (as applicable) shall be entitled to deduct any withholding required or imposed by Governing Law, including without limitation Pay As You Go tax instalments, from any bonus remuneration payments or benefits provided by the Company or the Associated Company to or in respect of a Participant. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company is under no obligation to pay any taxation liability, social security contribution or other tax or charge incurred by any Participant in relation to the LTI Program, which will remain the sole responsibility of the Participant.

 

19.12                 For the sole purpose of calculating the remuneration of non-executive directors per annum in accordance with clause 62 of the Company’s Constitution, the value of grants of RSUs and any Shares issued in satisfaction of RSUs will be determined either by:

 

(a)                                 reference to the valuation ascribed to those RSUs and Shares in the Company’s remuneration report in its Annual Report for that year (being the Company’s financial year); or

 

(b)                                 any other reasonably appropriate valuation methodology,

 

and disregarding the value of any RSUs and Shares which have been taken into account by the Company under clause 62 in relation to an earlier Financial Year.

 

20.                               Security Interests

 

Participants must not and cannot grant any Security Interest in or over or otherwise dispose or deal with any RSUs or any interest in any RSU, and any such Security Interest or disposal or dealing will not be recognised in any manner by the Company.

 

21.                               Governing law and jurisdiction

 

This LTI Program and the RSUs provided to the Participants under the Terms will be governed by the laws of the State of South Australia, subject as necessary to any applicable US laws and regulations including federal securities law.

 

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Exhibit 14.1

 

SUNDANCE ENERGY INC.

 

CODE OF ETHICS AND BUSINESS CONDUCT

 

Adopted as of November 26, 2019

 

The Board of Directors (“Board”) of Sundance Energy Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) has adopted this code of ethics and business conduct (“Code”) which shall apply to all employees of the Company.

 

The purpose of this Code is to (i) promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest, (ii) promote full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and in other public communications made by the Company, (iii) promote compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations, (iv) promote the protection of Company assets, including corporate opportunities and confidential information, (v) promote fair dealing practices, (vi) deter wrongdoing and (vii) ensure accountability for adherence to this Code.

 

Each director, officer and employee of the Company is expected to use sound judgment to help the Company maintain appropriate compliance procedures and to carry out the Company’s business in compliance with laws and high ethical standards. Each director, officer and employee of the Company is expected to read this Code and demonstrate personal commitment to the standards set forth in this Code. All employees are expected to report appropriately any indications of illegal or improper conduct.

 

Commitment to Stockholders. Employees are expected to share a commitment to protect the Company’s assets and manage the Company’s business in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders.

 

Accuracy of the Company’s records and reporting. All financial and other business information pertaining to the Company must be accurately recorded, all financial records and transactions must adhere to the Company’s system of internal controls and accounting requirements and no one shall enter any false or artificial information in the Company’s records or reporting systems. All Company information must be reported honestly and accurately, whether in internal personnel, safety, or other records or in information released to the public or file with government agencies.

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company shall maintain effective “disclosure controls and procedures” so that financial and non-financial information the Company is required to report to the SEC is timely and accurately reported both to the Company’s senior management and in Company filings. All employees are expected, within the scope of their employment duties, to support the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. To that end, it is the Company’s policy to promote the full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files or furnishes with the SEC and otherwise communicates to the public.

 

Financial Code of Ethics for Employees with Financial Reporting Obligations. Each of the Company’s chief executive officer, chief financial officer and other finance department members have a special role in promoting the fair and timely reporting of the Company’s financial results and condition, these individuals are also bound by the following Financial Code of Ethics.

 

·                  Act with honesty and integrity, avoiding actual or apparent conflicts of interest in personal and professional relationships.

 

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·                  Promote full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company provides to government agencies and in other public communications.

 

·                  Comply with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations.

 

·                  Act in good faith, responsibly, with due care, competence and diligence, without misrepresenting material facts or allowing one’s independent judgment to be subordinated.

 

·                  Respect the confidentiality of information acquired in the course of one’s work except when authorized or otherwise legally obligated to disclose it. Confidential information acquired in the course of one’s work will not be used for personal advantage.

 

·                  Share knowledge and maintain skills important and relevant to the goals of this Code.

 

·                  Proactively promote ethical behavior among peers, in the work environment and the community.

 

·                  Achieve responsible use of and control over all Company assets and resources employed by or entrusted to the individual.

 

·                  Promptly report under the reporting procedures outlined in this Code, or, if appropriate, report directly to the chairperson of the audit committee of the Board, any conduct that the individual believes to be a violation of law or this Code.

 

Prohibition on Improper Influence on Conduct of Audits. It is against the Company’s policy and a violation of SEC rules for any of the Company’s officers or directors, or any person acting under their direction, to coerce, manipulate, mislead, or fraudulently influence the independent auditors selected to audit or review the Company’s financial statements when the officer, director or other person knew or should have known that the action, if successful, could result in rendering the Company’s financial statements materially misleading.

 

Insider Trading Policy. The Company expects all of its directors, officers and employees to comply with the insider trading laws of the United States. All directors, officers and employees are subject to the Company’s Insider Trading Policy, as amended from time to time, and as found on the Company’s website. The Insider Trading Policy also applies to immediate family members of directors, officers and employees, members of their households and any other Related Persons, as defined in the Insider Trading Policy. The Company recognizes and understands that insider trading is unethical and illegal and should be dealt with decisively.

 

Protection of Company Assets. Each employee is personally responsible to use the Company’s assets only for lawful, corporate purposes approved by management. Improper or unauthorized personal use of Company assets is prohibited.

 

Protection of Confidential and Proprietary Information. Employees should help the Company maintain the value of its assets by using care to keep confidential the Company’s confidential and proprietary information, except where disclosure is expressly authorized or is required or permitted by law.  Confidential and proprietary information includes intellectual property such as trade secrets, patents, trademarks, and copyrights, as well as business and marketing plans, engineering and manufacturing ideas, designs, databases, software, nonpublic financial data or reports, or any other nonpublic information (regardless of its source) that might be of use to the Company’s competitors or harmful to the

 

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Company or its customers, suppliers or partners if disclosed. Unauthorized use or distribution of this information is prohibited and could also be illegal and result in civil or criminal penalties.

 

Communications. Employees are expected to use appropriate judgment and discretion in their email, memos, notes and other formal and informal communications (including social media) relating to the Company’s business. You must refer all outside inquiries about the Company, whether from the media, a government agency, or otherwise, to the Vice President of Investor Relations, or other executive officer of the Company in charge of external communications.

 

Retention of Records. Employees are expected to follow the records retention and destruction policies that the Company implements and communicates from time to time. It is the Company’s policy not to destroy or alter the Company’s records or documents (whether in paper form, emails, or otherwise) in response to or in anticipation of any legal proceeding or government inquiry or investigation. Federal criminal liability may be imposed on any person who corruptly alters, destroys, mutilates or conceals a record, document or other object with the intent to impair its availability for use in an official proceeding, or knowingly alters, covers up, falsifies or makes a false entry in any record, document or tangible object with the intent to impede or obstruct the investigation or administration of any matter by a federal government agency or bankruptcy court.

 

Protecting Information about Others. The Company is committed to treating confidential information of customers and business partners with at least the care used to protect the Company’s own proprietary or confidential information. All employees are expected to use sound judgment in limiting access to confidential information about the Company’s customers and business partners to those individuals in the Company who need to know this information to carry out their jobs.

 

Business with Third Parties. The Company’s consultants, agents, resellers, distributors, subcontractors and other business partners are expected to adhere to lawful and ethical business practices. It is important to the Company’s reputation to avoid doing business with companies that violate applicable laws or have reputations that could harm the Company’s business. The Company’s policy prohibits engaging agents or other third parties to do indirectly what the Company should not do under the Company’s own policies outlined in this Code.

 

Respect for Employees. The Company’s employment decisions will be based on reasons related to the Company’s business, such as job performance, individual skills and talents and other business-related factors. The Company’s policies require adherence to all national, state or other local employment laws. The Company’s policies prohibit discrimination in any aspect of employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual preference, marital status, national origin, disability or age, within the meaning of applicable laws.

 

Health and Safety. All employees are expected to help maintain a healthy and safe working environment and to report promptly any unsafe or hazardous conditions or materials, injuries and accidents connected with the Company’s business. Employees must not work under the influence of any substances that would impair the safety of others. All threats or acts of physical violence or intimidation are prohibited.

 

Compliance with Antitrust Laws. Each of the Company’s directors, officers and employees are expected to comply with the antitrust and competition laws of the United States and with those of any other country or group of countries that are applicable to the business being performed. No director, officer, or employee should assume that the Company’s interest ever requires otherwise.

 

Fair Dealing. Directors, officers and employees are expected to endeavor to deal fairly with the Company’s customers, suppliers, competitors and employees. None should take unfair advantage of

 

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anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair dealing practice.

 

Conflicts of Interest. Employees are expected to make or participate in business decisions and actions in the course of their employment with the Company based on the best interests of the Company as a whole and not based on personal relationships or benefits. Employees are expected to apply sound judgment to avoid conflicts of interest that could negatively affect the Company or its business, whether or not the Company has specific rules for that particular situation. A conflict of interest occurs when an individual’s private interest (or the interest of a member of his or her family) interferes, or even appears to interfere, with the interests of the Company as a whole. A conflict of interest can arise when an employee, officer or director (or a member of his or her family) takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work for the Company objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest also arise when an employee, officer or director (or a member of his or her family) receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position in the Company. Some specific situations are discussed below:

 

Business Referrals. Employees may not personally attempt to give or steer the Company’s business transactions to companies in which their family, relative or personal friend has a financial or other interest.

 

Personal Investments. Generally, employees must avoid investments in other companies with which the Company does business if these investments could create the fact or appearance of a conflict of interest.  Ownership of publicly traded securities of other companies with which the Company does business that do not confer upon the holder any ability to influence or direct the policies or management of such companies is generally not prohibited so long as there is no violation of the Company’s Insider Trading Policy.

 

Corporate Opportunities. Employees must also refrain from purchasing property or otherwise taking for themselves personally a business opportunity that they learn about through their employment with the Company or use of the Company’s information.

 

Prohibited Competition. Employees may not compete with the Company during the term of their employment and may not initiate any steps to compete with the Company while still employed by the Company.

 

Gifts and Gratuities. Employees must not seek or accept gifts or gratuities in the form of services or other items of value from the Company’s customers, other business partners or other parties with whom the Company contracts. Employees must not offer or give anything of value that could be or appear to be a bribe or otherwise illegal payment. Employees should never accept anything that would appear to create a conflict of interest. In the unusual situation where refusal to accept a true gift might hurt the Company’s business, be sure to consult the appropriate officer or manager of the Company concerning the proper means of resolving the situation.

 

Business Entertainment. Extending or accepting invitations to reasonable meal, public event and similar business activities incurred for bona fide business purposes are generally acceptable, assuming the costs are not disproportionate to the business purpose and otherwise do not create the fact or appearance of a conflict of interest. Employees are expected to avoid sponsoring or accepting invitations to highly expensive events funded with corporate funds or personal celebrations such as birthday parties with costs paid with corporate funds at which the business purpose may appear incidental. Attending entertainment events that may appear contrary to professional standards of conduct should be avoided. Government officials should not be invited to entertainment events

 

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without first assuring that appropriate management of the Company approves the invitation and confirms that it is not prohibited by law.

 

Travel. Employees are expected to comply with the Company’s travel policies in effect from time to time. All travel-related expenses must be used, accurately reported and recorded in compliance with these policies. If these expenses are to be paid by a customer or other business partner of the Company or if you wish to pay the expenses of a customer or other business contact, or any representative of a government agency travelling to the Company’s location, your manager or a Company officer must approve these in advance.

 

General Standard of Legal Compliance. Employees are expected to be committed to pro-active compliance with all applicable laws and regulations affecting the Company and its business. The Company is a corporation organized in the United States and the Company’s subsidiaries are organized under various U.S. and non-U.S. laws. U.S. laws often extend to the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries throughout the world and wherever Company employees live. Laws of other countries may also apply outside the borders of those countries. If you encounter a conflict in laws of two or more countries that may apply to the Company’s operations, please consult Company legal counsel for help in resolving that conflict.

 

Prohibited Corrupt Practices. The Company and employees must comply with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws that apply wherever the Company does business. Employees and agents must not directly or indirectly offer or make a corrupt payment to any domestic or foreign government official, political party or candidate, or employee of any enterprise owned or controlled by a government agency, for the purpose of influencing any official act or inaction, or obtaining, retaining or directing business. Employees must not engage in any form of fraud, including but not limited to embezzlement, theft, hiding or misuse of Company assets or falsification of records.

 

Prohibited Loans to Executive Officers and Directors. Loans by the Company to, or guarantees by the Company of obligations of, employees or their family members are of special concern and could constitute improper personal benefits to the recipients of such loans or guarantees, depending on the facts and circumstances. Loans by the Company to, or guarantees by the Company of obligations of, any director or officer or their family members are expressly prohibited.

 

Environmental Laws. The Company respects policies and requirements of domestic and foreign laws aimed at protecting the environment. Employees are expected to report any violations of environmental laws and any exposure to hazardous materials or substances which are not being handled or disposed of properly.

 

Money Laundering Prevention. Employees responsible for documenting customer transactions should use due care to “know your customer,” follow proper procedures for documenting the source and manner of payment and otherwise help the Company avoid transactions that may involve illegal money laundering.

 

Reporting Violations. It is the Company’s policy to promote and implement prompt and consistent enforcement of this Code, fair treatment for persons reporting questionable behavior, clear and objective standards for compliance and a fair process by which to determine violations. All employees are responsible for promptly reporting violations of this Code to an appropriate person or persons under the circumstances. If you wish to report or discuss any problem concerning the Company or the matters outlined herein, please promptly inform your supervising manager or the Chief Compliance Officer. If you do not believe your concern is being adequately addressed, or you are not comfortable speaking with one of the aforementioned contacts, report your concern via the Company’s ethics hotline. Actions prohibited by this Code involving directors or executive officers will be reported to the audit committee

 

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of the Board. The Company in all circumstances prohibits retaliation of any kind against those who report ethical violations in good faith. If the situation requires that the your identity be kept secret, your anonymity will be protected to the maximum extent possible consistent with the Company’s legal obligations.

 

Enforcement. All directors, officers and employees are expected to cooperate in any internal investigation of misconduct. If the audit committee of the Board (or its designee) determines that this Code has been violated, either directly by failure to report a violation or by withholding information related to a violation, the offending party may be disciplined for non-compliance with penalties up to and including removal from office or dismissal. Such penalties may include written notices to the individual involved that a violation has been determined, censure by the audit committee of the Board, demotion or re-assignment of the individual involved and suspension (with or without pay or benefits). Violations of this Code may also constitute violations of law and may result in criminal penalties and civil liabilities for the offending party and the Company. Any waiver for a director or an executive officer must be approved by the Board and shall be disclosed as required by SEC and Nasdaq rules.

 

Questions or Concerns. If you have questions about this Code or concerns about any of the matters listed here, please first consider speaking with your immediate manager or supervisor. If you do not wish to communicate with that person on the matter, please feel free to contact any member of the Company’s management, or personnel in the law or human resources departments.

 

Good Faith Concerns Are Protected. The Company encourages every employee to report any concerns that others in the Company or the Company’s agents may have engaged in illegal or unethical conduct relating to the Company’s business. The Company does not discriminate against employees who reasonably believe there has been illegal or unethical conduct and who in good faith report these concerns.

 

Amendments. Any amendment to this Code may be made only by the Board. If an amendment to this Code is made, appropriate disclosure will be made promptly in accordance with the rules and requirements of the SEC and Nasdaq.

 


Posting Requirement. The Company shall post this Code on the Company’s website as required by applicable rules and regulations. In addition, the Company shall disclose in its Annual Report on Form 10-K or in the proxy statement for its annual general meeting of stockholders (as applicable) that a copy of this Code is available on the Company’s website and in print to any stockholder who requests it.

 

Waivers. Each of (i) the Board, in the case of a violation by a director or executive officer and (ii) the Chief Compliance Officer, in the case of a violation by any other person, may waive any violation of this Code. Any waiver for a director or an executive officer shall be disclosed in accordance with the rules and requirements of the SEC and Nasdaq.

 

*                                         *                                         *

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

Sundance Energy Announces Completion of its

Redomiciliation to the United States

 

Denver, November 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Sundance Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: SNDE) is pleased to announce that its previously announced transaction to redomicile from Australia to the United States has been fully implemented today.

 

The shares of Sundance Energy Inc. issued today in connection with the redomiciliation will trade on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “SNDE”, and Sundance Energy Inc. will continue to be subject to the reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and applicable corporate governance rules of Nasdaq.  Further details regarding the implementation of the redomiciliation can be found in filings made today with the SEC.

 

About Sundance Energy Inc.

 

Sundance Energy Inc. (“Sundance” or the “Company”) is a US-based, independent energy exploration company, with headquarters in Denver, Colorado, USA. The Company is focused on the acquisition and development of large, repeatable oil and natural gas resource plays in North America. Current activities are focused in the Eagle Ford.  A comprehensive overview of the Company can be found on Sundance’s website at www.sundanceenergy.net.

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.   These statements are identified by the use of the words “project,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “contemplate,” “foresee,” “would,” “could,” “plan,” and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on Sundance. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting Sundance will be those that are anticipated. Sundance’s forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond Sundance’s control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from Sundance’s historical experience and present expectations or projections. Known material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include: changes in U.S. or non-U.S. laws, including tax laws, that could reduce or eliminate the benefits expected to be achieved from the redomiciliation; an inability to realize expected benefits from the redomiciliation or the occurrence of difficulties in connection with the redomiciliation; and costs related to the redomiciliation, which could be greater than expected. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this press release, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements also are affected by the risk factors described in Sundance’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, as amended, and those set forth from time-to-time in other filings with the SEC. Sundance undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

John Roberts

Eric McCrady

VP Finance & Investor Relations

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (720) 638-2400

Tel: (303) 543-5703